Support For Christi Thomas

This blog is to help offer support to the Thomas Family and their daughter, Christi, in her battle against cancer. Please visit Christi's website at www.ChristiThomas.com to learn more. There, you'll find journals, photos and a lots of other information about this amazing child and her family.

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Saturday, April 27, 2013

Confirmation!

Shayla reached a huge milestone in the Catholic Church.  She made her Sacrament of Confirmation on Thursday evening with her class of about 70 students.  In the Catholic Church, Confirmation is a Sacrament of initiation, establishing young adults as full-fledged members of the faith.  It comes after the Sacraments of Baptism, Penance and Holy Communion.

We are very proud of Shayla for taking this Sacrament so seriously.  This gal continues to amaze me. She reads the Bible most every night and often leaves me passages to read on my pillow with discussion questions to help focus my reading.  Yes, sometimes I have to ask myself, "Who is the adult here?"  She is amazing!  Thank God for richly blessing us with Shayla.

When she told me a couple of months ago, that she had select the name of Christine for her Saint, I cried for about thirty minutes.  I know she misses her too and still leans to her for guidance.  I wish Christi could have made this Sacrament and I know she was with us this week at mass with the Reverend Monsignor William Kubacki!
Shayla asked her uncle and Godfather to serve as her Proxy since her confirmation sponsor (Cousin Ashley) could not be with us in person due to a conflict she had attending an out-of-state college. 
Newly confirmed, Shayla Marie Christine Thomas




Thank you, uncle Gil!


Celebrating after mass at a restaurant

With grandma Nee Nee

Taking the gifts to the alter

This is the name tag Shayla wore for mass.  All of the students were given the Saint's name they selected on these lovely tags to wear.    After she was confirmed, she walked toward me where I stood taking pictures.  It was only then that I saw this name tag and tears gushed down my cheeks.  She stopped, put a kiss on my cheek and then proceed to her pew.  I don't deserve this remarkable child.  Thank you dear Lord!  Thank you, Shayla Thomas!

Sunday, April 14, 2013

Before and After Braces Pictures


Shayla Thomas - CMN Fundraiser

Ooops!  I cannot believe I forgot to share the fact Shayla was invited to dance at the big CMN Fundraiser at BGSU - Dance Marathon.  I spoke about Christi and our experience treating at CMN hospitals and Shayla did a lovely ballet solo.  We then stayed and loved our time with those awesome college students and Miracle Families in attendance.  When it was all said and done, over $300,000 was raised for CMN!  SWEET!  Congratulations, BGSU!

Friday, April 12, 2013

Happy Spring

I see it's been a while since I last updated.  Shayla has been busy with dance.  She made the cheerleading squad and has been doing incredibly well in school.  Today she is competing with her Quiz Bowl team.  All is well, so I'll just share some pictures:

Shayla got her braces off this week.  She had them for 18 months and it's nice to see a beautiful smile now, instead of a silver cage!


I did not win the Master Teacher of the University Award, but I was thrilled to have made it to the Top Three out of nearly 900 full time faculty members at BGSU. I received recognition for that at the University's banquet one night this week.

This week a little article was published in the university's newspaper (The BG News) about alumni returning to BG and I was happy to be a part of that.

Click below if you'd like to read it:

BG News Article