Their Future is in Our Hands
March 28, 2007
Dear Friends and Family
I am writing to ask for your support of Children’s Hospital Boston.
As most of you know, I am in remission from cancer. The title of this letter is very much in my mind daily because if the people of yesterday had not been as generous with their time, money and efforts as they had been, I may not have been able to write this letter. The following is a brief history of my involvement with Children’s Hospital and the reason I encourage your generosity:
On March 1, 2005, I went into the hospital to have what I thought would be routine surgery to remove a piece of metal from my stomach. Four days later, I was told that I had traces of cancer (lymphoma) in my colon. As you no doubt can imagine, the initial shock was tough. But I quickly realized that it was far from over, and that it was time to move forward in the positive direction directed by my wonderful team of doctors. While recovering from surgery, it became apparent to me that the tremendous generosity of other people had helped make it possible for me to receive some of the best care in the world. So I made a promise to myself that when I got better, I would become more active in my efforts to help future generations, as others in the past had helped me
Last year, six months after my surgery, I had a chance to achieve my lifelong dream and to help future generations at the same time: I became involved with Children’s Hospital and I had the opportunity to run the 110th Boston marathon with the hospitals Boston’s Marathon Program. The famed Boston Marathon was a dream come true for me. It was a fantastic experience from the first time I met my “patient partner” until the moment I crossed the finish line at Copley Square. My patient partner last year was Andy Trevino. Andy was then six years old and suffered from Primary Immune Deficiency Disorder, a life threatening condition. Andy had spent 650 days (or a third of his life) in the hospital, and the doctors at Children’s had successfully treated him by transplanting DNA from his sister, Sofia. Two years after the transplant, and thanks to Children’s Hospital, Andy is now a healthy 7 ½ year old boy just like all of his classmates.
This year I am again running for Andy, and am also running for a very special little girl named Rachel Blaisdell. Rachel has Brittle Bone Syndrome and has been admitted to the hospital on seventy-seven occasions with broken bones. But even this has not dampened her spirits in any way. Rachel has more spirit and enthusiasm than most people I know. She deals with her ailment like we would a “bad hair day”…like no big deal. A lot of this is because of her personal strength as an individual. But it also comes from the confidence that she and her family feel when they walk through the doors at Children’s Hospital. Children’s makes children feel safe and secure, from the valets out front, to the doctors and nurses in the emergency room and the operating room…and everyone in between. I have experienced that personally when I have brought my children to the emergency room for various reasons. On my last visit, my son received 8 stitches in his lip after falling. Listening to him and the doctor talk was great; he was so comfortable with the doctor he had just met, it was like he was talking to his friends in the schoolyard. As we left the hospital, my son turned to the doctor and said: “You know you are a good guy and I liked coming here.” A true testament to the staff at this wonderful place.
Andy and Rachel do not need your money…but they do encourage you to give generously to Children’s Hospital Boston so that others can benefit from the same kind of excellent care they have experienced. Your contribution will help ensure that patients will continue to receive the best medical care possible, and that children around the world will benefit from the groundbreaking research performed at Children’s everyday. Our hope is that one day, other children may not have to face the suffering that Andy, Rachel and other children endure on a daily basis. Andy, Rachel and these other patients are brave soldiers from whom we can learn much. If we exhibit half of their courage and faith, and give generously to support this amazing cause, we can truly help the families that depend on Children’s to enjoy long and happy lives together.
To accomplish this, I am asking you to help me support the patient care and research missions of Children’s Hospital. With your contribution, you have the ability to improve the lives of many children and their families for years to come.
Today their future is in our hands;
Tomorrow our future is in their hands
Please make your check payable to Children’s Hospital. My ID # is Mark Porter PM0031. Or visit my website www.mark4andy.com and make your donation online.
On behalf of Andy, Rachel and all of the children, thank you for your support.
With best regards,
Mark Porter
www.mark4andy.com