In just a few weeks I’ll be headed to sunny central Florida to perform my act at the 2012 Lake County Fair. (Check them out at lakecofair.com) This will be my second year in a row performing my Street Magic LIVE! act with them.
Last year when I performed for them, I was a new father. My son, Nathan was just turning 5 months old. When Nathan arrived, Sara and I, were so grateful that he was healthy. Ten fingers. Ten toes. Arms. Legs. Etc. Check. All accounted for. In fact we were so grateful that we felt called to give back and remember those children who are in the fight of their lives every day.
So I got in contact with the great people at the Florida Hospital for Children to offer to come perform a show for the kids who are patients in the hospital. They were thrilled.
When it came time to perform the show I was nervous. I’ve performed in front VIPs of Fortune 500 companies and in front of thousands of people. Yet I was never as nervous as I was for the dozen or so kids in that room. These were special kids and they needed an amazing show.
I’ll never forget that show. The kids laughed. They smiled. And for 30 minutes, they weren’t sick. They didn’t have cancer or any other disease. They were hooked up to an IV drip. Their conditions weren’t terminal.
As I drove back to my hotel that morning I was a bit choked up. Those little warriors gave a new definition to what it was to find your win. Some were battling to get better. Some were battling to the end. All of them were still kids. They still wanted to smile. To laugh and to be happy.
If you want to see true courage, look into the eyes of children like these and ask yourself, “What can we learn from them?”
What started initially as a one time event is expanding. My goal is to perform for the kids at local children’s hospitals across America. Anywhere on my tour if they have a children’s hospital, I’ll be in touch with them. It’s not that it’s my gift to them. No, not at all. After the first time performing I realized that just being in the presence of this children is a gift.
In just a few weeks I’ll be back in sunny central Florida and I’m looking forward to returning to see the kids at the Florida Hospital for Children.
“It’s not lack of resources. It’s lack of resourcefulness.” – Tony Robbins
In talking to their coordinator, Meagan, I was shocked to find out that she struggles to get programs in the hospital for the kids. Because of the economic downturn many organizations have cut back visiting the hospital. That was devastating for me to hear.
Knowing that I couldn’t be a regular at
the hospital from across the country I called on my resources in the central Florida area. I called up my friend, Tony Brent, and explained the situation. He was absolutely adamant about getting in touch with the hospital.
In the last year, Tony has been able to visit the hospital every month and perform his wild and zany magic and silly antics. (Sidenote: You too can see Tony’s antics at his Outta Control Magic Show at Wonderworks on I-Drive in Orlando.)
What can we do?
All of us have an opportunity to make life better for these amazing children. Please contact your local children’s hospital and discuss donations and volunteer activities. Even if you’re not able to do a program for the children, someone you know might be able to. That’s being resourceful and that will make a difference in their lives.
For more information on the Florida Hospital for Children Walt Disney Pavilion, please visit their website at FloridaHospitalforChildren.com or call (407) 303-KIDS.
