Lisa turned Matt Lauer into a frog

Today was the big pajama party at St Jude.  The one that the Today show and Marla Thomas were supposedly filming for viewing over the Thanksgiving week.  While most of the day things were pretty quiet, Lisa and I did run into a camera crew who was touring the building after one of her appointments.  Lisa had just received a "magic" wand as her prize for doing a good job and as we were cruising by the camera crew she said "abracadabra..I turn you into a frog" and pointed the wand at the last guy.  The rest of the crew all laughed and smiled and pointed at their buddy. Lisa and I proceeded to the cafeteria and I told her she really should have turned the guy back to a human because he was there working and she couldn't just turn everyone she saw into a frog.  She agreed to limit the use of her power.

As we circled the hospital again a while later, we ran into the same crew again and the "frog guy" ribbited at us.  Lisa graciously turned him back into a man.  The crew laughed and as we reached the end of the hall, there was Matt Lauer all by himself waiting for the crew.  I knew they were busy and didn't want to interrupt him so I wheeled Lisa on by.  We got a few steps past and I stopped and told Lisa "If there's anyone you should turn into a frog, it's that man."  Lisa twirled her wand, said the magic words and turned Matt Lauer into a frog.  He saw her do it and came over to ask what she said and than begged her to please not turn him into a frog...she quickly turned him back into a man.  He asked her name, shook her hand and told her it was nice to meet her.  As he walked away, it occurred to me that I'd just missed a Kodak moment.  I figured we would catch him later at the pajama party.

A short time later we passed Marlo Thomas in the hall.  I walked right by her as she blended right in with all the other business women standing around her, but then I heard her voice and realized I could have reached out and touched her.  Once again, I opted not to disturb her and wait for the Kodak moment later at the pajama party.

Unfortunately, the Kodak moment never came.  While Lisa was in her last appointment for the day, they kicked off the pj party and Marlo and Matt made their appearances in their pjs and then they were gone.  While I was disappointed, Lisa was quite satisfied with the dancing, arts and crafts, and cookies that were offered.

Lisa and her St Jude Child Life Specialist at PJ party

It was a really fun time and we followed it up with a BINGO game at our hotel where Lisa won numerous prizes leaving me wondering how the heck we would get everything home.

It really has been a fun week, one that has been full of activities that have made the days special.  It really showcased what St. Jude is famous for...being the number one pediatric cancer hospital in the world.  A place that is seeking cures to assure, as Danny Thomas' said, that “no child should die in the dawn of life”; a place that is making sure that these little cancer warriors are blessed with special moments as they fight for their lives.