Sydney’s Santa “07” is off to a bright and shining start to this Holiday Season. Throughout the year we have been very busy.  Sydney’s Sleigh has made several stops to many towns sharing the good news of organ donation. Not forgetting to invite “everyone” to join us in helping provide many wonderful Christmas’ to families in Southeast Missouri. Our search for families who are in need of a little “magic” this Christmas Season has begun.

We made our first but not last appearance to the Westfield Mall in Cape Girardeau, MO during the busiest shopping day ever.  That’s right we were out in full force the day after Thanksgiving.  It was wonderful weekend being able to share with hundreds of shoppers, many strangers, the life and story of our littlest angel, Sydney Beth. During our time there we met individual from at least eight different states.   Each “new friend” eager to take Sydney’s Story to share with family and friends of their own walked away proudly wearing a Sydney’s Santa t-shirt.  It touches my heart to see so many people from all walks of life come together to support our efforts to keep Sydney Beth’s spirit of giving alive.

Another fun and exciting stop was to the Southeast Missouri State University Campus in Cape Girardeau, MO.  Here we visited with about sixty members of the Gamma Phi Beta Sorority.  We shared a night of laughter and some tears while discussing the importance of education about organ donation.  The girls were so much fun!  After our meeting I was contacted by the sorority about adopting a family from Sydney’s Santa and also maybe hosting a toy drive on campus.

With each New Year I am finding more and more organizations that are willing to help out.  St. Francis Hospital in Cape Girardeau, Missouri along with Missouri Delta Medical in Sikeston are a few of the hospitals who have shown an immense amount of interest in supporting Sydney’ Santa each year. Not by only providing gifts but also encouraging their friends and families to discuss organ donation.  Many of the employees at both places have helped boost t-shirt sales to almost seventeen hundred since November 1st of this year.

I would love to name everyone who has helped make Sydney’s Santa into the success it has become in only four short years.  Inevitably I would leave someone out, so just know that without EVERYONE”S support my goal as a mommy of continuing Sydney’s spirit would not be possible.

As we enter the busy month of December I asked you only keep a few things in mind.  First, remember The Reason for the Season, the birth of Jesus, a baby born for all of us.  Secondly, take a moment to stop and think how easily you could make a difference in someone’s life just by being “nice”.  Lastly, consider the greatest gift of all, the gift of life.

I will chat with you soon.  Good Luck with your holiday plans.