JONES COUNTY, MS (WDAM) -
Very few
people, much less children, can relate to the disorder that 4 year-old Lanie
Sherman was born with. Lanie suffers from a rare condition called
"neutropenia," a blood disorder that drastically decreases the number of white
blood cells. Because of her disorder, Lanie is extremely susceptible to
sickness since neutropenia deteriorates the body's ability to fight off
infections. Due to the treatment that Lanie requires, she and her mother,
Becky Sherman, have become regulars at the Blair E. Batson Hospital for Children
in Jackson.
During one
of their routine visits in August 2012, Becky couldn't help but notice that the
hospital's toy supply was depleting.
"Usually
the hospital's kind staff, distributes these brand new toys to their highly
sick children that seek treatment there regularly. I felt like there was
something Lanie and I could do, "said Becky. She took it upon
herself to begin placing boxes, righfully painted "Lanie's Sunshine Box" at
stores and offices in the Pine Belt.
The outcome
was astounding.
"Just last
month, we delivered over four hundred toys to Blair E. Batson! It's God truly
at work when you see the children opening these shiny new toys," said Becky.
Their
project to help bring smiles to the faces of sick children is far from done.
They plan to continue dropping off donations monthly from the Pine Belt to
Blair E. Batson.
"I like
helping kids like me smile," said Lanie.
You can
find "Lanie's Sunshine Box" regularly set up at locations such as the Jones
County Sheriff's Department, Heritage Heights Baptist Church, and Ken Morgan
Salon. Becky and Lanie welcome any vendors/community centers that would
like to participate in the "Lanie's Sunshine Box" project to call (601)425-3064.
