This is Part Two of our trilogy highlighting one of the many chains of giving this year! Last week, we told you how Lex in Georgia reached out to Beckett in Pennsylvania. Now it was Beckett’s turn to help another kid with cancer – Melody in Florida. Here’s their story:
Every kid has got their thing, right? Something that makes them special. For Melody, who is 11, that something is that she is wants to be a contortionist. Yup, you read that right. She likes to twist, turn, and bend her body into crazy positions!
But a year ago in October, all that had to be put aside. Melody got what appeared to be a typical stomach virus. Except it didn’t go away. Two trips to the pediatrician did not fix anything. Finally, Melody was in so much pain in her rib cage area that her mom rushed her to the ER. Blood tests showed the problem: leukemia. Talk about life taking a twist.
Time for Beckett to step in! Melody needed a friend who understood what she was going through, as only another kid with cancer can. But first Beckett had to grapple with his fears. On a Zoom call, he would have to read the Team Summer Welcome Letter to Melody, and that was a big stretch for a shy kid like Beckett. But Beckett really wanted to help, so he was determined to try. When the big day came, Beckett was ready. Although he was nervous, he put that aside and read Melody the Welcome Letter absolutely perfectly! Go Beckett!
Then it was time for the fun part – Melody’s surprise! Without being able to practice being a contortionist, Melody was beyond bored. But Beckett’s gift to her would take care of that. He got her an Xbox! AND a bunch of action games!
That face says it all! Melody’s mom told us that as soon as the call ended, Melody immediately started hooking up her Xbox to the TV in her bedroom. She was so excited to play Fortnite! Well done, Beckett! We are so proud of you!
Next week, we will tell you how Melody then in turn reached out to 13-year-old Alba in Florida. Spoiler alert: There were a lot of tears – the good kind!
If you have contributed to Team Summer, you’ve helped make these moments possible! We are in the middle of a VERY important fundraiser where the amount of money we raise has everything to do with how many gifts our Team Summer kids can give next year. From now until the end of the year, your donations will be matched 100%…up to $20,000! Right now, we are almost 3/4’s of the way to our goal. Can you help us get all the way? We need you!!
