The big suprise !!!

What a day Shania's Fun Fair turned out to be, it started out with a beautiful introduction by Lisa Dilworth the new Principle at Reesor Park School, Shania and Shannons School. Then Dr Baruchel ( Shania's Oncologist from the hospital for Sick Children) did a moving Speech about the innovative research being done at the hospital and about the courageous children struggling with Neuroblastoma. Also Dru Soo from Rogers television talked lovingly about Shania and her cause. Then the festivities began. First up were the Sizzling Sunflowers, which is a group made up of Shania's friends (Meredith Ward, Jacklyn Lafontaine, Madeline Graup, Natalia Mangos, Jessica Gomes, Holly and Chloe Dyson) and sister Shannon, singing a fun song about Shania. This was written by Elaine Dubyna along with the next song sung by Amy Pipher. These are very touching songs from the heart. Karen and I had soggy eyes listening to these being performed so beautifuly about our daughter. They have a CD done up, with these and the melody that Shania wrote. This was recorded with Ruth, Shania's music therapist and a Harpist named Jacqueline. The final song on the CD is by Shania, singing the song she wrote about her mommy, "I love you forever". We will be putting this CD in Shania's store, with all proceeds going to music therapy at the Hospital for Sick Children. The day started off outstanding and just kept getting better and better as it went along. Seeing all the kids having so much fun getting there faces painted, having their hair done in the funky hair zone, walking around with Circus Du Sala looking balloon hats, playing all the games, bouncing in all of the bouncy castles. riding the ponies from Lionel's pony farm, climbing the rock wall outside in the rain. playing with the exotic animals from Wimz, getting autographs from Steve Thomas and Jeff Keeping. The list of fun just goes on and on. Micheal Burgess sang an incredible rendition of "you raise me up" one of Shania's favorite songs. Wow what a voice he has! Also the Reesor Park Sunflower Singers sang beautifully. Then the big surprise came. Frank Scarpitti arrived and was supposed to tour the fun fair, but instead he wanted Karen, Shannon and I to come up on stage with him because he wanted to do the 50/50 draw and say some words about Shania and her cause. But to our surprise, after the draw and speech, he handed us a gift to be opened. Inside was a sign and on it said " Shania Johnston St" with a Sunflower beside it. He then announced that the city of Markham is going to name a Street after Shania. We were blown away!!! We didn't see this coming at all. A feeling of pride just flooded over us. What a honour to Shania from this incredibly caring community called Markham. I don't think that there was a dry eye in that building after that. I could picture the smile that would have been on Shania's face, if she was still with us. But she was indeed there smiling in our hearts. On behalf of Shania and our family I would like to thank you Frank and everyone in this great community for bestowing this huge honour on our Shania. And as Diane Birrell of the James Fund said, we'll have to have a great big Street Party!!! I could go on and on about this fun day, it had such a special feel about it. But to sum it all up, it was the smiles on all of the kids and their parents faces. That is what Shania's fun fair is all about " Having fun" life is to short not to!!!! All the while helping children and their families suffering from this dreadful disease. Karen and I are going to do Megans walk tomorrow along with Shannon. This will be a day of mixed emotions for us. Mostly sad ones I feel. Shania wanted to do this walk so badly, along with Karen last year. And now she is gone. After that we are going down to the Royal Botanical rock gardens, to Shania's fairy princess falls as we call them. They have the tulip festival going on there now also. It is a sight to see, all these flowering bulbs and the many colours and scents of spring. Shannon gave Karen a pedicure to make her feel good tonight. I think she knows how sad of a day it's going to be for Karen and wants to cheer her mom up. This is very thoughtful coming from a six year old.

Have a special Mothers Day moms!!!
All the best
Love Shayne,Karen, & Shannon

What a beautiful day

This labour of love called Shania's Sunflower of hope Fun Fair turned out to be another beautiful day. Even though it rained again, this indoor fun fair shinned as bright as any sunflower can. This Fun Fair is what Shania is all about, fun loving, caring, kind, happy, smiling, living for the moment. You can see it in the great people who helped organize this event, the special people and companies who sponsored it, the talented people who entertained at it. And you the people that came out and had a great time for a great cause, to help these children suffering this horrible monster of a disease. On the morning that Shania died it was pouring rain outside, Shania was in and out of a dream like state as her body struggled in exhaustion to breath against this cancer that had spread to her lungs. Her mind was clear when she would wake up, she asked us if it was raining out and we told her yes that it was pouring out. She gave both Karen and I a big hug, at the same time (A hug that I will never forget as long as I have breath in my lungs.)
Shannon had woken up and came into Shania's room and Shania told her that she loved Shannon. And not long after that she was gone. Then the sun came out and shinned bright for the rest of the day. It was similar at the fun fair, after Shania's grampa George and I picked up the last load of stuff and drove out of the Markham Fair grounds gate the sun came out of the clouds and into solid blue skies. To me this was a tribute to Shania, that even on the rainiest of days you can enjoy yourself no matter what. It's what you make of life yourself. While we're on the subject of life, a volunteer Andrea Lack at the fun fair told me that a little boy around five or six was waiting to go on the fun fair park bouncy castle and he told her that "this is the best day of my entire life"!! This is the best compliment that can be said about Shania's Fun Fair and all the people that are part of this labour of love. The volunteer that I just mentioned Andrea Lack has a little boy named Sam whom had Neuroblastoma stage three, he has been in remission for a while now and they have a birthday/fun fair fundraiser party called Sam's day you can check it out at http://www.samsday.org/ they gave us the idea of having passports that the kids can get stamped while playing the games. Shania loved this treasure hunt to win a prize idea. All the best to you, your family and friends at this years event. I will go into more details about shania's Fun Fair and the big surprise!!!! tomorrow or I guess it's today, right now I have to try to get some sleep, Ive been up since three AM yesterday morning and it's now twelve o two AM now.
All the best,
Love Shayne,Karen and Shannon