Joshua's Ride For Riley

Joshua's Ride for Riley 2012

Sunday, June 24th
Carmel Cyclery Bicycle Shop
230 W. Carmel Drive
Just west of the Monon Trail on Carmel Drive
1:30 Adult Ride, Kids Activities, Live Music, Silent Auction, Bounce House
Carmel Fire Department, Food
2:15 Kids Ride
2:30 SNAKE HEAD ED
Silent Auction Items
-Jewelry from Distinctive Diamonds
-Autographed Tony Stewart Replica Helmet
-Hot Air Balloon Ride for Two
-Autographed Shoes from Tamika Catchings
-Kings Island Tickets
- And more!!!!
ADMISSION IS FREE, DONATIONS ACCEPTED. FREE T-SHIRT TO THE FIRST 125 PEOPLE WHO MAKE A DONATION THE DAY OF THE RIDE.

Joshua's Riley Urology Story

Joshua was born with a rare condition called Prune Belly Syndrome. Dr. Cain, from Riley Urology the day he was born, explained that the syndrome occurs in 1/40,000 live births and about 98% of them are boys. Prune Belly Syndrome is a congenital syndrome of the Urinary Tract System, characterized by a triad of symptoms. These include a partial or complete lack of Abdominal Muscles, undescended testicles and urinary tract abnormalities such as a very large bladder. He further explained that Joshua would be very susceptible to all kinds of infections, primarily Urinary Tract Infections, but that all types could cause problems. We were told to prepare to spend a lot of time in the hospital and he would have several surgeries. My wife and I will never forget the comforting words of Dr. Cain that night before he left, “Don’t worry about the future and the hurdles that will come, enjoy your child love him and take care him. When the hurdles do come, we will get you over them.” Riley has been here every step of the way and continues to support our family.

The Story Continues

Joshua developed the first of many Urinary Tract Infections and was taken to Surgery before he was a month old. Soon after that first surgery, he was transferred to the NICU at Riley. While there, he continued to grow and had one more trip to the operating room. The staff at Riley was wonderful and took good care of Joshua and comforted us in our time of desperation. From the doctors down to those in the Maintenance Department at Riley, understand that the patient's family has needs and they all rise to the occasion with empathy and sincerity.
Finally, on Christmas Eve, after almost 7 weeks in the NICU, we received the news that Joshua was ready to go home. Christmas was really a merry one for all of us, big brother Matthew got to meet his baby brother for the first time and the whole family was together for Christmas. Thank you Riley for the a Christmas we will never forget.
Joshua's Spirit Shines On
This is just the beginning our Joshua’s Riley Story and that story continues to be written with each appointment and test that is run and will continue to be written for many years to come. In March, 2010 Joshua was back at Riley for 2 ½ weeks with another Urinary Tract Infection and endured one more trips to the operating room. In September, it was 3 days with a minor infection and as this is being written we are preparing for another stay in Riley for more surgery. Recently, March 2011 he endured a 11 1/2 hour marathon surgery to fix his Urinary tract and do a tummy tuck so he has abdominal muscles in the right place and looks right. After his surgery, he spent 3 weeks in the hospital recovering. The amazing thing - he is the happiest child you will ever meet, with a smile that will break your heart. His spirit is a gift to everyone who meets him.

Why Riley Urology?

The 5 doctors in this practice are the only Pediatric Urology Specialists in the State of Indiana. They see close to 9,000 patients at all Indianapolis area hospitals and 5 clinics in outlying cities in Indiana. Led by doctors Richard Rink and Mark Cain, this practice has been rated #3 in the country by US News and World Report for the past 3 years, and are world renowned in the Urological community. Although ranked among World Leaders in Pediatric Urology, Riley Urology does not have a research fund or endowment of its own. The money raised will allow these doctors to continue their research and develop new treatments. 

No matter where you are located you can be a part of the fun and fundraising.  Donate at http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/keith-krimmel-1/keithkrimmelsfundraisingpage and also feel connected with us here in Indy by doing a positive activity in honor of Joshua and his family as well as Riley Children's Hospital which serves hundreds of thousands of sick children. No amount is ever, ever to small to make a difference in a child's life, a family's life.

Donate your Happy Heart Beats at http://www.gtwyh.org/rileyurology/grouphome.asp.

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Participate by sharing your compassionate heartbeats.  All Riley Kids, in the hospital to those grown, like me feel stronger when the number climbs!  It makes the world a smaller place, connecting us all through our humanity, compassion for others all while doing positive activities to increase your overall happiness.



Happy Days of Summer

Ahhh...the sounds, smells and tastes of summer!  What do you love the most about summer?  Summer is my favorite with all the flowers, barbecues with friends, fresh herbs, lemonade, children belly laughing playing hop scotch or expressing themselves with chalk art.  This all makes me smile and sigh a sigh of contentment for the couple months we are blessed with this weather and sunshine!  The memories and positive stories of our life make us who we are today and mold our children into what they will become.

Remember the first Dairy Queen run of the summer?  Sitting outside with friends and family on the metal picnic tables - trying to eat your ice cream before it melts down your arm.  Yum!!  Oh the giggles and good times shared over ice cream.  I suppose that's why it has it's own song, "I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream!"  When I hear the sound of the ice cream truck playing it's kicky tune it brings back memories of running to get my beloved push-up - parents were always close behind!

Little Julie/Water Baby!

Take a moment to sit back in your chair and remember all the things which lit up your life as a child, like fire flies!  They are still magic no matter how you look at it.  Remember lying on the grass looking up at the fluffy white clouds seeing shapes and pointing them out to your very best friend?  Oh the days!  Did you make whistles out of a single blade of grass? What made you utterly joyful as a child?

I grew up with a swimming pool in the backyard which was fantastic.  All the kids played at our house and we could not be outside alone around the pool even though my brother, sister, and I were swimmers. Safety first.  In my family full on water fights were a regular occurence.  They started outside in the pool with all of us and our Dad.  We would surprise attack Mom in the kitchen with water balloons and other water ammunition.  How could she be upset with all three children giggling and her husband leading the band?  She usually ended up getting thrown in the pool.  The family dog even got involved.  He was a yellow lab mix so it was heaven for him too!

Opening Day at The Doggy Pool

Later I learned that the reason my parents bought that house was for the pool.  It was physical therapy for me.  I swam long before I walked as I have a congenital spinal birth defect.  Swimming kept me strong and active....and blissfully happy!  I didn't even realize it was technically therapy I thought I was a dolphin.  If you couldn't find me, I was swimming.  In water, I didn't feel pain either.  Plus I was competitive and swam at the township level.  It was one thing I could do better than anyone.  I always got first place, in my strokes, free and fly.  Those were the days.  My brother, sister and I would ride our bikes to swim team in the morning and back home to do chores and play then rode back for afternoon swim practice.

Being active is empowering and exhilarating. When I was young we would play line tag and who remembers freeze tag?  We played kick ball - not my strong suit!  All the neighborhood kids would play for hours, having peanut butter and jelly at each others' houses.  Remember to do the things which make you utterly happy - the way you feel when you were little with an ice cream cone in hand licking it as quickly as possible before it melts.  Get out with others and be true to yourself. 

Playing With The Kiddos!

When we are true to ourselves we are more authentic and can truly share ourselves with others.  Honor yourself.  I challenge you to do just one thing you use to do when you were little and see how it feels.  Play with your children.  Get them outside to blow dandelions which have gone to seed and watch how the seeds disperse gently in the air.  Let time stand still for a while by having fun.  It's different for everyone.

I'm still on bed rest for a CSF leak since February so I'm unable to do the things which make me happy but when I get out of bed for some water, I look out the window and get a glimpse of some flowers blooming and sometimes the little ones from the corner are outside giggling as they walk their puppy.  I take utter solace when I see the Eastern Blue Bird on the holly bushes we planted.  They are magical and I believe good luck.  I hold onto these moments for day dreams.  I day dream about swimming, sailing with my husband, sitting out side eating, gardening, riding in the car with the windows down listening to my favorite song .  Have fun.  Do it for me too!

Engage all your senses and enjoy some fun inside or outside.  Oh remember sunscreen too - something we did not do back in my day!  Have a twist cone and sing the song, "I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream!"  Remember to share these activities and happiness you gain with others.  Happiness is contagious.  All the moments in our lives is a book of memories, each told in a story of what makes you happy. 

Happiness Is In The Eye of The Beholder

Remember growing up and everyone would always ask, "So, what do you want to be when you grow up?"  And we all thought we knew too.  The great thing about that is, our imagination told us what we wanted to be.  Oh the places we could go in the recesses of our minds.  So natural and uninhibited.  A true story about a young boy many years ago. It goes like this:  "When I was five years old, my mother always told me that Happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I wrote down ' HAPPY ' . They told me I did not understand the assignment, and I told them they did not understand life." - John Lennon.  Interesting coming from an individual who went on to sing and teach the world harmony and how to be themselves.  He really lived what he wanted to be, happy.  Happiness it seems lies in the eyes of the beholder.  Teachers may think it has to be a profession, doctor, lawyer etc. but wouldn't it be nice to be happy too??  Now that's a dream worth dreaming.  Thank you John Lennon for your many gifts of words and songs and inspiration.

Me on my Adaptive Big Wheel Having Fun!

Let's look at our youth today and their happiness.  There are so many responsibilities and rushed events, often little time for the imagination to lead the way.  Remember lying on your back on the ground, looking up at the sky seeing actual objects in the clouds?  It was so real.  Remember holding hands and skipping down the side walk with your best friend and catching fire flies in the summer?  Oh the magic surrounding us.  It was just a dream land.  Let's step back to that time with our kids.  Think of adventures to take with your kids.  In the evening, play tag or freeze tag even.  Now there's a blast from the past. 

Mark Playing with our Nephew and Thier Prescious Dog Gabby!

One such company which encourages and teaches us ways to be children again and to help our children find joy in creative play is www.planetfassa.com.  It's not just for kids to be happy and learn through imagination and being creative.  It's for all of us. Let's all get involved.  Ask your children what makes them happy and write down their comments, to catalog as they grow.  Review it and ask them to explain or better yet, to show you.  Spend time in the evening unwinding by playing hide and seek, asking what they did during the day and what was their most favorite, start a game where every week someone new in the family hides a designated item and it has to be found and reassign the hider each week.  This can go on a life time.  Then when the children are grown, one of the kids will bring it and maybe leave the item under your pillow - oh the memories to be established.  Don't forget the bed time story and if your children are older come up with them as families.  Remember blowing bubbles and seeing who had the largest one and how long it would last before it popped?  Don't forget hopscotch on the drive way and other chalk art outside.  Play with your animals who may have been couped up all day while everyone's at school and work.  Play Frisbee or ball or keep away.  The moral of this story, do happy activities!  Belly laugh until your stomach hurts (what a wonderful feeling).  Have friends over to enjoy the fun and engage in their fun activities. 

Adults don't forget to  foster your inner child.  He/she is still there.  Think back on what made you happy.  Maybe your career revolves around that, if so, you are very lucky indeed!  Remember to tap into your own imagination whether it be journaling, talking to an old friend, getting together with friends and laughing the whole time, spending time with family, running, triathlons, walking your dog (your best friend), do puzzles to unwind, sudoku, sail, enjoy the night sky...do whatever it is that lets you escape for a little while and just puts a smile on your face.  Read about where my imagination took me as a child to spark your memories at http://www.planetfassa.com/blog/?p=4470 and remember even day dreaming is something which can make us happy.  I spend time remembering our trip to Santa Fe and the sunsets from mountain tops, all the colors and how close the sky felt.  I have always loved the sky. 

Stella Swimming enjoying A Hot Summer Day in The Pool!

Look at that Happy Dog Smile!!

Then make it part of your habit to share all that happiness to http://www.gtwyh.org/rileyurology/grouphome.asp. How great to teach the spirit of sharing and giving to your children.  What a wonderful thing to share - happiness.  It's catchy!  Watch our world become a better place because of YOU and your families and pets.  Let's show everyone Happiness improves our lives and those of others when we share it!

Take Time to Enjoy Each Other Outside!

Mark and Julie a Change of Scenery!  Adults Need Fun Too!

Next week, be prepared for a new type of adventure involving penguins to get our kids and families, active, happy and healthy.  Who wouldn't want to share that?

What Makes You Happy?

As Happy HeartBeats Ambassador and Spokes Person comes much responsibility.  Happy HeartBeats empowers YOU to become more happy and engaged in life and share that with Riley Kids. None of us know when the next "speed bump" that will develop but with the compassion you share, we know we have so many loving people giving us strength and hope.

So what makes you happy? What leaves you with a smile that comes from within and shows on your beautiful face?  Is it dancing, walking, doing puzzles, reading, doing yoga, meditation, prayer, playing with your children, volunteering, date night, going out with friends you haven't seen in a while, vacation etc?  It is different for everyone. I feel a responsibility to ensure YOU find happiness from within.  As an exercise, let me know what activities give you a lift.  Let's get interactive here. When we identify those things which make you happy, you will want to do them over and over again. 

Julie and Hubby, Mark Sailing for Happy HeartBeats!

Sharing Our Happy HeartBeats Gives Even More Meaning to What We Love!

Share your Happy HeartBeats at http://www.gtwyh.org/rileyurology/grouphome.asp with Riley Kids. You will find your outlook on life changes. Instead of forcing on the negative news, you will be able to watch it once, take it in, and go on with your day.  It doesn't mean we forget what happens in the world. Happy HeartBeats make the world a smaller place connecting us together though shared Happy HeartBeats.  The number represents all of us contributing our Happy HeartBeats while doing what makes us happy.  How wonderful to know that many others were doing something in any given day that you were, then share those who need it most.  We don't know from where those HeartBeats originate, but we do know that we are connected with others around the world for one common interest, sharing our happiness with others.

Something has been tugging at my heart strings for a while that I'd like to share. Being Spokes Person for Happy HeartBeats is truly an honor. Sharing happiness echoes what Happy HeartBeats empowers us all to do. As those who face any challenges, I'm sure you've probably surmised it's not always been sunshine and roses growing up with a birth defect and having so many surgeries, with a continuing journey. Being happy isn't about wearing a smile to convince yourself you're happy.  Happiness is being authentic and honestly representing yourself.  For example, I do have my bad days.  It's normal and natural.  I even sometimes get grumpy :)  For me, it's been important to be able to just verbalize, "Today is a bad pain day," or recognize what struggles I'm facing.  It's taken many years to realize it's not complaining, rather it's being fair to those around me to be honest about what I'm feeling.  We cannot expect others to read our minds.  It will get lonely not opening up to others.

In college I realized that I couldn't just pretend any of "this" was happening to me, life with Sacral Agenesis.  You'd think my first clue would have been having more surgeries than I am old but I'm really head strong.  I wanted to think that I could do anything and push through whatever pain there was.  Well, when I was a junior in college I was put in a wheelchair and, at the time, they said "forever."  I freaked out.  It really took until I was 21 to actually accept that what I had been living was extraordinarily different than most.  Now I use my really cool wheel chair for distances and walk in the house and sometimes use my walker when I go out, depending on my energy.  I learned that pushing through was only going to hurt ME, physically.  My whole life I was no different than others, as far as I could see.  Life is about adaption and that's what I do very naturally.  We can still achieve what we set our minds to, we just take different paths to reach the finish line. It was the year I will never forget because I started opening up and sharing my feelings.

It's wonderful to be happy and comfortable with where I am, in life.  I do believe there is a silver lining in everything, even on days it's most difficult to see.  It will show itself.  Sure, maybe it needs to polished, but it's there. I realize that in order to be the best Spokes Person leading others to find what makes them happy, I needed to share what I've learned. Life's journey is bumpy with detours and winding roads.  It's important to roll down the windows, let the wind blow through your hair and sing along to what's on the radio. With the "speed bumps" life places in our path, doesn't it feel better to have someone or some way to cope. Armed with people, activities or moments that bring our soul joy ensures we always take the exit to optimism.  

Here we are full circle.  What makes YOU happy!! I look forward to hearing what those activities are.  It's nice to know we are not alone in life and Happy HeartBeats provides a hypothetical journal of activities leading us to innate happiness.  Comment on the blog to share your activities in life that bring you happiness.  It's getting back to the basics in a hectic world.  Isn't it so neat that the world is a community built on happy experiences shared with each other?  I look forward to hearing from you this week.  Also if it's difficult to leave a comment, email me at hemkerjulie@gmail.com to share your happy activities.  Let's shake things up!

My Friend Walks Her Dogs and Shares Her and Their Happy HeartBeats to Riley Kids!

Thank you for sharing your compassion and motivating others to get involved!!