Jane's incredible #ToyStory2016 experience
Jane and the #ToyStory2016 team took a road trip on Wednesday to hospitals down the South Coast, distributing toys that you have donated for the campaign. Take a look at some of the pictures here...
On Wednesday, I awoke with butterflies in my tummy thinking about the day ahead. A day I know well, a day that sends your heart racing as it comes into contact with sheer delight and sadness that is hard to comprehend. Seeing a child's face when receiving a gift is hard to explain, it's almost an emotion of disbelief before joy.
Our road trip took us to the South Coast where we stopped off at three hospitals along the way. This year, like the last three years, Nadine Gering, the wonder behind the South African distribution for the toy brand, Melissa & Doug, joined us on the adventure. Melissa & Doug produce the most gorgeous wooden educational toys. Nadine has been on the toy run before and was so touched with what she saw that once again wanted to be involved in the campaign. This time she ever so generously donated close to R40,000 worth of toys.
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For the most part the day was happy, light, and I was so impressed by the cleanliness, attitude, care, and energy in each of the pediatric wards that I visited.
We sang, we hugged. It was such a sense of community and unity.
This year I spent more time talking to the children as opposed to madly dishing out presents. In one of the wards I met a little girl that made me bite my bottom lip as she spoke and my eye burnt with tears.
When I walked in, she was sitting upright and grinning at a doll she had just been given. I asked her how old she was, her name, and why she was in hospital. She explained to me that she was having a tumor removed later that day and when I asked how she was feeling, she said that she was scared. To make it even worse, there was an empty chair next to her bed and she explained her father was in Johannesburg.
I gave her a hug and left with a very heavy heart.
This little girl, with such a golden smile, shouldn't have to be dealing with this. My emotions were mixed between sadness and anger. She did however ever remind me that we have so much to be grateful for. Each day is a gift. Celebrate all you have as nothing is certain.
Thank you so much for everything that you have contributed towards Toy Story. We couldn't have done it without you!
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