Making A Difference...

Amanda was 6 when she made her request in January 2000 for the Backstreet Boys. This hat was marked Rush because her physician knew she had only a short amount of time. Still, it took from January 11th to February 21st for Amanda to receive her hat. Each week when Amanda visited Cardinal Glennon Childrens Hospital she would first ask David, her Recreational Therapist, how his puppy was doing. They had many conversations about their mutual love for animals and like most of these special children developed a special bond. (Most of these children even though they are fighting for their lives are more concerned with others they love than with themselves.)

When Amanda would go to clinic for her treatments, David would call me and put Amanda on the phone so I could give her a hat update, that is tell her what I knew about when she might expect her hat. In speaking with Amanda, I learned she loved to play dress up, and was always very concerned for her appearance. Imagine how a bald head would devastate a child who always wanted to be her prettiest. Amanda was always happy though, and never complained to the nurses about her situation. While she waited for her Backstreet Boys hat, we sent to her a beautiful unsigned vintage hat which had been decorated by a woman who restores hats as therapy. This woman has been making hats for Caps For Kids for a few years. While they are difficult to sign and hard to mail to various centers, they have helped to fill a void where girls are concerned. Amanda lived almost 10 months after she received her hat, a full 6 months longer than expected. She was buried in her Backstreet Boys hat.

Josh was 13 when he requested a hat signed by Cal Ripkin, Jr. He was being treated at A.I. Dupont Hospital in Delaware. It took almost a year to get the hat for Josh. He died approximately 3 weeks prior to receiving his hat.

A 5-year-old girl in St. Louis loved the wrestler Bill Goldberg. She requested as her choice a hat signed by him. When the message was relayed to Mr. Goldberg, not only did he sign a hat but traveled to St. Louis and delivered it himself to her in the hospital. They became fast friends, and he has arranged for her and her family to travel to see him perform at a live event. He calls her frequently and writes her notes, and has visited her home on several occasions. Mr. Goldberg told her family he has gotten more out of his friendship with the little girl than she could have ever gotten from his signed hat.

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