"My life is a treasure chest!"

As many of you know, Rowan has had a pretty difficult year medically speaking, with many repeat hospitalizations and multiple surgical procedures, some just a week apart at times, and two more coming up within the next two weeks.  You would think that would get to him, get him down, make him mad or sad, or cause some negative feelings...but not Rowan.  As usual, Rowan thinks his life is GREAT!  In the past few months, Rowan has been honored by several different people, and they have given him items that he will treasure for years to come.  Gestures like these are a big part of the reason he is so happy.

 

In July he was blown away by the gifting of Matt Ducote's personal fire helmet in New Orleans.  Then the Terrytown Fire Department made him an honorary operator and gave him badges, patches, a hat, uniforms, etc.

 

At the Toughest Dog in Texas competition last month some of the participants from Lackland Air Force  Base gave Rowan a stuffed K9 dog named "Hero" and an official K9 coin.

 

At the same competition, Sheriff Bob Holder made Rowan a Junior Deputy and pinned a Sheriff's badge on him.

 

A week later Rowan was invited to be a VIP guest at the dedication of the working dog memorial at Lackland Air Force Base and he was given another special K9 coin, a memorial pin and a K9 badge.

 

All of these items are more than just tokens to him.  He, and our entire family, are blessed beyond measure at the efforts of these individuals and departments to make Rowan feel special.  And they should know, they have!

 

The other night at Rowan's play practice, his fellow cast members all signed a stuffed turkey for Rowan (who will play the part of "The Turkey" in Honk, Jr.).  They wanted him to have it to take with him to the hospital next week when he goes under anesthesia for his 65th medical procedure.  On the way home, Rowan told me:

 

 "I'm really gonna need a big chest for all my treasures now...

actually, my life is a treasure chest...because everything in it is so special!"

 

I was blown away.  How could he be so positively happy with all that he has been enduring!  But then I remembered, it's Rowan, and that's just how he is.  I believe God sent him here to put things in perspective for us all.  So, I hope this little story blesses you, like it did me when Rowan said it.  And that you all can feel as content and joyful as Rowan does.  Despite whatever troubles we are going through as individuals...our lives truly are treasure chests, if we just focus on all the special people and things in it. Thanks for the reminder Rowan:)

 

 

 

 

Drum roll please....Toughest Dog in Texas Fundraiser total was amazing!

Last night was the appreciation dinner to say thank you to all of the organizers, sponsors and volunteers who helped make the first annual Toughest Dog in Texas Competition Event and Fundraiser. It was a great night, and we really enjoyed getting to see and thank everyone who worked so hard on this fundraiser.  Below are pictures from the evening.

First of all, we cannot thank the Comal County Sheriffs Department enough, especially Deputy Duane Buethe, Sheriff Bob Holder and the entire K9 Department.  If it wasn't for Duane's idea, vision and hard work, the event would have never happened.  The Department, and the community then rallied around him to chip in and make the first annual dog run a HUGE success! After event expenses they were able to give us a check for... $9,500.00!!!!! All for The Rowan Jameson Windham Foundation.  This money will all go to help other children who deal with life threatening illnesses and spend a lot of time in the hospital, and their families.  It will allow us to expand from just serving children in San Antonio, to also adding children in New Braunfels hospitals as well.  We were blessed beyond measure and completely blown away, not just by the monetary total, but by the tremendous outpouring of love and support for Rowan's cause.

 

 

 

To help celebrate, I made the cake (and some special jello jigglers for Rowan)...

 

 

 

The evening just kept getting better and better. 

Rowan was presented with a very special gift from Constable Shane Rapp...

 

 

and he CANNOT wait to go up in this aircraft!

 

As if all this wasn't great enough...just look at the gift I was blessed with, from another event sponsor, Artist Bernice Brown! An original portrait of Rowan that she did from a photograph she found on the website.  She truly captured his shining eyes and precious grin.  I was in tears of course, and Rowan couldn't stop looking at himself:)  What a priceless, treasured gift.

 

 

Thank you Comal County Sheriff's Department, Deputy Duane Buethe, Sheriff Bob Holder and the multitude of sponsors and volunteers who helped raise this money for Rowan's cause.

 

 

We are so grateful, and very excited to be able to help bless even more medically fragile children and their families this year and in the years to come.

 

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts,

Rowan Windham &

The Rowan Jameson Windham Foundation Board of Directors

~

Carrie Windham

Sandra Malcolm

Maris Wise

Stephanie Barter