By writer to www.semissourian.com
Jimmy Williams, 13, of Jackson poses with toys he donated to Cardinal Glennon Kids’s Hospital in St. Louis on his birthday, Oct. 1.
Photograph courtesy Cardinal Glennon Kids’s Basis
For his birthday this 12 months, Jimmy Williams of Jackson wished nothing greater than to present items to different folks.
Williams, 13, determined to donate toys to Cardinal Glennon Kids’s Hospital in St. Louis — a spot he grew to become acquainted with in 2019.
Whereas enjoying in a golf match in August 2019, Jimmy began vomiting uncontrollably. His dad and mom took him to Cardinal Glennon Hospital. Take a look at outcomes confirmed Jimmy’s coronary heart functioned at solely a fraction of what it ought to have.
For his birthday, Jimmy wished to point out youngsters within the hospital the identical kindness strangers usually confirmed him whereas he was admitted there.
Jimmy and his dad and mom traveled to St. Louis and donated the toys Friday — Jimmy’s birthday.
“I wished to do it ever since I obtained out of the hospital, as a result of once I noticed these youngsters, and all of the unhappiness and every thing that was within the hospital, I felt like I wanted to present again,” Jimmy stated.
Toy donations flooded in after Jimmy and his dad and mom created a video on Fb asking for donations.
Quickly after, Jackson’s volleyball crew hosted a toy drive in Jimmy’s honor. Members of his grandmother’s church in Chattanooga, Tennessee, despatched toys to a P.O. field the Williamses created. Saxony Lutheran Excessive Faculty and members of a prayer group for Jimmy additionally donated toys.
Jimmy Williams (middle) and his dad and mom Shana Williams (left) and father Jim Williams pose with toys Jimmy donated to Cardinal Glennon Kids’s Hospital in St. Louis.
Photograph courtesy Cardinal Glennon Kids’s Basis
In complete, 600 items had been donated to Jimmy’s trigger.
The inflow of donations did not shock Jimmy’s mother, Shana Williams.
“The neighborhood at all times rallied behind Jimmy from the very starting, ever since he obtained sick,” Shana Williams stated.
Cardinal Glennon admitted Jimmy within the early days of August 2019, in accordance with Shana. Docs later inserted a left ventricular help machine (LVAD) to assist his coronary heart pump.
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Jimmy’s identify was positioned on a coronary heart transplant listing the place it stayed for months. After 103 days, Shana stated, they obtained the decision they waited for and Jimmy obtained a brand new coronary heart.
Jimmy stated he hoped the toys would convey youngsters within the hospital a way of pleasure.
“Even simply to make their day happier for 15 seconds,” Jimmy stated. “I am simply striving for them to be a bit of bit extra joyful within the hospital as a result of it is a actually unhappy place and never enjoyable.”
Jimmy added his birthday this 12 months was “an incredible day.” After donating the toys, Jimmy performed golf at Norwood Hills Nation Membership in St. Louis County and went to a St. Louis Cardinals recreation.
A couple of month in the past, Jimmy stated, he served as grasp of ceremonies at a banquet for Holliday’s Heroes, a donation program for Cardinal Glennon began by former Cardinals baseball participant Matt Holliday.
The subsequent day, Jimmy obtained to throw the primary pitch at a Cardinals recreation — a long-time dream of his, he stated.
Jimmy’s birthday final week will not be the top of his donations to Cardinal Glennon. He stated he already plans on doing the identical factor subsequent 12 months.
Shana stated her son’s generosity comes as no shock.
“He is at all times been very mature for his age,” Shana stated. “I could not be extra happy with the individual he is turning into and the individual he is at all times been.”
Jimmy Williams and his mom, Shana Williams, unload their automobile filled with toy donations.
Photograph courtesy Cardinal Glennon Kids’s Basis
— to www.semissourian.com
