Feed the Real Need

I like a lot of things. I like school and eating broccoli and running and the mountains. I like laughing and eating crisp apples and drinking lots of water. But what I like even more than those things? Seeing a family make a healthy change...a change that not only helps their health but also helps those in need.

Check out this Utah family that decided to take the money they were using to eat out and instead use it to give away to charities. Here is a little background on how it came about:

One day we went out for lunch. On the way home I was explaining to the kids why we don't eat out for every meal, that we had essentially paid an extra $15 or $20 for our lunch so that we didn't have to shop, prepare or clean it up -- and it hit me: I said, "That's enough money to buy a child in Africa a mosquito net." The kids took that and ran with it. They wanted to know if it was enough to buy a pair of shoes (yes), a book (yes), a uniform (yes), water (yes), shampoo (yes), a soccer ball (starting to drift slightly but yes). We decided as a family that we would not eat out again until Christmas and that we would take all of the money we saved and give it to charity (At this point I needed to explain that charity was the word we use when we are talking about organizations that help people in need and not just a girl in Milo's grade with that name). As a family we only really eat out a few times a month, but my husband and I usually eat out on dates and the kids and I will grab lunch every once in a while, so this is not going to end with piles of money but it will teach the kids a little about sacrifice and a lot about others' needs...

Cool, right? On their blog they give ideas for charities to donate to, as well as some great stories from the kids on how they viewed the challenge. Hopefully this family's story helps you make some healthy changes in your life as the holiday season approaches!

A Family in Need

I don’t usually post on Tuesdays…but this is definitely worth it.

A good friend of mine’s cousin is going through a hard time with his two daughters having some serious health problems.

This is the season of giving – and any little bit could help…whether it be prayers or money.

(KUTV) UTAH COUNTY - Tyler and Lisy Fish of Utah County knew there was something wrong with their daughter Natalie's health when she was just a toddler.  She was always sick.
"A cold or simple cough has brought her to her death bed on many occasions," said Tyler.  
After their daughter Alice was born, they saw the same health problems in her. 
For years, the family took great care to keep the girls from any germs - meaning no playgrounds, no recess or other normal childhood activities.
Natalie is now 8, Alice is 2.  Just three months ago the Fish's learned their daughters' condition has a name:  Leaky Severe Combined Immunodeficiency.  
A bone marrow transplant is the potential cure. 
Doctors at Primary Children's Medical Center are preparing Natalie for chemotherapy to basically remove her deficient immune system and make way for healthy marrow from a donor - in Natalie's case, the donor is her own little brother Blair who is four years old. 
"He says his blood has Natalie's medicine," said Lisy who is proud of her little boy, yet nervous for him because giving the marrow will be hard on his body. Alice's donor is a person from another state. Her transplant is expected to happen in January.
For the Fish's, having three children in the hospital is going to be tough. But the parents say the decision to put their children through the procedures was an easy one - since new bone marrow is a potential cure.  "I want them to be normal," said Lisy.
Tyler Fish quit his job recently to deal with all the trials their children face.
The Fish's have 5 children and are now in a sort of quarantine situation - trying to keep germs away to ensure good health for everyone before the surgeries and after.
Friends have opened donation funds at two banks to help the family.
Utah Community Credit Union - Account Name:  2 Fish Marrow Wish Fund
Wells Fargo Bank - Account Name:  Fish Children Donation Fund

You can also donate by clicking on the following link, PayPal, and use fishesformarrowwishes@gmail.com as the “To” email address.

You can see additional videos from the news here and here, and other articles here and here.