Did you ever think about how important eating is to living? Unless you haven't eaten for a while, probably not. Did you ever think about how meeting certain people in your life is important to living? Unless you haven't met someone for a while, who has made an impact, probably not. The two acts are the same. You get the eating part. You should get the people part. It's a matter of being open to teachable moments, acknowledging the teachers and placing the lesson in your shirt pocket - for life. Please allow me to unfold this piece of paper from my pocket and share some notes.
First, I'd like to introduce you to the Marinello family. Dad-Victor; Mom-Lyn; Daughter-Deanna; Son-Miles. Victor is an Area Director for Applebees. Lyn is a volunteer and author. Deanna is a recent high school graduate and Miles is about to finish up his sophomore year in high school.
In third grade Miles was diagnosed with Dermatomyositis. And one year later Deanna, while in sixth grade, was diagnosed with Scoliosis and had to wear a full torso body brace, sixteen hours a day for an entire year. While receiving treatment at All Children's Hospital, The Children's Dream Fund approached Miles, he was told that he could request anything he could think of...like a trip to Disney or to meet a celebrity. Miles requested his own personal library. Along with Deanna, Miles wanted to repay this kind gesture and initiated the family Pay-It-Forward philanthropy. Here are a few things they've accomplished:
- a car wash where they raised $900.00
- a Cosmic bowling event
- participated in their orthodontist's candy buy back program. He paid one dollar for every pound of candy turned in (and donated one dollar to charity). The first year they collected sixty-three pounds, the second year one hundred fifty pounds and the third year over one half ton of candy
- Miles was featured in the All Children's Hospital telethon when in fourth grade. The family rasied $2,500.00 that year
- Miles was a Tuesday's Child and threw out a first pitch at a Ray's game
- Miles was a guest speaker at The Children's Dream Fund twenty-fifth birthday party
- Miles and a classmate helped a movie drive and turned in a van full of movies to the hospital
- He held a book drive and launched a Waiting Room Library
- Miles spoke on air to Lissette Campos of WFTS ABC Action News to help the ACH Tampa Branch Guild on a book drive
- Deanna and Miles have participated in All Children's Hospital telethons
- They were greeters at the Society Banquet
- They spoke at an All Children's estate planning event
- They participated on the first ever Radiothon event with Tampa's 103.5 crew
- They help out Mom as a ACH North Pinellas Branch Guild volunteer
- Deanna painted a picture on air for the ACH Tampa Branch Guild
- Deanna was a model patient for Dillard's Fashion at the Safety Harbor Spa Fashion Show
- The entire family went to Washington D.C. for Family Advocacy Days on behalf of All Children's Hospital to speak to Congressmen and Representatives
- The family routinely speaks to newly diagnosed patients to help soften the news and to answer any questions
What Deanna and Miles have accomplished is beyond awesome! What has really impacted me however, is their family as a unit. Deanna and Miles didn't just get beamed to Earth and instantly begin doing all this stuff. Victor and Lyn created the right environment from which their kids' core values grew. Lyn, and rightfully so, gushes over her kids and their accomplishments. But I cannot look at Deanna and Miles without seeing Victor and Lyn's accomplishments.
Lyn tells me that they have become stronger, better and less judgmental people because of what they've been through. I say that the world has become a better place because of who the Marinello family is and what they've been through.
If any of this has inspired you, please consider tuning into The All Children's Hospital Telethon this Sunday, May 31st, and plan to donate. The Marinello's will be appearing at 10:00 a.m. If you really get inspired, please consider joining one of the hospital's eight area Guild Branches. Contact Avril Osborn today!
