NHHS Club Works Miracles
Presents, balloons, friends, family, cake and ice cream.
These are the main ingredients for a little girl's birthday party. It is a rite of passage, and it is what every 6-year-old deserves.
That's what Sophia Colby experienced last week at Newport Harbor High School. There was a big difference, though. Sophia is the victim of a life-threatening illness called Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), a rare disorder of the immune system primarily affecting infants and children.
But why a birthday party in a high school classroom?
It was the result of a group of teenagers who wanted to show their support and compassion for a family who really needed it.
Sophia Colby opens presents at a party given her by the NHHS Miracles for Kids club. Allie Pantoskey, a sophomore at Newport Harbor, along with co-president Cece Beck, took the initiative to start a club at the school to support Miracles for Kids, a non-profit organization based in Orange County. Miracles for Kids' mission is to make a difference in the lives of children who are fighting life-threatening illnesses, and to give support to the families and other primary caregivers who care and provide for these children.
The M4K's school club's mission is to do what they can at the school and community level to help out.
"I've always wanted to start a club and also help an organization like Miracles for Kids." Pantoskey said. "My family knows (Miracles for Kids’ chairman) Curtis Green, and so I came up with the idea of starting a club at school to help."
Pantoskey approached Alma Digiorgio, a teacher at Newport Harbor, who had already been active in helping the charity for a few years. DiGiorgio now acts as the school's club's advisor. The club had been following Sophia's story and DiGiorgio came up with the idea to throw her the party.
The Colbys are a grant recipient of the Miracles for Kids organization. Since the Grant Program’s launch, Miracles for Kids has provided aid to hundreds of children and families in need. They have funded items such as rent or mortgage, transportation, insurance co-payments, physician bills, funeral costs, renovation costs necessary to create “clean rooms” for children able to live at home during their treatment, and many other items.
Club members crowd around Sophia at her party. Sophia, along with her Mom, Dad and little brother were all smiles when they walked into the classroom decorated in Sophia's honor. Mrs. Colby gave a very heartwarming speech to thank the club, and to explain what exactly their efforts have gone toward.
"When Sophia went to bone marrow transplant is was necessary for us to prepare our home for her return. We needed to make it a safe environment for her very weak immune system. Any and all infections were potentially life-threatening for her. Miracles for Kids came to our rescue with money to replace the old carpet with laminate flooring, paint and purchase a HEPA air cleaner for her room.
“With all the time we spent in hospital we also had to replace all of our food, Miracles for Kids was there.
“When we couldn't pay the utility bills to keep the air conditioner on because it was too hot for her body to tolerate, Miracles for Kids was there.
“When we needed a place to stay, Miracles for Kids was there.
“Never did we imagine, when we spoke of building our family, we would ever be in need of an organization like Miracles for Kids. To know that they have welcomed us in as family, do what they can to help as family does in crisis is a blessing we are truly grateful to have."
The students listened intently. They have been helping the Miracles for Kids Foundation for years, but it was nice to hear exactly how their efforts have been paying off.
When asked what the most rewarding part of being involved in the school's M4K club, Pantoskey said, "I really like when we get to have direct contact with the families, like when we drop off food baskets, and have parties, like today's party for Sophia. It's so great to see their faces light up."
As Sophia eagerly opened her Barbies, books and Beanie Babies, she wore the smile of a little girl who had everything she could wish for. The Colby family will continue to have challenges and Sophia will most likely have to have medical treatment for the rest of her life. But thanks to Miracles for Kids, and the M4K NHHS club, children and their families can have their wishes come true, no matter what they are.
