Happy Easter from your Friends at Thumbuddy Special:
We are gearing up for our Back to Bowling Event. For years we ran the Candlelight Bowling Night at our favorite venue, Monte Clare Lanes in Chicago, we are back! The food is fabulous, family style Italian, and the lanes are ready. So if you are not busy on April 19th, come out and join the fun! We will be awarding our Just Have Fun Camp Scholarship to West Suburban Special Recreation Assoc. and Yalina will be on hand, with her like new Van.
Attached are 2 thank you notes that we received from Wanika, Yalina’s mom and Yalina. These notes are quite emotional. The impact we make on our special kids and their families really are felt in their words of gratitude.
Below is the thank you from Kelly, her sister Megan received an adapted bike from your generosity. Megan’s smile tells the story!
Here is how you can help us continue with our mission.
Cash Raffle tickets are available now; 5 bucks each or 5 for 20. Please let me know if you are willing to sell to your friends or if you want to purchase some for yourself. This is an easy way to reach out to family and friends. Four lucky winners will be drawn at the May Board Meeting.
We are so very grateful for your support.
Dear MaryEllen and Thumbuddy Special,
I want to say a big, big thank you for the amazing gift for my sister Megan. Megan has several issues with her spine, hips and feet so walking is never a comfortable endeavor. Last year I discovered she liked riding on a friends bike with training wheels but finding a bike that was safe and appropriately sized for her was a struggle. Then like a miracle, came MaryEllen who said, “don’t worry, we will find the perfect bike for Meg”. And she did, on Megan’s birthday as a matter of fact! We are so blessed and thankful to MaryEllen and Thumbuddy Special! She LOVES it!Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!
Kelly and Megan
Dear Thumbuddy Special,
Hi! My name is Yalina. I wanted to write my own thank you letter to you. First, I want to thank you for giving my mom a fun day at the spa. She looked more beautiful than ever! I’m so glad you did that for her and the other mom’s. I think kids like me our mom’s are extra special cause their work is a lot harder and it seems they never rest. I want you to know I think you are God’s secret Earth angels. The gift of the van was awesome! It was better then winning the lottery! Thanks to you I no longer have to say “Oh mom! How I wish we had our own van.” and silently wish we could go here or there. My wish has finally come true. We can go to Great America, water parks, ride by the lake front, and to the zoo! My favorite is Lincoln Park Zoo. I love all the trees and shade and everything is so close by. We won’t ever have to take a train or a bus to go to the Science Museum. Plus I get to go to the library – ANYTIME!! YAY!!
Having this van is the best gift our family can have. The shopping carts can have a long rest. My family tells everyone it’s my van even though I can’t drive yet. They even let me name it. I call her “Big Mama” I’m so happy and thankful for this gift. No longer will I feel like Rupunzel in her tower looking out. Now I will be able to get out and see things for myself. I’m so excited! We will take good care of her and she will always have a good home with us. Every time I look at her and ride in her…I will always silently say “Thank You” to you. May God bless you forever.
I Love you all forever!Love & Kisses,
Yalina
Dear Thumbuddy Special,
God bless you all!!! You all are angels above! How do I begin to express our gratitude and appreciation for the beautiful van. It’s a long awaited dream come true and endless wishful thinking to have a van that size. We knew a car or mini van would never do. We still can’t believe it! The day I got the call, me and my mom cried for days, while Yalina’s eyes lit up with excitement and happiness. You have no idea what we endured having no vehicle. We had to rely on ride, bus, cab, train, and shopping carts (small & large). Not easy having outings when using public transportation when you have a wheelchair and a baby stroller. Emergency ER visits’ were by cab or ambulance. Doctor and therapy appointments consisted of an entire day of making arrangements with private transportation companies a month in advance. You have to know this gift will enhance and change our lives forever. So many doors will now open for Yalina and her brother. She is so excited and tells me how we can now go here and there without being rushed. Weather elements won’t get in the way of going to the movies or library. Our most recent horror story was not that long ago. It was a frigid cold snowy Friday. She had an art class at the community center and didn’t want to miss. It was dreadful out so we made it by cab. Doing so, we left her wheelchair behind due to the snow and we had plans to take a cab back home. I had arranged a cab to pick us up by 6:30pm. By 7:30pm it never came. As a determined mom, I put her on my back and ran the 5 blocks home. When we got home my mom had cried when she saw us and how frozen we were. A experience we will never forget. So you see this van will never be taken for granted. While people complain about the price of gas, they need to think the price of NOT having a vehicle itself! You and your kindness and generosity will always be in our hearts. You are forever in our prayers. I am crying as I write this, not out of sadness but happiness. Yalina doesn’t ask for much. Thanks to you, she no longer has to wish to go places that require a vehicle. I mean a simple thing like, “Mom, if the weather is ok, can we got to the library?” As a single mom with a special Angel like Yalina, you can understand the emotion’s that are flowing through me. I can now say “Yes Yalina – Let’s go!” And then see that million dollar smile with her ever glistening eyes is priceless. Again you are forever in our prayers. God bless you all!
THANK YOU! TAHNK YOU! TAHNK YOU!
Wanika Lopez & Family
Have a very Blessed Easter.
God Bless
Mary Ellen
Gallery
