Hero #1 - Tim Hudson and The Hudson Family Foundation

Creative CommonsRich Anderson - https://www.flickr.com/photos/memestate/2593744883

Today I learned about a hero. I always knew that Tim Hudson was a wonderful pitcher and a great guy, but I found out there is so much more.

Tim and his family operate the Hudson Family Foundation, they help children with disabilities and/or illnesses and their families.

I first heard of Tim Hudson when he was on a baseball scholarship at Auburn University. This is where he met his soon to be wife, Kim. They are now married and have three children.

Baseball Career

Tim was recruited by the Oakland A’s twice, both in 1994 and again in 1997 when he signed with the A’s. Hudson was with the A’s until 2004 and then was traded to the Atlanta Braves.

Tim spent 8 years with the Braves, he was back home.

Tim spent his last two pitching years with the San Francisco Giants.

He retired in 2015. A seventeen-year pitching career is quite incredible in its self, but that didn’t make him a hero.

Attribution: Chrisjnelson Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license.

Giving back is something both Tim and Kim have always wanted to do.

They began the Hudson Family Foundation in 2009. It has always been the goal of the foundation to help children and their families with medical expenses incurred due to catastrophic illnesses.

The Hudson’s had a vision for a foundation that could not only help with medical expenses but for utility bills, mortgage payments, maybe gas cards or multiple ways to help families help their children to have better lives and to take some of the financial burdens from families.

The mission statement from the foundation reads as follows.

“The Hudson Family Foundation is committed to making a positive and long-lasting impact in the lives of children who have a genuine need for assistance with regard to a specific physical, emotional or financial circumstance.”

The foundation has many ways they help children and families.

A Grant Program

Examples of assistance include:

• Pharmacy costs

• Medical Bills

• Medical Equipment

• Gifts cards for food or travel-related expenses

• Temporary housing or mortgage assistance

• Medical equipment

• Uplifting experiences for families who have suffered a loss

Take Me Out To The Ball Game

“This program provides tickets for children to attend Atlanta Braves home games throughout the baseball season. Non-profit organizations that fit within the mission and purpose of the Foundation will get first priority. Because there are 81 home games each season, the Foundation will also seek out various types of youth organizations to benefit from this program to ensure that the tickets are put to use. Our goal is to allow children to experience a Braves baseball game who may not otherwise be able to do so without assistance from the Foundation.”

Rookie Reader Program

“The Rookie Reader program promotes literacy and encourages a love of reading from a young age. Books are provided by the Hudson Family Foundation to children and youth throughout Georgia and Alabama. The Foundation will work closely with local schools, children’s shelters, community centers and after-school programs to attempt to reach as many children as possible by providing educational and fun reading materials for children.”

Legend Award Benefiting Legendary Children

“The Hudson Family Foundation Legends Award will focus on building self-esteem, pride, and hope in school-age children who are battling to overcome debilitating challenges in their lives that include the death of a family member, terminal illnesses, military deployments, and economic hardships.”

Scholarship Programs

“Through this program, scholarships are awarded to deserving high school seniors who fit within the mission and purpose of the Hudson Family Foundation.”

All information found @ Hudson Family Foundation

https://www.hudsonfamilyfoundation.com/

I found out just today about this wonderful baseball hero.

It was due to another hero that I learned about the Hudson’s.

Hero #2 - My Great-nephew, Cole.

Here’s our little hero. He is such a fighter.

Cole in his mask. Picture from his prayer page.

My four-year-old great-nephew has Cystic Fibrosis. CF in a fatal illness usually diagnosed in children. Cole was diagnosed at two weeks old. He is now four. He has had 10 sinus surgeries, multiple hospitalizations, he takes about twenty medications a day along with a shake vest and breathing treatments two-three times a day to attempt a normal life. He now gets IVIG (Intravenous Immunoglobulin treatment). He has to be in the hospital in bed for 6 hours once a month just for this one treatment.

Cole’s case is so complicated he see’s physician and medical teams in two states. He uses UAB Children’s in Birmingham, AL and Vanderbilt University Children’s Hosp. In Nashville, Tn.

Cole's many medications, this is just a portion.

He goes to see different doctors at least once a week, usually several times a week.

Needless to say, traveling is very financially draining on the family.

Today our family found out they had, unbeknownst to them, been referred to the Hudson Family Foundation.

The first thing they are receiving are tickets for their family of four to the Kick-Off Classic Game in the Mercedes-Benz Dome in Atlanta GA., between the Auburn Tigers and the Washington Huskies!

This gift is part of the program to help Cole and the family to have an enjoyable time away from the everyday worries of illness and hospitals.

We have all been so excited all day. Such a wonderful gift. Just to get out and enjoy a game. Also, Cole’s dad is a huge Auburn Tiger fan!

So you see, today I have told you about two heroes.

MLB / heros

Two Hero's Among Us

Two Hero's Among Us

Two Hero's Among Us