Flashes of Hope Brings Smiles To Hospitalized Children
One afternoon every month, an exam room at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center is transformed into a photography studio for kids. That’s when an organization called Flashes of Hope photographs children battling life-threatening illnesses.
Flashes of Hope was founded in 2001 by a Cleveland woman whose son was hospitalized for cancer treatments. Now there are chapters across the country. In 2012, photographers Vickie Daniels, Mark Bealer and Helen Adams formed the Cincinnati chapter. Since then, more than 250 children have been photographed.
“We wanted to bring a gift to families to offer them something that most families don’t even think about at this time in their lives,” said Vickie Daniels, co-chair of Flashes of Hope.
A story about it from Local12
People Working Cooperatively Oscar Gala Gave Family Dignity
Louise wasn’t asking for luxury, a gift, or even charity. She’s was looking for dignity. Dignity for her brother Jerry who suffered neglect and abuse at the hands of his caregivers.
Support of the PWC 2012 Oscar Night brought Jerry that dignity and the comfort of home he very much needed.
Louise, 57 and Jerry, 66, are siblings born in Moultrie, GA. They grew up in a hard scrabble life picking cotton in a rural community without many luxuries. Jerry was born with Cerebral Palsy and profound learning disabilities. Their mother worked 
hard teaching Jerry to be as independent as possible. Their father had been killed when they were young, and the family worked hard to make ends meet.
At best, their daily life was challenging. But what little they did have was violently shattered the day their mother was shot and killed – in front of the children.
“It’s something that stays with you forever,” says Louise, with tears in her eyes. “Our mother loved us and did everything she could for us and she was taken away in a horrible violent death. We saw it, we saw everything, and it just never leaves you.”
Jerry was sent to live at an adult group home in Florida. Louise and Gina made their way to Cincinnati, where other relatives were living.
As the years passed, all seemed to be well with Jerry’s care until one day when an uncle made a surprise visit to Jerry’s group home. He was shocked with what he found. Jerry was malnourished and had suffered horrible physical abuse. When Louise received the phone call, she knew the decision had already been made – Jerry would come to live with her and her friend Marietta.
But the Bond Hill home wasn’t ideal for a person with disabilities. Jerry can’t walk, so Louise had to carry him up and down the steps to use the toilet or for a bath. Louise has had had two knee replacements; Marietta has bone spurs and nerve pain in her back. They worried about dropping him.
“We didn’t want to hurt him – or us,” said Louise.
What the family needed to care for Jerry was a basement bathroom and shower. It was a difficult, expensive job due to the plumbing which was dug up from the basement floor. Also, the door where Jerry accesses the basement and his chair lift was 
widened and made more accessible. The size of the job was beyond the scope of what People Working Cooperatively typically performs.
But support from PWC’s Oscar Gala helped Jerry receive the care he needed. He now has a beautiful state of the art bathroom in his basement, and an expanded doorway to help him get in the house.
You can support PWC’s Oscar Experience: Cincinnati by buying event tickets or raffle tickets to win $5,000 at www.pwchomerepairs.org or calling 513-351-7921.
Cincinnati Students Raising Money For Pediatric Cancer Nonprofits
Local Cincinnati high school students are organizing a 13 hour, overnight event to raise awareness and funds for three area nonprofits focusing on pediatric cancer.
Night for the Fight will include walking, team challenges, guest speakers and entertainment. At the end of the event, participants will have input as to which programs funded by The Cure Starts Now, CancerFree Kids or the Jeffrey Thomas Hayden Foundation will receive their fundraising dollars.
It all takes place April 13 to 14, 2013 at the Xavier University Cintas Center, beginning at 7:00 p.m. Student leaders can register on the website (www.nightforthefight.org) and form teams of 6 to 15 peers. All fundraising is done online.
Interested schools and students can also contact Todd Forman at tforman@mndhs.org or at 513-550-0518.
Bobby Mackey Inducted In Northern Kentucky Music Hall Of Fame
It is so nice when you hear about people being recognized for pursuing their passion and following their heart.
Bobby Mackey was just notified he that he is being inducted into the Northern Kentucky Musical History and Hall of Fame. There will be an exhibit that will run at the Behringer Crawford Museum all through the summer, with the induction ceremony in late may 
and concerts at the museum all summer.
Besides being a genuinely nice guy, his Bobby Mackey’s Music World is celebrating almost 35 years as Greater Cincinnati’s top country music night spot featuring Bobby and the Big Mac Band every Friday and Saturday night. And his music is sold worldwide.
From the very beginning
Born and raised in Concord KY, Bobby has been singing and winning talent contests since age 4. His earliest start came while singing along to the juke box in his father’s grocery store.
He moved to Covington with his then new bride Janet to work on the railroad – a career he says he probably would still be doing if he hadn’t found an outlet for pursuing his dream.
The 30-year-old couple bought a closed up night club on Rt 9 Licking Pike in Wilder, Kentucky. The former site of the Latin Quarter and Prim Rose Country Club had a colorful history of gambling and gangster activity.
None of that was relevant to the up and coming traditional country music singer with an already established strong local fan following. This was Bobby’s chance of having his own place. After months of painting cleaning prepping the 80+ year old building he opened Bobby Mackey’s Music world September 8th 1978.
And the rest, you could say, is history.
When it comes to appreciating what you have and those around you, Bobby is quick to talk about the role his family has had in shaping his life’s direction. His parents encouraged and supported his talents from the moment he picked up his first guitar. He and his wife are proud parents, grandparents and even great grandparents. And, I get the feeling that gift of encouraging dreams is something they’ll be passing down.
Congratulations to Bobby!
A Dog With A Will To Live And A Guardian Angel To Grant Her Wish
Monica Wiltshire Bodey doesn’t know why she happened to be driving on an interstate she typically doesn’t travel at that time, or why she was driving in the slow lane where you typically won’t find her.
That, says Monica, is where fate must have intervened.
There, in front of her eyes, was a precious mixed hound dog who had just been hit by an SUV after crossing two of the three lanes of traffic. The little girl was sitting on the shoulder. Her eyes were closed shut and she was dangerously close to being hit again.
Please click here to read the rest of the touching story about little Eeyore.
