charity
give money to someone elseeeeee
At the end of fall camp.

Update on the Boy and What's With All the Toys Comment Count

Seth December 11th, 2023 at 3:10 PM

This is not content, and not sponsored. It's just a personal and charitable note.

So as many of you know, my six-year-old was hospitalized for 4.5 weeks this past summer with Miller-Fisher (no relation) Syndrome, a type of Guillain-Barré, meaning his immune system decided to eat away at his nervous system. Five months later, he is doing GREAT—as in other than running kind of like Devin Mockobee you'd never know anything happened to him. We have a follow-up with neuro this Friday with nothing but good news and a full recovery in sight.

I bring it up now because a lot of people also asked what they could do to help. The answer is most of the heavy lifting was already done by the incredible nurses, doctors, and staff at Mott Children's Hospital. I've been wanting to do something to pass this gratitude along, and the best thing I could think of was to donate toys to Child Life Services at Mott. You can do this with a Michigan player (and get an autograph for your troubles), or just go on Amazon and send something off the list, choosing the Mott Community Relations address at checkout.

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[Details at THE JUMP]

WHY CHILD LIFE SERVICES AT MOTT?

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There are orgs with better Guess Who game, just sayin'

Child Life is an arm of the local children's hospital, which happens to be literally the best children's hospital, responsible for making the patients' and care-givers' lives better/tolerable while there. It's not all toys—one of the most important services we received was a specialist who helped prepare our daughter to come see her brother. There are orgs with greater need and more deserving people than people like me.

This one matters because it's ours. Michigan has the best children's hospital in the world because having it is a priority of the Michigan community. If luck's with you, you'll never need to avail yourself of it. But it's there, and it's wonderful, because we've all decided we want this, and have been doing so for a long time. Sometimes it pays out for Michigan—Mott fixed a clubbed foot back in the early 1980s, and years later the foot's owner came here, led Michigan to a national championship, and became the only defensive player to win the Heisman. Usually the payoff is more like our experience, where we went in with a big problem, came out with the best-case scenario, and have been trying to make up a life debt since.

If this isn't moving you, or this isn't your community, totally cool. You're going to be hearing more from us soon on the Let's Go Zak campaign by Zak Zinter and Trevor Keegan to benefit the ChadTough Defeat DIPG Foundation and the Hav a Sole Sneakers donation program. You can look up your local children's hospital and see if you can donate toys to them. Or if you're trying to get the biggest bang for your buck, Marlin Jackson's Fight for Life Foundation is a model youth program supported by a lot of MGoReaders, and every shelter and social services org (favorites: Mariner's Inn, Easter Seals/MORC) always need things like soap, shampoo, deodorant, towels, socks and especially new underwear.

WHY TOYS?

If you are asking, clearly you are not a kid. But yes, toys make a HUGE difference. Kids in the hospital are terrified, uncomfortable, and often battling delirium (this, we learned, is apparently as common as it is parentally traumatizing). Their parents are sleep-deprived and mental wrecks. And here's the kicker: morale is all-important for treatment and recovery.

I don't have to explain this to any parent, but a new toy hits a kid's brain like a 4-star commitment. But in a hospital setting they also have sneaky medicinal uses. A magnetic drawing board and a tablet helped my son communicate with us while on the ventilator. A crystal growing kit  helped visualize the idea of his nerves growing back. We used a plush doll (dressed in Michigan gear) for him to decorate, point to what parts of his body hurt (meaning the nerves were coming back online), and for the staff and us to demonstrate and communicate what was happening to him.

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A pair of toy cars were a breakthrough for getting him to produce sounds. Child Life brought window markers for his sister to decorate his room with, and games to play with him. When he started to recover we got several sets of Legos to help him get his hands working again. His first steps were toward a bunch of dinosaurs that PT/OT taped around the room.

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The daily trauma of a certain med was solved with a bag of toys he'd get to pick from at the end of every day he got the shit down. For the greater traumas, the ones best left unremembered, certain Frozen 2 Elsas had to be sacrificed, and were okay with this.

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We thank her for her service. RIP.

THE DRIVE

Because Michigan's football players are who they are, they're already all over this. Blake Corum's toy drive for Detroit Rescue Mission had about 15,000 attendees bring well over 20,000 toys, which are going to be distributed to DRM and—because they got so many more than they thought they would—several other local organizations that serve children.

JJ McCarthy and others are hosting a follow-up signing/toy drive at M-Den this Saturday for Mott, and (father-to-be) Mike Sainristil will be at Zingerman's a week from today collecting toys and signing autographs.

For those of you who can't get to one of these, do as you would for the out-of-town niblings and order a thing from Amazon that ships directly to the hospital. To this end, Mott's Children's Services put together a massive Amazon wish list, as well as a simplified three-sheet PDF that explains what they're looking for and not, and a landing page if you want to understand what they do or donate money.

A FINAL, BELATED THANKS

It is no exaggeration to say this: Mott Children's Hospital saved my son's life. Had it not been for their care, competence, and teamwork at crucial junctures we could have had very different outcomes. There are neurologists, PICU nurses, nurse practitioners, physical therapists, a child life specialist, a music therapist, an assistant basketball coach, a 12th floor tooth fairy team, his team at school, family, friends and readers who were so important to us that it's hard not to bother them with tearful hugs when I see them about town. My gratitude to the MGoBlog community and the greater Michigan community is boundless. So is my gratitude to Brian, who pays me enough, and our insurance, who covered enough, that handling the resulting expenses turned out to be so manageable I get to use the "give money to someone elseeeee" tag to reply when people ask what they can do for us.

Comments

Chaco

December 11th, 2023 at 3:15 PM ^

A great post and very happy to read the positive news Seth.  Thanks for highlighting this great organization in a very real and personal way. 

Joined: 11/15/2012

MGoPoints: 27901

Davy Found

December 11th, 2023 at 3:17 PM ^

Thank you for highlighting the value of community and the work of so many people who do such critical, profound work day in and day out to provide such positive outcomes.

And for directing us to a valuable place to focus our efforts and support! 

Joined: 12/07/2017

MGoPoints: 3883

TU-UM-Owlverine

December 11th, 2023 at 3:30 PM ^

Chanukah Sameach, and thank you for everything you've done for this community.  Times like this where everyone pulls together emotionally/spiritually/financially/etc. are a big part of what makes all the angst and stress of fandom worthwhile.

Joined: 06/06/2018

MGoPoints: 620

the_dude

December 11th, 2023 at 3:32 PM ^

This is so great to hear, thank you so much for the update. We donate to our local children's hospital.

One other thing to keep in mind: many employers will match contributions, meaning the charity will get double the amount you contribute. 

Joined: 09/01/2010

MGoPoints: 2048

Wisconsin Wolverine

December 11th, 2023 at 3:37 PM ^

Thank you, Seth! I'm glad your family is coming out the other side of this whole thing. When health stuff gets wild, it's crazy how much you say to yourself "all I ever want in this existence is for things to go back to normal". My brother and I have been battling some brutal health stuff the last few years and it is exhausting to keep fighting - I can't imagine putting that burden on one of my children. I think you already understand this, but being in the hospital and going through all of this stuff can stick with you for a long time. So please do take care going forward. And thank you again for directing us to these great initiatives.

Joined: 05/18/2011

MGoPoints: 2382

atticusb

December 11th, 2023 at 3:38 PM ^

Great news, Seth... and an awesome shout-out to "The Michigan Difference".  Hell, yeah.  How do the kids put it... "It's great to be a Michigan Wolverine!"

Joined: 08/23/2015

MGoPoints: 3774

Wendyk5

December 11th, 2023 at 3:43 PM ^

So glad to hear your kid is doing well. What a great Hanukah gift! And I am all over this -- with grown kids and no grandkids, I am so into buying toys for kids who really need them. Thanks for the head's up! 

Joined: 11/20/2008

MGoPoints: 67736

989.Wolverine

December 11th, 2023 at 3:44 PM ^

Thank you Seth for your inspiring and personal post. I am confident this will inspire a lot of MGoBloggers to give to several great initiatives, including anything we can to support Mott’s. 

Joined: 12/28/2022

MGoPoints: 442

MGoRhinoAZ

December 11th, 2023 at 3:49 PM ^

Wow! This just made my day.

Best thing I may ever read on the internet.

So happy for your Seth, and thank you for providing opportunities for us to show support and help others in need!!!

Done and done!!!

Joined: 06/23/2017

MGoPoints: 3255

Reno Drew

December 11th, 2023 at 3:59 PM ^

So glad to hear the update and thanks for the reminder.  I was so busy I forgot to donate to the Galens Tag days. As a med school alum and former Galens member, they also do a lot to help support Mott hospital, along with other local charities. 

Now excuse me while I wipe away some tears first...

Joined: 10/16/2012

MGoPoints: 1703

bronxblue

December 11th, 2023 at 4:00 PM ^

A fantastic post and thanks for sharing Seth.  My brother works as UM hospital in pediatrics and seconds everything said here about the value of keeping spirts up for these kids and how even small kindnesses and gifts can go a long way.  Glad to hear your son is doing better and I feel comfortable saying the entire community is wish you and your family the best going forward.

Joined: 11/22/2008

MGoPoints: 171742

GoBlue96

December 11th, 2023 at 4:11 PM ^

Happy for your son, Seth.  One of my kids has received many toys at Mott.  Starting when he had beanie babies to hang on to with hands the size of a quarter in the NICU to all sorts of other toys for various other hospital stays.  There's no greater cause then helping sick children through difficult times.  

Joined: 07/01/2008

MGoPoints: 55705

907_UM Nanook

December 11th, 2023 at 4:18 PM ^

Thanks Seth for the update, it's the good news that for whatever reason gets shuffled to the back of the bad news in the daily cycle of input. So thankful for Mott's, your son's recovery & for you & Brian & Alex & the photogs & the rest of Mgoblog.

Joined: 04/01/2018

MGoPoints: 15237

ChuckieWoodson

December 11th, 2023 at 4:23 PM ^

Love it.  Thanks for sharing this, Seth.  Will find an avenue to donate.

We've been to Mott's many a time with broken bones, illnesses, ear tubes, tonsils, etc. for my 2 kids, and I can say, I am so thankful to live 19 minutes door to door to Mott's.  A true blessing.  

 

Joined: 01/13/2012

MGoPoints: 26175

M_Born M_Believer

December 11th, 2023 at 4:26 PM ^

My wife's best friend had a daughter with your arteries backwards at birth.  Several surgeries as an infant and 18 years later, she is now graduating from High School.  What Childern's Mott does is perform miracles.

So happy for you Seth and your son.

A side irony to this story is that the father of the daughter noted above is a HUGE ND slappy.  For years, he trashed everything about Michigan...  Needless to say, for the past 18 years he takes a much different view and appreciation for Michigan...

Joined: 11/11/2009

MGoPoints: 11786

Germany_Schulz

December 11th, 2023 at 4:34 PM ^

Happy for you and yours Seth. 

Great post and reminder to give to those in need if possible. 

Did not know that Woodson had his club foot repaired at Mott in Ann Arbor. 

Is this documented in public somewhere / never heard this before. 

Go Blue. 

Joined: 11/28/2015

MGoPoints: 6415

ButlerGoBlue

December 11th, 2023 at 4:54 PM ^

Mott similarly saved my babies life once and has likely done so another two times as recently as last week. I thank God every day we have such an incredible facility 15 minutes down the road. I work in critical care at the other hospital down the road so I'd like to think I know what good Healthcare looks like and Mott provides fucking amazing Healthcare. Forever thankful for them and extremely humbled by the players generosity two weeks before playing for a national championship. Who does that? Michigan does that and it's why I love this team and university. Now, let me go wipe these tears away...

Joined: 05/07/2011

MGoPoints: 1089

CGordini

December 11th, 2023 at 5:15 PM ^

>JJ McCarthy and others are hosting a follow-up signing/toy drive at M-Den this Saturday for Mott, and (father-to-be) Mike Sainristil will be at Zingerman's a week from today collecting toys and signing autographs.

This is the first I'm hearing about the former; source?

I have some toys I will happily donate, and a B1GCCG ball I very badly want signed.

Joined: 12/25/2014

MGoPoints: 1955

Mr. Elbel

December 11th, 2023 at 5:16 PM ^

I just got back to Virginia from GR after my dad spent last week at Meijer Heart Center. Big, big shout out to all the nurses, doctors, and staff that save lives every day. His heart stopped 7 times in 30 hours and they saved him every time, then flawlessly performed a life-saving heart cath that added 3 stents and got his heart beating normally again. I wish I had the influence of Seth to go tell a bunch of people to give everything they have to these people, because I still have my dad because of their heroics.

Joined: 03/02/2014

MGoPoints: 21395