Mia's 115th blood transfusion


Mia's 115th blood transfusion...




Thank you to everyone who donates blood to keep this sweet girl alive. 


And a very special thank you to Donald from Certified Custom Lifestyle who brought Mia one of a kind CUSTOM shoes! With her photo on them!


So cool, we love you Donald! 


Rocking the shoes!



We love love love these shoes so much!! 


God gives us friends...for a reason. Thank you to Alex for coming to visit Mia while she's in the hospital. 


So sweet! Friends are a blessing...a gift from God.

Mia's birthday blood drive



For Mia's birthday...we had a very special birthday blood drive in honor of her big day.
Look who surprised Mia with an amazing cake for her birthday?!? Kick Ass Kakes ! We met them from all the Phoenix Mercury games Coach Mia attended. They wanted to bring her a very special cake for her big day. If you need a cake, you MUST contact them they are the best!

There was a special kids fitness scavenger hunt led by Donald from C.A.P.E Fitness...thank you Donald for sponsoring this fun time for all the kids...and getting their heart rates up!


Ready set go!
They were split into groups and had to perform certain tasks...

It was so much fun! All the kids had a great time...




Of course everyone wanted a piece of cake...because that's what you give kids after they workout?? Well, yes if it's a birthday party!!



All the kids are ready for cake...



Even Donald was ready for cake! haha


Mia with her buddy Donald...she's a little Donald Duckling.




These girls all helped with this event...Jordan, Miss Arizona USA and Amber, Miss Arizona's Outstanding Teen. Thanks girls!! And all if Mia's sisters helped too!!



Ummm, even this little cutie did a great job!



All the girls were dying over his cuteness...the hair, the eyes...oh my goodness!



Finishing up some fun fitness games!




Wowzers Madi...nice splits!!



The kids ate the first layer of the cake and we wanted to save the bottom layer...for later.



It really warms my heart to see the STS Yoga room being used for a blood drive.




My sweet friend Brooke has the biggest heart ever! She is ALWAYS helping someone. She organized receiving 3 big huge boxes of toys that someone gave her for Mia's blood drive, so we can take them to the hospital and donate them to the POTC toy closet. LOVE. Thank you so much Brooke. And we got to see Mia's friend Trinity, who has battled cancer twice...we love you Trinity!


Mia hanging out with her group of friend s at STS!!



I love seeing the hallways packed with people...hanging out and waiting to donate.



Thanks everybody for giving up your time to come and donate!



Mia's friends brought her a gift too, and gifts for the hospital. Thank you Melinda!!



So sweet, Mia's 6th grade teacher came to donate, and her husband. Thank you Kester's!! We so appreciate it!



Team Trinity and her Mama Kristina...she TRIED to donate but her veins were too small. At least you tried you sweet friend!


The yoga room was busy, busy, busy, with people donating blood. What a great gift for Mia's birthday. Life.


Mia thanking the blood donors...



A very special friend, Miss Barbara (from Be The Match) gave Mia a very special present...some beads of courage.  Every bead tells a story of strength, honor, and hope.



Thank you so much Miss Barbara, and thank you for taking the time to come hang out at STS all day...we got 8 cheek swabs!! Whoo!



From our family...thank you SO much to everyone who donates blood! We could never say thank you enough.

United Blood Services - Birthday


Happy Birthday Mia!! On Mia's special day (12 years old!) We got to be a part of something special. United Blood Services Arizona gave away a car...for people who donated blood during the dinner months. Mia got to help give it away! 


Of course there was cake...because every birthday needs to have a cake. 


However, the candles were tricky...so Mia needed the help of her little sis Madi. 


Oh my they were laughing and trying their best to blow them out! Those tricky candles!! 


These awesome 10 finalists were the ones who donated blood during the summer months and were registered to win a car. I can't tell them thank you enough for donating their blood to keep people like Mia alive. They all were told where their blood went and to the person who received it...tears. 


I am so proud of you Mia forivibg your own story, and telling it. You are very brave. Beyond your years. 


There's the car...a 2014 VW Passat...wow!


Mia found her car...yep, it fits her. A red convertible VW New Beetle. Yep...legit. We have a couple years to save, thank goodness!! 


The very sweet people at UBS gave Mia these wireless headphones for when she's chilling in the hospital. Sweet!! Thank you SO much! 
And thank you for including us on the special give away...on Mia's special day. 

Jennie Allen Equals Mia's Marrow

Where do I begin??! I wanted to write down how I started Mia's Marrow...so I could see the threads that God is weaving in my life. And none of this would have happened without me reading this eye opening, God leading, book called Restless: By Jennie Allen


This was actually the second book of hers that I have read. Our bible study group of ladies started with 'Chase' first. Chasing after the heart of God. It was good...and we all loved that there was a video part to watch with each chapter. 
 
AMAZING.
 
Because hearing a voice speak the truth straight into your soul does something. So then we stated Restless. I have never in my life been as moved by any other bible study book (other than the Bible, hello!) than this...so naturally I totally took to twitter: 



Name your places:
 
My blog :)  Social Media, Kids sports & classes, Blood drives, #bootcampforblood
Hospital, Coffee Dates, STS - workouts, boot camp, Hopekids, CSE, UBS - non profits.
 
 


I always felt like...wow, there has to be more to my life than just...doing laundry. Literally, it's all I do, and sweep. Not that staying home and raising 4 beautiful daughters isn't awesome...because it is. 



I just need a baseball bat and a shot gun is all. Oh my, how grey my hair is over these girls. I pray for them ALL the time.
 
So I read this book Restless: 


And definitely Chapter 3 stood out. Out of our pain we could heal our world. - 
If you don't know...I have a daughter who was born with Diamond Blackfan Anemia. Her body does not produce ANY red blood cells. She lives off of others blood, kind of like us with Jesus.


Mia's big sis Alyssa being a doctor...those are the best kinds of doctors, who can make you laugh!!



The day before her 2nd birthday...



Mia is only here today because of the people who take time out of their day to donate blood. She's alive because over 114 people have donated their blood...so she can live. There's no cure, unless God heals her. Mia does not have a bone marrow match either, and none of her sisters are a match. 
 
Out of our sufferings comes our PASSIONS.

- We ended Restless in April of 2014. I have thought about starting SOMETHING raising awareness of Diamond Blackfan Anemia, but it's so rare no one knows about it. I've known for years, like at least 5 years...that I would call it: Mia's Marrow. (Since DBA is a bone marrow failure syndrome.) 

*If you read Restless you know that our People, Places, & Passions are not an accident. God has given them to us in our own unique ways.
*I'm just saying, God didn't give me Mia to not say anything about what we've gone through in our family.
* 'He just wants you to participate in His story wherever you are and with whatever you have.' J.A. 
So that's why on April 28, 2014 I started a Facebook page called: Mia's Marrow



We ended Restless, and on April 29th passed on our study to another group of ladies...



After the summer we started her first study called Stuck. (Which I have yet to finish.)
THEN it gets better. 



MmmmmmmHmmmmmmm

That's right...she came to our church: Redemption Gilbert - Sept. 12 & 13th





All of our bible study ladies made it!



The next morning was awesome...



No games...this is real life. People need to hear our stories and about Jesus.



We all got to sit together up front. So blessed!! After the conference was over I raced over to the book store. 



I had my oldest daughter (I begged her because I forgot) to bring me a few of Mia's shirts...I thought why not, she's here. 



I briefly told her about Mia's Marrow...and how I started it because of her study. She just doesn't even know... (can somebody get me a brush?!?!?)



Thank you SO much Jennie for doing what God has called you to do urgently and being so real about it. Words could just never express what God has done in my life since obeying Him, and starting Mia's Marrow, for His Glory. Always for His glory.

Please visit Mia's Marrow to see what has been happening, to name a few things...



Met Derek & Julianne Hough...(for 30 seconds, lets be real)



Tito Ortiz hosted a blood drive for her...I mean, hello?! How cool is that?!
What a great guy who is being positive and taking care of his boys.



Moved my English mum to Washington and might have a blood drive and Be the Match Drive for her up there in the spring - Via The Camano Island Inn PRAYING about this still...I am praying it works out. The manager is rally excited about it.



Got lots of people to save lives by signing up for Be The Match by asking people at the mall for 2 days. Whew... Mia has her own page BTM page CLICK HERE ...it's just a cheek swab people, you can do it, it literally takes less than 10 minuts to potentially save a life! Penny Taylor was challenged by 'Coach Mia' and she did it. Thanks Penny!!! You see, Mia started a #BTMchallenge I sincerely hope it goes national.

AND 



Seriously...if those are not all God things, then I don't know what is!!! She even had an appearance on ESPN and a great article written about her on ESPNW - to which Mia said, "I'll have this until the day I die," Mia says. "Unless God puts me into remission."  It's a MUST read.

That's in a nutshell...what has happened with Mia's Marrow from reading Restless. Thank you God for working in my life through this study...and to obey what you have for me. Amen!!!