Now that Christmas is only a couple of days away, the lights put up more than a month ago in honor of Dax Locke do not stand out.
The initial media blitz about the Decorate for Dax campaign has fizzled, leaving some people wondering how Dax is doing. Or not wondering at all.
While Dax’s parents, Austin and Julie Locke, are busy cherishing every last moment they have with their son, Trisha Hurtgen has made some changes to the Decorate for Dax Web site to give people a new way to support, not only Dax, but also other children and families in similar situations.
The top of the page reads: “Decorate for Dax Donate for Dax.”
The original idea for Decorate for Dax came from the outpouring of people wanting to show their support for the family. Although Dax is now at OSF Saint Francis Hospital, a St. Jude affiliate in Peoria, neither Hurtgen nor Dax’s parents want people to forget there are still many children in similar situations who need support, particularly two types of support.
The Web site links to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital where a monetary donation can be made in Dax’s name.
The Christmas season can be a stressful financial time, with gifts to buy and many charities looking for donations. But, the messages left on Dax’s St. Jude Web site attest to the power of one little boy’s fatal struggle, to put things in perspective.
Donor Ann Wilson wrote: “I cannot tell you how Dax’s story has truly touched my heart. I had been feeling sorry for myself, thinking I would not be able to spend as much on Christmas this year.
“Now it is like, who cares!
“When I saw Dax’s mom on TV talking about the importance of family and Christmas, boy, was that a wake up call.
“Gifts are certainly going to be cut down in our house this year, with the money going to St. Jude.
“This Christmas is truly about DAX and his parents, how they have motivated us all to cherish what we truly have.
“God Bless Dax and his whole family.”
For people who simply cannot make a monetary donation, donating a little time can go a long way to saving a life.
Just under the heading “Donate for Dax,” is a link with information explaining why blood and platelets are necessary for all cancer patients.
The site says: “Practically all Dax’s St. Jude buddies need blood products during the course of their treatment. Because platelets have a shelf life of only five days, hospitals require a constant supply of them from donors.”
All it takes is a couple of hours from someone more than 17 years old weighing more than 110 pounds.
Whether it is with a monetary donation or a blood/platelet donation, people should continue to show their support for Dax and his St. Jude buddies long after the media attention has ceased and the Christmas lights get taken down.
