R

“Since I was young, I dreamed of having 13 kids. I think I was given the gift of Maddie because God knew if I could handle 13 kids, I could handle Maddie.”

Pat Lang’s youngest of three kids, Maddie, has a degenerative neurological disease called metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD). Since diagnosis at age 2, Maddie has had extended hospital stays and a bone marrow transplant, and has lost the ability to walk, talk and breathe on her own. Now at 18, Maddie is famous for her vibrant nail colors, good taste in music, and love of movies.

“Movies in our life are a huge deal,” Pat said. “Our whole family has always been movie buffs. But every single thing we do, I have to worry about money.”

Pat also worries about scrutiny from paying customers. “Once at a concert, a person angrily asked us to turn off Maddie’s [ventilator] machine,” Pat said. “They didn’t understand that she needs her machine 24/7 to breathe. I don’t worry about that when I’m surrounded by other families like ours at the movies. [HopeKids movies] have such a safe environment.”

November 2015Minnesota

www.facebook.com/HopeKidsMinnesota twitter.com/HopeKidsMN www.youtube.com/user/HopeKidsInc

With popcorn smells wafting in the air, the monthly movie experience is a blend of bald heads and face masks, the whir of feeding tubes, and the Lang family entourage—which

includes Maddie in her wheelchair, followed

by a wagon of medical supplies.

On November 7, Maddie’s crew was back at the

Mann Theatres in St. Louis Park for

The Peanuts Movie.

This month, for the first time, HopeKids families from Minnesota, North Texas and Arizona previewed the same movie on the same morning thanks to the generosity of Karsyn’s Krusaders.

“One of the areas that really drew Karsyn’s Krusaders to sponsor the November movies was the vision to restore hope in a safe environment,” says Karsyn’s Krusaders Director, Tami Brincks.

Karsyn’s Krusaders is a nonprofit organization started in 2010 by Andy and Jessica Miller to raise money and awareness of cancer, with a focus on childhood cancer.

“All of our directors have experienced some form of a cancer journey,” Jessica said. “It was easy to see how [HopeKids] was not only benefitting children, but the family as a whole...fitting perfectly with our mission of impacting families affected by cancer. It’s important to have fun outside of the hospital walls.“

For the Lang family, the monthly HopeKids movie is not optional.

“We’re at every movie so long as Maddie isn’t in the hospital,” says Pat. “I get up, roll out of bed and load up, like a crazy woman. I can just go there and nobody cares. It’s our favorite thing that we can do in a non-judgmental, non-threatening atmosphere because everybody has been there, done that.”

MONTHly MOvIe ScreeNINgS WOrTHy Of PeaNuTS

•MinnesotaTwins•KTIS•GopherSports

•Northrop•TeamQuest•WomenofFaith•TiltStudios

•MinnesotaWild•PrimroseSchools•STEMBunnies

Madd

ie’s f

amily

- Mikaylah, Pat, Wyatt and cece gather around Maddie

MEET VonVon is an active 3 year old who loves to play with cars and trains, cuddle with his kitties and dog, and go to the park and swing. He was diagnosed with congenital panhypopituitarism at 3 months old. Von loves being a part of HopeKids. His favorite event was the Primrose School Book Fair where he picked out his favorite books including his Trucks book that lists all kinds of trucks and their purpose.

HopeKids MinnesotaP.O. Box 44712Eden Prairie, MN 55344

Phone: 952.270.8271Fax: 888.418.3980brian@hopekids.org

Copyright © 2015 HopeKids.All Rights Reserved. Unsubscribe

www.hopekids.org

emma and grace enjoy a beautiful fall day with the STeM Bunnies at veteran’s Park. More than 100 HopeKids families capture memories during the family Portrait Day photo sessions. HopeKid Jackson gets ready for the October private movie screening of Pan sponsored by valley christian church. HopeKid Safia enjoys The little Mermaid. Karsyn’s Krusaders were on hand to greet families before The Peanuts Movie private screening.

HopeDay Bunnies, MerMaiDs anD Movies... oH My!