Grandpa's Gift

          



    

     

Maggie with her Grandpa Tom, 1 day old - April 13th, 2012                      

       

Maggie in her Pavlik harness, healing from a broken femur

- 6 weeks old   

             

      Maggie being her silly self - 23 months old

Maggie on May 14th after suffering a broken shoulder blade from a fall at the park - always smiling

We're gearing up for our 2nd annual event created to celebrate the life of Maggie's Grandpa Tom Gottman (May 21, 1950 - Oct 21, 2012) by coming together for a day of golf, fun & generosity to raise awareness about Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI).  The OI Foundation's mission  is to fund research, build public awareness, develop new resources, and support children and families living with OI.

Maggie's Grandpa passed away when she was 6 months old.  Shortly thereafter friends and family came together to create this event as a way to honor his caring and fun-loving spirit, and to continue his legacy of generosity towards others. This is 'Grandpa's Gift'.

Today, Maggie may look and act like any other 2-year-old, but she will have OI for the rest of her life.  Just recently she fell at the playground and suffered a broken shoulder blade.  It had been nearly 2 years since her last break and we're just not sure when it will happen again.  Doctors cannot predict this as well.  This uncertainty is what children and families affected by OI suffer with each day.

You can read more about her story here.

It is through immeasurable love and support, prayers, great medical care and perhaps luck that Maggie did not have a break in over 2 years.  However, there are children with OI who are born with multiple breaks, live with constant breaks and pain, and many families who lose children to this rare disease currently without a cure. 

We would like help to change this, and we invite you to help make a difference too!  

Our 2nd annual event is just around the corner, but we also have an online auction going on right now (ending May 27th)!  Take a look at all of the amazing items that we have up for auction here, which have been donated by many very generous friends and family, community members and local organizations.

You can also "Like" the Grandpa's Gift Benefit Facebook page here for all future updates & news.

If you would like to read more about last year's event go here and here.

We are able to have this amazing event due to the generosity of our wonderful family, friends, sponsors and donors.  Opportunities are still available to donate items to our live silent auction being held on May 31st.  Please email jcgottman@yahoo.com or mpsheridan80@yahoo.com for additional details.

All funds raised from this event will go directly to The Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation, a small 501(c)(3) non‐profit organization based out of Gaithersburg, MD.  The OIF is run by a handful of very dedicated and hard working individuals working to fund medical research, spread national awareness and ultimately help families.  We have personally been touched by their continued support and invite you to  consider supporting their mission.
Please visit here or send a donation to:

The Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation

Attn: Melissa Bonardi

804 W. Diamond Avenue, Suite 210

 Gaithersburg, MD 20878

As always, thank you for your support!

Mike, Jessica& Maggie Shae

1st Annual Grandpa's Gift Golf Event - 2013 in Milford, MI

Big News!

Happy Heart Day!!!!

There's big news in Maggie World! I'm not even sure what it means exactly, but Mom and Dad tell me that there will be big changes to come this summer.  Everyone seems to be really excited, so I guess I am too.  Although I'm still not sure what all this means...

I'm going to be 2 years old in just two short months, but Mom and Dad keep referring to me being 2 already.  They'll say things like, "I think she's already going through her terrible twos." Sometimes I am a bit scared to turn two because I hear people describe them as 'terrible'.  I don't know why, I think 2 is going to be great.  Especially because I usually do and say what I want now that I've realized my independence.  My favorite words are "no!", "stop!" and "mine!"
I can't say that these words work too often, but I try all the time.

I really like to be what Mom and Dad call a dare devil.  I stand up on top of my slide and climb out of the bathtub.  I basically really get a kick out of doing the opposite that I am asked.  Sometimes I can get it to work, but other times I have to resort to various other means: screaming hysterically crying, bucking like a wild bronco, kicking and becoming what I like to call a 'wet noodle'.  I think these tactics are gonna work soon so I'm going to keep trying.  After all, I am pretty stubborn and headstrong (not sure where I got these personality traits..).
Don't get me wrong, there are lots of great things I do too!  Here are some of them..

Some things I am really liking nowadays:

• painting, coloring, drawing & writing: I like to lay on the floor and use markers and pens
• getting chased: Dad is really good at this!
• The song "Ho Hey" by The Lumineers.  I say, "clap, clap!" and spin around (my signature dance move)
• brushing my teeth and using the potty (a.k.a playing in the sink and flushing the potty)
• Watching The Olympics and cheering when someone wins (I raise my fist and say, "yay!")
• I like letters and numbers (everything is usually A or 8).  I like to 'count' too.
• I like to go to bed with a good book and read before I fall asleep 
• I also like to rip pages in books...sometimes I just can't help myself.  I say, "oh, no! rip!"
• I like to go to the library, but I'm not too good at sitting for the story.  I like to visit with other kids and play.
• I like to sit in shelves at stores and hide in clothes racks.  I find this makes for a very exciting trip to the store.  I know Mom really enjoys my games. (see pic)
• I am going to start a music class next week and I am really excited about that too!

Here I am working on a masterpiece

Here are some phrases that I use a lot:

• "Thank you!" - aren't I polite?  I say it about 500 times a day..
• "Hi Mom" - I say this about 500 times a day too.  I just like to keep her on her toes.  If the house is a bit quiet it's time for a 'hi mom!'  Sometimes I'll switch it up and trick her with a, "Mom?", then she answers, "yes?" and I respond with, "hi!"
• "Come, play" and "come, sit"
• "Hiiiii!" - I like to shout this at places like the library, but I also greet strangers nicely too
• "Um, no" - as in, (Mom) "Maggie, do you want a nap?", (Me) "um, no"
• "mix, mix, mix" - I like to cook and love the movie Ratatouille (Touille, as I call it)
• I say, "here Mom" and then I give her something (I'm very helpful!)
• "Hug" - that's pretty self explanatory

Oh, so much snow!

I am going to be taking a trip in a few weeks to North Carolina.  It's a state I've never been to, so I'm very excited!  I am also very excited because we are going there to celebrate my Great-Grandma's 90th birthday!  Wow, that is really special!!  I will see a lot of family that live all over the country and we'll have so much fun together.  Dad says it's a very long trip and we'll be driving through the mountains.  I sure hope Mom doesn't freak out.  I'll keep you posted.

So, as you can see, a lot is happening in this little life of mine.  I am excited for Spring to come (will it ever come?) and to get outside, help Mom in the garden, make some new friends and play at the park with Dad.  I am really excited to be a big sister soon, although I still don't get it.  Do you have any advice for me?  Thanks for reading about me and Happy Valentine's Day!


In other exciting news, we are planning our 2nd Annual Grandpa's Gift Golf Event for this spring! It will be here in Illinois and we are so excited for a great day to celebrate my Grandpa Tom (his birthday is May 21st) and raise awareness for OI.  Plus, we'll have a tone of fun!!  There's so much more to come about this awesome event, so stay tuned!  If you want to read about our event last year go here.  If you are interested in donating to our silent auction (crafts, merchandise, gift baskets) or are (or know a business who would be) interested in sponsoring or donating please contact jcsheridan78@gmail.com.  Thank you!

Here are some more outtakes from my photo shoot:

 

 

Happy Heart Day!

xoxox, 

Maggie Shae