The week ahead

What a week we have ahead!  It's CMN (Children's Miracle Network) week for us.  This week we'll be sharing Brinkley's story at two different CMN kickoff events.  Saturday Brinkley will be one of two CMN children featured during the televised Miss SC pageant.  Yes, our man is making his TV debut!  The Miss SC pageant will air at 8 pm Saturday night.  In the Greenville area you can catch it on MY40.  It will also be aired in the following markets: Columbia, Charleston, & Myrtle Beach.  

We're excited about sharing Brinkley and growing Team Brinkley!

Tomorrow morning at 11:30 Brinkley will be checking in at Greenville Memorial for surgery.  Dr. Gates will be closing the G-tube site.  We are expecting to stay overnight and will keep you updated.  With this in mind, we need our team to join us in praying for a smooth procedure and recovery.  

A peek inside therapy

Brinkley is working hard on his walking skills with Ms Deann in PT.  Here's a little taste:

On the next attempt he thought that Ms Connie (OT) would save him:

Notice how Brinkley can poke that lip out and look absolutely pitiful with the best of them!  (Please excuse my poor camera work.)

Social Butterfly

A few months ago I was given the opportunity to join the speakers bureau for the Children's Hospital.  At that time I wasn't sure exactly what that would entail, but I was soon to find out.  My first opportunity to speak came unexpectedly.  While at therapy on a few weeks ago I got an email from the program director.  She needed me to speak the next morning and wanted me to have a twenty minute presentation prepared.  Good thing I majored in public speaking!  Less than 24 hours notice of a 20 minute presentation would send most people over the edge.

I arrived at the hospital promptly that morning to make my presentation to a group of regional managers from Chico's brand stores.  I learned quickly that the speakers bureau is a part of the Children's Miracle Network fundraising efforts for the hospital.  I was not familiar with how CMN worked and exactly what they did for hospitals, but I got a crash course that morning.   

It's a good thing that I got that crash course because the coordinators and I hit it off well and Brinkley and I were asked to participate in several more upcoming events.  

Many corporations support the Children's Miracle Network as does the Miss America Organization.  Brinkley and I were asked to attend an informational session the Miss South Carolina contestants.  Immediately, Brinkley became a hit with the contestants!  We were in a video with the ladies that will be shown during the Miss SC pageant later this month about the CMN.  Brinkley was one of two local kids that were asked to represent the hospital in the video.  

As a result, Brinkley made connections with some of the girls and has been asked to appear with them to represent CMN at fundraising events.  We are honored to have these opportunities and look forward to sharing our story with others in our community.  Here are a few photos of Brinkley with his new girlfriends:

Grace Cromer Miss Walterboro Teen 

Miss Clemson Callie Martin