It is heartbreaking to see pitiful images of small children hooked up to IVs and dwarfed by medical machinery as they receive lifesaving but painful chemotherapy treatments.
Only the families, and the patients themselves, know of the challenges faced as the children lose their hair, their energy and their zest for life. Instead of looking forward to a visit from Santa, they live in fear of the many treatments that seem to always hang on the horizon.
It is a terrible reality that the innocence of childhood is so fragile in a dark world.
Thankfully, modern medicine is able to cure many children of pediatric illnesses that were assuredly fatal only some years ago, but replacing the lost innocence and freedom of childhood is impossible as these patients watch their peers swarm the playgrounds from a hospital window.
For some of these children, dreams of health, hope and happiness remain just that, dreams.
Enter the Make-A-Wish Foundation, a non-profit group that for 30 years have made the wishes of seriously or terminally ill children come true. In fact, over 10,000 Georgia children have benefited from this volunteer group.
Likewise, the Paralyzed Veterans of America Southeastern Chapter not only aid paralyzed vets with mobility issues and getting used to life in a wheel chair, it also helps get them involved in sports, offering a chance at enjoying life once again.
The PVA offers camaraderie through pickleball, bowling, tennis and virtually every other sport imaginable, boosting the veterans esteem and offers them the thrill of being competitive again.
Recently, 28 athletes with the PVA were chosen to participate in the National Wheelchair Games in Minneapolis and have many more training in the wings to compete next year.
These are only two of a multitude of non-profit volunteer groups in our local area that exist to serve those in need. The Make a Wish Fiundation and PVS are composed of local people with love in their hearts on a mission to help where they can.
These people are angels in our midst and deserve the support of the community many times over.
