Today, we are officially on our 1ST DAY launching our Angelman Syndrome Awareness Camper Campaign across the US and to attend ASF’s Family Conference in KY.
I’ve always wanted to travel but never made it a priority. Traveling is still not a priority but getting older gives you that perspective that “life is what you make it”. We tend to make excuses to live life the fullest after “that promotion, that house, those vehicles and making/getting the next big thing”. Then before you know it, life changes to a different direction adding limitations to your way of life. However, just because you have limitations doesn’t mean you limit yourself to doing the things that defines the core of your being. Growing up, I’ve been deprived of family togetherness, that I’ve vowed the cycle ends with me. Our family dynamic is never perfect but my kids can never tell people we deprived them of decent childhood experiences — like traveling, sleepovers, slumber birthday parties with friends, doing chores, expectations at home, at school and everywhere — they are disciplined and love beyond measures.
After having Matthew and learning his diagnosis, we knew he has limitations but we never made him feel like “he is different THAN you and me, we continously explain that he is different LIKE you and me”!!! Traveling however, showed us how limited we are with him. During our East Asian and European trips, we’ve had so many downs to share — so decided to refrain from foreign soil until Matt is an adult — thus, the birth of traveling camping!!
Mike and I thought, “what if we travel and be a camping torch for Angelman Syndrome and spread awareness”?!? My husband has always been so brilliant with people and I always tell him how I admire how effortlessly he reaches out to someone {people or company} and pitch the birth of AS AWARENESS. He reached out to 1,2,3 —40+ companies, the next thing you know — we were in full force with the Camper Campaign. This journey is 5 months in the making, and finally here it is. Saying THANK YOU is not enough to express our sincerest gratitude to all of our sponsors. My hubby’s brilliant idea of showing our family’s gratitude is very evident in the logos wrapped in the back of the camper.
Lastly, some of our friends from Manchester/London, Ketchikan/Alaska, Corpus Christi/TX sported their support of our journey. Thank you for wearing Matt’s shirt to help us spread Angelman Syndrome!!!
