A few years ago some of our very close friends lost their little girl. She was VERY much like Casey and we have become very close with this family through our daughters. There is not a day that goes by that we don’t miss Giulianna. Last year we really wanted to find a way to honor her memory over the holidays and to let her family know that she is still (and always will be) in our hearts.
I talked with our palliative care social worker and we came up with a way to honor Giuli’s memory as well as other local children that have passed. Our social worker introduced me to an amazing family that runs an organization in their daughter’s memory- sMiles 4 Sammy. The partnership was perfect. We teamed up last year to provide dinner for these families and then they made ornaments to honor their child’s memory.
The evening was more special than I had ever expected. I heard families share their stories, and everyone focused on all of the wonderful memories they cherish of their children. We decided before the evening was even over that this is an event that must be done every year.
This year’s celebration will be Thursday, December 3rd from 6-8PM at Dell Children’s in Conference Room 3. sMiles 4 Sammy will provide dinner and we will follow the meal with making ornaments. Feel free to download and share the flyer if you know anyone in the Austin area that has lost a child and may wish to join us.
Last year we took the ornaments and decorated a tree on 360. While we had fun and DID clean up our tree, we took a lot of flack from the community about the 360 trees. This year we will be taking the ornaments to a tree in Mueller (nearby the hospital) instead. After New Years we will take down the decorations and Palliative will have the ornaments in their office for anyone that wishes to pick theirs up.