Brook is ok, guys. Just a scare with shortness of breath and chest pains.
Turned out to be nothing but some high blood pressure due to a bit of stress. She went through a battery of tests, and we got the good news. She's got to take it easy for a bit, and slow down on work a little. Medication is going to help, too.
THANKS for the kind words, gang... it all worked out for the best!
HERE's the rest of the CHOC report for ya.
As I said before, I was rolling around taking pics that I deleted for the security guard, but Joyce showed up with an official photographer and Hospital Rep whose names I forgot (age, you know... should have taken notes!)
Here's one of my fave pics from the lobby. We weren't able to go anywhere but out front and around the lobby, and pics were ok as long as no kids were in them. Security stuff again, but that was very understandable, as I told Joyce these were to be shared on the board here with you guys.
The whole lobby was tuned to kids, of course, and I really loved the little CHOC bear! ;D
This is a section where helpers and volunteers are honored publicly in a section of the lobby... Here's another shot of the same. We took 2 of a lot of pics, just to make sure they come out ok.
Let's look around the lobby a little...
THIS one is a pic of the booth where a famous local radio station does broadcasting during benefit stuff for CHOC.
Station KIIS (Kiss) DJ's spin records and do interviews with celebrities that support the hospital from here time to time... they call this "Radio Lollipop!" Too COOL!
Don't ya just LOVE the little tables and chairs for the audience? I fell in love with 'em, and could visualize them filled with kids groovin' to the music and the stars that visited! ;D ;D ;D
That's about all that we could get of the lobby, 'cuz there were quite a few folks starting to come in just then, dangit!
But we decided to go outside and show you guys the place where the bricks are going to go... c'mon, follow me!
Here is an example of the bricks to show you guys...
Just picked at random. You can see now WHY we are limited to 17 characters on 3 lines. I DID work out the inscriptions perfectly, and will post those on a separate post laters.
THIS one shows a piece of the courtyard where our bricks are VERY likely to go!
Yeah, that's me, WAAAAY over there, being a typical camera ham, LOL! I just scooted over there to kinda show you guys just how BIG the area is.
As a few of you know, Disney is involved with CHOC in a BIG way, and there is a section by the entrance driveway that is reserved for THEM!
VERY NICE!
I was amazed to see that Disney has apparently been busy doing donation work for CHOC since 1991... but probably for a LOT longer than this, though. Disney apparently has been sponsoring the CHOC walk event since '91! These bricks and stuff are probably just put here since the new buildings were put up back then.
But I turned back to the building and took THIS one...
And marvelled at how brand NEW the at least 10 year old building looked! So NICE!!!
Well, let's go back inside and get the pics of the official hand-off of our check, guys...
We got 2 pics again of the official hand off, this one HERE
And I suggested a pic of Joyce and I shaking hands...
And then we were done!
This was one of the most wonderful days I have ever had in my life doing this for you guys. I got to meet 3 of the most wonderful people in the world, those who work for the Children's Hospital, and got to get out of the house for a bit, even though it was tough on me for a while afterwards. It was SOOOO worth it, though!
Well we disbanded, and I scooted out of the lobby to get the car, and I had to take a few more while waiting, LOL!
A nice little garden center-piece by the Disney walk bricks...
A couple more shots of the front of CHOC...
I even spotted another CHOC building across the big road...
As my car got brought up, I spotted the 3 amigos heading off to somewhere, LOL and waved a final goodbye.
OY, here goes the ritual of taking apart the scootie chair and putting it away... slowly.
One last one... as I was winding my way through the complex trying to find the exit to the main road, I happened upon this scene, and had to have a pic.
and paused for a moment and then said a short prayer for those men and women that do the job of driving those vehicles. What a job! Being the first on the scene where a kid is in trouble!
I then broke down and let the tears roll for all that have been in those ambulances, in the buildings, and in need of the
people of CHOC... Those people who I knew THEN... must truly be sent from GOD!
Your friend and servant,
Grandpa RD