Food for the (heart and) soul.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
“I like this place,” said one little brother as he pasted together a lavish valentine for his mom, not skimping on the monkey stickers.
At the Jersey Mike’s sub shop on Spring Valley and the Dallas North Tollway, “Jersey Mike’s Day for WOKC Ambassadors” drew all kinds of heartfelt superlatives from the families of the young cancer patients.
And everybody loved the food. After all, the Ambassadors (kids who are undergoing cancer treatment at Children’s Medical Center Dallas) and their brothers and sisters got to make their own professional submarine sandwiches under the tutelage of Jersey Mike’s expert Jose.
That’s 2009 Ambassador Faustina and her friend with Jose.
And necklaces – that’s Ambassador Amanda, who even made a necklace to thank Jose! (Yes, it’s true, what many parents have pointed out: One of the unanticipated outcomes of a WOKC Ambassadorship is maturity and compassion. The program not only helps the children weather their cancer and treatment, but it nurtures and encourages these little heroes in so many other special ways.)
The children also got to express their passions and individuality with face-painting by Heather. 
That’s 2008 Ambassador Dylan sporting the eye black and “10”. Hmm, I wonder if he could be a Michael Young fan…
Most of all, the event was planned around the whole family – parents and brothers and sisters of the Ambassadors, too. They had a good time like regular families, despite the cancer that has invaded the lives of all of them, not just the little patient.
One of the warmest comments was delivered with a big hug to Cindy Brinker Simmons by Michelle Robert’s, mother of 2008 Ambassador Brenton and five other children:
“WOKC is the best thing that ever happened to our family!”
Cindy, founder of WOKC, knows what that mother meant. “At first, Jersey Mike’s Day for WOKC Ambassadors might have looked like an ordinary day of fun,” said Cindy, “but when your family has a child with cancer, fun family days are the first casualty. Brothers and sisters give up a lot. That’s what makes these events so special.”
Jersey Mike’s might have great food (and they do!), but on Saturday they showed what “food for the soul” is all about.