Tracy, April, Alyssa and Trystan Watson Family: April 3, 2010

JEANS MONTH - HUGE SUCCESS!!!!!

We would like to share that our Jeans Month was a HUGE success!!! Trystan and Alyssa were able to raise $11,300 for St. Louis Children's Hospital 9th Floor Hematology/Oncology Unit.

Businesses had "clever" ways to participate in Jeans Month. We would like to share those with you:

-The Bond County Sheriff's Department allowed their deputies to pay to grow facial hair and their dispatchers to wear jeans.
-St. Mary's School, in Edwardsville, extended not only to their staff but to their students, who wear uniforms every day, to pay to wear their jeans on Fridays during the month of February!
-West Springs Church in Missouri dedicated a Jeans Sunday and all the members of the church paid $1 to wear their jeans to church that Sunday.
-Watson's Drug Store made buttons that said, "Ask Me Why I'm Wearing Jeans"
-McCracken, Dawdy, Hall Family Practice made stickers to explain why they were wearing jeans.
-Pickerill's Pick'n "N" Grinn'n hosted a fundraiser at their restaurant for an entire Saturday.

Those businesses that allowed their employees to pay to wear their jeans, varied in the way they participated. Some allowed their employees to wear jeans for the entire month! While others did once a week, every Friday, twice a week for the month, etc. Any way you look at it, the businesses of our community and surrounding communities came together to help "give back"!

We also had businesses and factories that are already allowed to wear jeans to work take up a collection just to help "give back."

We had more than three dozen businesses either participate or collecto donations:

The Hardas Team-Highland, IL
Bridget Tinsley Photography-Highland, IL
Southwestern Electric-Greenville, IL
DeCurtis Corporation-Orlando, FL
FCC Preschool-Greenville, IL
First National Bank-Greenville, IL
Washington University Department of Surgery-St. Louis, MO
Enertech-Greenville, IL
Greenville Elementary School-Greenville, IL
Midland State Bank-Greenville, IL
Tri-Ford-Highland, IL
Ford Square-Mt. Vernon, IL
Greenville Jr. High 6th Graders-Greenville, IL
Glow Salon & Med Spa-MO
West Springs Church-MO
Bradford National Bank-Greenville, IL
DeMoulin's-Greenville, IL
St. Mary's School-Edwardsville, IL
VFW Ladies Auxiliary-Highland, IL
Schnuck's-Fairview Heights, IL
Bond County Health Department-Greenville, IL
Bass Mollett-Greenville, IL
TRICOR Braun-MO
Bond County Courthouse-Greenville, IL
Montgomery County Nursing & Rehab-Hillsboro, IL
McCracken, Dawdy, Hall Family Practice-Greenville, IL
SIUE Human Resources-Edwardsville, IL
United Stationers-Greenville, IL
Main Street Galaxy Restaurant-Alhambra, IL
Terra Properties-Highland, IL
Bond County Sheriff's Department-Greenville, IL
IGA-Staunton, IL
Pickerill's Pick'n "N" Grinn'n-Staunton, IL
Ethal's-Highland, IL
Mulberry Grove Elementary School-Mulberry Grove, IL
Watson's Drug Store-Greenville, IL
Pocahontas & Sorento Elementary Schools-Pocahontas & Sorento, IL
Salon de Guerra-Highland, IL
Law Offices of Michael Diaz-Greenville, IL
Klaus Services-Highland, IL

Our family was overwhelmed with the response to Jeans Month. In the beginning we were hoping to raise $500-$1,000. That goal was met before February 1st. Our girls then set a goal of $5,000 and that was surpassed! Lastly, they set a goal of $10,000 which was met at the very end of March. But the calls and checks kept coming through the second week of March. Our family would like to thank the businesses who participated and gave donations! We would also like to thank the many inidividual donations we received from those who just wanted to give.

My husband and I took the girls down to St. Louis Children's Hospital March 21, 2010 to present the donations to the hospital. Upon arrival the hospital had printed a "HUGE" check to present. The girls presented the check to Dr. Wilson, Dr. Ziga, and Nurse Practitioner Karen from the 9th Floor.

Thank you all for everything,

The Watson Family :)

Saturday, April 3, 2010

April 3, 2010

One year ago today I took Trystan to see Dr. Borwick because she was having terrible leg pain. Of course we were only thinking it was a pulled muscle, charlie horse, or at the worse a broken bone. The doctor sent us over to Greenville Regional Hospital for blood work and x-rays. Only to later get a call from her to send us over to Cardinal Glennon ER where they told us Trystan had a tumor on her tibia. Our world was turned upside down and inside out and our lives changed forever! But through the power of God we've made it to today and Trystan is cancer free. Yes, she isn't walking yet, but she will. God has been so good and continues to be, showing us mercy and giving us strength when we needed it the most. Through our experiences with Trystan He has brought so many people closer to Him, and we are very thankful for that. We pray that through this trial in our lives we can be a help to other families going through similar experiences.

Late this morning the four of us left the house and headed for Children's Hospital. But today it wasn't for Trystan. The girls had made some cards and gotten a few small gifts for a fellow cancer patient and her big brother. She will not be home for Easter so the girls wanted to bring a little Easter to them. We couldn't bring it to Gracie personally but her mom met us down in the cafeteria and we visited with her for a bit and gave her the gift. When praying for Trystan and our family, please remember Gracie and her family.

Once home from the hospital I hard boiled some eggs for the girls to dye. The eggs are finished being dyed and ready for the Easter Bunny to hide tomorrow morning.

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Prayer Requests

When you are praying for our family please also try and remember the following other people going through similar circumstances.

• We thank God that Trystan continues to be cancer free and that she is now able to walk without the aid of a walker or wheelchair. God has been soooo good to us and has shown His Power, Love, and Mercy through this, we are so thankful! Trystan still continues to struggle a little in school because she missed almost her entire 1st grade year. Please pray for patients for her as she realizes that it is harder for her than others in class.

• Please remember to pray for Alyssa. She is the forgotten victim in this and is having some problems with adjusting to the life that we now live. She has been so sweet and understanding in so many ways, but please pray that she will not feel left out or unwanted. This has been a huge challenge for us since Trystan requires so much attention.

. Michael Vaughn: A 12 year old boy from Bunker Hill recently diagnosed in July of 2011 with Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

.Teri (Tracy's sister) was diagnosed with cancer February 2011. Please pray for strength for Teri. Also remember her husband Brad, and three boys(Trenton, Tyler, and Toby) as they all go through this difficult time of waiting for scan results, etc.

• Megan: A 15 year old girl from Southern MO that has the same disease as Trystan except hers started in her arm and spread to her lungs.

. Ben: A 12 year old boy from St. Louis area that had the same disease as Trystan. His started in his shoulder. PTL he is cancer free, but has just had yet another surgery to correct problems he has been having with his shoulder continuing to pop out.

• Tracy's Mom (Doris) as she continues to struggle with the loss of John.

• Gracie Hassard: A young girl from Staunton who had her brain tumor removed. PTL Gracie completed her chemo treatments February 2011! She still has a lot of recovering to do and is getting stronger with every day!

.Aaron Robinson: A 6 year old who has relapsed with Ewing Sarcoma February 2011. Please pray for strength for Aaron to fight the cancer, for his parents and brother, for wisdom for the doctors, nurses, and staff that will be treating him.

Encouragement

We have found the following bible verses and quotes to be a source of strength for us as we go through this time.

• 2 Corinthians 9:8
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
• Philippians 4:6-7
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
• Philippians 4:11-13
11I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
• Philippians 4:19
And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
• 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
9But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 10That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
• John 14:1
Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.
• 2 Corinthians 1:3-7
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. 6 Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. 7 And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation.
• Isaiah 43:1-2
1 But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, O Jacob,
And He who formed you, O Israel:
“ Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by your name;
You are Mine.
2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.
When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned,
Nor shall the flame scorch you.
• Isaiah 40: 29-31
29 He gives power to the weak,
And to those who have no might He increases strength. 30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall,
31 But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.

Tracy, April, Alyssa and Trystan Watson Family

JEANS MONTH - HUGE SUCCESS!!!!!

Saturday, April 3, 2010

April 3, 2010

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