KOMO viewers come through to help sick kids feel like princesses
BONNEY LAKE, Wash. -- KOMO viewers have come out in droves to help hundreds of sick children who will now feel like kids instead of hospital patients.
Janay Conner has found a way to make sick kids forget their cancer with tutus and superhero capes. She got the idea after her nieces Nadine and Casey were both diagnosed with Leukemia in 2008.
"This is what they understand -- I can dress up, be a kid," Conner said.
Casey didn't understand cancer, but she knew she didn't like her hair loss and weight gain from meds.
"I said, 'Look, Casey girl, look at the pretty girl in the mirror,' and she said, 'No Nana, I'm not pretty anymore,' " Conner said.
Conner changed that with handmade tutus. The girls wore them over their hospitals gowns and for few precious moments, they forget about cancer. Both girls went into remission, but for Nadine the cancer came back. She passed away last Jan. 24.
But on Thursday, the one year anniversary of Nadine's death, Janay plans to donate tutus and capes to sick children at Mary Bridge Hospital.
On Monday, we told you she was $140 dollars short of her goal. But KOMO viewers instantly responded and sent the Problem Solvers shopping to surprise Janay with several new tutus and superhero capes.
But the love kept pouring in. In less than 24 hours, we raised $6,000.
"That is the coolest thing," Conner said, tearfully.
Conner says she knows her niece is dancing in heaven.
"I'm so grateful," Conner said. "There are so many times in life you don't think the world is good and then are times like this and you know what it is good."
Conner plans to deliver tutus, capes, ferry wings and wands to Mary Bridge Children's Hospital Thursday morning. She says Thursday's donation will become an annual event and she plans to do multiple donations each year.
Janay Conner has found a way to make sick kids forget their cancer with tutus and superhero capes. She got the idea after her nieces Nadine and Casey were both diagnosed with Leukemia in 2008.
"This is what they understand -- I can dress up, be a kid," Conner said.
Casey didn't understand cancer, but she knew she didn't like her hair loss and weight gain from meds.
"I said, 'Look, Casey girl, look at the pretty girl in the mirror,' and she said, 'No Nana, I'm not pretty anymore,' " Conner said.
Conner changed that with handmade tutus. The girls wore them over their hospitals gowns and for few precious moments, they forget about cancer. Both girls went into remission, but for Nadine the cancer came back. She passed away last Jan. 24.
But on Thursday, the one year anniversary of Nadine's death, Janay plans to donate tutus and capes to sick children at Mary Bridge Hospital.
On Monday, we told you she was $140 dollars short of her goal. But KOMO viewers instantly responded and sent the Problem Solvers shopping to surprise Janay with several new tutus and superhero capes.
But the love kept pouring in. In less than 24 hours, we raised $6,000.
"That is the coolest thing," Conner said, tearfully.
Conner says she knows her niece is dancing in heaven.
"I'm so grateful," Conner said. "There are so many times in life you don't think the world is good and then are times like this and you know what it is good."
Conner plans to deliver tutus, capes, ferry wings and wands to Mary Bridge Children's Hospital Thursday morning. She says Thursday's donation will become an annual event and she plans to do multiple donations each year.
Just an update letting you guys know how much we were able to drop off: 80 Capes, 120 Masks, 288 Temporary Tattoo's, 30 Feather Boas, 21 Reversable Aprons, 468 Misc style Headbands, 353 Tutu's, 70 Wands, 157 Misc size Wings, 350 Flower Clips, and 51 Beanies! PLUS a box of Bows that was donated. That is over 1600 items!! How awesome is that?!?
I am still literally on cloud 9! I can not believe the response we have gotten as well as the tremendous amount of generosity! I will be able to do so many donation drop offs to Mary Bridge! I am even thinking about expanding to Seattle Children's Hospital! I need to get my 501 C3 form done before I can do any more. Does anyone know a lawyer that can help me with that??
I also want to say Thank you so much to everyone that has helped us get here! We have officially raised $7190!!! And People are still donating!! I will now be able to have a fund just for donation drop offs so when ever they get low on anything I can easiely get more to Mary Bridge with out having to worry about trying to collect more donations.
 This is beyond my wildest dreams and has definitely made this really hard time one of the best days of my life! I dont think Thank you if strong enough words to express just how thankful I am! You guys are amazing! I sincerely appreciate everyone that has helped make this dream happen. I have done many donation drop offs to Mary Bridge thorugh out thhe years but NOTHING like this! The most I was able to donate at 1 time is 50 tutu's... This is going to blow that number FAR out of the water!!Â
THANK YOU!!!! THANK YOU!!!! THANK YOU!!!! THANK YOU!!!! And a HUGE THANK YOU to KOMO news station for helping spread the word and make this happen! We couldn't have recieved the response that we did with out your help! Nadine would be so happy! I am so glad we will be able to honor her in this way for years to come!
Â
RIP Nadine Elizabeth Meyer
January 4, 2007 - January 24, 2012
Baby Girl this is for you!! I love you and miss you so much!!!
This is Janay, If you would like to check out the event page that has pictures and other ways to donate its: http://www.facebook.com/events/272679292858410/ Thank you so much for helping by donating I really appreciate it! If you have any other questions please feel free to email me at Sugarskullsandcupcake@live.com or to donate through paypal to email SSCDonation@yahoo.com.
Nice to have a feel-good story in the news for once, thanks KOMO and everyone who helped!
I would love to see a follow up - if the parents of the children don't mind sharing photos of their children, I would love to see all the princesses, superheroes, and fairies with smiles on their faces!
We are working on that with Mary Bridge : ) I definitley want people to be able to see the difference they helped make. Michelle Esteban and I have already talked about it. So make sure to watch and see if are able to make it happen.
Hurray! This is awesome. My youngest spent time in Children's Hospital and was able to directly benefit from the goodness of those working at the hospital and those donating from the goodness of their hearts. There is nothing quite like it.
@Thunder - They are seriously so awesome there and have had so many people share their stories with me. Including a few that have contacted me to thank me since their child was able to recieve a tutu! It is so awesome to be able to help : )
Finally, a story that gives me a little bit of my faith in humanity back. Thank you Janay, and thanks to everyone who helped out. Very classy.
@Harley-H.S.C. - This has definitley helped my faith in humanity! The kind of response we recieved as well as the donations that keep coming in is unbelievable! The world definitley still has some awesome people wanting to help.
This is so sweet. Thank you Janay for doing this. You are an angel. Now, as for you KOMO, please get the spelling of "ferry wings" correct for this context. It would be "fairy wings". I have yet to see any ferries on Puget Sound with wings.
Janay,
Â
Thank you for having a heart for sick kids and turning such a sad experience into such a powerful way to help kids just be kids even though they are going through some really tough stuff. I hope we get an update soon.
Â
RightPerspective
I have spoken with KOMO and I believe they will be shooting the donation drop off tomorrow morning. So definitley check back tomorrow night : )
All my best to you Janay! Nice to see people step up and help out with the donations. Many will benefit from your kindness and efforts. I appreciate it and thank you.
What a wonderful story! Dealing with a long-term illness is hard for anyone, but especially for children, and this sounds like a great way to give them back a little of their childhood while they are in the hospital.