UPDATE: Shaken Baby Syndrome Candlelight Vigil and Family Reunion

Hello! I know many of you have been waiting for information concerning the 6th Annual Shaken Baby Syndrome Candlelight Vigil and Family Reunion, and I did not want to keep you waiting.  We do not have a lot of information at this time, but we do have the important details worked out!

We worked very hard to have the event in Kansas City, however the resources are just not there as of yet.

With that said, here is the information I would like to share with you.  The 6th Annual Shaken Baby Syndrome Candlelight Vigil and Family Reunion will take place Friday April 19th 2013 through Sunday April 21 2013 in Little Rock Arkansas.  Friday the vigil will take place, and Saturday will be our Family Reunion with many more events jam packed into this weekend!

Currently, Rachel is working on the t-shirt designs as you all know this event cannot happen without the sale of t-shirts as our way to pay for the costs in hosting!  We will also have a sponsorship form available by next week, if there is anyone who would like to be a sponsor, we welcome you with open arms!  Please make sure to follow us here on our blog, as we all our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/shakenbabysupport for all of the up to date information!

In the next few days we will have a permission form, for the chance to have your 

childs name on our t-shirts! 

Here we go!  We hope to see as many of you here that can come! If you have any questions, you can contact us at contact@shakenbabysupport.com!

Best!
SBS Support Network Family
http://www.shakenbabysupport.com

Let us light the way for the future of Shaken Baby Syndrome Awareness and Prevention

It is unfortunately no secret within the Shaken Baby Syndrome Community, that there are some who can not seem to agree or even agree to disagree.  We bring to you a campaign pledge for the interest we all share, the education and awareness of Shaken Baby Syndrome.

Each Survivor, each Angel, has a voice, and that voice is you.  No one could ever truly know how you feel, no one could ever truly tell you what path to take on this journey.  We all know that this is a preventable tragedy, and there is one thing we must do to continue forward with a mass, the world has never witnessed.

I am going to take this time to tell you what I am promising to everyone affected by Shaken Baby Syndrome.  My daughter Madilyne was an unfortunate victim taken too soon.  Many of you know our story and have learned throughout the years the struggles I have faced, the foundations that have crumbled under my feet, and the challenges I have taken on, because I know the most important task here is to strive to save the children of tomorrow.

Our Network started out with just 3 families back in 2007.  3 families.  Today we stand at over 50,000 families we have successfully been able to network with other families affected by Shaken Baby Syndrome as a resource for healing, learning, and the betterment of the lives of our Survivors.

The shackles are coming off, the walls are coming down.  I am 150% ready to take the restraints on my heart off, open the bandages to reveal the scars, and make myself 100% vulnerable to start this campaign.  The Network was built to be support provided by the families for the families of SBS.  It has done just that.  However, there has always been an understanding that the Network was not made to be the biggest, not made to be the best, and sure as heck not made to be an influence to enforce disagreements between families, organizations, or supporters.  The situation at hand is this.  You can come to the Network any time, day or night, and receive support.  I am the parent of a victim, and if you came with a Survivor whom was 14 years old having issues with development issues, I would not be the person for you to speak with, but I would find you someone with the closest situation as possible for resources and support to help you grow.

There will always be a great difference between families of Survivors and families of Victims.  However we must each understand the importance of not expecting either type to know how we feel, and we must never proclaim to understand what they're going through, because the truth is, we do not.  What we can do, is to support each other, and not lash out at each other just because we disagree on a topic, on an event, or on the "ethics" of an individual.  We have each walked a path that no one rightfully should.  All we need is each other, and to ensure we are connecting with those who can provide us with the comfort we are searching for.

We must make ourselves vulnerable, take off our shackles, and take down the walls so we can stand together as one, to make this cause of Shaken Baby Syndrome, powerful enough to take on the entire population of the world.  We must set our egos down, and know that no matter what someone else is doing, we are doing everything we can in our hearts, as we dream, without throwing backlash to anyone for what they do.  We must also face disagreements head on, face to face, and not create an under current of buzz about this person, that person, or organization.  Haven't we all been through enough?  How bad do we want the world to prevent Shaken Baby Syndrome?  How much of a strive can we take together to make this happen to paint the world blue in the month of April?

Set the disagreements down, I am not asking you to forget them, I am asking you to set them aside because the issue at hand is much larger than any disagreement or quarrel.  We can see the candle light from this post forward, and we can do so by ensuring the picture below is on every site, every social media outlet, blog, and postings.  If you agree to set down egos, disagreements, and hard feelings against each other in the SBS community, I am asking you to change your twitter profile picture, your blogger account picture, your Facebook picture, and so on to the picture below.  (Right click, save as, to save to your computer for upload)  Also please ensure to share this post with every family affected you know, for the origination of this pledge is simply a candle, lit as one, turned into a fire in all our eyes.

Please hold my hand, because together as an army of families affected, we together can make huge strides together, rather than alone.

All my love, thoughts, and prayers,
From all of us at, The Shaken Baby Syndrome Support Network

{ A Tribute to an Extraordinary Man }

In April 2011, families gathered from across the world in Sarasota, Florida for the 5th Annual Shaken Baby Syndrome Candlelight Vigil. Some came as far as London, England, in support of all the children and families whose lives have been devastated by Shaken Baby Syndrome.

Organizing this event each year is such a joy, and done through the eyes of Madilyne's Legacy, the Legacy that built the Shaken Baby Syndrome Support Network. Her Legacy began when just 4 families gathered together, hoping to meet others impacted by this horrible tragedy, in an effort to have someone there, that just might know or can try to understand "what its like"...

Have you ever met someone whose life has not been touched by Shaken Baby Syndrome, but they offer a support greater that they themselves could ever imagine? I have...

I remember in April being at my father's house with all the other families, and there was someone there that I was to meet for the first time. He was an attorney, who proclaimed to fight for our children.. With the background I come from, I have to be honest with you, if their name is followed or introduced with the word Attorney or Lawyer with it, I must say I am so very skeptical, because of the individual that traumatized me as a mother some 6 years ago, questioning the love I had for my child, simply because I did not refrigerate medication, that only needed to be for "better taste"...

I was so apprehensive.. I must admit, however in walks this man, flowers in hand, and the compassion that came from the introduction, can simply not be put into words. I had to know more, I had to know what this man is about. I had visited his website numerous times, read his Shaken Baby Syndrome Blog, found him via youtube, and the videos he made for our SBS Heroes.. but meeting him changed everything. Though his profession is an attorney/lawyer, he himself is so much more than that...

His name is Christopher Keane.  He has dedicated his life, his entire being, to protecting and finding justice for our heroes. If there is any word of expression past beyond the call of duty, he is that my friends.  Yes, he is an attorney, but he is an attorney who CARES.  Coming from a Mother, where trust in our legal system failed so many times, I can not display or begin to put into words how truly amazing this man is, and how many lives of those devastated by Shaken Baby Syndrome he has touched.

Why do I say this? He is not seeking answers from us.  He is seeking answers beyond us, for our children.  If he can, he will. If it can be done, you can count on him. He listens. He doesn't forget your child's name like many attorneys, he does not forget the day/time the tragic act against our heroes occurred. He comes to you. If he can do anything for you he will.  He gives advice from the heart, not a book.  Though very intelligent, he puts all of his learned knowledge to the side, to learn of the "real" act committed against our children, and though his life has fortunately not been touched by such a horrendous act, he is able to put himself in our shoes, even for a moment, to know what he himself would expect of an attorney/lawyer should he be in those shoes. Ever.

There is no one like him. Every client he has ever had, is never a client, but a life friend, whom he continually keeps in touch with beyond any trial, or judgement awarded in any case.  He is here for us. For our children.

Are you in the middle of, or preparing for trial? Need some advice from a friend, have concerns, or just need to talk to someone that will give you honesty and direction? Need help paying for those medical bills   or funds needed to care for your Survivor. He is here for us. He is on Facebook, Twitter.. He has a Blog, a Website, and you can even contact him now by clicking here.

If I can personally say anything about this man, let it be known.. Though our case has been long closed, without conviction, he has given me life, and hope that when this tragedy occurs, there is someone there for US, that has answers to all of our questions, whether he personally knows the answer himself, or can network us to someone that does. He has changed my life to know Madilyne's voice will never be silenced by an act of violence, and he carries in his heart her Legacy for her life to be known.

Chris, you are amazing beyond anything your being could ever show you. Thank you for what you have done for me, in my life, and for all of the families of Shaken Baby Syndrome.

With Love,

Rachel 

Mother to Madilyne Wentz

Introducing Lisa Gilbert

Hello. I am Lisa Gilbert, mother to Riley Gilbert, SBS Survivor. Riley was violently shaken on March 27, 2007 at the age of 2 by her day care provider and former family friend. Riley was not expected to survive, and spent many months in the hospital, but she is a true miracle! Riley has been left with multiple disabilities as the result of her attack, but fights daily to improve, with her family by her side. Over the past four years, I have learned how to become a strong advocate for my daughter, while managing Riley’s needs and navigating the legal, medical, therapeutic, insurance, and special education worlds. Aside from my most important roles as a wife to my husband of 12 years, Brad, and mother to Riley and her brother Zachary, I have also worked for the past 11 years as a school counselor for high school students. I hold an Associate’s Degree in Social Work, a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology with a minor in Social Work, and I am a Certified Counselor with a Master’s of Education in School Counseling from The College of Saint Rose in New York. I began forming relationships through networking on Facebook with other SBS parents, and was contacted by Rachel to blog and serve on the SBS Support Network board in 2009. Since being thrust unexpectedly into life as an SBS mom, my desire and mission is to support others affected by Shaken Baby Syndrome, since many often feel so alone in their journey, and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to do so through the Support Network!

Introducing Kelly Link

Hello all, I’m Kelly! I was born and raised right here in Southwest FL. My husband Mark and I have been married for 2 years and together we brought 3 boys into our marriage. We have Cody (9), Jacob (6), and Ryan (8) who is my SBS Survivor.

Ryan was shaken by his biological father in June 2003 when he was 9 weeks old. While Ryan is a high functioning survivor, he still has many medical problems that we have to deal with on a daily basis. They include a Traumatic Brain Injury, ADHD, Allergies, Acid Reflux, Growth Deficiency, Poor Appetite, Multiple sleep disorders, Sensory Integration Disorder, Petit Mal seizures, Anxiety, and Hypotonia. As much as I would like to think that some of these difficulties will go away, I am realistic to know that more than likely they will not, and others may develop down the road. Ryan’s strength and determination are what help get me through my days. He has gone through so many obstacles in his short 8 years of life, and he still continues to do so. However, he always comes out on top, and I have complete admiration for him because of that!

My desire to help others, and to be helped by others who are going through the same difficulties as me is what led me to Rachel with the Shaken Baby Support Network. Having someone who completely understands what you are going through is more beneficial than I could ever describe. The friends that I have made through this journey are more like family, than like friends. They are my shoulder lean on when times get tough and I am the listening ear whenever they may need it. SBS has become my life and I am willing to devote all of my time and attention to awareness and education so no one has to go through what we do!

Introducing Angela Cook

Hey there! My name is Angela, cousin to the most fabulous little cousin, Michael. I have 3 amazing children with the love of my life, Jason. Together we have attended numerous candlelight vigils. I am also a full time student with the ambition to work in the health care field, the exact profession is not fully determined yet. I am happily awaiting to see what our future holds in the coming years. :)

I was never blessed to have met my cousin Michael in person, he was gone before my uncle (Jerry) married his mother (Tammi). Tammi and Jerry had one of the most beautiful weddings I had gone to. The floral arrangement was spectacular, there was a bouquet of roses and in the center was a sunflower. The roses signified all the loved ones we had lost, he sunflower was the symbolic gesture of remembering that we were missing someone very dear, Michael.

From that time on I would learn about Michael through his older sister, Nicole. Nicole and I would stay up late at the grandparents, and somehow us two would start talking about Michael, I knew she missed him each and every day that passed. The day must have played over and over in her head. Michael and Nicole's sister, Elizabeth was hospitalized with pneumonia, so Tammi had planned on a friend, whom also was a nurse, to watch over her other children while she stayed bedside with Elizabeth. The day Elizabeth was set to be discharged from the hospital is the day everyone's life changed. A nurse had found my Aunt Tammi, and said she was needed downstairs in the ER, puzzled as to why she went downstairs to hear and see the horror of what happened to her 6 month old baby. She would later learn that Michael suffered from Shaken Baby Syndrome and was also thought he was slammed up against a wall or floor, his chances of survival was only 1%.

Baby Michael defied all odds and survived. He was left with severe handicaps, however he thrived on the love that surrounded him. At the tender age of 5, Michael's body left this earth. As a family we are positive that he remains around us, we all feel his love on a daily basis.

It is because of Michael that I hopped onto Myspace to raise awareness for all children of child abuse. It was then that I ran into the most horrific thing ever. There were many, many cases of Shaken Baby Syndrome. It was around 2007 that I had the pleasure to talk to Rachel, the mother of angel Madilyne Wentz. Rachel wanted to do something for all the victims of Shaken Baby Syndrome. Our first small step in raising awareness together was doing a small video montage of the many victims and survivors of SBS. From there the rest is history as our main goal is to provide comfort to the families, by us, the family. Sometimes it's best to be able to talk with someone who has walked in similar shoes.

Introducing MamaSue

My name is Sue Sumner, mother to Dustin and Rachel Sumner, grandmother to Madilyne, Brody and Blake.

I was born in Emporia, KS and lived there most of my life. I come from a good sized extended family, but I was the only child growing up. I had a wonderful Mother and Father, who have since passed away.

After High School, I went to Cosmetology School. Throughout the years I have worn many hats, though. I have worked with interior decorators, managed fast food and family style restaurants, been a receptionist both to a moving company and a copier company. I have poured, made and sold ceramics, was a hairdresser and nail artist, owned a motel and a restaurant for about 10 years, and was a dispatcher for communications company. I worked for a non-profit organization as a customer service rep and I now work, again, as a dispatcher for a company which sells and services printer/copiers. In my spare time I paint pictures and walk the bridges here in Little Rock. I have lived in Kansas, Missouri, Florida and most recently, Arkansas.

I was married at 19 and we were together for 34 years. That is when my granddaughter was murdered, due to Shaken Baby Syndrome, and family life was never the same. I lost my beautiful granddaughter to someone’s negligence and rage. Something 100% preventable.

Having gone through all the “stuff” related to Shaken Baby Syndrome has taught me to appreciated my family and be thankful for what God brings into my life, for one never knows what will happen in the next moment. Thanksgiving holds a whole new meaning each year as I recall all that I have and am thankful for.

Introducing MamaKim

Hello! Mama Kim here. I have been married to Denny for almost 26 yrs. We have 3 grown children Steffany, (twins) Denny Jr., and Dani. We have 1 grandson Dominic, and a new grandchild due in mid March!!
I was a cook for 20 yrs and now I am Assistant Office Manager of the Bureau of Motor Vehicles in Bowling Green, Ohio.
We became more familiar with SBS in March 2007 when our then 3 month old grandson Dominic was violently shaken by his biological father. He had a subdural hematoma, both retinas were hemorrhaged and he had 5 broken ribs in his back. In 2008 I was doing research on SBS because I wanted to understand more, when on MySpace I came across Rachel, her story and the story of little Kaleb. From there the rest is history.

Coming soon...!

Hello to all of our SBS friends and families!!

As many of you know the Network is currently changing a few things around, and revamping some others. One of the things that we thought was important during this process was giving you all the opportunity to know exactly who we are, and how we came to the network. Coming soon you will see a posting containing a biography and a picture of each of our board members. We hope you enjoy this!

Here we are...

I can truly not believe it has been the 7 shortest months of my life since I've truly last posted anything on this blog. I've been away for a number of reasons, with the main one being my mental health.

It has been a long long time since I've opened up to all of you about "the real me" and my struggles. My struggles however, have been what has brought me to you and you to me. Each one of you. Through posting, when we go back clear to MySpace where this "group" truly formed, I began just blogging on a daily basis, about what was happening, what was going on, and the struggles. One by one I came into contact with you, and for that I am forever grateful. With that said, I have some extremely personal things to talk to you about. I have been known to say too much, and at times not enough, so I wanted to take a moment, and open up again, like I haven't in over 4 years. The best part about falling, is the getting up.

I would first share with you that I have moved. Not to another state, or even another town, but to what I can officially call home. My fiancé (by the way I am engaged!) and I moved into our first official home together in June 2011. I can tell you when I walk in from work, errands, or even letting the dogs out (yes we have 2) that I've walked into what I can finally call home. That in itself has been extremely emotional because I have not had that feeling since Madilyne. I've felt an overwhelming sense of displacement ever since.

I moved to Arkansas in July 2009, to be hired on by an amazing company, and within my time spent working I would find the man I prayed so long and hard for. In February 2011, he proposed and I indeed obliged. He is everything I prayed for and more. We all have hopes and dreams when it comes to life, and through the darkness that has filled my life in the past 6 years, it was extremely hard for me personally to hold onto hope, for fear it being false. I turned to prayer, because whether answered or not, the unanswered turned out to be the bigger blessings in my life.

The proposal was perfect, just as any girl could ever hope it to be. It was beyond any feeling, emotion, or imagination. It didn't include extravagant flowers, thousands of people, or millions of dollars. It included so much more. His promise to me, his love for me, and his life he wanted to spend the rest of with me. That was beyond any of the previous listed. I was excited. He asked I not announce it (and for those who know me know I CAN'T keep a secret!!!) until we had my mom and his parents over for dinner, and we were both able to talk to our families. It was out of that I knew, this is how it is SUPPOSED to be. Intimate, private, and all about the love we share.

Then all of the sudden it came to me. I am going to be planning a wedding. My wedding. Our wedding. I immediately began garage sailing like an insane woman, getting all the tools and supplies I needed, and began clipping articles, getting the image set just right on paper and in my mind, to make it as close to perfect as possible. It wasn't even 2 years ago I was a girl, prepared to devote my life to the Network, and begin stock piling cat food. I never in my wildest dreams thought I could ever unleash my heart ever again, but deep down I always held true to my prayers, all in due time, he would come. He did.

It was a good way into the planning process that I began going through these moments, and those moments turned into days, and days of course turned into weeks, when I began to stay in bed. I didn't want to talk to anyone, I did not want to go anywhere, I just wanted to lay in bed and pretend that nothing was going on outside of our house in the world. Was I depressed? But if I am depressed, why am I depressed? I started seeing my Therapist at least twice a week to begin, a Psychiatrist once a week, and my primary Dr. once a week. They would try medicines, try other medicines, some making my physically ill, others making me emotionless, and then there were the ones that making me sick beyond holding my head up. That continued for at least 2 months.

Finally, I was at my therapists office talking to him one day, and the wagon I have been in hit a brick wall head on and the tears began to fall down my face. It was then I realized, all of the heartache I felt from my divorce over 8 years ago, had been suppressed this entire time. From the moment my divorce was finalized to the date Madilyne was killed was almost exactly 4 months to the day. The following I watched my parents marriage of 35 years dissolve itself, and I moved too many toes and fingers to count the times, that as I spent so much time working through what happened with Madilyne, and deciphering between all the guilt I carried in my heart for the day when my heart told me to pick her up while working, and not even 30 minutes later I got "the call". I never knew how much my heart was tarnished from all of this combined together.

This is supposed to be the happiest time in my life. This is supposed to be the time when the parties are non stop, I'm working out to look my best, planning like crazy, and spending time with all my lady friends to figure out the details. I have done not one. I have spent the past 4 months holding him close, very close, because I love him.

This blind sided me. I have failed some, but most of all I have grown even more emotionally because of this. I am happy, once I said all of this out loud, I was able to finally acknowledge what was hurting my heart, I was able to deal with the dreams of flashbacks I was having and to decipher whether it was real or fiction, and my dreams have again became dreams and not dreaded nightmares.

These past 4 months have been a growing period for me, I can not begin to put into words without sounding like I am rambling. Which brings me to this blog. This blog began in 2009, but this journey with so many of you began clear back in 2006 on MySpace. I began to open my wounds, write blogs, explain how I dealt with a situation, what enraged me, and what made me content. It was that way that I have been able to connect with all of you, and I am sorry if there has been a block between that. I have said so many times that I wish when some people get to a certain point in their lives, they could just remember what it felt like at the point I was in, or they could just remember what it is like to have a day when you feel the entire world is against you, and that is why I am here. I am here because this my friends, whether you have just found this blog or been on this journey with me since the days of MySpace, this is where we found our common ground and our feelings.

I will never attempt to relate to a mother of a Survivor, and at times it is hard to relate to a mother of a victim. I can guarantee one thing, Madilyne's Legacy that brought so many of us together will always continue, and this Network will be in place, just maybe not as it has been.

There has been great confusion within my heart on how to talk to you all of you about this, because I know how much it means to ALL OF YOU, but also to ME. With the help of all of you, I was able to lead the way for this Support Network, to form a group, for all families to join together regardless of their circumstances to obtain the support they need. The Support Network has done just that. We have grown beyond any number to ever flash in my mind, there is demand after demand for families across the Globe for opportunities that are quickly becoming endless, and it is absolutely amazing how beautiful all of this has become. However, it is time for regrouping, so the Network and the support, and abilities for us continue to grow as much as it can and be healthy.

In order for this to happen I am going to have to tell you something that is so bittersweet for me. Madilyne brought you all to me. If it wasn't for her I would not know not even one of you. In 6 years, she has brought over 25,000+ people into my life, for comfort and for support, and because of that, there is something I need to do for her, and most importantly I need to do for me and my soon to be husband. Our wedding is March 10, 2012, and with that said, I must announce that the vigil this coming year (April 2012) will be broadcast live via UStream. It is such an important event for the healing families have obtained from this event. It is not your 5 star event, with flashy hotels, suits and ties, or your Sunday Best. It is a family reunion. One weekend each year when we gather together as the growing family we are, to spend an awesome time together. This year, we are going to light the sky with our candles, and all of our speakers will be present, and we will have a lot of announcements this year as well. This year, every single one of you will be able to attend the vigil, even if there will not be a gathering, we will all be together, Live.

This has been the headrest decision for me to make. All of the Board Members with the Support Network have worked their butts off and it will continue. We do not stop, ever. We just have to be flexible, due to the responsibilities entailed within planning such a special event. Truly, we have all been affected by SBS and are here together, and each have our times, when we need time to heal. This is mine. It is very important for me to take this time, with my soon to be husband, so I can continue on my journey in life, as a healthy, happy woman, mother, daughter, sister, aunt, and now wife. This is not temporary, this is for the rest of my life. I do not ever want any of you to feel let down. We are going to empower, and do what has never been done before. The world's largest Social Media Candlelight Vigil for Shaken Baby Syndrome. I hope you will be there, and I hope you tune in. I will have information the latter part of November for you, with time and links and such because this will help lead us to the biggest Vigil yet, the SBS Vigil of 2013!

From the bottom of my heart, I love you. All of you. One would think it should or shouldn't be a "big deal", to me it is. Because without all of you my family, and my fiancé, I can not continue.

All my love,
Rachel
rachel@sbssupportnetwork.com

Last update! Winner To be announced at 12:15am CST

SBS Race Track BILLBOARD SIGN CONTEST UPDATE
Billboard Sign Contest Update!!!
As you know the BILLBOARD SIGN Contest began June 15, 2011 and is set to end JULY 17th 2011 at 11:59PM CST! Anyone can vote and ANY child can be entered into the contest! All it takes is 1 vote! Pending the fund raised of $300, the WINNER will be on the billboard sign that is 4FT by 8FT at the Toledo Ohio Speedway in Toledo Ohio on Shaken Baby Syndrome RACE NIGHT August 5th!!!! The winner of this contest will be on a billboard sign in the BEST viewable location on the track and will be recognized with the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners (SBS Heros) that won the RACE CAR contest in October 2010!! (Xavier, Maddie, and Jules) :)

Each $1.00 equals 1 vote!! You can get your vote in today by going to: http://www.shakenbabysupport.com and clicking on the "MERCHANDISE" tab on the website, and purchasing your tickets there! Each vote counts!!

Please remember to pass along this information to all your friends and family!!! The ONLY requirement for this contest is the guardians permission!

GOOD LUCK!! Keep the votes coming!!!! :)

As of July 17th, 2011 11:53pm CST

Evalee Johnsen - 33 VOTES
Kaleb Schwade - 39 VOTES
Evelynn Biondo - 17 VOTES
Dominic DeWitt - 199 VOTES
Riley Gilbert - 277 VOTES
Lily Yeager - 107 VOTES
Trevor Paour - 17 VOTES
Madilyne Wentz - 95 VOTES
Colby Thompson - 12 VOTES
Sarah Jane Donohue - 52 VOTES
Xavier Delgado - 50 VOTES
Juliana "Jules" Thaxton - 67 VOTES


FIRST PLACE - Riley Gilbert
SECOND PLACE - Dominic DeWitt
THIRD PLACE - Lily Yeager

KEEP VOTING! Contest ends TONIGHT!!!
As always if any concerns arise, please contact Rachel ASAP at rachel@sbssupportnetwork.com

11PM Update - Only 1 more update before winners are announced!

SBS Race Track BILLBOARD SIGN CONTEST UPDATE
Billboard Sign Contest Update!!!
As you know the BILLBOARD SIGN Contest began June 15, 2011 and is set to end JULY 17th 2011 at 11:59PM CST! Anyone can vote and ANY child can be entered into the contest! All it takes is 1 vote! Pending the fund raised of $300, the WINNER will be on the billboard sign that is 4FT by 8FT at the Toledo Ohio Speedway in Toledo Ohio on Shaken Baby Syndrome RACE NIGHT August 5th!!!! The winner of this contest will be on a billboard sign in the BEST viewable location on the track and will be recognized with the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners (SBS Heros) that won the RACE CAR contest in October 2010!! (Xavier, Maddie, and Jules) :)

Each $1.00 equals 1 vote!! You can get your vote in today by going to: http://www.shakenbabysupport.com and clicking on the "MERCHANDISE" tab on the website, and purchasing your tickets there! Each vote counts!!

Please remember to pass along this information to all your friends and family!!! The ONLY requirement for this contest is the guardians permission!

GOOD LUCK!! Keep the votes coming!!!! :)

As of July 17th, 2011 11:03pm CST

Evalee Johnsen - 33 VOTES
Kaleb Schwade - 39 VOTES
Evelynn Biondo - 17 VOTES
Dominic DeWitt - 199 VOTES
Riley Gilbert - 247 VOTES
Lily Yeager - 107 VOTES
Trevor Paour - 17 VOTES
Madilyne Wentz - 93 VOTES
Colby Thompson - 12 VOTES
Sarah Jane Donohue - 52 VOTES
Xavier Delgado - 50 VOTES
Juliana "Jules" Thaxton - 67 VOTES


FIRST PLACE - Riley Gilbert
SECOND PLACE - Dominic DeWitt
THIRD PLACE - Lily Yeager

KEEP VOTING! Contest ends TONIGHT!!!
As always if any concerns arise, please contact Rachel ASAP at rachel@sbssupportnetwork.com

10pm Contest Update - Next Update to come at 11:15pm! CST

SBS Race Track BILLBOARD SIGN CONTEST UPDATE
Billboard Sign Contest Update!!!
As you know the BILLBOARD SIGN Contest began June 15, 2011 and is set to end JULY 17th 2011 at 11:59PM CST! Anyone can vote and ANY child can be entered into the contest! All it takes is 1 vote! Pending the fund raised of $300, the WINNER will be on the billboard sign that is 4FT by 8FT at the Toledo Ohio Speedway in Toledo Ohio on Shaken Baby Syndrome RACE NIGHT August 5th!!!! The winner of this contest will be on a billboard sign in the BEST viewable location on the track and will be recognized with the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners (SBS Heros) that won the RACE CAR contest in October 2010!! (Xavier, Maddie, and Jules) :)

Each $1.00 equals 1 vote!! You can get your vote in today by going to: http://www.shakenbabysupport.com and clicking on the "MERCHANDISE" tab on the website, and purchasing your tickets there! Each vote counts!!

Please remember to pass along this information to all your friends and family!!! The ONLY requirement for this contest is the guardians permission!

GOOD LUCK!! Keep the votes coming!!!! :)

As of July 17th, 2011 10:03pm CST

Evalee Johnsen - 33 VOTES
Kaleb Schwade - 39 VOTES
Evelynn Biondo - 17 VOTES
Dominic DeWitt - 199 VOTES
Riley Gilbert - 211 VOTES
Lily Yeager - 97 VOTES
Trevor Paour - 17 VOTES
Madilyne Wentz - 93 VOTES
Colby Thompson - 12 VOTES
Sarah Jane Donohue - 52 VOTES
Xavier Delgado - 50 VOTES
Juliana "Jules" Thaxton - 67 VOTES


FIRST PLACE - Riley Gilbert
SECOND PLACE - Dominic DeWitt
THIRD PLACE - Lily Yeager

KEEP VOTING! Contest ends TONIGHT!!!
As always if any concerns arise, please contact Rachel ASAP at rachel@sbssupportnetwork.com

8PM CST Contest UPDATE! The RACE is ON! New top runner!!

SBS Race Track BILLBOARD SIGN CONTEST UPDATE
Billboard Sign Contest Update!!!
As you know the BILLBOARD SIGN Contest began June 15, 2011 and is set to end JULY 17th 2011 at 11:59PM CST! Anyone can vote and ANY child can be entered into the contest! All it takes is 1 vote! Pending the fund raised of $300, the WINNER will be on the billboard sign that is 4FT by 8FT at the Toledo Ohio Speedway in Toledo Ohio on Shaken Baby Syndrome RACE NIGHT August 5th!!!! The winner of this contest will be on a billboard sign in the BEST viewable location on the track and will be recognized with the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners (SBS Heros) that won the RACE CAR contest in October 2010!! (Xavier, Maddie, and Jules) :)

Each $1.00 equals 1 vote!! You can get your vote in today by going to: http://www.shakenbabysupport.com and clicking on the "MERCHANDISE" tab on the website, and purchasing your tickets there! Each vote counts!!

Please remember to pass along this information to all your friends and family!!! The ONLY requirement for this contest is the guardians permission!

GOOD LUCK!! Keep the votes coming!!!! :)

As of July 17th, 2011 8:20pm CST

Evalee Johnsen - 33 VOTES
Kaleb Schwade - 39 VOTES
Evelynn Biondo - 17 VOTES
Dominic DeWitt - 199 VOTES
Riley Gilbert - 163 VOTES
Lily Yeager - 97 VOTES
Trevor Paour - 17 VOTES
Madilyne Wentz - 73 VOTES
Colby Thompson - 12 VOTES
Sarah Jane Donohue - 52 VOTES
Xavier Delgado - 50 VOTES
Juliana "Jules" Thaxton - 67 VOTES


FIRST PLACE - Dominic DeWitt
SECOND PLACE - Riley Gilbert
THIRD PLACE - Lily Yeager

KEEP VOTING! Contest ends TONIGHT!!!
As always if any concerns arise, please contact Rachel ASAP at rachel@sbssupportnetwork.com

6pm CST Update! Only 5 hours & 59 mins more to vote!!!

SBS Race Track BILLBOARD SIGN CONTEST UPDATE
Billboard Sign Contest Update!!!
As you know the BILLBOARD SIGN Contest began June 15, 2011 and is set to end JULY 17th 2011 at 11:59PM CST! Anyone can vote and ANY child can be entered into the contest! All it takes is 1 vote! Pending the fund raised of $300, the WINNER will be on the billboard sign that is 4FT by 8FT at the Toledo Ohio Speedway in Toledo Ohio on Shaken Baby Syndrome RACE NIGHT August 5th!!!! The winner of this contest will be on a billboard sign in the BEST viewable location on the track and will be recognized with the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners (SBS Heros) that won the RACE CAR contest in October 2010!! (Xavier, Maddie, and Jules) :)

Each $1.00 equals 1 vote!! You can get your vote in today by going to: http://www.shakenbabysupport.com and clicking on the "MERCHANDISE" tab on the website, and purchasing your tickets there! Each vote counts!!

Please remember to pass along this information to all your friends and family!!! The ONLY requirement for this contest is the guardians permission!

GOOD LUCK!! Keep the votes coming!!!! :)

As of July 17th, 2011 2:20pm CST

Evalee Johnsen - 33 VOTES
Kaleb Schwade - 39 VOTES
Evelynn Biondo - 17 VOTES
Dominic DeWitt - 115 VOTES
Riley Gilbert - 127 VOTES
Lily Yeager - 97 VOTES
Trevor Paour - 17 VOTES
Madilyne Wentz - 52 VOTES
Colby Thompson - 12 VOTES
Sarah Jane Donohue - 52 VOTES
Xavier Delgado - 50 VOTES
Juliana "Jules" Thaxton - 67 VOTES


FIRST PLACE - Riley Gilbert
SECOND PLACE - Dominic DeWitt
THIRD PLACE - Lily Yeager

KEEP VOTING! Contest ends TONIGHT!!!
As always if any concerns arise, please contact Rachel ASAP at rachel@sbssupportnetwork.com

2:00PM CST Contest Update! BIG CHANGES!

SBS Race Track BILLBOARD SIGN CONTEST UPDATE
Billboard Sign Contest Update!!!
As you know the BILLBOARD SIGN Contest began June 15, 2011 and is set to end JULY 17th 2011 at 11:59PM CST! Anyone can vote and ANY child can be entered into the contest! All it takes is 1 vote! Pending the fund raised of $300, the WINNER will be on the billboard sign that is 4FT by 8FT at the Toledo Ohio Speedway in Toledo Ohio on Shaken Baby Syndrome RACE NIGHT August 5th!!!! The winner of this contest will be on a billboard sign in the BEST viewable location on the track and will be recognized with the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners (SBS Heros) that won the RACE CAR contest in October 2010!! (Xavier, Maddie, and Jules) :)

Each $1.00 equals 1 vote!! You can get your vote in today by going to: http://www.shakenbabysupport.com and clicking on the "MERCHANDISE" tab on the website, and purchasing your tickets there! Each vote counts!!

Please remember to pass along this information to all your friends and family!!! The ONLY requirement for this contest is the guardians permission!

GOOD LUCK!! Keep the votes coming!!!! :)

As of July 17th, 2011 2:20pm CST

Evalee Johnsen - 33 VOTES
Kaleb Schwade - 39 VOTES
Evelynn Biondo - 17 VOTES
Dominic DeWitt - 115 VOTES
Riley Gilbert - 102 VOTES
Lily Yeager - 97 VOTES
Trevor Paour - 17 VOTES
Madilyne Wentz - 32 VOTES
Colby Thompson - 12 VOTES
Sarah Jane Donohue - 52 VOTES
Xavier Delgado - 50 VOTES
Juliana "Jules" Thaxton - 67 VOTES


FIRST PLACE - Dominic DeWitt
SECOND PLACE - Riley Gilbert
THIRD PLACE - Lily Yeagar

KEEP VOTING! Contest ends TONIGHT!!!
As always if any concerns arise, please contact Rachel ASAP at rachel@sbssupportnetwork.com

SBS Race Track BILLBOARD SIGN CONTEST UPDATE

Billboard Sign Contest Update!!!
As you know the BILLBOARD SIGN Contest began June 15, 2011 and is set to end JULY 17th 2011 at 11:59PM CST! Anyone can vote and ANY child can be entered into the contest! All it takes is 1 vote! Pending the fund raised of $300, the WINNER will be on the billboard sign that is 4FT by 8FT at the Toledo Ohio Speedway in Toledo Ohio on Shaken Baby Syndrome RACE NIGHT August 5th!!!! The winner of this contest will be on a billboard sign in the BEST viewable location on the track and will be recognized with the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners (SBS Heros) that won the RACE CAR contest in October 2010!! (Xavier, Maddie, and Jules) :)

Each $1.00 equals 1 vote!! You can get your vote in today by going to: http://www.shakenbabysupport.com and clicking on the "MERCHANDISE" tab on the website, and purchasing your tickets there! Each vote counts!!

Please remember to pass along this information to all your friends and family!!! The ONLY requirement for this contest is the guardians permission!

GOOD LUCK!! Keep the votes coming!!!! :)

As of July 16th, 2011 8:20pm CST

Evalee Johnsen - 33 VOTES
Kaleb Schwade - 39 VOTES
Evelynn Biondo - 17 VOTES
Dominic DeWitt - 95 VOTES
Riley Gilbert - 82 VOTES
Lilly Yeager - 92 VOTES
Trevor Paour - 17 VOTES
Madilyne Wentz - 32 VOTES
Colby Thompson - 12 VOTES


FIRST PLACE - Dominic DeWitt
SECOND PLACE - Lilly Yeager
THIRD PLACE - Riley Gilbert

KEEP VOTING!
As always if any concerns arise, please contact Rachel ASAP at rachel@sbssupportnetwork.com

Urgent! We need 2 minutes of your time! From Patrick Donohue

As you know, we have been working for several years to create and now implement the National Pediatric Acquired Brain Injury Plan (PABI Plan) which develops a seamless, standardized, evidence-based system of care for the millions of American families who have a child/young adult suffering from the #1 leading cause of death and disability for our youth: brain injury!

We are on the cusp of making history and we need just a little bit of help from you and your friends; please take just TWO minutes (120 seconds) to help change the world for millions of our families who have a child/young adult with a brain injury.

Later this week Congressman Leonard Lance will be introducing the National Pediatric Acquired Brain Injury Plan Act (PABI Plan Act) which will create a $2.9 Billion, seven-year initiative to implement the PABI Plan (this legislation will NOT create any new federal agency, will NOT add any new federal jobs and will NOT add a penny to the federal budget). Simply put, the PABI Plan will make sure the millions of our American families will no longer need to reinvent the wheel to care for their child with a brain injury!

Please follow these three easy steps which will take no longer that 120 seconds:
1. Find out who your Member of Congress is: by going to this website and entering in your Zip Code you can easily find out who represents you in Congress
click here: http://www.house.gov/htbin/findrep?ZIP
2. Send us an email to Ted@TheBrainProject.org with the name of your Member of Congress
3. We will email you the name and phone number of the appropriate staff person to call and leave a 30-second message encouraging your Member of Congress to be a co-sponsor of the PABI Plan Act

It is that SIMPLE and that EASY!! Members of Congress like to hear from their constituents and your message will mean a lot! We are trying to get 100 co-sponsors by Friday (50 Republicans and 50 Democrats)!

And finally, if you can ask any family or friends to take TWO minutes from their day to do the same thing by simply forwarding this message to them!

If you would like to learn more about the PABI Plan and our efforts, please read my letter to Sarah Jane when she turn five: www.TheBrainProject.org/lettertosarahjane.php and if you would like to read the three-page PABI Plan Act please visit www.TheBrainProject.org/PABIPlanAct.php

I cannot thank you enough in advance for taking TWO minutes out of your day for Sarah Jane and the millions of American children/young adults just like her across the country!

All the best,
Patrick

Patrick B. Donohue, Esq.
Founder, The Sarah Jane Brain Foundation
339 Fifth Avenue - Suite 405
New York, NY 10016
(212) 576-1180
www.TheBrainProject.org

Billboard Sign Contest Update!!!

As you know the BILLBOARD SIGN Contest began June 15, 2011 and is set to end JULY 15th 2011 at 11:59PM CST! Anyone can vote and ANY child can be entered into the contest! All it takes is 1 vote! Pending the fund raised of $300, the WINNER will be on the billboard sign that is 4FT by 8FT at the Toledo Ohio Speedway in Toledo Ohio on Shaken Baby Syndrome RACE NIGHT August 5th!!!! The winner of this contest will be on a billboard sign in the BEST viewable location on the track and will be recognized with the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners (SBS Heros) that won the RACE CAR contest in October 2010!! (Xavier, Maddie, and Jules) :)

Each $1.00 equals 1 vote!! You can get your vote in today by going to: http://www.shakenbabysupport.com and clicking on the "MERCHANDISE" tab on the website, and purchasing your tickets there! Each vote counts!!

Please remember to pass along this information to all your friends and family!!! The ONLY requirement for this contest is the guardians permission!

GOOD LUCK!! Keep the votes coming!!!! :)

As of July 8th, 2011 8:20pm CST

Evalee Johnsen - 23 VOTES
Kaleb Schwade - 19 VOTES
Evelynn Biondo - 17 VOTES
Dominic DeWitt - 35 VOTES
Riley Gilbert - 72 VOTES
Lilly Yeager - 27 VOTES
Trevor Paour - 17 VOTES
Madilyne Wentz - 20 VOTES
Colby Thompson - 12 VOTES


FIRST PLACE - RILEY GILBERT
SECOND PLACE - DOMINIC DEWITT
THIRD PLACE - LILLY YEAGER

KEEP VOTING!
As always if any concerns arise, please contact Rachel ASAP at rachel@sbssupportnetwork.com

2011 SBS Vigil LIVESTREAM Videos! Watch HERE!!!

What an awesome year for the families and the Network! A more indepth update and pictures are coming, but I know many of you stated you were not able to find/view the live stream or videos following the event so I wanted to take a moment and post them here for your viewing! Enjoy, and please let me know if there are any issues!

All my best,
Rachel
rachel@sbssupportnetwork.com
http://www.shakenbabysupport.com
FACEBOOK
TWITTER



On our way to pick up the families at the Tampa Airport!


A portion of the families have arrived and are EXCITED!


The VIGIL Begins!









The Morelocks celebrated their vow renewal with a surprise ceremony from their son DJ and his good friend Hunter <3

A few families stayed, to take Dominic, a SBS Survivor, to Disney World's Magic Kingdom, and Rachel, released a balloon that went straight to Heaven for Madilyne <3