Grabbing Joy

Learning about the blimp and safety rules!

There are a lot of times sick kids get extras. In the past, I’ve talked about how uncomfortable it felt to accept these perks knowing the only reason we enjoy them is because the kids have a life-threatening condition.

The kids have both enjoyed a Make-A-Wish wish with Quinnlin’s being a Disney Cruise and Gage’s being a trip to New York for the Thanksgiving Day Parade. The kids have been invited to baseball games, a summer camp and Christmas parties to name a few.

We take advantage of these perks because we never know what is going to happen tomorrow. I know that is the case for all of us, I do. I think for us though, the possibility of something bad happening – making an experience like this impossible – is more likely for our family.

We do it to give the kids experiences we could otherwise not provide and riding in a blimp is certainly on that list. In fact, I’m not sure it would have ever been what I would have considered on our wish list for them so it was a wonderful surprise when it fell out of the sky (so to speak).

We had the opportunity because the organization Believe in Tomorrow Children’s Foundation partners with DIRECTV to provide blimp rides to families with children who have life-threatening conditions while they are in cities for promotions at sporting events. We were lucky enough to get 1 of 3 slots to ride it on Thursday evening (in fact only 2 slots were taken). They allow 1 parent per impacted child and we have two, so both parents could accompany the kids.

High above the Atlanta Motor Speedway

Gage especially need this to happen this week, so imagine how we felt when we knew it was going to happen. We did not tell the kids what we were doing only that it was a surprise and that we’d never done it before and would never have the chance to do it again.

It was one of the coolest things I’ve ever done. More importantly, we were able to let go of our current challenges for something spectacular. We created a memory of being together and we do not take that for granted for one second. Especially when you watch your kids and their expressions running up to ride a blimp. Or as a “co-pilot” or maybe talking on a headset to a pilot and listening to traffic control while floating in the air looking down on the world. The thing about literally looking down on the world below is that for a little bit of time you can leave the problems down there, too.

For now anyway, there is a link to a news story on the ride!

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