2009 Alabama Champion

The President of the USA and ME!

2009-04-14T21:49:00.001-06:00

The President of the United States...

2009-03-24T14:46:00.004-06:00

THIS was the highlight of my trip! I shook hands with president Obama!

President Obama spent 5-10 minutes just talking to us. He took time to shake hands with each Champion. He is a really nice man.

PARTY tonight at the ESPN Zone!

Thank You Dr Blount

2009-03-23T19:01:00.003-06:00

I could never have done this without you....

Kace

Washington D.C.

2009-03-23T17:38:00.008-06:00

First, we took a bus tour. We saw large buildings and statues that were really cool.

Here are all the Champions from across the U.S. There are some really amazing kids here. I'm really lucky to have met them and hear their stories.

We had lunch at the office of our elected officials. Congressman Spencer Backus was flying back from Alabama and could not make lunch but, he had a staff member take us on a private tour of the Capitol.....THAT was cool. They let us ride on the subway that connects the Capitol to the Executive Offices...this was one of the best things EVER!

This was an amazing and exhausting day! Tomorrow...President Obama!

Stay tuned......

Headed to D.C.

2009-03-22T06:25:00.002-06:00

Today we fly to Washington D.C. Tomorrow we have lunch at Capitol Hill and then we meet President Obama (that may be Tuesday). Delta is taking us to D.C. There is no one but the Champions and families on the plane.

This should be fun. I'll let you know.....

Finally made it to the Parks!

2009-03-21T18:01:00.004-06:00

One of these is my sister...can you guess which one? ha ha!

We had a great afternoon at Magic Kingdom.

Julianne Hough Concert

2009-03-20T17:29:00.004-06:00

Wow....and she can sing, too!!

Thursday Night

2009-03-20T17:08:00.003-06:00

We had a busy night! We greeted the sponsors of CMN...a really nice LARGE group of people from all over the USA and Canada. We swapped pins and stories.

Here is a pic of me and a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

The Champions swapped pins, too.

BREAKFAST

2009-03-19T09:40:00.007-06:00

Dude, Goofy is cool! Do you ever get too old for this? I hope not!

I ate breakfast with a family from Kentucky. They are BAMA fans, too! I like people with good taste! LOL ! John Schneider (Secret Life of American Teenager) and Miss America were there.

I'm having a blast!

We made it!!

2009-03-18T15:07:00.002-06:00

Finally....we made it! We have checked-in to the Coronado Springs resort. It's soo big. We have free time tonight so, we're headed to Downtown Disney and dinner. I really want to ride roller-coasters! Maybe tomorrow.

Good Morning!

2009-03-18T07:25:00.002-06:00

I'm on my way! Just thought I would update my status...sitting at the B'ham airport waiting for our flight to Atlanta. We have to catch another flight from Atlanta to Orlando. My mom's boarding pass had her first name and all her other id just had her middle name...thought I was gonna have to leave her. Whew...close call. Thanks nice airport lady!

Ok..maybe we don't need THAT much excitement. Hope you have a great day. Talk to ya later.....

WOW!

2009-03-14T06:38:00.002-06:00

Hi! I am having so much fun as Alabama's Champion Child! I get to do fun things like meet several of my Alabama football hero's and Miss Alabama--she's real pretty and sweet--Ithink she may a little too old for me :(

On Friday, March 13th Wal-Mart Hoover had a party to celebrate my trip with Children's Miracle Network (CMN). Dude, they even gave me $500 gift card! How cool is that?! They are really nice people and do a lot to help kids and CMN.

We leave Wednesday, March 19th on the CMN trip. We fly to Disney World for several days then on the Washington DC. I'm taking my mom, sister and grandmother with me. Hopefully, they'll behave...LOL!

I will blog about my adventures...check back to see what I'm up to! It should be great!

Kace

Kace's Story

2009-01-13T09:04:00.000-07:00

Kace Lightsey
Age 13
Children’s Hospital of Alabama
Brain Injury & Epilepsy

For two years and up to 40 times a day, an electrical storm would erupt in the brain of 7-year-old Kace Lightsey. Severe epilepsy—triggered by a brain injury and stroke suffered when he was five—was robbing Kace of his childhood. The lively, happy little boy from Woodstock, Ala., couldn’t be left alone for even a moment because a debilitating seizure could strike, leaving him powerless.

Hope for a childhood free of seizures came from Children’s Hospital of Alabama. A neurologist there believed that Kace was a candidate for epilepsy surgery. “I just kept telling myself, ‘I’m going to get better. I’m going to get better,’” said Kace. “So when I heard about the surgery, I said, ‘I’m ready if it is going to help get me back where I can play with my friends.’” Kace was ready for his childhood back.

The delicate surgery removed almost the entire right side of Kace’s brain and proved remarkably successful. He came out of surgery sitting upright and asking for a chocolate milkshake—a typical 7-year-old had returned. Today 13-year-old Kace is seizure free and is enjoying every moment of his teenage years.

About Walmart and Sam's Club

2009-01-13T09:03:00.001-07:00

Wal-Mart has supported Children’s Miracle Network since 1987. Since then, Children’s Miracle Network and Wal-Mart have worked tirelessly together to help children by raising money for children’s hospitals. Walmart and Sam’s Club associates, customers and members have raised more than $460 million for children’s hospitals during the relationship. This is the first year Walmart and Sam’s Club have sponsored the Champions Across America program.

Champions Across America presented by Walmart and Sam's Club

2009-01-13T09:02:00.001-07:00

Champions Across America presented by Walmart and Sam’s Club is a Children's Miracle Network program that brings attention to the important work being done at children’s hospitals by honoring remarkable children who have faced severe medical challenges.

The Champions Across America program designates a Champion child in every state who has bravely battled a serious injury or illness. The Champions represent the nearly 17 million children treated at Children’s Miracle Network hospitals every year. The 2009 Champions have dealt with a wide variety of injuries and illnesses including brittle bone disease, brain tumors and cerebral palsy, as well as surviving car accidents and plane crashes.

As part of Champions Across America, the Champions travel for a week – first to Florida to meet Children’s Miracle Network sponsors, hospital and media partners who all convene to celebrate a year of medical miracles during the Children’s Miracle Network Celebration event at Walt Disney World Resort. The group will then travel to Washington, D.C., where Champions traditionally meet with their state senators on Capitol Hill, and the President of the United States during a visit to The White House.