Why Can't We All Be Like This?

There is a little 9 year old girl, Anna (our niece), who has juvenile diabetes. Recently, I wrote a post about the walk in Columbia, SC to raise awareness of Juvenile Diabetes as well as to raise money for research to find the cure.

I do want to thank JL Boney who donated to the cause in honor of Anna not only money, but also put my post on his blog site and his web site. Thanks, JL.

Anna's Army, (Anna with a large group of her supporters) was to gather at 1:30 pm on Sunday. Boyd and I planned to participate in the walk with Anna's Army.

The night before the walk, a little 6 year old girl, Eliza (our granddaughter), was spending the evening with Boyd & me. We were talking about the next day and going to Columbia for the walk. Eliza wanted to go --- we told her it was just too far for her -- that she would be miserable. Eliza began to ask a lot of questions about what was wrong with Anna. I explained the best that I could.

The next morning, Eliza called to say, "Please don't leave before I come over - I have something to send to Anna."

Just before we were about to leave, Eliza came over and said "Special delivery for Anna Felder" and handed me an special cloth purse that she had made and had "Anna" on the front. Eliza told me that she had put a $10 bill in the purse to help Anna.

This was entirely Eliza's idea --- she had $18 dollars in her piggy bank from the tooth fairy and for working little jobs around her house. She took $10 of it to send to help Anna. I was so touched that this little 6 year old was giving up her valuable money to help Anna. As I hugged her, I was crying. I, then, had to explain to Eliza that they were tears of pride in her.

When we got to Columbia for the walk and I gave Anna the special purse, she opened it and in addition to the $10 bill was a note written to Anna by Eliza -- I never saw what was in the note, but Anna and her best friend both had tears in their eyes after reading it.

Anna is shown here with her granddad, Miles Loadholt, and the money that Eliza sent.

Anna sent Eliza an Anna's Army shirt --- when we got home, Eliza was so proud to have a shirt --- she felt really a part of Anna's Army.

I am so very proud of Eliza for her unselfishness ---she is such a sensitive and caring child. She was so upset to learn that "her Anna was sick" and she wanted to do her part to help Anna.

Anna's Army had a great turn out for supporters for the walk ---every penny donated helps. As of today, there is no cure -- we are praying that there will be a cure found for Anna and all those others out there suffering with this terrible disease.