Support Children's Miracle Network Hospitals When You Buy Pampers at Walmart! {+ Enter to Win a Walmart Gift Card!} #sp

The Walmart gift cards and information have been provided by P&G. All thoughts are 100% my own.

It was nearly 6 years ago that I found myself sitting at Rady's Children's Hospital in San Diego, California- a member of the Children's Miracle Network, awaiting the news that would forever change our lives. The diagnosis of autism for our oldest child. 

Now, at the time, this was a pretty scary time for us... not knowing what our son's future would look like. But looking back (and after talking to many fellow autism parents about their own experiences), we were lucky to have been there at that place for this news. You see, many parents with autism, even now when so much more is known about the diagnosis, aren't given much hope for a good outcome. Some are even told their children will never reach certain milestones- like talking or entering a mainstream classroom. They are given the diagnosis, then sent out to figure it out on their own. Our experience? Completely different. There in that office with the child psychologist, I was not told my child would never, instead I was told my child WOULD. I was told he had many great skills that would serve him well. I was told that with therapy he would go on to accomplish great things. I was told that there was no better place to live than the San Diego area with an autism diagnosis because of all the resources available there. Though I still walked away with uncertainty, I also walked away with hope, a list of resources and a plan to move forward.

Part of that plan was already in place, through that same hospital where we had already started attending a fantastic speech group that incorporated occupational therapy, ABA and speech therapy techniques into a fantastic, fun, sensory friendly speech class for kids on the spectrum. Twice a week, every week we would travel to the hospital for this class, where I first learned the ins and outs of this new world of autism. By the time my Shaun received that diagnosis, he had already entered the class and developed a relationship with the wonderful therapist in charge of it. Perhaps wonderful isn't the word...amazing? inspiring? miraculous? There are many words I would use. See, on that next scheduled class after diagnosis day, we had a conflict in transportation that left us unable to go that week. So, what did this therapist do? She cancelled the class and drove to our home to give my little man some one on one attention and to make sure that *I* was handling the news well, and to offer advice and support that I so needed in that moment. Like I said, amazing! Though we would soon leave the class, realizing that Shaun was not yet ready for that group atmosphere, this experience stuck with me and helped me in those early days to keep moving forward and to keep fighting for my child. For that, I will forever be grateful to her and all of the wonderful people at Rady's Children's Hospital.

This would not be our last experience at Children's Miracle Network hospital- my son would later go on to have dental surgery at Riley's Children's Hospital in Indianapolis, after every other dentist heard his diagnosis and refused so much as an x-ray- but it would certainly be the most lasting.

Our experience may have been life changing, but for many kids treated at Children's Miracle Network hospitals like Rady's or Riley's, it is actually life-saving. In addition to my own story, I want to share with you the story of Riley- a patient at Riley's Children's Hospital:

Arriving three and a half months before her due date, Riley must have known she had important work do do in this world and was eager to get started.

Weighing a mere 1 pound 10 ounces at birth, Riley's future was uncertain. Today she's living a full and healthy life, but Riley hasn't forgotten the hospital that made it all possible- and even inspired her name. To show her appreciation, Riley has shared her story at 120 Dance Marathon events, inspiring students to raise donations for her hospital. CMN Hospitals funds support research, medical equipment and charitable care efforts that benefit Riley and countless other kids.

Riley's story is just one of many of the children who have been saved by these amazing hospitals across the country. Check out these quick facts about Children's Miracle Network Hospitals:

• One in 10 kids in North America is treated by Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals each year
• Every day, member hospitals treat 16,000 children in emergency rooms
• Every hour, member hospitals provide surgery for 97 children
• U.S. members hospitals provided $3.4 billion in charity care in 2012
• Your support helps provide 32 million patient visits for 10 million kids every year

So, how can YOU help support these hospitals and save lives? Walmart and Pampers have teamed up to make giving back easier than ever. It can be as easy as diapering your own baby!

Walmart and Pampers have partnered together to donate $200,000 to Children's Miracle Network Hospitals in June 2015! When you purchase your favorite Pampers diapers in store or online at Walmart,  part of the proceeds will be donated to the cause! You'll be buying the same great products you already use and love (and would have bought anyway), and helping make a difference in the life of a child and their family. How amazing! Visit Walmart.com/cmnh for more information and to make your own donation.

And to help you out, one lucky reader is going to have the chance to win a $25 Walmart gift card for themselves. Enter using the Rafflecopter form below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Winner will be contacted via e-mail after giveaway ends, and will have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen. One entry per household, winning entry will be verified. Odds of winning depend on valid entries received. A Modern Day Fairy Tale is not responsible for prize delivery