This weekend I was given the opportunity to go tour the Blair E. Batson Children’s Hospital in Jackson, MS with RebelTHON. Batson is the ONLY children’s hospital in the state. RebelTHON is a year long fundraiser for the hospital that culminates in a 12 hour celebration of not only the money we have raised, but the children, families and doctors that are impacted by our donations. I have been a member of the RebelTHON family since my freshman year, but this tour gave me a whole new reason to dance.
By the grace of God, neither I nor my sister ever had to spend an extended amount of time in our local children’s hospital. I have never been good with doctor’s offices, so hospitals are definitely not a place I feel comfortable in. When I was given the chance to visit the children’s hospital that I have been raising money for over the last 3 years, at first I hesitated. But there was something in my heart telling me I needed to go, so down to Jackson I went.
On our tour, we got to see both the NICU and PICU. Y’all that was hard, like a lot harder than I thought it was going to be. As we walked around, you could sense the pain and sadness that filled the room. But you also saw glimpses of so much hope and joy. Those doctors and nurses at Batson love the kids they care for SO big and it shows.
My “why I dance” used to just be that I danced for the kids who couldn’t. I still dance for the kids, but also for their families who love them more than anything, for the nurses that make them laugh, and for the doctors that care for them so well. I dance for everyone at Children’s of Mississippi because they are not only changing children’s lives, they are making this state a better place. I didn’t know how big of an impact a 1 hour hospital visit was going to have on me, but man did it touch my heart.
If you are a student at Ole Miss and you haven’t signed up for RebelTHON yet, I highly encourage you to join the RebelTHON family. This organization has taught me how to love and serve in ways I didn’t know were possible. And if you aren’t at Ole Miss, but you want to help the children of Mississippi continue to grow, you can make a donation. Remember every dollar makes a difference for these children and their families. Batson is currently working on a new building to expand into. There will be a new NICU and PICU with private rooms for families to stay with their children to heal as well as a more accessible imaging center for the kids. Thanks for all y’all’s support, Hotty Toddy!