2010 Alabama Champion

My last day in Disney World!

2010-11-15T11:54:00.000-08:00

Our last day was both sad and happy and filled with so much fun. This morning we had breakfast and we exchanged our state pins with other champion kids. Then to all of our surprise we marched into a ball room full of all the sponsors of Children’s Hospitals. We marched into the ballroom in state order, so I was always first since I was Alabama. Anyway, hundreds of people were cheering for us as the song “We are the Champions” was playing and videos were shown of all of us kids. We felt so special. Afterwards, there were tables set up and each champion sat behind there table and autographed books for people as they came by to thank us for what we had done for Children’s Hospitals. It was the neatest thing ever! Tonight I attended a huge Gala formal event. It was absolutely amazing. This was a formal event that Delta Airlines sponsors thanking all the many sponsors that donate money to Children’s Hospitals. There were lots of doctors and important people there. I was recognized as the miracle child and everybody cheered for me when I came out on stage and gave me a standing ovation. I was on stage with Travis Stork from the Doctors tv show and he asked me lots of questions about when I was sick and how I managed to keep such a positive attitude with everything I’ve been through. Then, I got to meet Zach Carter and Josh Carter and we are now texting buddies. I told Mr. John Schneider that I wanted to be a cancer doctor. He arranged for me to have a doctor mentor. He was in the audience and his name is Dr. Bill Sears. He is an oncologist too! I am very excited. He got my e-mail address and gave me his and said that he would be in touch. Then, one last thing, was I met Gary Baker, who is a famous songwriter producer of the Backstreet Boys. He told me to come to his studio and he would like to help me make a CD. This day has brought so much excitement but at the same time I am so sad to leave everyone. I had to say goodbye to a lot of special people. I hope I will see them again real soon. And thanks to CMN and all the many wonderful sponsors that helped to make this trip so special for all of us Champion kids and their families!!

Lindsey and Dr. Bill Sears and his wife (the doctor who is going to mentor Lindsey)

Lindsey in her formal dress before the huge Gala event

Carter Twins (Zach & Josh)

Disney World: Day 3!

2010-11-14T13:26:00.001-08:00

Oh my stars. I have had so much fun! First we got up and went back to Magic Kingdom. We went souvenir shopping there and it was great. I had so much fun. When we were leaving the park we got to see the parade. Also, there was a dance party and we all got to dance out on Main Street. When we came back to the hotel it was time for our Medal Ceremony. John Schneider from the Dukes of Hazard and Ms. America along with Walmart sponsors presented us with our medals. It was a really big celebration. Dr. Oz was our Keynote speaker They played a video of all the champions and everyone walked across the stage as everyone cheered for us. When I walked across the stage to get my medal I blew a kiss to the crowd. After the Medal Ceremony I got to meet Dr. Oz. He invited me on his show. Then I met the producer of the Back Street Boys Gary baker and also another producer of the backstreet boys Matt Johnson. They are both song writers. Then I got to meet Tiffany Thornton from the show Sonny with a Chance. Then I got to see Ms. America again. She is so sweet! Afterwards we all went to Down Town Disney and ate at the TRex Café It was such a fun day.

Lindsey with Gary Baker and Matt Johnson

Lindsey and Ms. America

Lindsey with other Champion friends

Disney World - Day 2

2010-11-12T07:36:00.000-08:00

Happy Veterans Day. I want to thank all the military for what they have done for our country. Today we had a reunion breakfast with all the Champion children. It was great. The country singer Mark Wills and Ms. America was there. We also had a surprise visit from John Schneider (Bo from the Dukes of Hazzard). After that, I was interviewed by Fox News. My parents and I, along with some friends of mine from Nevada, went to Magic Kingdom. It is such a magical place! I saw Mickey, Minnie, Pluto. Donald, and Goofy. I rode on Space Mountain and lots of other rides. Then we came back to the hotel and we had a pool party. We went to downtown Disney and ate at the Rain Forest Cafe. Today was filled with fun and excitement. I really had a fun day!

Lindsey and John Schneider

Lindsey and Mark Wills

Lindsey and Tiffany of Fox News after Lindsey’s interview.

Disney World - Day 1

2010-11-11T06:58:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone! Yesterday was our first day at Disney and it was awesome. When we arrived at the Huntsville Airport Security escorted us right on through. Our flight was delayed and mom was worried that we would miss our connection in Atlanta but it all worked out. We had a 30 minute flight from Huntsville to Atlanta. We ran into lots of other Champion families and ended up on the plane with them. The flight from Atlanta to Orlando seemed like centuries. Finally, we made it and CMN (Children's Miracle Network) welcomed us and escorted us to a bus called the Magical Express. Once we arrived at the hotel we met up with other Champions. It is like one big reunion. Our hotel is great! A monorail runs through our hotel to the parks. We watched the fireworks and the parade from our balcony. Who knows what will be in store for tomorrow. I’m so excited. Stay tuned!

Last Day in Washington, D.C.!

2010-06-10T07:30:00.000-07:00

Sadly, this was the last day of our trip. First, I got to have an interview with none other than David Archuleta from American Idol. He was super nice and so cute! I even got to meet his aunt. She was wonderful. I was feeling her ring because I love to feel jewelry. She gave it to me!! I cried! They said that we would keep in touch!! Then, I met Senator Sessions; he was so nice and even gave me a coin with the state capital on it. He even let me hold the National Championship helmet of Alabama’s victory. I even got to meet Mrs. Sessions. After this, we got to visit the White House. We got to tour all around. Of course, we had to go through lots of security but it was worth it. The house was gorgeous. They had different colored rooms!! Then came the most exciting thing of all. We got to meet President Obama himself. I even carried on a conversation with him and he knelt in front of me and shook my hand! Finally, we got to go to the Nationals game. To our surprise, we walked in on a red carpet and got trophies and a backpack full of National things. After dinner we got to meet Screech and Mickey Mouse. I got to meet some new friends: Joshua, Sam, Danielle, Sando, McKenzie, Wyatt, Brooke, Paige, Katie, Emily, Sarah, Ramonie, Landon and so many more. We got to stay for the National game where the Nationals won against the Pirates seven to five. Sadly, however, we must get packed to come home. I sure will miss all my friends and the gatherings we got to do thanks to Walmart, Sams Club, and CMN. Thank you for making this such a memorable trip. I will definitely look forward to getting to see everyone again in November. I hope that I have met some friends that I can keep in touch with forever!!

Champion Kids Josh from Missouri and Sam from Texas

Lindsey with David Archuleta

Lindsey with Senator Sessions

President Obama shaking Lindsey’s hand!

Day 3 in Washington, D.C.!

2010-06-09T07:19:00.001-07:00

Today was an overwhelming day. First, we went to the grand statue where we had a photo shoot with Ms. America in front of the steps to the Capital. Then, we had a luncheon at Capital Hill where some Congressmen attended. I got to meet Senator Shelby. He was extremely nice. I was supposed to meet Senator Sessions, but my appointment was changed to tomorrow. A lady in Senator Session’s named Ms. Paige took my family and I to see the Alabama’s state’s statue of Helen Keller. It is the first statue with braille on it. We rode a train there. I was the first person to read the Braille correctly. I will get to meet Session’s tomorrow. After that we had a pool party where I met up with other Champion kids. We went out for ice cream afterward with the Nevada Champion Family. Today was an excellent day, but tomorrow is going to be full of more surprises. Please read tomorrow to find out more about the surprises that are in store for our last day. They always plan so many special things for us! I have met so many wonderful people on this trip! I cannot thank Children’s Miracle Network and Walmart enough for making our trip so special.

All the Champion kids sitting on the steps to the Capital.

Lindsey reading her Braille on the Helen Keller statue.

Lindsey in front of the Capital!

Lindsey with Senator Shelby!

Day 2 in Washington, D.C.!

2010-06-08T06:32:00.000-07:00

Today was phenomenal!! We ate breakfast at the ESPN Zone where I got to meet none other than Miss America, who performed for us and the country singer Mark Wills, who promised me that he would ride rides with me in Orlando at Disney!! At the ESPN Zone we also got another HUGE surprise! The Mascot Screech from the Washington Nationals Baseball Team gave us all free tickets to see the Washington Nationals ballgame when they play the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday. We also will get to meet David Archuleta from American Idol. We got a bus tour of the city and got to see the Jefferson and Lincoln Memorials. After that, we learned a bus song, so that we can compete with the other buses. Then we went to the Smithsonian. I went to the Natural History Museum where I felt of different rocks, minerals, animal models, gems, and jewels. After we came back to the hotel we went swimming where I met up with other champions. This has been such an exciting day!! Everyone has been so wonderful to us!

Lindsey with Miss America!

Lindsey with Madison, the Mississippi Champion Child

Lindsey with country singer Mark Wills!

We made it to Washington, D.C.!

2010-06-07T06:27:00.000-07:00

My day was AWESOME!! The highlight of my day was getting off the plane at the airport in Washington and getting to meet everyone. It was also cool how they had signs to welcome us (even Delta welcomed us). From the time I stepped off the airplane, everyone made me feel so special. Everyone was there to greet us and it was wonderful!! I’ve already met three new friends, Ariana, who had the same type of cancer as me, and her cousin, Christina, and Caleb from New Hampshire. I can’t wait until tomorrow because we are going to the ESPN Zone and I can’t wait to meet everyone else.

Lindsey with the Champion family from Hawaii!

Lindsey and Alison Bowers

CMN welcomed us at the airport!

My family with the pilot of our plane!

Watch Lindsey Jones's story by clicking here.

Lindsey's Story

2010-03-11T20:13:00.000-08:00

Lindsey
Age 14
Rhabdomyosarcoma

Children’s Hospital of Alabama

“Just because a person can’t see, doesn’t mean they can’t do what they want to accomplish in life.” This powerful advice comes from a brave young woman who lost her eyesight at just 4 years old as a result of battling cancer.

Lindsey’s vision began to fade one month before her fourth birthday. Her cancer was so rare and provided such little medical precedence that doctors couldn’t provide her family with many answers. At Children’s Hospital of Alabama Lindsey began daily treatments of radiation in the morning and chemotherapy in the afternoon, which aggressively attacked the cancer hidden behind her sinus cavity and pressing on her optic nerves.

The battle was difficult but Lindsey stayed positive through the ordeal. Today, Lindsey, 14, has been in remission for eight years and her loss of vision hasn’t slowed her down pursuit of a full and happy life. Lindsey takes ballet and tap dance lessons; plays multiple musical instruments; and says that “most of all, I love helping people.”

About Walmart and Sam’s Club

2010-03-11T16:13:00.000-08:00

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 $500 million for children’s hospitals during the 23 year relationship. This is the second year Walmart and Sam’s Club have sponsored the Champions program.

Champions presented by Walmart and Sam’s Club

2010-03-10T16:13:00.000-08:00

Champions 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 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 2010 champions have dealt with a wide variety of injuries and illnesses including genetic diseases, heart transplants and traumas, as well as life-threatening staph infections.

As part of Champions presented by Walmart and Sam’s Club, the champions travel for a week in June 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. The family then travels to Orlando, Fla., for a second week in November. There, champions meet Children’s Miracle Network sponsor, 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.