A Retreat From Illness, A Believe In Tomorrow Family Blog

New Blog Spot

2010-01-19T14:42:00.002-05:00

Please check out our new blog spot:
http://www.blog.believeintomorrow.org

"To see him smile, and laugh, and count each day how many days are left here on vacation is priceless."

2009-11-16T13:43:00.000-05:00

June 1, 2009

Dear Wayne, volunteers, etc.

I want to thank you sincerely for all you've done for me and my family, Andrew, who is four years old was diagnosed with Leukemia a few weeks after our youngest child was born last May. So this past year was a lot to deal with! This is actually the first time Andrew has been anywhere outside of home with his immune system. To see him smile, and laugh, and count each day how many days are left here on vacation is priceless. He is so appreciative to his siblings, Mom & Dad who've also been in for so long! It is so beautiful, clean and child oriented! I am so thankful for all the food you provided for us. We would never be able to afford all you've done for us! Andrew loved running on the beach and the deck parties!

All of you must be really special people! I was telling my husband how all of you week after week just try to make others happy! That's amazing!

Sincerely,

Anthony, Shellie, Anthony, Aleah, Aaron, Andrew & Abigail

All Aboard!

2009-11-13T13:16:00.000-05:00

Austin enjoys steering the train!

"Thanks for letting us feel like home"

2009-11-12T09:12:00.000-05:00

May 29, 2009

Dear Believe in Tomorrow staff and volunteers,

Words won't be enough to express our thanks. The days we spend here heal and treat the rest of the hard days of the year. Thanks for letting us feel like home. Mr. Wayne, your smile, help, and welcoming are encouraging and fill our days with happiness.

Thanks for the rest of the staff and volunteers who are behind the scenes!

Nesma's family

Not your average bear...

2009-11-12T09:11:00.000-05:00

Complete Believe in Tomorrow House Bear!

"Just What the Doctor Ordered!"

2009-11-10T13:32:00.000-05:00

Dear Believe in Tomorrow,

We would like to thank you for a wonderful weekend! Faith had a very hard winter-being in and out of the Hospital a lot. She loves the beach so this weekend was just what the Doctor ordered for her! She had a great time.

Thank you,

Chip, Tammy and Faith

I spy...

2009-11-06T12:38:00.001-05:00

Seymour and his family have fun watching the ocean.

Three's a Crowd...

2009-11-06T12:31:00.002-05:00

Ethan and his family enjoy a day at the beach.

Father/Daughter walk along the beach...

2009-11-06T12:27:00.002-05:00

Alexis and her Dad walk along the beach at the Believe in Tomorrow Beach House.

A True Blessing

2009-11-06T10:18:00.000-05:00

Oct '09

Wayne & Staff:

The short stay was wonderful as usual~Believe in Tomorrow is a true blessing and will always have a special place in our hearts! Thank you for all you do & for all you touch

See you next time!

Dan, Shelli & Hannah

Words can't express the gratitude!

2009-11-04T14:34:00.000-05:00

October 23, 2009

Words can't express the gratitude!

Thank you so much for giving us this opportunity. It has been a very long and hard year for all our family. We have been in the U.S. for three years. Niki got sick only after one year of us being here.

This was our first time near a beach here in the U.S. All of us had so much fun even if it was just a short weekend. Kids don't want to go back home! The house by the beach was so cozy and we felt like we were at home.

We definitely want to come back here for a week in the summer. Thank you for the gift certificates!

Thank you from:

Niki, Andy, Alma & Tani

God Bless you all for all you do.

Family Day at the Beach

2009-11-02T14:28:00.003-05:00

October 18, 2009

Thank you for a wonderful long weekend. We were here this past July and had such a great time that everyone wanted to come back. The weather was dismal (non-stop pouring rain blowing winds, cold) but we have had a great weekend nonetheless. The weather took a small break so that Friday afternoon we did get a chance to visit the beach. But you know what? It was fun anyhow! We did not expect to have the gift certificates, and Dale loved the arcade.

The family time was exactly what we needed. We spent a lot of time playing games and just hanging out at the condo.

Thank you for all of the care, concerns, and love that you gave to us this weekend. We appreciate it so much.

Fondly,

Dale, Claudia, Kyle, Nancy & Gregg

"This place is awesome."

2009-10-23T14:15:00.002-04:00

Dear Wayne and Volunteers,

Thank you so much for all you have done for our family during our stay. Brasen was diagnosed with Leukemia in September of 2008 when he was 4 years old. He is now 5 and this is his first true beach experience which he would not have experienced without Believe In Tomorrow giving him and our family the opportunity to come and stay at a wonderful place with wonderful people for a week and experience so many things in Ocean City. Brasen said, "This place is awesome."

THANK YOU!

2009-10-19T16:50:00.004-04:00

To everyone who makes Believe In Tomorrow possible, we want to say THANK YOU! Our family has not had time like this since our son was diagnosed with Acute Pre B Lymphoblastic Leukemia on 2/14/2008. It was very relaxing and we had a great time. We met great people, made new friends and were just a family again. Please say thank you to all who made this vacation possible for us. Wayne, you "rock."

Love,
Don, Leah, Samantha, Nathan & Zachary

We will never forget your gift!

2009-10-15T15:26:00.002-04:00

Dear Believe In Tomorrow,

On May 15th, 2008, our four year old son Caleb was diagnosed with kidney cancer. Our family includes Mom, Dad, Zachary 18, Spencer 15, Maggie 11, and Caleb is now 5. Our lives were forever changed on day as we entered the world of chemo, radiation, sugeries, blood infections and one very sick little boy. It has been frightening, sad and exhausting to be suddenly caught up in this non-stop battle against cancer. It is a place we never dreamt we would be, a regular visitor and almost at home on 4th floor Oncology at Children's Hospital in DC.

This House By The Sea has been a huge blessing. There is no way to express the depth of our gratitude for your gift to us. No schedule, no mail, no phone, just our family with a whole week to do whatever. The house is cozy and clean, the beach (our favorite spot) was so amazing, and all the extras really made our stay much more enjoyable.

We know that volunteers and a ton of work make this all a reality for families like us. Our family wishes would could hug the neck of everyone involved, look you in the eye and say THANK YOU.

We have new memories, new photos and lots of shells (and sand) to take home with us. We will never forget your gift!

With Love,
The Hawbakers

I loved Ocean City

2009-10-09T11:46:00.002-04:00

I loved Ocean City. Thank you for letting us visit. I want to come back again. I loved everything, especially the Pirate Adventure and mini golf.

From,
Carly (4)
Rachel (7)
Matthew (14)
Erin & Doug

so grateful for the opportunity

2009-09-16T10:17:00.002-04:00

Dear Friends,

I was to thank you for the wonderful week this summer that your organization provided for me and my family at the "Home on the Bay."

We are so grateful for the opportunity you provided for us to relax and enjoy some family time together. Muriel has six more weeks of chemo-therapy and she will soon be on her way to recovery from bone cancer.

The work that your staff and volunteers do is awesome. May the good Lord bless you for your generosity and thoughtfulness.

Regards,
Ms. Edith, Grandmother of Muriel

Words don't adequately express...

2009-09-11T09:30:00.002-04:00

Dear Wayne,

What a wonderful week that we had with you and your amazing organization. Words don't adequately express the love and care that we felt all week while in Ocean City.

We were able to rest and recharge when we wanted, and then go have fun the rest of the time. What a treat. We came away from the week with some wonderful memories that we made together.

Thank you to both you and your volunteers. We know that you worked very hard to make our week wonderful.

Dale, Claudia, Kyle, Nancy & Greg

time with the family!!!

2009-09-09T17:34:00.003-04:00

Thank you for a wonderful week. Everything was great. The people here are awesome, the activities were fantastic. This place is great for the kids to get away from everything and to just their time with the family!!!

Thanks so much!

time together

2009-09-04T10:01:00.003-04:00

What a week! Our familly got just what we needed... time together.
Fishing was awesome, the place was fantastic and all the activities were wonderful. Thanks to all who put in such effort to give these kids the time of their lives.

God Bless,
Eric, Mena, Bryce, Trenton

we are beyond grateful

2009-09-02T09:58:00.003-04:00

Wow - What an amazing experience this has been! Even though the weather didn't seem to be on our side this week, we still thoroughly enjoyed ourselves! What you guys do for families is life-saving. Our daughter Adisyn (13 months) was just released from Hereshy Hospital after a 15 day stay for pneumonia. Vacation wasn't even looking to be a possibility this summer, but Believe In Tomorrow made it happen. And we are beyond grateful for that. With Adi's diagnosis of SMA type1 (spinal muscular atrophy) traveling doesn't always work in our favor. But with the space here it allowed us to bring our nurse with us and enjoy every minute together without contantly worrying. Thank you for helping us rejuvenate our family.

Ryan, Katie, Mallory (2), Adi Grace (13 mo)

a chance to reconnect

2009-08-31T10:21:00.003-04:00

What a wonderful vacation this has been for my family at the Believe In Tomorrow House on the Bay. It definitely gave us a chance to reconnect from our hectic schedules between hospital and work.

The staff, volunteers and merchants did an amazing job of keeping us entertained, fed and very happy. We definitely feel refreshed and ready to tackle whatever lies ahead.

Your thoughtful, caring gift will be with us forever.

Fondly,
Linette & Ron, Ariel, Gabey, Muriel, Nathan & Danie

magical week

2009-08-28T08:55:00.003-04:00

We are so sad to say goodbye to the House on the Bay and this magical week. I don't think we've ever had such a fun packed vacation. For the past 2 years we've been in and out of hospitals focused on heart failure and waiting for "the call" for transplant. You forget what life was like before, and get focused on appointments, hospitalizations, medications, surgeries, fear of the unknown, fear of the known and a ton of hope. It almost seems normal to call the cardiologist to let her know the 8 year old flushed her sisters PIC line but if it's any consolation we are pretty sure she did it correctly.

You guys helped us have a week of our old carefree life. The kids were so excited to be here doing all these fantastic activities. We surfed, swam, fished, had a great time at the waterpark and on the pirate ship. You guys fed us so well we're all going home a few pounds heavier. We are so thankful to everyone who donated meals, time, activities and this wonderful house. We are going home with wonderful memories and pictures that have re-energized us as a family.

Mahalo!
Andre, Holly, Aaron, Malia, Analise, Liam and AnaJoy

We are truly grateful and warmed by all of ya...

2009-08-27T16:30:00.005-04:00

Dear Wayne --

How could we forget to write you a note of thanks as well :) Many thank yous to you for pulling all of this together! You, the other folks at Believe In Tomorrow and all of the "behind the scenes" folks have put together a special memory for us.

We are truly grateful and warmed by all of ya. This has been the best time away from "it all!" Lots of joy and lots of smiles have come our way this past week. Keep it going as I know there are many other families that will be blessed by the time spent here.

Take care, it was a pleasure seeing ya!

You guys ROCK!!!

2009-08-20T15:19:00.002-04:00

You guys ROCK!!! Unbelievable experience! Everyone was so nice to our family. We would not have been able to get away without you. This community was so supportive of us. We really enjoyed the whole experience. So many people were so amazing to us that we will never be able to thank them all but we will sure try. Thank you so much for everything. The volunteers and Wayne just made our whole summer.

Sincerely,
Jim, Wanita, Alex, Tori and Jimmy