When life gives you lemons...sell lemonade to help others!"

As you know, Rowan and our family had the amazing opportunity to go to Disney World with 50 families of chronically or terminally ill children and their families in November of 2011.  This trip came just 2 weeks after Rowan left the hospital once again, after 2 weeks in Pediatric ICU, following a vp shunt malfunction and revision.

The Kidd's Kids orgainization are the ones who sent us, like they do for 50 families every year.  We had the time of our lives.  A trip we would never have been able to go on without them.  They took care of every last detail, including making sure he had the necessary medical equipment for the plane ride and hotel, doctors and nurses assigned to each child, and 5 days of fun at all the Disney parks in Orlando, Florida. Not to mention Rowan got to meet and hang out with J-Si and some of his other favorite radio celebrities from Mix 96.1 and the Kidd Kradick in the morning show.

When we got home, Rowan immediately said, "That was so awesome! I want to help even more kids get to go next year." I asked him how he'd like to raise money for them, and at the time I expected him to say something like have a lemonade stand.  That's what most 5 year olds would say, right? Not Rowan.  Last year Rowan's idea was, "I know! I'll sell my autograph." After I stopped laughing, that is what we helped him do.  He ended up signing several hundred autographed pictures of himself on his Disney Trip in this photo...

And you know, Rowan ended up raising well over $4000 for Kidd's Kids in the process.  We were blown away, and so proud to have Rowan present that check at Chuck and Mindi Hartzog's Annual Kidd's Kids Golf Tournament in New Orleans last July, and on his 6th birthday:-)  Pretty big accomplishment for a 5-6 year old, especially since it was all his own idea.

 

 

This year when I asked him how he wanted to raise money for them again, he said "Well, you all thought I would sell lemonade last year, so I guess I could do that this time." I told him it would be extremely hard to raise over $4000 selling lemonade.  His answer, "I could if my picture was on it". We laughed at his awesome confidence, and then once again decided to support him in his idea. So............

 

This year Rowan will be making and selling lemonade at several locations and times in and around San Antonio and New Braunfels in May and June (to be announced soon).  They will be lemonade stands raising money by donation only, with all the proceeds going to Kidd's Kids.  For the people who do not live in our area though, Rowan decided that he could just send them an autographed copy of his lemonade recipe with his picture on it, in exchange for their donation to Kidd's Kids.  Those donations may be mailed in starting any time now, and up until June 30th, to Rowan Windham: 420 River Chase Drive, New Braunfels, Texas 78132.  Checks should be made out to Kidd's Kids though, and Rowan will forward them all together to Kidd's Kids.  He will once again present the overall donation check to the Hartzogs at their annual Kidd's Kids Golf Tournament in New Orleans this July.

 

 

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Thank you for helping Rowan give back to such an awesome charity, Kidd's Kids.  Check them out at their website http://www.kiddskids.com/. They made a difference in his life, and continue to make a difference in the life of chronically and terminally ill children every year.

On a side note, Rowan's favorite store bought lemonade is Hubert's Original Lemonade. And they are fans of his as well:-)

 

They have so kindly and generously offered to send us some give-away packages of Hubert's Lemonade products, to benefit people who donate to Rowan's fundraising efforts for Kidd's Kids.  Everyone who sends a donation check to Rowan for Kidd's Kids will be entered into a drawing, and Rowan will hold a drawing for the Hubert's lemonade give-away packages.  Winners will be announced the first week of July!  Thank you to everyone who donates, and to Hubert's Lemonade.  If you haven't tried their delicious products, check out their website www.hubertslemonade.com and look for them at your local grocery store.

So remember, to make a donation to Kidd's Kids in Rowan's honor this year, please mail checks to Rowan Windham: 420 River Chase Drive, New Braunfels, Texas 78132.  Checks should be made payable to Kidd's Kids.  He will in turn, enter you into the drawing for the awesome Hubert's Lemonade give-away packages and send each of you a copy of his signed personal lemonade recipe with his picture on it:-)


To update you all on Rowan, he has unfortunately been back in the hospital numerous times since his trip to Disney World, spent about a hundred more days there, and undergone about a dozen more surgeries, including repeat brain surgery. 

But, Rowan never feels sorry for himself or his situation.  Instead, he continues to think about how he can help others. Just like his plans to raise money with these lemonade stands for Kidd's Kids.

Some people say, "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade."

 

Rowan says, "When life gives you lemons, sell lemonade to help others!"