My family: mom- Gail, aunt- Jackie, aunt-Phyllis, aunt- Paula, cousin- Lynn, cousin- Kayce, cousin- Stephanie, sister-in-law-Ashley, niece- Ashley,mother-in-law - Betty, aunt- Karen, stepsister- Chrissy, and many, many, others planned a benefit for our daughter Sadie Ray Stewart.They began planning this benefit while Sadie was in the Cleveland Clinic and me, Seth,and Scooter were staying at the Ronald McDonald House in Cleveland, Ohio. This was in October 2007 and at this time Sadie was suffering from refractory seizures. She was having, some days, up to 30 or more seizures a day. Neither Seth nor myself were working at the time. We had just ended a two week stay at Kosair Children's Hospital with no answers and no improvement. My family wanted so much to do something for us. They wanted to help, and they wanted to help big! They decided to have a benefit for Sadie. So they began having meetings, making plans, and doing all the necessary work to make this benefit possible. They chose February 2nd 2008 for the date and as that date got closer their meetings became more frequent, and more exciting. They were amazed at the response they were getting. They were so happy to be such a positve part in Sadie's story. And we were so relieved to know that our finances were no longer going to be a worry. Well, we came home November 6, 2007 from the Cleveland Clinic and Sadie had been seizure free for three days. We still had a long road to full recovery, but her seizures had stopped, which was an answered prayer! Seth went back to work, Sadie was enrolled in First Steps Therapy, and eventually went back to daycare. So as time went on, our lives were improving. Sadie's health was improving, and no more long stays at hospitals. We had been blessed and God had a much BIGGER plan. So even though Seth and I wanted to continue this wonderful work that my family had started, and we wanted this benefit to happen, at the same time, we knew that our situation had improved and our past concerns weren't so concerning anymore. Now, our hearts were telling us to share this blessing. We thought about giving to others who may have similar stories as Sadie's, but not the resources, support, or FAMILY that we had been blessed with to help them. So that's what we decided to do. We have put the money in a foundation in Sadie's name. Our goal is to help other children and their families when they have had their lives turned upsidedown by an unexpected illness or diagnosis like we had happen to us.
THANK YOU TO MY "SADIES RAYS" and to everyone who came, helped, contributed, supported, and prayed. On February 2, 2007 over $10,000 was raised for the Sadie's Ray of Hope Foundation!
"Anything you did for even the least of My people here, you also did for Me"
Matthew 25:40
