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When Mary learned her daughter’s back-to-back urinary tract infections were a

result of a rare, life-threatening kidney disease, she was overcome with shock.

“What do you say when you hear something like that about your baby?” Mary asked. “What do you do? Where do you go? How do you think? How do you live?”

Lilia’s diagnosis came three years ago, just before kindergarten. Her rare condition -autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease and congenital hepatic fibrosis (ARPKD/CHF)- has no cure, and the day will come when Lilia requires kidney and liver transplants. The unexpected challenge of having a daughter who appears healthy, yet suddenly lives under intense medical monitoring was hard on the whole family.

December 2015Arizona

www.facebook.com/HopeKidsArizona twitter.com/HopeKidsAZ www.youtube.com/user/HopeKidsInc

• ArizonaBallet• ArizonaCoyotes• ArizonaStateFair• ArizonaStateUniversity

Women’sBasketball• ColtenCowellFoundation

• DanceConnection2• GrandCanyonRailway• IceDenScottsdale• K&NProSeriesWest• Karysn’sKrusaders• KTAR• MusicalTheatreofAnthem

• PhoenixSuns• Rhonda&Nenos’BuildingEvent• SeaLifeAquarium• SWWildlife• TheGolfTank• UltraStarMulti-TainmentCenter

“There were x-rays, ultrasounds, MRIs, endoscopies, and blood work,” Mary said. “[Her medical care] was taking its toll—not just on Lilia—but on her brother and sister as well. All three children commented about how they wished they had friends to talk to about what they were

going through and how they were feeling. Lilia told me, ‘I

just want to know someone like me.’ I knew then that I needed to find a connection for my children.”

Mary began searching online for support groups for Lilia, and a siblings

support group for her brother and sister. Lilia’s condition qualified her for HopeKids and the family joined in September 2014.

“Once we were approved, I signed my family up for our first event,” Mary said. “It was a movie, along with bowling and laser tag about 55 miles from our home. But we didn’t care about the drive; we were just so excited to be a part of such a

hopeful community. We needed to be there.”

Early on the morning of the event, Mary woke her daughter—

inquiring if she knew what was

happening that day. With a frown on her face and

disappointment in her eyes, Lilia answered, “A blood test?” “No, Honey,” Mary said. “Today is our first HopeKids event.” Lilia threw back the covers and scrambled to get ready.

From that day forward, Lilia no longer asks about when her next doctor’s appointment is. Instead she asks about when she will see her HopeKids friends, and when the next HopeKids event will be.

“While the events are wonderful, it is the support and camaraderie that keeps us coming back,” Mary said.

IMpAct SpOtlIgHt: cOMMunIty AnD SuppOrtIve relAtIOnSHIpS

HopeKids ArizonaP.O. Box 28471Scottsdale, AZ 85255

Phone: 480.282.3011Fax: 888.418.3980kimberly@hopekids.org

Copyright © 2015 HopeKids.All Rights Reserved. Unsubscribe

www.hopekids.org

MEET DiEsElDiesel is almost 7 years old and loves movies, baseball games, the aquarium and the Southwest Animal Preservation Center. He was diagnosed with Angelman Syndrome at 8 months of age.

“Hopekids has changed how we look at our world,” Diesel’s mom, Melissa, said. “We’ve been able to feel like a “normal family” and just have fun with out any judgements or dirty looks because our son is different. HopeKids has not only given Diesel HOPE but our entire family HOPE!”

HopeKid Braden with Arizona coyotes captain, Shane Doan; “cadet” Steven at Sea life Aquarium; HopeKid charity is ready for popcorn at the peanuts movie; HopeKid Dustin enjoys the Miraculous Journey of edward tulane.; Firefighter griffin at SW wildlife; HopeKids families enjoy the polar express

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“In some ways [my cancer] is kind of good because if I didn’t get cancer, then I probably wouldn’t have met Vito,” says 14-year-old Emma. “He inspired me. There is just something about him. He went through the worst, and he just had this happy way about him.”

Emma’s cancer journey began in May 2014, and it’s taken her through surgeries, proton radiation in Illinois, four rounds of chemotherapy, and hours of physical, occupational and speech therapies to help her relearn how to eat, speak and walk.

One year ago, Emma’s family was introduced to Vito Skaro and his family through a brain tumor support group. Vito and Emma shared the same kind of cancer, and a friendship developed. Both families joined HopeKids, and last August they all attended the TYVEK® Time Capsule event held as part of The House That Hope Built project.

“It was incredibly moving to see,” Emma’s mom, Anna, said. “Just to get there and to hear that all the materials and the land were donated, and that the proceeds were going to HopeKids. It goes to show that you can do donation work in all different ways.”

December 2015Minnesota

www.facebook.com/HopeKidsMinnesota twitter.com/HopeKidsMN www.youtube.com/user/HopeKidsInc

The kids in attendance wrote and drew messages of hope on the housewrap that was ultimately sealed under the siding. The event was sponsored by Hallmark Building Supplies,

one of the numerous trade and business partners

that joined Tradition Companies and

Robert Thomas Homes in The House That Hope

Built project.

From the groundbreaking to the

check presentation, Vito’s presence was synonymous with The House That Hope Built.

“There is no more normal,” said Tradition Companies’ chief executive officer, Jake Enebak. “Everything is put on hold to concentrate on the health of the sick child. I think that most of the kids that I have been around that are in a tough spot just seem like they want to have something fun in their life to take their mind off of all the problems they have.”

With his trademark smile and superhero cape, 2-year-old Vito inspired Emma, the Tradition community, and thousands of others. His

cancer diagnosis came a month before his first birthday, and his journey has been shared over the past year through the Valiant Vito Facebook page, which is primarily updated by his mom, Nicole. Followers of the page read how cancer took a toll on Vito’s body, but not his legacy. On November 25, Vito passed away.

“Our world has brought Matthew and I to our knees and in tears over the impact our Vito has had and reinforces the very belief we have that Vito was an angel on earth whose touch went worldwide,” said Vito’s mom, Nicole.

The thread that connects Emma to Vito to HopeKids to Tradition Companies represents the impact of relationship. Where there’s support, there’s hope. You can see this hope in action through The House That Hope Built video.

BuIlDINg Hope froM THe grouND up

•MinnesotaTimberwolves•MinnesotaWild•ZuhrahShrineCircus•KTIS

•HennepinTheatreTrust•GopherSports•Karsyn’sKrusaders

•SkyZone•Northrop•SkyDeck&Insperity•VerticalEndeavors

Hope

Kid V

ito wa

s on hand to accept the check from Tradition Companies.

MEET EMMaEmma is a sweet, gentle and outgoing 14-year-old girl who was diagnosed with medulloblastoma in May 2014. Emma recently completed treatments and her family is thrilled to see her hair growing back. She is currently re-learning how towalk and write. Emma enjoys playing with her puppy, hanging out with friends and going shopping or to the movies.

“The House that HOPE Built house signing party [is my favorite event],” Emma said. “I never had the chance to write a hopeful message on a house before!”

HopeKids MinnesotaP.O. Box 44712Eden Prairie, MN 55344

Phone: 952.270.8271Fax: 888.418.3980brian@hopekids.org

Copyright © 2015 HopeKids.All Rights Reserved. Unsubscribe

www.hopekids.org

HopeKids enjoy the “Cookies with Santa” event; Silas gets a little help from his dad while rock climbing; The Kostik family at a gopher hockey game; HopeKids jumping at Sky Zone; family photos during “Cookies with Santa” event provided by volunteer photographer, Dick; HopeKids Minnesota accepts the check from the proceeds of the sale of “The House that Hope Built”

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Natalie started chemotherapy on her second birthday.

“We had just gone through six weeks in the hospital,” Natalie’s mom, Tammy, said. “It was devastating to think about doing this for years. Two years is so long.”

Today, Natalie is a vivacious 11-year-old and Tammy recognizes a desire to be an ambassador for hope—especially for other moms.

“Years ago, a nurse gave me a bracelet with the word ‘hope’ on it,” Tammy said. “Hope is such a powerful thing. It’s easy to lose focus on how much you need it when things are hard.”

For Bryan Johns, it’s his faith in Christ that compels him to use the radio to share messages of hope to listeners at 89.7 WAY-FM. Bryan is operations director, and offered to produce 60-second “Stories of

December 2015North Texas

www.facebook.com/HopeKidsNorthTexas twitter.com/HopeKidsNTX www.youtube.com/user/HopeKidsInc

Hope” featuring HopeKids families.

“I hope our listeners are impacted by these stories enough to recognize that if a child going through a life-threatening condition—along with their family—can walk forward in hope that things

WILL get better,” Bryan said. “Then they can

apply that same hope to their own situation, no matter what they’re dealing

with.”

As an ongoing partnership, each month will feature a different HopeKids

family.

For the first two weeks of December, WAY-FM listeners met Natalie, and heard about Tammy’s “hope” bracelet.

At a recent HopeKids Family Portrait Day event, Tammy met fellow HopeKids mom, Roxxy, and 4-year-old Reece Griffin whose size and bald head reminded her of Natalie.

“When I met Tammy and Natalie, I felt an overwhelming sense of

comfort,” Roxxy said. “It was reassuring to see

[that Natalie] is such a beautiful, healthy young lady. It gave me hope that

Reece and I will one day be able to comfort

someone else going through this crazy journey.“

Roxxy chooses to apply hope to Reece’s battle with cancer. “To me, hope means being able to see past our current state of distress. It entails looking forward to doing something fun as a family. It means daydreaming about when Reece is 100% well. HopeKids provides us with opportunities to do all of that.”

Tune in to 89.7 WAY-FM to hear “Stories of Hope” or visit www.wayfm.com for more information.

__________

“SToRIeS of Hope” IN HaRD TImeS.

• Cowtown Bowling palace• alamo Drafthouse Cinemas• Gamma phi Beta at SmU• artreach Dallas

• Kidmania• Cae• Glamorous for Girls

• K2 adventures• aT&T performing arts Center• Dallas Children’s Theater• USa martial arts

Peace, Love & HoPeKids

Deri and Doug HartmanMissy and Mike DesalomsStacey and Patrick Hanley

Eric LittleBetty and Andrew Park

Kimberly Harris

Special Thanks to our sponsors who raised more than $27,000 to help provide hope and anticipation for more than 450 North Texas families

who have a child with a life-threatening medical condition.

Cindy SimpsonCEC Companies

Sheri and Kip HanzlicekMedical City Children’s Hospital

Smitha ThomasAngelique Waddell

AFR Furniture Rentalwww.afrevents.com

Big D Party Rentalswww.bigdpartyrentals.com

Cebolla Fine Flowerswww.cebollafineflowers.com

DJ Conewww.djcone.com

Misa Importswww.misaimports.com

RP.MTV Valet Parkingwww.rpvaletparking.com

Suze Restaurantwww.suzedallas.com

Tamika Jacksonwww.dallaswedding

photographystudio.com

HopeKids North TexasP.O. Box 1628Keller, TX 76244

Phone: 817.739.8123Fax: 888.418.3980bridget@hopekids.org

Copyright © 2015 HopeKids.All Rights Reserved. Unsubscribe

www.hopekids.org

MEET MaTThEw12-year-old Matthew is a kindhearted, gentle spirit with a wicked sense of humor. He likes to read, play Destiny and MineCraft and hang out with his family. He was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia in 2006 and received a clean bill of health in November 2014.

“Some of the brightest lights on our darkest days was HopeKids,” Matthew’s mom, Melissa, said. “We were one of the very first families approached to join the DFW chapter in 2007. [We always] looked forward to going to “safe” events where the other families were cognizant of germs and what we were going through. It helped us all relax. For Matthew seeing the other kids with bald heads helped him not feel so out of place, he was with his tribe, so to speak. Matthew has a soft spot and empathy for kids going through what he went through. Being at the events helps him give comfort to others; it also reminds him how far he’s come.”

Keifer splashes his sister, Zoey, at Keller pointe water park; HopeKid Gavin with dad, Jeff, and brother, Garrett, at Good Dinosaur; HopeKid phoebe flying a simulator at Cae event; group photo at the Glamourous for Girls event; alyx and adrian enjoy Kidmania; Kendall poses at the SmU princess party hosted by Gamma phi Beta.

HoPeday Program