Daniel and Liza Love Happy Wheels!

Happy Wheels is an amazing organization that touches so many lives each week, month, and year. Our involvement began as were trying to find a volunteer opportunity we could do together, as we are both engaged with many organizations and nonprofits separately, but a definite missing link was doing something that focuses on giving back to children in our community, and doing it together. I put us on the waitlist to be considered for Happy Wheels, and YEARS went by (so much time that I had I forgotten I had even done it, which speaks to the popularity of volunteering for Happy Wheels!) when I got a call from Tracey Rankin, our fearless and dedicated leader, asking if we would like to to be a part of this awesome team. The answer was a resounding, "Yes, and how soon can we get involved!?". That was over 2.5 years ago, and while we are still the newest members of the volunteer team, we have felt instantly a part of the community created by the caring folks working with Happy Wheels, other MUSC volunteer programs, and all around the hospital. Each week that we roll the cart, we are reminded of life's fragility and the difficulties that it can sometimes present, as we look into the faces of sometimes desperate and sad parents and children. There have been moments of tears, and so many touching exchanges, seeing the faces of children and their parents light up as they experience the first thing that day that has appeared solely to give them joy. Parents find solace in speaking with other adults about something other than the health and scary medical treatments awaiting their child, leaving me often wondering who actually appreciates the visits more, the adults or the kids? But let's be honest... it's the kids! It's all about them, and it's the best feeling to find the absolute perfect item for a boy or girl on that filled-to-the-brim cart, whether it be a book they've been wanting, maybe the next one in a series they want to finish, a fun toy, or the perfect stuffy of their favorite kind of animal. Watching them walk back all smiles with a new game to play with their family or an art set to help occupy their time during what can be long and sometimes dreary days in the hospital is so satisfying. Every dollar you give helps make these smiles happen, helps give joy to someone in need, and helps lift the spirits of someone on perhaps one of their darkest days. This small gesture does amazing things, and we can attest to the effectiveness of this program in doing just what it says: SPREAD JOY! We are blessed to be a part of Happy Wheels, and would be thankful for your generous support. 

*More about Happy Wheels: 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!*