Member Update for HelpYourHero.org

Thank you for being a part of Help Your Hero!

When we launched seven months ago we knew we needed to continue through a "test” phase to see how members interacted within our community. Being a unique, new concept to the world has it pros and cons, so being proactive with necessary changes has been at the forefront of our team. We want to ensure that we make Help Your Hero the best experience for all involved.
As a result of our observations, we will be making changes to HelpYourHero.org. Primarily, we'll be shifting from the private "Headquarters" to a community site that will focus on how to answer the burning questions that are often asked but the communities around our Heroes. There is much more to it than what we can practically explain here, though, and over the next several weeks and months, you'll begin to see the larger picture of our new solution.
One important change that will effect a great many of our members is the removal of child accounts. We've come to realize that the solutions we can offer the best, and the ones that make the most difference, are those that our adult members can use. We'll still have plenty for the kids, and your Superheroes will still have the opportunity to create their own superhero character, but by eliminating the child accounts, we are able to offer a better registration experience, and put less pressure on our SuperParents to fully build their child's Headquarters. The change will no doubt feel a bit weird, but we truly believe it's the best decision at this time.
We'll be in touch as we continue to make changes to the site and adjust the membership settings. Don't be surprised if you log on and everything is a bit different! If you have a question, or get confused about the change, please contact us.
Thank you again for your help in propelling Help Your Hero in the right direction. We hope these changes will allow us to better serve each of you in the ways you need most.

The Hero Helpers
Jackie Waters & Janis Hurst
(859) 441-6393
CustomerCare@HelpYourHero.org

The people that show up in your life during a difficult time...

Everyone has different reactions to loved ones who have been diagnosed with medical conditions, and there is really no right or wrong reaction. It just "is what it is.” Just like we learn in different ways, people react in different ways, and it can be difficult for people to move beyond a certain place. It's not often easy to understand, but when you let go of your expectations, you will find that you have less confusion and frustration.

From my personal experience these are the various ways in which people have reacted:

• The Savior – This person will be by your side at all times and do everything they can for you. They are almost always strong in front of you, but they may have a moment or two where they break down with you. They want to be your savior.

• The Emotional – They are just so overwhelmed with the situation. They want to be there but they are too emotional and they don’t want to get you upset. They try to be strong in front of you, but they are just having a hard time accepting it. You may find that they come and go because they need to have alone time just to regroup.

• The Checker-inners – They check in often and do things for you like cook meals, send cards, and call for updates. They offer to help in any way that they can.

• The Out-of-the-woodworkers – They are people that you have not seen in a long time, but they come out of the woodwork to help. It could be your longtime friend that you lost touch with just because life got in the way. They reach out wanting to help and do anything to help. Rekindling old friendships is a great advantage of going through a tough time.

• The Retreater – They don’t know what to say or do so they just retreat. They may check in when they can, but they keep their distance for the most part. Some may carry guilt because they have a hard time being around. This is a tough one because it is hard to really know what someone is thinking or feeling.

• The "Whatever it takes” – This person is the can-and-will-do-everything-and-anything-for-you person. They have, at times, put their life on hold for the most part and are there any way that they can be. They are the person you can lean on at all times.

You may be wondering why I am writing about this today? I think it's important for people to understand the different ways in which people will react, and we shouldn't be hurt if they react in ways we didn't expect. Just know that people have a great heart and want to be there, but for whatever reason, their reaction may be different than what you expect!Please share if you have experienced another personality during a difficult time. It may be helpful to someone in the future. 

All the best, always! 

Smiles, 

Jackie 

A Thousand Memories Worth...

Having a moment (or many moments) when you miss someone who has passed, can be hard. Knowing what to do to get you through these tough moments is different for everyone. I knew soon after Tracy had passed that I would have to find ways to cope with this big loss in my life. I have a few ways that help me cope when I feel one of those tough moments coming on.

• Reflecting on memories - I go back to many of the great memories of us together. Sometimes it is something that was not a big deal at the time, but now it is for me.
• Writing - I have been very fortunate to be able to write a lot about my life with Tracy and share it. I know it has helped to inspire some people and that is very comforting for me.
• Honoring her legacy - I have Help Your Hero to help me with our pay it forward promise and to keep her legacy alive and that is very rewarding.
• Going through old photographs – Looking through photos of Tracy and me is the one that I have found helps me cope the most. I have them in my bedroom and look at them each morning as I wake up and get my day started. I have photos throughout my house, and as I type this blog post, I look at the many photos that I have in my office of Tracy and me. As much as I miss her, they bring me so much comfort. To see her smiling face again brings a smile to my face.

This last coping method was only possible because of all the photos we took together, and it is easy to find a photo of her because they are all around me. In looking through all these photos, I realized that I have so many great pictures of Tracy and me, and it saddens me that I will not ever have another photo of us together again in this physical world.

Because of this, I challenge you to take more photographs of you and your loved ones.

Some people don't like to have their photos taken for different reasons. Don't worry about what you look like. People analyze your photos a lot less than you think they do, and they are mainly analyzing themselves if they are in the photo. I have been a size 6 and a size 16. I can tell you, if I waited to have photos taken until I was my ideal size 10 again, I would not have had photos taken of me for the past 10 years...and possibly even more.

So grab your camera or your cell phone and take pictures while you are making a lot of great memories with your loved ones this holiday season and beyond. It can bring you a lot of comfort in the years to come.

All the best, always!

Smiles, 

Jackie

Who is your favorite Superhero?

Because today is National Superhero Day we ask the question: Who is your favorite Superhero? Is this person fictitious or is it a real Superhero who has inspired you?

I love Superheroes because they want to help others. They want to make the world a better place. They are unselfish and are a positive influence.

My favorite Superhero is a real person. She is someone who has inspired me for many years and has changed my life - my Sister Tracy - also known as Superwoman T-Si. She never tried to be an inspiration to others. She would say that she was just trying to live her life, but in doing just that, she was and still is an inspiration.

On this day to recongize our Superheroes, be sure to share with us your favorite Superhero and why?
Smiles,

Jackie
President & Founder

National Pay It Forward Day

Doing something for someone else can be exhilarating plus you can possibly help someone else in ways that you may never quite know how it will effect them or even you.

National Pay It Forward day is today, April 24 and we want to honor that day at Help Your Hero. Help Your Hero was built on a 1991 Pay It Forward promise that my sister Tracy and I made to each other that has been life changing for both of us and now many more people and that is awesome!

To help jump start your Pay It Forward, we have listed out many Pay it Forward ideas that are simple and free. Be sure that you share with us how you paid it forward so we can all celebrate this National Pay It Forward day!

Smiles,

Jackie
President & Founder

Sometimes you have to ask for help.

Sometimes you have to ask for help and this is one of those times...

When my team and I first began working on the unique concept for HelpYourHero.org to honor Tracy and Grant's legacy, we agreed early on that it should always be free to register and use. By eliminating membership fees, we are able to provide tools and services to the supportive communities around children with medical conditions without increasing financial burdens. After all, families of children with medical conditions don’t need to worry about coming up with money for one more thing. We know what it’s like to already have so much your mind and to be burdened by money, worry and fear.

As such, we have designed HelpYourHero.org to be sustained through a combination of corporate partnerships, merchandise sales, and later on as we grow, the sale of mobile apps and games. Until these things take off, however, we need your help while continuing to offer our free service. Creating and growing Help Your Hero is requiring a much greater financial investment than I am able to handle on my own. If my pay-it-forward promise is going to succeed, I must ask for help.

For those of you that know me, you know that I would rather give than receive, but I have to remind myself that this is not about me. I am asking for your financial support to help us continue developing HelpYourHero.org into what we've envisioned. To do this we need your financial support.

Trust me when I say I know that times are still tough for all of us. The financial toll of launching and maintaining Help Your Hero has become more than I had planned and certainly more than I can afford on my own. Every contribution help - in big or small ways!

If you are not in a position to help with a donation at this time, please share our website with your social circles to help us reach more people. Thoughts and prayers are also extremely welcome, as Help Your Hero has always been based on the foundation of positive thinking!

Thanks so much for your kindness!
All the Best, always!
Smiles,

Jackie
President & Founder

Sharing stories and spreading awareness

March 21, 2014 marks the 9th anniversary of World Down Syndrome Day. We are grateful every day to have this platform at HelpYourHero.org to help children and their families, and days like today are exactly why we do this work – to empower and enable children with medical conditions to communicate, in whatever way they can, and share their stories.

Part of this means we work to inform and spread awareness. We all have our experiences that make us who we are, and sometimes we need a little help to understand the experiences of others, sometimes even those in our own families.

So for this reason, we embrace the many days of awareness throughout the year like today, and we hope you’ll join us in spreading the word as we join in with the local, national and international conversations.

According to the website worlddownsyndromeday.org (WDSD), Down Syndrome International is focusing on:

“Health and Wellbeing - Access and Equality for All”

All people with Down syndrome have the right to access healthcare when required on an equal basis with others without discrimination and with proper assessment of the specific health needs of the individual. We will be highlighting that:

1. Having Down syndrome does not make a person unhealthy.
2. Down syndrome is a genetic condition, not an illness.
3. People with Down syndrome may have health issues throughout their lives, just like everyone else and they should have access to healthcare on an equal basis with others.
4. There are specific known health issues which may affect people with Down syndrome, for which accurate, evidence based information is available.
5. Health professionals should be aware of these specific issues when treating a person with Down syndrome.
6. Health professionals should not discriminate against people with Down syndrome by:

• a. refusing to treat them
• b. blaming health issues on Down syndrome in general
• c. or considering only specific known health issues which may affect people with Down syndrome.

 Best,
T. Bartlett
PR Manager & Story Writer