Cystic Fibrosis and a great story…
Thursday, May 28, 2009
- Jeffery what an amazing kiddo!!!
The other day I was checking our email and I received this letter from a CF wifey. It is about her wonderful son and his dedication to helping his dad, who has Cystic Fibrosis… As read this, tears streamed down my face… it is truly inspiring and days that I am having a hard time because our donations are just not coming in… I reread this… We have received $500/ $1000 donations, yet this $20 donation means more than anything to us… Thank you so much to the sweetest kid ever, Jeffery, you are so incredible and have a spot in my heart forever!!! We are lucky that there are Jefferys in this world… Here is the letter: (grab a hanky)
—————– Original Message —————–From: &hearts Beyond Blessed &hearts
To: BREATHE 4 TOMORROW FOUNDATION
Date: May 22, 2009 1:14 PM
Subject: hi hon..
i just made a payment to the power of one.
i wanted to tell you about why its 20 dollars.
my son Jeffrey is 10 years old and he has diligently been working on a CURE for CF. everything from adding more pepper to Alex, and good ole sunshine in a glass to water and god knows what…
i was going through your site in December and i started crying when i read one of your testimonials..Jeffrey of course does not like to see momma cry.. asked me what i was crying about. i told him what your foundation did and why i was crying… and he said momma i have a dollar. i told him that i would match his dollar and we would send it in. everything happened at once.. Alex went into the hospital again, we had to move .. bla bla bla… and i forgot about the dollar.
a couple weeks ago i was called by the office at school. (Jeffrey goes to a special ed day school as he is developmentally disabled, has Asbergers syndrome, a seizure disorder and is emotionally handicapped amongst other issues)
anyway Jeffrey was in an argument with some boy in his class about money. the boy said that Jeffrey was panhandling and that made Jeffrey a bum. and Jeffrey said no he was collecting money for the breathe for “yesterday” foundation. for Cystic Fibrosis so that his dad did not die and so that other people would get there telephone bills paid so they can call their family when they went into the hospital.
(yep i cried.. he ALMOST had it)
i explained to his principal what the breathe for “tomorrow” foundation was and what he was trying to do.
Mrs. H (the principal) asked me to come into the class and explain it. so i showed up the next day and told the class of 5 that Jeffrey was raising money for the power of 1 program. that it only took 1 person and 1 person and 1 person to give a dollar and by the end, we would have a million dollars. i explained that Jeffrey daddy had Cystic Fibrosis and brought in pictures of his scars from his double lunge transplant and spent about 30 minutes explaining what cystic fibrosis was and that it affected anyone, that it was like a huge bully that did not care who you are. that was that.. and i was free to go.
this was on a Friday. on Tuesday Jeffrey came home with a yellow envelope and said momma Mr Hewitt (his teacher) told me to give this to you and no one else.
he handed me the envelope and on the front of it was written. this is from our class. hope it helps.
enclosed were pennies, nickles, dimes and i think 50 cents in quarters. their was 11 dollars total. it was for your foundation. and i enclosed the orig. dollar that jeffrey promised and my dollar that i promised him too (thats 13) the 2 more for Alex and my son charlie, making 15. ( i sent the other 5 because it took me a bit to send it in.. i kept forgetting… maybe ill get the pennies to the bank now that i made the payment.) lol
anyway, i thought you might want to know how much my son (who is again proved himself to be my hero) cared. 11 dollars to 5 kids with all kinds of disabilities, and behavior problems is a lot of money. and by the money that was given, you can tell it was not just mom sending a dollar to school.
it touched me.. and i knew you might enjoy the story. when i called Mr. Hewitt and asked if i could have the names of the children that donated… he said nope. they just wanted to give money. none of us want recognition. so that’s how we would like to keep it. we sent it in dedication of everyone that has CF.
hope your day is great! i wish i could do more… but things are tight here… as always you have made mine great! thanks for doing what you do…
Kerriann
AWW THANK YOU FOR POSTING THIS. JEFFREY IS COLLECTING MONEY AGAIN TO BE ABLE TO SEND IT IN. HE HAS A GOAL FOR 22 DOLLARS! HE WANTS TO DOUBLE THE MONEY HE SENT IN BEFORE. I WOULD LIKE TO CHALLENGE EVERYONE READING THIS TO TAKE PART. WE ARE A FAMILY OF 4 2 OF THE 4 MEMBERS ARE DISABLED AND MY 4 YEAR OLD IS BEING ASSESSED. I AM A STUDENT WITH A LIMITED INCOME UNTIL I FINISH MY CLINICAL’S. MONEY IS TIGHT. BUT IF A 10 YEAR OLD CAN DO IT. SO CAN YOU! TO A DISABLED 10 YEAR OLD 11 BUCKS IS A HUGE AMOUNT OF MONEY AND 22 MIGHT AS WELL BE A MILLION. THE CHANGE I HAVE THAT WAS COLLECTED LOOKS AS IF IT WAS PRIED OUT OF A BUS STATION ASH TRAY. IT ONLY TAKES A DOLLAR!! AND WE CAN DO THIS TOGETHER! SARAH JEAN.. THANK YOU FOR HONORING MY SON! HE JUST LOVES HIS STEP DADDY, AND KNOWS WHAT ITS LIKE TO HURT DUE TO AN ILLNESS. THANK YOU .. THANK YOU .. THANK YOU! KERRIANN
May 29th, 2009 at 10:13 am
by KERRIANN ADLER (JEFFREYS MOMMA)
Wow! what an incredable kid. Jeffery there is no greater love than the love you have for Alex. You put me to shame cause I have been sent numerous letters by Mom to help and I have not. Unfortunately I have a million excuses that at the time seem legitimate. There should be more people out there, including me, that care so much and love so deeply.
I love you, Jeffery!
Grapie
May 31st, 2009 at 12:54 am
by Grapie
I glad you sent me the info to this web site Sis. By the way Ya’ll I am Jeffery’s Uncle. My sister has her hands full but i try to be there for everything I can. Jeffery Uncle Tommy is so proud of you my little Bull rider to be! And To all you out there that think us COWBOYS are made of nails your not wrong but not right either cause my nephew just made me so pruod and made me cry. SO I HERE BY SAY I WILL ALSO MATCH HIS NEXT DONATION DOUBLE !!!!! My prayers and heart go out to all the families deal with this “BULLY” (cystic fibrosis). LOVE YOU JEFFERY KEEP ME SMILE AND CRY TEARS OF JOY BOY WE WILL FIND A CURE BUDDIE. I have faith in you that you will be the DOCTOR to find that cure . love, Uncle Tommy
May 31st, 2009 at 1:12 pm
by Thomas Davis
Hey Sarah & Keriann & Jeffrey……. THANKS so much for this. Thanks for sharing it, thanks Keriann for raising such a wonderful kid and for being such a humble & kind human being. The world is a better place because of people like you & your family. Thanks Sarah for all that you continue to do and for always ALWAYS inspiring me. LOVE YOU
XOXOXOXOXOXOXO
November 11th, 2009 at 2:20 am
by Traci Schwyzer
I am so proud to call this lil man my nephew! His mom has done wonders with not only Jeffrey but his brother too. Its not easy to raise a decent child these days and she has pulled thru and made gentlemen out of her boys. I am proud to know that this child will one day grow up and hopefully becoming the leader of tomorrow! I am the one who is honored to know this lil boy! I can’t wait to see his future and to know that one day he will be the one leading the future!
November 24th, 2009 at 4:40 pm
by Kate Sparks
What an incrediable story! Thank you for sharing it and thank you to Jeffrey for caring! Kerriann you are very blessed with such an amazing son! Sounds like you have done a great job of raising him. His heart is sure in the right place as is yours. Thank you from me, a grandmother with 2 grandsons who both have CF.
Belinda Loucks
Grama to Carson & Brandon
July 28th, 2010 at 12:44 pm
by Belinda Loucks
That was so great! I just matched their 20 and added 20 of my own. I love what you are doing. Keep it up!
August 11th, 2010 at 3:24 pm
by Sarah Sheppard