Fundraiser Shirts, Health, and School

  • Post category:Fundraiser / School
  • Reading time:4 mins read

Van Fundraiser Shirts

In addition to the monetary donations, we are now selling shirts to help raise money for a new van. The fundraiser we had in 2014 to raise money for our current van was called “Rollin’ for James”, and while we don’t technically have a name for this fundraiser, we are unofficially calling it “Rollin’ for James 2.0”. If you’d like to purchase a shirt and help get James rollin’ in a new(er) van, head over to our campaign page at Bonfire. You can choose a short sleeve t-shirt, long sleeve t-shirt, tank top, hoodie, or sweatshirt.

 

A light gray T‑shirt lies flat with a simple black cartoon monkey face printed on the front. Beneath the illustration, purple text reads “Rollin’ for James.” The design feels playful and personalized, suggesting a supportive or celebratory theme centered around James.

A light gray hooded sweatshirt with a front pocket features a simple black cartoon monkey face printed on the chest. Below the illustration, curved purple text reads “Rollin’ for James.” The design feels playful and supportive, suggesting a personalized or cause‑related hoodie centered around James.

If you’ve already ordered a shirt (or hoodie, tank top, or sweatshirt) thank you!

 

 

Health

Not too much to report about his health. He has been having some drainage coming out of his ear that we’re trying to figure out. We don’t think it’s related to the new ear tubes that were put in a couple of months ago, but we don’t know. The doc started him on antibiotics to see if that clears it up.

We have an appointment on Tuesday with an oral surgeon at Loyola University Medical Center. Hopefully he’ll be able to give us some ideas of what can be done to give James’ tongue more room.

 

 

School

We have entered the final stretch of James’ elementary school career. In just two short weeks he will graduate from junior high and become a freshman in high school. High school. That just sounds weird to say. James is going to be in high school! I’m trying not to get too far ahead of myself here, but that’s one step closer to adulthood. He will never be an adult intellectually, but age wise, he will be considered an adult in four short years.

I can’t remember my last days of junior high—seems like an entire lifetime ago—but I imagine it is just like the last days of any school year. It’s spring, the weather is getting nicer, the kids are itching to be done with school for the summer, and it’s hard to focus on schoolwork. What better way to keep the kids engaged than to go on field trips?

A few weeks ago, they went on a scavenger hunt to a craft store. They were given a list of things to find in the store, take a picture with the item, and write down the price.

 

James sits in a wheelchair inside a store, wearing sunglasses, a black hoodie, and yellow Route‑66‑themed neck support. He holds a paper titled “Michael’s Scavenger Hunt,” which lists items to find and their costs. Nearby, two people stand — one in a green hoodie and one in a pink‑and‑gray jacket — giving the moment a friendly, inclusive feel as James participates in an accessible in‑store scavenger hunt.
James with his list of items he had to find in the store

 

James sits in a wheelchair inside a store, wearing a black hoodie, dark sunglasses, and a yellow Route‑66‑themed neck pillow. A small wooden decorative house and a small blue Chicago Cubs towel rest on his lap. Behind him, store shelves display bright items like pink buckets and patterned pillows, giving the scene a casual, everyday shopping feel.
One of the things on his list was something made out of wood

 

Last week they went bowling.

 

James sits in a wheelchair at a bowling alley, positioned beside a metal bowling ramp with a red bowling ball resting at the top. His nurse stands next to him in a yellow sweatshirt, ready to help guide the shot. Behind them, other bowlers, tables, and lanes fill the space, giving the moment a lively, inclusive feel as adaptive equipment makes the game fully accessible.

 

James sits in a wheelchair at a bowling alley, wearing a yellow hoodie while his nurse in a matching yellow sweatshirt stands beside him, pointing down the lane. A bowling ball is already rolling toward the pins. Multiple lanes stretch out in the background, with a colorful mural of bowling balls and pins on the far wall, giving the moment an energetic, inclusive feel as adaptive equipment makes the game fully accessible.

 

If you’re following James on Facebook, you’ve probably seen the “ABC Countdown to the Last Day of School” pictures. Every school day from April 21st to the last day of school on May 26th has a theme. I will be creating a separate post with pictures from the entire countdown, and try to get it posted here that weekend.

 

A colorful calendar titled “ABC Countdown to the Last Day of School” is taped to a wall. The calendar lists A through Z, each letter paired with a themed day and date, such as Beach Day, Crazy Sock Day, Dance Party, Glow Day, Pajama Day, Rainbow Day, Sunglasses Day, and Year End Party. Two boxes — A and B — are crossed out, showing those days have already passed. Bright colors and playful fonts give the calendar a cheerful, end‑of‑year celebration feel.
ABC Countdown to the Last Day of School

 

Even though it wasn’t school related, I think this falls under the educational category, so I am including it in the School section. A couple of weeks ago I got our township library’s monthly newsletter and saw something that I thought James might be interested in.

 

A promotional poster features author‑illustrator Jarrett J. Krosoczka sitting at a desk in a colorful studio filled with books, art supplies, and framed illustrations. He wears a mustard‑yellow shirt and blue glasses, smiling warmly at the camera. Bold text invites viewers to “Draw with Jarrett J. Krosoczka,” describing an online family drawing workshop held on Free Comic Book Day, along with a brief bio highlighting his bestselling graphic novels and award‑recognized work. The bottom section notes that the event is presented by Illinois Libraries Present, with a button labeled “Let’s draw!”

 

Since James watches a lot of cartoons, I thought it might be interesting for him to see the process of how cartoons are made. I don’t think he was that thrilled to be learning stuff on a Saturday. If he could talk, I’m sure he’d say something like, “I’d rather be watching cartoons than learning how to draw them.” I thought it was pretty cool to watch Jarrett draw the characters, though. That is a talent that I could never possess.

 

James lies down watching a laptop screen during a virtual event. The main video window shows hands holding a copy of “Lunch Lady,” with another book from the series beside it. Along the right side of the screen, several small participant windows appear, suggesting a live online class or workshop. Sticky notes are attached to the laptop, and a notebook sits nearby, giving the scene a cozy, focused feel as James follows along with a book‑related activity.

 

A laptop sits on a wooden surface displaying a virtual drawing lesson. In the main video window, an instructor holds a spiral sketchbook showing a simple pencil drawing of a smiling stick figure with a round head and short limbs. Along the right side of the screen, several small participant windows appear in a video‑call layout.

 

A laptop screen shows an online drawing class. In the main video window, an instructor holds a spiral sketchpad with horizontal measurement lines labeled “1,” “2,” and “2 ¾.” The page shows a simple character sketch with a round head and oval body, and a second head shape being drawn beside it. Along the right side of the screen, several small participant windows appear in a video‑call layout. James is watching from a close, relaxed angle, giving the moment a focused, at‑home learning feel.

 

A laptop screen shows a livestream drawing demo. In the main video window, a hand holds a pen and sketches a simple cartoon figure with a round head, two eyes, and a robe‑like body on white paper. Closed‑captioning and recording indicators appear along the bottom of the video interface, and an “Illinois Libraries” logo sits in the corner. James is lying close to the keyboard, with a small sticky note visible near the trackpad, giving the moment a relaxed, at‑home workshop feel.

 

A laptop screen shows a virtual drawing session. In the main video window, a hand sketches a cartoon character with large eyes and a rounded body on white paper. A chat message appears on the screen reading, “From Lisa Steckler to Everyone: Thanks, Jarrett, thanks for the engaging presentation. We’re done!” An Illinois Libraries logo sits in the corner of the video. In the foreground, James rests his head near the keyboard while watching, giving the moment a relaxed, end‑of‑session feel.