When I was 3, I was diagnosed with cancer. I was diagnosed with cancer somewhere near my birthday. It was quite a rough time, but God and the doctors He sent to take care of me helped me a lot. Since they were helping me so much during that time, me and my family were very thankful. So, we made a vow that every year for my birthday we will donate things to the hospital I went to, such as Band-Aids, toys, and gift cards. This year we donated character Band-Aids and gift cards to the Pediatric Cancer patients and Pediatric Department of the hospital. Why character Band-Aids? My hospital doesn’t have the funds to provide the Band-Aids with fun designs.
Often, it’s the boring, plain, skin-color Band-Aids that are given to kids. These ones are more fun and put more smiles on those children who are going through multiple procedures. Plus, I loved getting character Band-Aids after one of my shotties. We also have gift cards for the teenagers who got bone marrow transplants and spinal taps. Most donations that are brought to the hospital are for kids and there aren’t a lot of gifts to be given to teenagers. This year held many surprises and was actually one of my largest donation drives to date.
Every year is the same. My mom helps me out by posting my donation drive online and writing letters to her school to donate Band-Aids to my hospital. But this year was different. It started out when I was in class doing a project. We had to make a slideshow about our partners. My friend’s slide had a picture of me because I was his favorite person. Our Technology teacher, Ms. Baut, asked how he managed to get a photo of me. She was curious because it wasn’t any ordinary picture but it looked like it was off a television program. And it was. It was a picture of me from incmedia.org and a link to a TV segment about me and my giving project. He then introduced her to INC Media. After she watched a video about me, she was very inspired and amazed. I started to tell her about the Church and how I donate to my hospital every year. And how my Church told my story through the media.
She said that she could have the whole school donate Band-Aids! My school was a big help and helped me collect 278 boxes of character band-aides.
This was the first year that I was able to rally people to help without my parents’ help, and, to top it all, I was able to share my faith with not only one teacher, but other teachers as well.
Over the years brethren, family, and friends have donated Band-Aids from all over the world: The Philippines, Switzerland, London, California, Arizona, Canada, Florida, Georgia, etc. all through the help of social media. I’ve gained so much support with my donation drive this year, and I couldn’t have done it without the help of my generous supporters. This year is one of the most special years of my donations, with the most Band-Aids I’ve ever received in any of the 6 years of donating. I collected 741 character Band-Aids along with nearly $365 worth of gift cards. That’s amazing! Thank you so much for all the support you guys have given me! You all have a special place in my heart and I hope that you will have a BRILLIANT day!
I really believe in the verse “Whenever you possibly can, do good to those who need it” (Proverbs 3:27). I do my best every year to give to those who are sick like I once was. And when I can, I will share my faith because it was God who healed me and even answered the prayers of a little boy like me.
As a thank you, I also visited my doctors and nurses and gave them a yummy treat for taking care of me. And thank you cards I gave to the doctors, nurses and my school.
Thank you, Mr. Fritzgerald, my principal, thank you to my oncologist, Dr. Goodwell.
and Ms. Bout my technology teacher who helped with my donation drive. Thank you, Dr. Kwon and my nurse and the gift cards I donated.
Contributed By: Bro. Chance Serrano
Local Congregation of Chicago, Illinois
District of Northern Mid-West
