School Kids Raise $3,500 For Child Born Without A Face

[NATO AIR]

a wonderful way for kids to help a fellow kid out...

http://www.firstcoastnews.com/health/news-article.aspx?storyid=29346

School Kids Raise $3500 For Juliana in Just 3 Days

The students presented the family with a check for more than $3500

Juliana celebrates

By Jeannie Blaylock
First Coast News

How do you teach kids during the holidays that giving is better than receiving?

Even more difficult, perhaps, how do you help kids look at someone who's disabled and not feel uncomfortable and not stare? Or poke fun?

Well, take a look at what Hendricks Methodist Day School in Jacksonville is doing.

Some Student Council members heard about "the girl born with no face." They asked their parents and teachers if they could have a fundraiser to help. They voted unanimously to have a "dress down day," a big deal for a private school where kids wear pressed khaki pants and never jeans.

Principal Sally Lott threw herself 100% behind the idea. In fact, she went on school TV and talked to the students about Juliana. She asked them to consider what it would be like to brave the world without a normal face. That's a heavy thought to kids, she says, "who worry about pimples at this age."

The fundraising idea blossomed. One young man, Andrew, explained that he was going to vacuum his house to earn extra money. Another girl went on school TV and said she'd already cleaned out her Mom's car to earn cash. The kids were advancing beyond wearing blue jeans.

Mrs. Lott said, "I believe we can raise $1000 dollars for Juliana." Some thought she might be shooting too high.

But the stories started pouring in. One set of brothers, whose Mom teaches at Hendricks, gave up their own Christmas presents to give the money, instead, to Juliana. Another girl went around her neighborhood and asked to mow lawns. Another earned five dollars by giving up her favorite strawberry ice cream and other items on her wish list.

At the end of just three days, the students were ready to present a check.

The school invited Juliana and her family to come on campus. The library filled up with students from elementary school to middle school.

Most kids stood quietly with wide eyes and a distinct uncertainty on their faces. What would this little girl be like? Is it okay to look at her? Would she feel as if everyone's staring too much?

But the uneasiness went away in a flash.
And why? Well, Juliana's Dad has a sentence he likes to repeat. He says, "Juliana has a lot to show the world."

And, indeed, any observer could see it in that school library. Juliana started signing "Christmas tree." Then she wiggled her hands and reached out with wide-open arms to be hugged. The students started to pick her up.
Then she teased them and took off their Santa hats.

Juliana can't even smile. She can't even let loose a half a giggle. But she had everyone
around her laughing with ease.

The students presented the family with a check for more than $3500. The chores had added up! As Thom was saying, "I really don't know what to say," Juliana was behind him signing, "THANK YOU" over and over again.

Thom burst out, "Can I give all of you a hug?" He said, "To do this..to take allowance money and put it together and come up with $3,507 dollars, that's mind-boggling. Tami and I are overwhelmed."

He says, "God never gives you more than you can handle. God gave us a gift in Juliana and not just to us but to the whole world."

The students who looked a bit hesitant at the beginning were now holding Juliana as Moms snapped photos. Juliana was making a soft panting sound, her show of glee, according to people who know her well.

One young man said, "It doesn't matter what she looks like on the outside. It's how nice she is. And she's really nice."

Then another girl made a statement some would find quite remarkable. She said, "I think she's the cutest little thing."

Certainly it's a comment that doesn't come from ignorance about the disabled but rather from an understanding.

The principal says that was part of her goal. She wanted to teach a lesson on giving and also seeing the heart inside a person, no matter what the exterior looks like. Mrs. Lott says, "You bet. You bet. We want to teach them how to live their lives." That, she says, is an invaluable lesson at her school.

The money will go into Juliana's account to help her pay for college someday, Tom and Tami's goal for their daughter. More immediately, the money will cover living expenses when the family travels to Miami for 30 to 40 more operations. The Navy covers medical expenses but the family still has to eat and stay in hotels.