Laurens Legacy for Happy Wheels!

September 25, 2009 was a life changing day for our family. Our sweet, spunky, full of life 9-year-old daughter, Lauren, was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). We were devastated to say the least. Life as we knew it changed in the blink of an eye. We were immediately sent to the children's hospital in Columbia.
 The first week of Lauren's whirlwind journey with AML, a surgical cart filled with an array of toys, games, stuffed animals, and more arrived at her door. Pushing that cart of joy was Tracey Rankin, founder of the Happy Wheels program in Columbia. With a smile on her face and a heart full of love for children, especially those hurting or facing some type of medical battle, Tracey met our family and won our hearts. It was the beginning of Happy Wheels in Columbia, and Lauren was one of their very first recipients. It brought so much joy to Lauren's face to see Tracey and get to choose a toy or book each week! Happy Wheels' visits brightened many bleak days spent stuck inside the hospital for her.

Lauren passed away 10 months after her diagnosis on July 16, 2010. There were many sad moments during her battle with AML. However, many of the happy ones included Happy Wheels. Lauren loved Happy Wheels and Tracey. This organization will always hold a special place in our hearts. Please join us in supporting Happy Wheels in memory of our daughter, Lauren. You never know if or when your perfectly healthy child might be the one getting to choose something from the Happy Wheels cart.

One day, each week throughout the year, Happy Wheels volunteers make rounds to each inpatient room with a decorated surgical cart filled with brand new books and toys. Happy Wheels visits approximately 400 children weekly at all 3 children's hospitals in South Carolina. Each child gets to pick out one toy/book of their choice every week for the duration of their admission. They get to keep the gifts and take them home!