MANDIE'S MINI-DOC

Five years ago, Ric and I met Devin Supertramp. We were participating in a promo film for a local company he was shooting. We had a good time messing around and helping create fun content.

(You can peep the work we recorded then in the Mini-Doc at 03:24 ☺ )

Fast forward to December 2018, My health was really struggling. I was in the hospital with the lowest numbers - across the board - I'd ever had. The future was unknown. CF is tricky; it has a mind of it's own, no matter how much we like to think we are "controlling it." My friend, Lindsay, and my husband, Ric, decided they wanted to do something big. 

They reached out to the Supertramp YouTube Team and asked if Devin could create a video for our family, telling me story.

Devin responded, "I've actually followed Mandie's journey on Instagram and been super inspired about it for the longest time, and have kept on thinking that I should do a video telling her story, not even joking. Would be stoked to be involved telling her story. I think it's super inspiring and could help inspire a ton more people. Do you think she would be done for us telling her full story?"

Filming started in August 2019 and wrapped up February 2020.

Devin was so kind; he made the video specifically for our family as a passion project, but added it the Devin Supertramp YouTube Channel with the hope of inspiring others. The mini-doc was released, March 10. 2020.

I couldn't be happier with how it turned out. What it shares of my story; our family story, as authentic as we are. I am forever grateful my family will have this video forever. It's a gift no price can match.

I hope you enjoy.

ALMOST 30 AND FIGHTING FOR MY LIFE


Xx, 
   M

 

HAWKE TURNS THREE

My sweet boy, Happy Third Birthday! 

You are the light of my life. 

I was talking with your Bama about making medical decisions and personal choices 
on what will increase somebodies "quality of life". Having a child, is one that could be argued in either direction. For your Mom, choosing to have a baby; choosing to have you, has absolutely been the best decision. The fulfillment you have brought into my life is more than I had expected. "My cup runneth over" is the perfect phrase to describe my heart with you apart of it. The happiness I experience with you is beyond measure, more days than not, my cheeks hurt from smiling so much. The only other experiences where I can say "my cheeks hurt from smiling" are on your Mom and Dad's Wedding day and our families Sealing Day. 

You are your Dada's best friend. You two are peas in a pod. I love observing both of you play for hours. Interacting, using your imaginations, going on adventures. You want to do everything your Dada does, and you WILL do it. You are his shadow and I couldn't have picked a more perfect Man for you to emulate. Continue to strive to be like your Dada and success will follow you.

---

Your third birthday theme was a "Rhino" (Dino) Party.

You think Rhino's are Dinosaurs - totally understandable.

And you're favorite Dinosaur is the Rhino (Triceratops & Rhinoceros).

We have amazing friends and family that helped to pull off this great Party.

I couldn't have done it myself. But we can't let this day pass without saying how grateful I/we am for where my health is where it is right now. That I did have the energy to pull this off.

Special thanks to Papyrus Prints for designing the invitation.

Special thanks to my friend; Liz Harvey, for brainstorming Rhino party ideas and making decorations with her talents and skillllzzz.
(Including the tree in this background)
↓

Special thanks to @CurlyCoCreations on instagram, for designing the Dino Posters for your party.

                                 
I actually coordinated the color theme and entire party around these designs! Super sad when I had it printed  and there was no lime green paper available for the stegosaurus :/

Special thanks to Rocklynn and her art as a face painter. We were so lucky to have you!

Special thanks to @JoJosCreations, on Instagram for making your custom Birthday Cake and Rhino Cookies.

Special thanks to Dada for creating your Rhino Piñata all by himself. 
He amazes me every day.

Special thanks to Bama, Papa, Auntie Tole and Dada for helping make and finish up decorations the night before celebrating.

Special thanks to Lindsay Lindstrom (@the_lindstrom_life) for creating this BEAUTIFUL, AMAZING video for us to remember this special day forever.  I will forever remember your face as you walked into your party, in awe; turned and screamed,
 "My MOM!" while you ran my way.

You have a knack of making everyone you love feel special.

                                                                   We love you, Linds.

Special thanks to @LanellLeonePhotography for capturing this party through lenses and angles I'd never be able to snap.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME, DINOSAUR HAIR?!

 Give me aalllll those heart eyes.

Special thanks to our Tyrannosaurus Rex, who came as a last minute decision.

You were the absolute highlight of the party!

Hawke, your Birthday Party was spectacular - nothing short of who you are.
We love you like crazy!

Xx, Mom & Dad

------------------------------------------------

To everybody who helped, Thank You! I couldn't have done it without all of you.

We threw this whole party on a budget of $200. Would you like to learn how we did it? Leave some feedback and comment if you want a blogpost on: "How to plan a party on a student budget".

Here is a link to my personal Pinterest Account that has all of our ideas. Sadly, some we didn't get enough time to try. Man, we had a lot of fun! 

Here's a direct link to the board:
HAWKE'S DINO BIRTHDAY PINTEREST BOARD

Individual links for Pinterest posts that inspired our ideas:
T-Rex Watermelon
Dino (Nugget) Lunch Ideas
Stegosaurus Craft
Rhino Cookies
Gold Dino Mason Jar Centerpieces
Tree Backdrop & Leaves
Cake

THE PARTY

My friend Lindsay has been in my life for the greater part of a year. She's seen me struggle, she's seen me hurt, and she stepped up to be the friend that I needed. She's helped me be brave. 

In typical Lindsay fashion, she decided to go above and beyond. She wasn't just going to be that shoulder I needed during my hard days, she wanted to help create a support system for me to be lifted up, on all days.

That is when she presented me with her plan to get a Tee Shirt made that our friends could purchase to physically show they were part of my support system. When she brought it up, she was asking for my permission but in reality more just sharing her idea and running with it no matter what I said. Sometimes people on the outside looking in, can see better than yourself what you may need. 

These past two years have been really difficult for me. I moved away from my family and the CF Team that has cared for me for 26 years. My health has been at it's weakest. My husband a full time student, in a demanding Dental Program. I had depression for the first time in my life, deep, dark days. I was struggling adjusting to being a new mom and finding a balance with that and all that CF demands of me.

The 'Mandie Tee' was created for our friends and family, and has since took off expanding from there. Friends, neighbors and strangers started purchasing shirts to rock, in support our family's battle with CF and help with the steady flow of medical bills. 

(If you need a 'Conquer All - Mandie Tee', look here!)

This forward act of love from Lindsay and every shirt sold, was the boost that I needed. The development of Sherman Army - as we're calling it - was the tender mercy to brighten my spirits and restart my drive to fight stronger and smarter.

---

A mere month ago, I had the party of a lifetime.

We decided to throw a 'Tee Party' for my upcoming Birthday, to show our gratitude to those around us who have ordered shirts. 

We had a great turn out here in Arizona, along with connecting  outside our state boundaries through Social Media using Facebook Live and Instagram Live videos. If you missed these, you can check out a recap of the party HERE, (or click video below,) where Camille Griffin, documented and created a video for us, to last a lifetime!

We decided to return to the room at the Phoenix Children's Museum , were it all began to commemorate and take a moment of reflection about the journey this has taken us on. We were both pushed and stretched in new ways to make this event happen, and are better people for it. This is just the beginning.

Thanks to every single person who is working to grow Sherman Army, following our movement to raise awareness for Cystic Fibrosis & encouraging those around you to Conquer our battles together.

Xx, 
             Mandie

all photos shown are credit of: 
Camille Griffin and

Puddle Designs Photography