We Hope our Inspiration will be Your Inspiration

Hailey's story isn't a medical story, it's a story of aMAYZment. In simple terms, she was born too small and things weren't connected right - her esophagus didn't connect to her stomach. Although her mind was sharp as a tack and her spirit absolutely perfect, her little body continually struggled to keep up. So hers was a story full of potential trials, but she didn't even seem to notice.

She had procedure after procedure. She was in and out of the hospital. There were setbacks, yet her little light shone bright. Mom and dad constantly commented on how daily tribulations that would make most adults wince didn't even seem to faze Hailey, in fact, they only made her stronger and more determined. She had a "bring it on" attitude. She was happy, infectiously happy.

Hailey was fed through a tube in her stomach and eventually she came home. In most ways, she was a typical little girl. She loved potato chips ("lellow peesh," as she called them). She loved animals She loved "lellow busses." She loved her family.

She loved being around people. She was always the star of the show, and people loved being around her. Her mom always said: "Hailey could make a statue smile." She had the habit of saying, "It's a beau'ful day." She meant it, and her presence made it so.

The doctors said Hailey would face future medical hurdles, but her life prospects were great. Life changed drastically the day Hailey was born ... and it changed even more so the day she left. Hailey died completely unexpectedly, yet very peacefully in her sleep on August 11, 2009.

What would life be like if Hailey was still here? The aMAYZing Hailey experience is about answering a greater question: How can the power of Hailey be a force for making life better?

Happiness … One Chip at a Time

Looking at Hailey, thinking of Hailey, always makes us happy, but for Hailey, happiness was often found in the form of that bright yellow bag. Hailey was living proof of the fact that "Nobody can eat just one." Yep, Lay's potato chips, the plain variety in that yellow bag brought a twinkle to her eyes and a salty little smile to her lips. Hailey called them "lellow peesh" (yellow chips), and when she asked for them, which was early, late and most hours in between, you just couldn't deny her.

Now, that bright yellow bag is a shining reminder, a call to action and a smile from Hailey to all of us every day. Maybe the next time you see "lellow peesh" you'll be inspired.

Maybe you'll tell a friend about aMAYZing Hailey. Maybe you'll be moved to make a donation, to help someone in Hailey's name. Or maybe you'll just smile at the thought of our pretty little girl - the three year old with the 2-bag-a-day chip habit – and give thanks for the blessing of Hailey and for the simple things in life – like a little chip made of potato.