Family Stories
Appreciation for Our Military Families
The month of May is Military Appreciation Month, and Believe In Tomorrow would like to recognize and thank the many brave and honorable members of the U.S. Armed Forces, not only within our programs, but also around the world. It is because of these honorable men and women that we began the Believe In Tomorrow Military Initiative, prioritizing those who not only have a critically ill child to care for, but also a family member serving in the military.
Meet a few of our military families: some new, and some veterans, but all looking forward to creating memories and sharing time together on a Believe In Tomorrow respite. They’ve shared a few words about what it means to be a Believe In Tomorrow military family.
The James Family, from Bryans Road, MD, is looking forward to their upcoming respite at the Believe In Tomorrow House on the Bay. They are a Navy family, having recently been transferred from San Diego to the DC area. Reflects mom, Christine, “Being a military family means sacrifice. We sacrifice time with friends and family. We work long hours, sometimes far from home and in the worst conditions. We do this for something we love; our country, our people, our way of life.”
The James’ six-year-old son, Bodie was diagnosed with Shwachman-Diamond Syndrome at age one, which progressed to myelodysplastic syndrome and recently required a bone marrow transplant. Limited in what activities he can do during his recovery, Bodie, as well as the rest of the family, is really looking forward to the respite. “A trip to Ocean City through Believe in Tomorrow is a great motivator to keep his spirits up, keep taking his medicines and keep an overall positive attitude,” says Christine. “We are looking forward to our family getaway, free from the stresses of hospitals, appointments, blood tests and work. We are ready for some fun.”
The Cozzas, a Navy family from Virginia Beach, VA, will not only be taking their first Believe In Tomorrow respite this summer, but will also be vacationing at the beach for the very first time! It has always been tough to plan vacations around a military schedule, especially since fifteen-year-old Caroline was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma, so the family is really looking forward to getting away to the Believe In Tomorrow House on the Bay this summer.
“The biggest thing is that it doesn’t require a lot of doing on the part of the family,” says mom, Karen. “Your whole life can turn in five minutes, so trying to schedule something is the hardest thing to do. With a military family, what it means to have vacation is really traveling to see relatives, so this has more of a vacation feel to it. This is a block of time to get away and be together as a family, with no commitments to anybody else.”
The Van Gundy’s are an Army family from Cibolo, Texas, who have had several opportunities to enjoy Believe In Tomorrow’s Hands On Adventures program. They were introduced to the organization while thirteen-year-old Zach was being treated for ALL, when they were invited to attend a Hands On Riding Adventure with the Professional Bull Riders in 2009. Their most recent adventure was on the MetLife blimp, and although it was too windy to fly, Zach and his family were able to tour the blimp and ask the pilots all kinds of questions.
“We are ‘lucky’ to be a military family with an ill child,” says Zach’s mom, Cathy. “The military takes care of our son and supports his medical needs, but children going through a long term medical illness need to be able to feel like normal kids and that is what Believe in Tomorrow does for Zach. Believe in Tomorrow offers Zach a break from worries and stresses caused by his Leukemia and the side effects from his treatment. Believe in Tomorrow definitely has a special place in our family's life!”