Living Like Him - But Without Him
By working hard to live our lives like Miles, but without him - we are able to somehow move and navigate the relentless and massive mountains of loss. Enormous peaks of sadness and grief which through actions become less daunting and easier to climb the more we try to live each day like him - to the fullest, give back to our community, and try to find the good even in the darkest of times.
This summer has provided us many opportunities to give back to our community by sharing Miles’s story which has in turn allowed us to see the good - even in our sadness. Miles was the Children’s Miracle Network Child in Southern Oregon and Northern California. His smiling face in a 4H hat graced the registers in Costcos and WalMarts across several counties. Hundreds, if not thousands of people asked to give on behalf of our sweet boy - inspired by what he gave. Not suprisingly, records were broken by the campaign this year and all of those funds will go directly to the Asante Foundation to help other families like ours. At the culmination of the campaign we were asked to visit a Wal Mart in Southern Oregon and got to “slime” the managers. Something he would have loved. Hugging strangers and sharing tears all while improving our community because of him.
We were asked to come to speak directly to program managers of the new Olsrud Family Women and Children’s Hospital to share suggestions on how to provide more resources for families enduring loss. We also talked about the need for pediatric specific end of life resources. All conversations which will bring about change and improvements.
Our family got to meet the incredible woman who gifted her room naming ability to us, which will result in the Miles John Isbell Child Life Quiet Room. Over the course of lunch, we learned that as Miles was enduring his trials her late husband was as well. In fact, our paths may have even crossed in the hospital. Her husband was sick often as a young child and spent quite a bit of time in the hospital. He and Miles shared childhood bravery and even though both have now passed - their spirit continues to inspire philanthropy.
We spent time with the Asante Foundation telling our story on camera in preparation for the Oregon Wine Experience. One of the top ten wine events in the country and the Asante Foundation’s major fundraising event. Last year Miles helped raise over three million dollars in one night. Just last weekend, Bradley and I got mentally prepared to attend the event and put on our Sunday best. As we were standing in line with friends at the event a sudden thunderstorm hit with lightning strikes, heavy rain, and intense wind. Hundreds of people were sent out to their cars or into shelter to wait for the storm to pass. Shortly after the storm passed we were devastated to hear our dear friend Jennifer announce that the event had to be cancelled due to structural damage to the tent and so much broken glass. Devastated doesn’t even begin to describe what we felt. The majority of the evening was going to be about sharing Miles’s story in the hopes of inspiring others to give. A chance to celebrate him and improve our community. The foundation had to shift gears and raise money online. The three different videos are tough to watch - but were even tougher to create. However - working to see the good even in the darkest of times maybe they will reach more than the people that were going to be in the tent that night. The final video is about Journey, the service dog inspired by Miles and Charlee, that will now get to make the lives of hundreds of other families like ours, that much better.
We miss you sweet boy, so very much and we are so proud of you and the difference you are still making.
