A Birthday Wish

I was in Streetman, Texas this past weekend. It’s a small rural town by the Richland-Chambers Reservoir, about 20-30 minutes south of Corsicana. The population hovers around 250—it’s truly about as small-town Texas as it gets.

My best friend from high school moved down there on his family’s land shortly after we graduated from college. I typically would be down at least once a year, but a little thing called coronavirus changed that cadence. While I certainly enjoyed my time there and catching up, the circumstances could’ve been far better.

My friend’s mother passed after a battle with cancer. He’s lost both of his parents to this awful disease. Unfair doesn’t even begin to describe the situation.

We reminisced quite a bit about old times and memories. My favorite was during a mutual friend’s wedding. It was the first time that she meet a new girl I was dating and she saw me in a state of inebriation she saw quite often when I got together with my friends. Her advice to me was crystal clear that night: “Don’t you dare screw this up with Miss Stephanie.”

Two kids later and on our ninth year of marriage, I think it’s safe to say I haven’t.

Throughout the weekend, I couldn’t help but think of Aven as well. His death was another situation in which unfair is hardly a strong enough word to describe. As thoughts of my friend’s mother and Aven combined, another phrase entered my mind—the Children’s Miracle Network motto of “Change Kids Health, Change the Future.”

I think this past weekend was the first time that phrase really clicked for me beyond a tagline. As many of you know, all my Extra Life efforts go directly to cancer research. Granted, the main community served are the Children of Oklahoma, but the goal is so much bigger.

Together, with the Children’s Health Foundation of Oklahoma City, we are working for more than just providing a care, but methods to better combat cancer, find it earlier, and, hopefully, claim victory over this horrid disease for good.

Those victories go just beyond that children that receive the care. Breakthroughs in research for them means victory and remission for others no matter their age. A child that beats cancer today could be the one that saves millions tomorrow. There’s no telling just what kind of ripple your donation today will have in the future.

After all, a girl from Orange, Texas—population of around 20,000—had her story inspire thousands of Extra Lifers like myself. That has led to over $100 million dollars raised. That will change the future.

Many streamers use their birthday for a celebration stream, but I’m going to do something a bit different. I will stream tomorrow, starting at the usual 9 PM CST (remember when I thought I could start earlier?), starting a playthrough of one of my favorite games, Final Fantasy IV.

While I certainly hope you come and join me, I want to see my donation total skyrocket in celebration of my birthday. There’s a modified (read: truly awful) version of an X-Potion cocktail on the line. The goal: $1,380 or 38 unique donors for my 38th birthday. I will count the two donations already given in both totals!

As far as incentives, there isn’t too much that can be done to cause chaos, sadly. Further, characters can’t be named when you meet them; however, they can be renamed repeatedly. I’ve tossed in a $5 incentive to add a name to a pool. When I have the chance to name swap, I’ll roll from the list of names.

Note: you don’t have to use the incentive. Donate $5 or more and put the name(s) you want in the donation comment (e.g. you donate $20, put four names down).

Get those donations in, spread the word, and let’s change kids health, and the future, together!