A sweet friend asked me for advice. They know a family who just had a baby that will be in the hospital for a long time, and she wants to know how to help. I sat down and typed up a novel, then thought that maybe someone else might want to know also! Here's my response:
First off, I am very thrilled that we've had any kind of influence on your family and that you're concerned about them and wanting to help them, it means a lot and shows what great people you are! SO many people say, "wish I could help, but.." and never do anything.
Janell Fluckiger showed up at the hospital one day with Bath and Body Works Eucalyptus Spearamint Lotion, a soothing eye pillow and scented bodyscrub. It was exactly what I needed and to this day is my absolute favorite product. It calmed me down, made me feel special, forced me to take 5 minutes for myself and still brings me fond memories of her and her love!
One day after 4 months in the hospital I had a huge craving for cinnamon bears...mentioned it off-hand to someone, and 3 different people from my ward made sure that they got some to me over the next week or so. Again, it was a small thing to them, but meant a LOT to me. Can you ask the grandparents what the Mom and Dad's fav junk food is? For Doug, a 100 Grand bar goes a long way! We all have the cravings, it's worse when we're so stressed and exhausted, it helps make me feel a tiny bit better!
Gift cards for local restraunts would be so thoughtful, it get's really expensive to live in that situation long term...
Someone loaned us the first 3 seasons of LOST once, we watched them over a period of a few days! We were desperate to find something to take our minds off what was happening at the time, and it REALLY helped!
People Magazine, Redbook, and Reader's Digest keep me distracted when I can't seem to be able to concentrate on a book.
Soothing music, like Josh Groban can really calm both Mom and Baby, maybe a compilation CD for them to have? One of my mom's friends made us several CD's, "Soothing Music for Monte," "Happy Music for Monte," we played them constantly and noticed that they actually lowered his blood pressure.
Did you hear the conference talk this April about the angels that were around the children in the hospital? I'll bet they missed it, copy it and highlight that part for them, it meant the world to us.
Also President Hollands talk from last October, it talks about parents of Special Needs Kids and really touched my heart.
Call first, and try to see if they want visitors, then come by with a re-heatable dinner or cupcakes or anything in small portions that they can eat later. Anything homemade is AMAZING after being in the hospital. Go extra heavy on the fruits and vegetables, I start to feel a craving for them quickly.
Good Chapstick and lotion are so hard to find in the hospital, and your hands quickly get chapped and burned from the frequent washing and the chemicals, your lips are SO dry from the recycled air.
Small bottles of great smelling shampoo and conditioner were really nice for me, I was there for 26 days this year, I really appreciated not smelling like a hospital.
Finally, one friend met me at the hospital and kidnapped me to take me to a movie. We didn't talk about the situation at all, just laughed our hearts out at the funny movie, then went for a nice long walk. It was just what I needed at the time.
The siblings have got to be so confused right now, a cute care package for them with tons of stickers, books, markers, toys, and chalk would make them feel special also.
I had friends visit me this time and bring me an awesome room scent thing with twigs and essential oils, everyone commented on how nice the room smelled. They also brought stickynotes so visitors could leave positive notes for us to read later.
Last thing, someone make us a special blanket for Monte's room, we kept it with him, it brightened his room and made us feel happier.
I know that this is a lot of info, I encourage you to talk about it as a family and go with what feels right. It's such a hard situation, I really feel for them, and hope all goes well. I hope it helps a bit!!
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Friday, April 15, 2011
Allison and Lance
Ok, my trip in December really was an incredible week, it's taken 'till April to post it all! My family graciously let me fly to Idaho and Utah for a week to spend time with my sisters celebrating their big moments. One of those was to spend a few days with Allison and Lance, the newlyweds. Ok, this really is an incredible couple. I was touched by the affection and respect that they share for each other. They uplift and inspire each other, and help each other grow in a positive and fun way. Allison is an amazing cook and creative decorator, and Lance is a thoughtful, encouraging, computer genius. He prepared an amazing bed for me without even being asked, carried by luggage, and put up with a bevy of crazy Higley's without complaint!
And how many men do you know that would write and sing a farewell song tailored specifically to his 2 sister-in-laws? I did promise that I wouldn't post it on you-tube, but a blog doesn't count, right? Enjoy!!
It was sad to "Leave on a jet-plane" to go home again, but I had a million special memories to bring...
And I showed up to happy, clean, well cared for kids, and what seemed like a new house! It was clean, sparkling new, and filled with brand new things! Doug installed a new dishwasher, 2 new toilets, and a new faucet. What a wonderful husband!!
And how many men do you know that would write and sing a farewell song tailored specifically to his 2 sister-in-laws? I did promise that I wouldn't post it on you-tube, but a blog doesn't count, right? Enjoy!!
It was sad to "Leave on a jet-plane" to go home again, but I had a million special memories to bring...
And I showed up to happy, clean, well cared for kids, and what seemed like a new house! It was clean, sparkling new, and filled with brand new things! Doug installed a new dishwasher, 2 new toilets, and a new faucet. What a wonderful husband!!
My Awesome Sis Amy!!
One of my favorite "sister" moments was getting to go attend Amy's graduation from BYU-Idaho. She is an amazing, articulate, attractive, awe-inspiring individual, and I am so proud to be her sister. I so enjoyed spending time with her, whether it was talking, packing, trudging through the snow (and in heels!), crying, and laughing. It was very special to see her not only receive her diploma (in a shorter amount of time than any of her 6 brothers or sisters) (Wait, I might need to wait on verification on that!), but to see her handle some of life's tough challenges and decisions all of the same time. She's a remarkable young lady, and now proud to report that she's living in Salt Lake, working at her dream job as an editor for the LDS Church. Pretty classy!
It was a perfect weekend, and I can't wait for the next girl's weekend!
It was a perfect weekend, and I can't wait for the next girl's weekend!
Thursday, January 20, 2011
My new nephew!
So proud of my sister, the newest mommy! I got to be there to help and enjoy all the excitement and drama of a first baby, so amazing! Loved the experience...even better since it wasn't me doing to birth!
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
My new blog!
So I started my blog one late night several years ago...and it was fine. Now my awesome friend Gloria has made it amazing! Love it, love it, love it! Here's to fun, talented friends!
Monday, October 25, 2010
Anyone Can Sing "Happy Birthday"
But this is REALLY special. Our sweet friend George Dyer, our favorite tenor, sang Monte a special song to celebrate his birthday!
Monte's 9th Birthday Party!
Ok, I know you were all as worried as I was that we didn't get to celebrate Monte's birthday on his birthday...due to the hospital stay and ect...
Better late than never, we had an amazing time on Friday, here's the recap!
Welcome to Monte’s 9th Birthday Greek Mythology Adventure!
To ensure a fantastic experience, make sure to do all of the following activities:
o Try out flying shoes with Hermes.
o Learn to throw a lightning bolt with Zeus
o Play water tag with Poseidon.
o Eat pomegranate seeds with Persephone.
o (Sisyphus was a king punished in Tartarus by being cursed to roll a huge boulder up a hill). Practice with him!
o Avoid Medusa’s stony glare in freeze tag!
o Roast a marshmallow for s’mores with Hades
o Search for the golden apples with Paris.
o Drink Nectar of the Gods! (Nectar of the gods, to put it simply, is a name for the drink which has the sweetest taste of any drink in the world. The first time someone consumes this sweet, sweet nectar, they will instantly realize that it is by FAR the best thing they have ever tasted in their entire life).
o Eat Food of the Gods! (Theobroma is Greek for "the food of the gods," and the common names are taken from the Aztec and Mayan languages. Aztecs considered cacao to be man's inheritance from Quetzalcoatl, the god of the air).
Better late than never, we had an amazing time on Friday, here's the recap!
Welcome to Monte’s 9th Birthday Greek Mythology Adventure!
To ensure a fantastic experience, make sure to do all of the following activities:
o Try out flying shoes with Hermes.
o Learn to throw a lightning bolt with Zeus
o Play water tag with Poseidon.
o Eat pomegranate seeds with Persephone.
o (Sisyphus was a king punished in Tartarus by being cursed to roll a huge boulder up a hill). Practice with him!
o Avoid Medusa’s stony glare in freeze tag!
o Roast a marshmallow for s’mores with Hades
o Search for the golden apples with Paris.
o Drink Nectar of the Gods! (Nectar of the gods, to put it simply, is a name for the drink which has the sweetest taste of any drink in the world. The first time someone consumes this sweet, sweet nectar, they will instantly realize that it is by FAR the best thing they have ever tasted in their entire life).
o Eat Food of the Gods! (Theobroma is Greek for "the food of the gods," and the common names are taken from the Aztec and Mayan languages. Aztecs considered cacao to be man's inheritance from Quetzalcoatl, the god of the air).
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Piperisms
I keep laughing at the cute things Piper says, and I want to record them for her for later! I keep forgetting to jot them down, but here's a few:
Pretending to play doctor...but pausing to hep me instead, "The doctor was delivering a baby, but she'll do the baby next week and help you instead."
Putting on dressy shoes for sale in Old Navy and following me around, "Look at me, I'm a short mommy!"
Irritated that Amy, Allison, and Josiah hadn't responded to a text-ed picture of her, she was unhappy with my excuse, "Oh, they're in school and working, they're busy people." She said, "In school?!! Why are they still kids?" Implying that they're WAY too old to be in school still.
Pretending to play doctor...but pausing to hep me instead, "The doctor was delivering a baby, but she'll do the baby next week and help you instead."
Putting on dressy shoes for sale in Old Navy and following me around, "Look at me, I'm a short mommy!"
Irritated that Amy, Allison, and Josiah hadn't responded to a text-ed picture of her, she was unhappy with my excuse, "Oh, they're in school and working, they're busy people." She said, "In school?!! Why are they still kids?" Implying that they're WAY too old to be in school still.
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Barbara Bradshaw Smith
I was reading an article about Barbara Bradshaw Smith, former General Relief Society President, and loved this quote:
"'All the world is a stage and each one plays a part' is a popular paraphrase from Shakespeare....Each mother should be the leading lady on life's stage...Being part of the life-giving moment is a great and significant thing that each mother finds anew with wonder and discovery. Although it has happened millions of times through all the centuries of time, each moment of birth, when hallowed by the eternal perspective of the restored gospel, is in fact a new beginning in the drama of life....
The magnitude of the challenge to rear a family is hard to comprehend. It requires the most continued effort of the part of the mother so that she can grow fast enough to be able to enrich her children by the quality of her own life.
Certainly a house needs order. Certainly, it needs to e a place of preparation where needs can be met. Just as certainly, it needs to be a place of stimulation where people can grow in faith and knowledge and where their hearts can expand with wisdom and love and service. The great message for all mothers is to accept the challenge of the mighty task. Rearing children is worthy of our best efforts and the joys and blessings of this challenge are great....
Motherhood is a cause to command the best effort of every woman who has the opportunity. The care and training of the next generation is a cause to engage the finest minds and the greatest spirits in the world today, just as it has been in the past."
"Let every day be Mother's Day," Church News April 30, 1977.
"'All the world is a stage and each one plays a part' is a popular paraphrase from Shakespeare....Each mother should be the leading lady on life's stage...Being part of the life-giving moment is a great and significant thing that each mother finds anew with wonder and discovery. Although it has happened millions of times through all the centuries of time, each moment of birth, when hallowed by the eternal perspective of the restored gospel, is in fact a new beginning in the drama of life....
The magnitude of the challenge to rear a family is hard to comprehend. It requires the most continued effort of the part of the mother so that she can grow fast enough to be able to enrich her children by the quality of her own life.
Certainly a house needs order. Certainly, it needs to e a place of preparation where needs can be met. Just as certainly, it needs to be a place of stimulation where people can grow in faith and knowledge and where their hearts can expand with wisdom and love and service. The great message for all mothers is to accept the challenge of the mighty task. Rearing children is worthy of our best efforts and the joys and blessings of this challenge are great....
Motherhood is a cause to command the best effort of every woman who has the opportunity. The care and training of the next generation is a cause to engage the finest minds and the greatest spirits in the world today, just as it has been in the past."
"Let every day be Mother's Day," Church News April 30, 1977.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Famous Fogelquist Family
Ok, we got featured in another article in the paper, this time, a huge, nearly half page article! Very flattering, cute picture, (taken by Lucinda, my sister-in-law) and the article is mostly accurate. Made me cry, please let me know what you think! Here's what it said:
Stone County Gazette
Kimberling City, Missouri
Publication date: Sept. 16, 2010
Make-A-Wish helps sick youngsters
Kimberling City bash scheduled Sunday at Bearded Clam
PHOTO CAPTION
The Fogelquist family of Branson – parents Doug and Claire, along with
Monte, 8, and Piper, 4 – were the recipients earlier this year of a hot
tub presented by the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Monte has congenital
hydrocephalus. The Fogelquists plan to attend the annual Make-A-Wish
barbecue and auction benefit Sunday at the Bearded Clam Lounge and Eatery
in Kimberling City.
By Dave Abner
Managing Editor
Monte Fogelquist had his first brain surgery when he was seven days old.
Branson’s Claire Fogelquist, 31 – Monte’s mother – said she and husband
Doug, 35, didn’t know anything was wrong when they took Monte home from
the hospital.
They’d only been home a couple days when they rushed him back to the
hospital with a medical emergency.
In five minutes, their world was forever turned upside down.
Congenital hydrocephalus.
In layman terms, their precious little boy had water on the brain.
Claire said, “His brain didn’t develop normally.”
In five minutes, she and Doug had to approve the first surgery.
Brain surgery for a seven-day-old baby.
Their baby.
Claire Fogelquist is nothing if not a master of understatement. She said,
“Our life has been since then a series of adventures.”
The second brain surgery came at six weeks.
The almost-unthinkable diagnosis – Monte was blind. He was profoundly
deaf. He has a host of motor skill problems.
Today, Monte Fogelquist is eight. He turns nine next month.
In his young life, he’s had almost 30 brain surgeries. He’s also had
numerous other surgeries, his mother said.
MAKE-A-WISH
Doug and Claire Fogelquist stumbled on the Make-A-Wish Foundation by
accident.
Doug hails from Oregon, Claire from Idaho. They met at an Idaho college.
They later attended Brigham Young University in Utah. Monte was born in
Utah. So was Piper, their four-year-old daughter.
Several years back, the Fogelquists attended a Make-A-Wish fundraiser. A
volunteer took one look at Monte and handed Doug and Claire a Make-A-Wish
application.
Claire was surprised. She thought Make-A-Wish granted wishes for
youngsters with cancer, children with terminal illnesses.
At a second Make-A-Wish event, Doug and Claire were again handed a
Make-A-Wish application.
Claire Fogelquist decided it was time to investigate.
She mentioned the Make-A-Wish applications to her doctor.
Make-A-Wish is for kids with terminal illnesses, isn’t it?
That’s not our boy, she said.
That’s not our Monte.
What he has, Doctor – it’s not terminal, is it?
The doctor gave her the grim prognosis.
Unfortunately, yes.
MOVE TO MISSOURI
Doug’s work took him to southwest Missouri – Branson, in fact.
His employer bought a hotel in Branson. Doug also is involved in theater
management in Branson.
It was after the Fogelquists moved to Branson that Monte became a
Make-A-Wish recipient.
Make-A-Wish representatives contacted Doug and Claire.
What does Monte really want? What’s his wish?
Claire said they considered a number of possibilities – trip to a theme
park, playground equipment.
Finally, they hit on it – a hot tub.
Claire said, “This kid loves water more than anything in the whole, wide
world.”
She remembers the time they took Monte to a water park. It opened at 10
a.m., closed at 8 p.m.
Monte stayed all day. At 8 p.m., he still wasn’t ready to leave.
She said water allows Monte some freedom of movement he doesn’t enjoy
because of gravity constraints.
Plus, she said, with a hot tub, Doug and Claire could sneak in phsyical
therapy “and he would not even know he was getting physical therapy.”
So, area Make-A-Wish supporters – along with a lot of donors – raised the
money for Monte’s hot tub. They presented it to the Fogelquists earlier
this year.
Somebody kicked in extra money for landscaping around the tub.
The electrician came in and wired it for free. He was in and out in 20
minutes and Claire barely knew he was there.
She loves the new hot tub addition at home. “Everybody pitched in and made
it a wonderful paradise,” Claire said.
Branson Mayor Raeanne Presley got in on the act, presenting Monte with a
key to the city.
Claire choked up when she recalled the city proclamation Mayor Presley and
other city officials gave Monte. It stated that Monte Fogelquist was the
sort of citizen Branson was proud to claim as its own.
Claire raves about the folks in Taney and Stone counties, and the way
they’ve taken a shine to Monte Fogelquist.
She recalled her first meeting a few years back with school officials in
Branson.
What sort of class will you put Monte in, she wanted to know.
A kindergarten class.
But what type of class?
Kindergarten, they answered.
But won’t he be in some special class?
They told her, kindly but firmly – Monte’s going to be in a kindergarten
class, with kindergarten kids.
They’ve not ever backed off their commitment to love and to educate and to
take care of her youngster, Claire said.
Monte’s the “uncrowned king” of his school, his mother said. The students,
the teachers, the janitors, the principal – they all love and support her
child, and her family, Claire said.
She’s become a huge fan of southwest Missouri people since she moved here.
Claire and Doug take the kids to a Branson show – they get the royal
treatment, the free popcorn.
They go to a restaurant – the waiters bend over backward to make them feel
special.
It happens every day.
“We feel very loved and very blessed by our community,” Claire said.
And there’s some good news on the medical front – through the years,
Monte’s condition has improved slightly. Claire and Doug are pretty sure
he can hear loud noises, see at least a bit of bright color.
STONE COUNTY EVENT
The Fogelquists are headed to Stone County on Sunday.
The annual Make-A-Wish barbecue and auction kicks off at noon Sunday at
the Bearded Clam Longe and Eatery in Kimberling City.
It’s a daylong event of food and entertainment for a good cause.
Bearded Clam owners Ted and Beth Whitaker have held an annual Make-A-Wish
barbecue for several years running. Last year’s installment corralled
about $6,000 for the Make-A-Wish coffers.
The annual Make-a-Wish barbecue kicks off at noon Sunday. Staffers work
for free on barbecue day, donating their time and tips. The Whitakers give
20 percent of any sales for the day.
For a $10 fee, participants can have an all-you-can-eat lunch. This year’s
menu tentatively includes ribs, hamburgers and hot dogs.
Live music goes on all day with seven bands on the bill, including Classic
Reunion, Smooth Down Under, Lainz Gang, Cruise Control, Dasani and the
Third Gear Band and Highway 13. In addition, Tear Gas – a band of young
players comprised of area teens – are scheduled to perform.
Between each music set, volunteer auctioneers will auction goods and
services donated by local merchants and residents.
All admission and auction proceeds benefit Make-A-Wish.
MAKE-A-WISH FRIDAY
One other Make-A-Wish function is planned at the Bearded Clam this week.
The third of three Make-A-Wish Friday events runs from 5-7 p.m. tomorrow.
Celebrity mixologists Jim and Melanie Christiansen will serve patrons. Tip
jars are scattered throughout the establishment. Tips and donations go to
Make-A-Wish, along with a portion of the business proceeds.
CLOSING NOTES
Make-A-Wish was founded in 1980 when a group of volunteers helped a sick
young boy fulfill his dream of becoming a police officer.
The organization is now the largest wish-granting charity in the world,
with 65 chapters in the United States and U.S. territories.
The Whitakers work with the Make-A-Wish outlet headquartered in Springfield.
Make-A-Wish has granted more than 19,000 wishes since its 1980 inception.
Springfield Make-A-Wish representatives hope to grant wishes to more than
50 area children this year.
The goal is not necessarily an easy one to fulfill. Make-A-Wish officials
say the average cost of making a sick youngster’s dream come true has
increased to more than $6,500.
Call 739-4440 for more information.
Stone County Gazette
Kimberling City, Missouri
Publication date: Sept. 16, 2010
Make-A-Wish helps sick youngsters
Kimberling City bash scheduled Sunday at Bearded Clam
PHOTO CAPTION
The Fogelquist family of Branson – parents Doug and Claire, along with
Monte, 8, and Piper, 4 – were the recipients earlier this year of a hot
tub presented by the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Monte has congenital
hydrocephalus. The Fogelquists plan to attend the annual Make-A-Wish
barbecue and auction benefit Sunday at the Bearded Clam Lounge and Eatery
in Kimberling City.
By Dave Abner
Managing Editor
Monte Fogelquist had his first brain surgery when he was seven days old.
Branson’s Claire Fogelquist, 31 – Monte’s mother – said she and husband
Doug, 35, didn’t know anything was wrong when they took Monte home from
the hospital.
They’d only been home a couple days when they rushed him back to the
hospital with a medical emergency.
In five minutes, their world was forever turned upside down.
Congenital hydrocephalus.
In layman terms, their precious little boy had water on the brain.
Claire said, “His brain didn’t develop normally.”
In five minutes, she and Doug had to approve the first surgery.
Brain surgery for a seven-day-old baby.
Their baby.
Claire Fogelquist is nothing if not a master of understatement. She said,
“Our life has been since then a series of adventures.”
The second brain surgery came at six weeks.
The almost-unthinkable diagnosis – Monte was blind. He was profoundly
deaf. He has a host of motor skill problems.
Today, Monte Fogelquist is eight. He turns nine next month.
In his young life, he’s had almost 30 brain surgeries. He’s also had
numerous other surgeries, his mother said.
MAKE-A-WISH
Doug and Claire Fogelquist stumbled on the Make-A-Wish Foundation by
accident.
Doug hails from Oregon, Claire from Idaho. They met at an Idaho college.
They later attended Brigham Young University in Utah. Monte was born in
Utah. So was Piper, their four-year-old daughter.
Several years back, the Fogelquists attended a Make-A-Wish fundraiser. A
volunteer took one look at Monte and handed Doug and Claire a Make-A-Wish
application.
Claire was surprised. She thought Make-A-Wish granted wishes for
youngsters with cancer, children with terminal illnesses.
At a second Make-A-Wish event, Doug and Claire were again handed a
Make-A-Wish application.
Claire Fogelquist decided it was time to investigate.
She mentioned the Make-A-Wish applications to her doctor.
Make-A-Wish is for kids with terminal illnesses, isn’t it?
That’s not our boy, she said.
That’s not our Monte.
What he has, Doctor – it’s not terminal, is it?
The doctor gave her the grim prognosis.
Unfortunately, yes.
MOVE TO MISSOURI
Doug’s work took him to southwest Missouri – Branson, in fact.
His employer bought a hotel in Branson. Doug also is involved in theater
management in Branson.
It was after the Fogelquists moved to Branson that Monte became a
Make-A-Wish recipient.
Make-A-Wish representatives contacted Doug and Claire.
What does Monte really want? What’s his wish?
Claire said they considered a number of possibilities – trip to a theme
park, playground equipment.
Finally, they hit on it – a hot tub.
Claire said, “This kid loves water more than anything in the whole, wide
world.”
She remembers the time they took Monte to a water park. It opened at 10
a.m., closed at 8 p.m.
Monte stayed all day. At 8 p.m., he still wasn’t ready to leave.
She said water allows Monte some freedom of movement he doesn’t enjoy
because of gravity constraints.
Plus, she said, with a hot tub, Doug and Claire could sneak in phsyical
therapy “and he would not even know he was getting physical therapy.”
So, area Make-A-Wish supporters – along with a lot of donors – raised the
money for Monte’s hot tub. They presented it to the Fogelquists earlier
this year.
Somebody kicked in extra money for landscaping around the tub.
The electrician came in and wired it for free. He was in and out in 20
minutes and Claire barely knew he was there.
She loves the new hot tub addition at home. “Everybody pitched in and made
it a wonderful paradise,” Claire said.
Branson Mayor Raeanne Presley got in on the act, presenting Monte with a
key to the city.
Claire choked up when she recalled the city proclamation Mayor Presley and
other city officials gave Monte. It stated that Monte Fogelquist was the
sort of citizen Branson was proud to claim as its own.
Claire raves about the folks in Taney and Stone counties, and the way
they’ve taken a shine to Monte Fogelquist.
She recalled her first meeting a few years back with school officials in
Branson.
What sort of class will you put Monte in, she wanted to know.
A kindergarten class.
But what type of class?
Kindergarten, they answered.
But won’t he be in some special class?
They told her, kindly but firmly – Monte’s going to be in a kindergarten
class, with kindergarten kids.
They’ve not ever backed off their commitment to love and to educate and to
take care of her youngster, Claire said.
Monte’s the “uncrowned king” of his school, his mother said. The students,
the teachers, the janitors, the principal – they all love and support her
child, and her family, Claire said.
She’s become a huge fan of southwest Missouri people since she moved here.
Claire and Doug take the kids to a Branson show – they get the royal
treatment, the free popcorn.
They go to a restaurant – the waiters bend over backward to make them feel
special.
It happens every day.
“We feel very loved and very blessed by our community,” Claire said.
And there’s some good news on the medical front – through the years,
Monte’s condition has improved slightly. Claire and Doug are pretty sure
he can hear loud noises, see at least a bit of bright color.
STONE COUNTY EVENT
The Fogelquists are headed to Stone County on Sunday.
The annual Make-A-Wish barbecue and auction kicks off at noon Sunday at
the Bearded Clam Longe and Eatery in Kimberling City.
It’s a daylong event of food and entertainment for a good cause.
Bearded Clam owners Ted and Beth Whitaker have held an annual Make-A-Wish
barbecue for several years running. Last year’s installment corralled
about $6,000 for the Make-A-Wish coffers.
The annual Make-a-Wish barbecue kicks off at noon Sunday. Staffers work
for free on barbecue day, donating their time and tips. The Whitakers give
20 percent of any sales for the day.
For a $10 fee, participants can have an all-you-can-eat lunch. This year’s
menu tentatively includes ribs, hamburgers and hot dogs.
Live music goes on all day with seven bands on the bill, including Classic
Reunion, Smooth Down Under, Lainz Gang, Cruise Control, Dasani and the
Third Gear Band and Highway 13. In addition, Tear Gas – a band of young
players comprised of area teens – are scheduled to perform.
Between each music set, volunteer auctioneers will auction goods and
services donated by local merchants and residents.
All admission and auction proceeds benefit Make-A-Wish.
MAKE-A-WISH FRIDAY
One other Make-A-Wish function is planned at the Bearded Clam this week.
The third of three Make-A-Wish Friday events runs from 5-7 p.m. tomorrow.
Celebrity mixologists Jim and Melanie Christiansen will serve patrons. Tip
jars are scattered throughout the establishment. Tips and donations go to
Make-A-Wish, along with a portion of the business proceeds.
CLOSING NOTES
Make-A-Wish was founded in 1980 when a group of volunteers helped a sick
young boy fulfill his dream of becoming a police officer.
The organization is now the largest wish-granting charity in the world,
with 65 chapters in the United States and U.S. territories.
The Whitakers work with the Make-A-Wish outlet headquartered in Springfield.
Make-A-Wish has granted more than 19,000 wishes since its 1980 inception.
Springfield Make-A-Wish representatives hope to grant wishes to more than
50 area children this year.
The goal is not necessarily an easy one to fulfill. Make-A-Wish officials
say the average cost of making a sick youngster’s dream come true has
increased to more than $6,500.
Call 739-4440 for more information.
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