Things I've Learned, Looking Back and Moving Forward

Things I've Learned, Looking Back and Moving Forward

"I was going to reach out to you. You beat me to the punch! I want to tell you that your strong faith of goodness reminded me that I also have that kind of faith. Somehow I stopped nurturing my faith and focused on feeling that strangers on the street are all serial killers! I watch too much Investigation ID. What I am trying to say is your spirit, faith, and energy awakened my spirit, faith, and energy. Thank you so much! I didn't realize my faith needed a jolt until I was faced with your beautiful faith."
Summer Germann
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Did You See Us on CBS2 & KTLA9-People Making A Difference!

Did You See Us on CBS2 & KTLA9-People Making A Difference!

Yesterday, the creator of Brave Gowns: Summer Germann was featured on People Making A Difference! Check it out!

https://losangeles.cbslocal.com/video/3946965-people-making-a-difference-magical-night-gowns/

Madison Pollack
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Happy National Superhero Day 2018!

Happy National Superhero Day 2018!

The traditional definition states that it's a fictional character, but thankfully in the urban dictionary, it's been redefined: "A being with extraordinary physical or mental powers, far beyond the range of normal human ability, who uses these powers to protect the innocent and for the general good." 
Summer Germann
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Same Design, Fun New Superhero Colors

Same Design, Fun New Superhero Colors

Thanks to a precious little boy, Matthew, we're adding new colors to our SUPERHERO gown! Green & yellow is the theme for September awareness month! 
These children and families are true HEROES!
I think a hero is an ordinary individual who finds strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles. ~Christopher Reeve
What is a Brave Gown? 

 

The hospital gown that turns any frown upside down!

Fight any illness with SUPERHERO POWERS!

Brave Gowns were not only created to bring happiness and laughter, but to also be softer, more comfortable and more functional than any gown in existence.  Not only do they have snaps on both sleeves, they also have fully back coverage, are as soft as your favorite t-shirt and have easy access to chest ports!

98% poly/ 2% spandex

Flame retardant. Brave Gowns meet and exceed hospital safety requirements.

GIFT A GOWN TODAY! www.bravegowns.com

Summer Germann
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All Brave Gowns on Sale In Honor of My Brother & Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month

All Brave Gowns on Sale In Honor of My Brother & Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month

 
While many of us are getting ready for a long three day weekend and holiday barbecues and sending our children back to school, there are thousands of families that will be in the hospital just praying that their children make it through the night. I pray for them every night, because I remember how scary it was to be in that position on many of nights. With September being not only, Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month, but also Blood Cancer Awareness Month, I'm listing all Brave Gowns at cost for only $25!
It is with great hope that together we can put a Brave Gown on thousands of children in the month of September! Know a child in a hospital? Gift them a gown! Know a child going in for an upcoming surgery? Gift them a gown! Know a family that might be interested in a Brave Gown? Share the page! With out raising awareness on the comfort, functionality and just the pure AMAZINGNESS of a Brave Gown, families won't know they exist! Most families order a Brave Gown and then come back and order three more. Children go through an average of three gowns per day due to blood, vomiting and fluid leakage. Let's do our best to make sure that one gown is a Brave Gown and turn a child into a SUPERHERO today! 
Love & miss you, Mac!
Sum
Turn a child into a SUPERHERO with a Brave Gown or make it even easier and gift them an e-gift card so they can pick out their favorite character!  “Children in their younger years find it difficult to differentiate between reality and fiction, and as such, the trait of superhuman strength is completely believable to them,” says Dr. Amy Bailey, a clinical psychologist at Kids First Medical Center, Dubai
Please share to show you care! 
Summer Germann
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Little Miss Savannah and Her Chicken Wings

Little Miss Savannah and Her Chicken Wings

If you've experienced pediatric cancer first hand, you'd understand that there are so many dynamics in this one sweet picture.
While I could post pictures of Savannah in Brave Gowns (which I'm sure I will), this picture really hit home to me, for various reasons. Let's start with the obvious. Savannah has Leukemia, which was what my brother, Mac had. The difference there is that, Savannah, also known to me as "Punky Brewster" is battling it for her second time at the precious age of seven. My wish for her is to be back in her new house with her brother and sister and going to school with friends, but as I've said before, she has a spirit second to none, so I'm sure she'll be home soon. 
The next thing I see in the top left, is the chair with bedding on it. That chair. That darn chair. That chair might be comfortable for a night or two, but often nine months later a parent is still sleeping on it, still listening to the machines beeping night after night, still knowing the nurses are sneaking in as quiet as possible to check stats and to administer medicine, while praying and hoping for this all to be over soon.  This one prayer made me realize to pray and ask more specifically in life, because while I often prayed for it to be over, I had to look back and make sure that I was praying for Mac to be better, to be healthy and to be home. I had to check in with myself and make sure that I didn't ask for it to be specifically over, but in the moment, that's all you want. You want life to go back to normal, but little did we know, we would have a new normal going home without Mac.
Now on to what is one of my favorite memories! Those darn chicken wings. I follow Savannah's story (you should too) @teamSavannahwristbands and her mom, Cheryl, posts pictures of her and Savannah's journey and quite often Savannah is eating a huge healthy plate of food! Well, when I saw her genuinely enjoying her chicken wings, I laughed with such bittersweet memories. One of the reasons I created Brave Gowns, was to give the children more choices. They're in the hospital for weeks, months and sometimes years. They have such little choices due to treatments, low blood counts, low immune systems, etc...So, if they have the choice of what Brave Gown they want or what super power they need for that day or what they want to eat, then so be it. It's our job to give them what they need to fight during these horrific times. 
Well, one thing we learned during transplant is that you  can't have fresh food. No fresh vegetables, no fresh fruit. Organic or not, due to the risk of pesticides on the produce and having such weak immune systems. So, when I saw Savannah eating the wings, it hit me that 15 years ago seemed like yesterday. Mac loved food and when you mix that with prednisone, morphine and being tired, we watched his personality morph from a 10 year-old boy to a 90 year-old man. He had us jumping through hoops and driving from drive-thru to drive-thru and heaven's forbid, if one of the workers accidentally put lettuce on his spicy chicken sandwich. Even if the lettuce touched the patty, he couldn't eat it. If we brought it back and there was a slice of tomato or a piece of lettuce on that thing, it would go flying across the room like a Frisbee. When he was eating, we'd stand in the corner of the room and silently watch him like one of those old, Life cereal commercials, hoping that "Mikey liked it." We had to hustle him for 99 cents of his $100 McDonald's gift card to get him a McChicken sandwich. This was pre-ATM and using credit cards at fast-food restaurants.
My favorite food memory was when I was four months pregnant with my daughter, and Mac wanted Arby's. I'm telling you, I was like Ubereats, before it even existed. But any ways, he wanted Arby's. On my way there I got rear-ended. I called my mom to tell her what happened and that I wouldn't be back as quickly as we thought and all I could hear in the background was Mac yelling, "But does she have my food? Summer, did you get my food? She better have my food." We actually laughed even back then. How could you not.
They're not snotty kids.
Anywhere they can find a way to get even a little control, they do. Months go by and they're tired. They don't feel good. They see seasons changing. Holiday's come and go. They want to be home with their families, their friends, their dogs and they want to go to school. They have every right to be frustrated. At that point, you're just so darn thankful they're eating, because there are definitely days they don't and that's not a good sign.
For the next 36 hours, Savannah is going through a vigorous treatment. Please send prayers, strength, sleep and hope their way. They are a team and fighters, but no one can train for what they're living through on a daily basis. This is why Brave Gowns means so much to me. I understand what these families are going through first hand and every Brave Gown I send out, has a piece of my heart with it.
 
Above is a couple cute pictures of Savannah rocking her Brave Gowns with her mom Cheryl!
God Bless them.~Summer
Summer Germann
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Mr. T's Smile is Worth A Million Words

Mr. T's Smile is Worth A Million Words

Hi All!!!

It's a Sunday and I was working on new designs, while thinking about how thankful I am and how ironic life is. I have always said that I am just the vessel for Brave Gowns, but that is it. I have watched God, the Universe and the believers in Brave Gowns bring it to a level that I couldn't have ever done alone. The wonderful thing about Brave Gowns are that they bring people together from all over the world, because they are a product that you can't not love and root for. Last week my cousin was in a cab in Florida with a woman with cancer. He mentioned Brave Gowns and she knew exactly what they were and said she had purchase one for a child within the past year. I have received orders from California who then sent them to a child in Illinois whose mutual friend used to be my neighbor and reached out to me. There's a trail with Brave Gowns unlike anything I have ever witnessed. I have received calls from New Jersey, Australia, Tennessee and Washington from people in my past that have seen Brave Gowns on children they knew first hand. It's rare that a family purchases a gown and then the story ends there. There is so much heart and gratitude behind Brave Gowns that the village that fights to make Brave Gowns the new norm, carries on their hope and the vision to keep them alive and thriving. Last night, I received these texts from a friend in Wisconsin that I haven't seen in over 22 years. It's from Mr. T's mom, who knew that our mutual friend, Kelly, could get in contact with me personally.   

                                

                    

I was so touched to read her texts. The messages from the families are what drives me every day. These kids believe in Brave Gowns as much as I did when I first started and they give me the vision to continue the journey. They deserve the hope and comfort that Brave Gowns bring. What they battle is unlike anything you've ever seen, if you haven't witnessed it first hand be so darn thankful. Their smiles are real when wearing their Brave Gowns. They are my WHY in life. Our fight to bring Brave Gowns to all children's hospitals is easy compared to what the children are fighting. Please continue to help spread the good word of Brave Gowns on your end and I will continue to dive all in and be their voice. Happy Sunday and bless all these little heroes! 

~Summer

Summer Germann
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Starlight Children’s Foundation Launches Starlight Brave Gowns Program to Revolutionize Children’s Hospital Gowns

Starlight Children’s Foundation Launches Starlight Brave Gowns Program to Revolutionize Children’s Hospital Gowns

 

We've been working with the Starlight Foundation since July to figure out how we could best partner and put Brave Gowns on children fast and furiously! I am so proud of all that we've accomplished in such a short time! Go Starlight Brave Gowns!

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Starlight Children’s Foundation Launches Starlight Brave Gowns Program

to Revolutionize Children’s Hospital Gowns

Michaels provides ten inaugural gown designs and donates first 10,000 gowns as program launch partner

 LOS ANGELES (November 21, 2016) --- Starlight Children’s Foundation today announced the launch of a major new program, Starlight Brave Gowns, with program partner Michaels, North America’s largest arts and crafts specialty retailer. Starlight Brave Gowns are made of high-quality, comfortable fabric and feature brightly colored, creative designs that will revolutionize children’s hospital gowns and help sick kids feel like superstars. Michaels is providing ten inaugural designs and donating 10,000 gowns to launch the new program from Starlight whose mission is to brighten the lives of seriously ill children and their families.

 “Being a sick kid stuck in the hospital is tough, and having to wear a thin, drab hospital gown that blows open in the back makes the experience even worse,” said Chris Helfrich, Starlight CEO. “Starlight Brave Gowns are fun to wear and make a sick kid feel good, inside and out. Our goal is to bring laughter, fun and joy to sick children by delivering millions of these gowns to children’s hospitals and other facilities across the United States. For just $25, anyone can donate a Starlight Brave Gown.”

 Dr. Cara Natterson, a pediatrician, author and member of the Starlight Board of Directors, praised the program: “When kids are comfortable in the hospital, they literally feel better. Starlight Brave Gowns combine super soft fabric and awesome prints. They are the best hospital innovation I have seen in years.”

 "We are proud to continue our partnership with Starlight and to take this next step with them in their important work of brightening the lives of seriously ill children and their families," said Michaels CEO Chuck Rubin. “Our mission has always been to inspire and enable creativity and it is our hope that our gowns will not only inspire but uplift these brave patients and their families.”

 “We are so grateful to Michaels for getting behind the Starlight Brave Gowns program to revolutionize children’s hospital gowns as we know them and put smiles on the faces of millions of sick children,” said Helfrich. “Michaels is in a class of their own in terms of putting charity at the forefront of their mission.”

 Originally conceived by entrepreneur and philanthropist Summer Germann to honor her 10-year-old brother who passed away from pediatric cancer in 2002, Starlight Brave Gowns are made for boys and girls ages 2 through 12. Made in the USA, the gowns are manufactured to meet strict hospital infection and safety protocols, and are specially designed to allow for easy access to heart monitors as well as IVs on both sleeves. Additional gown designs, including seasonal options, will be unveiled throughout 2017 and beyond.

 To view and download photos of children wearing three Starlight Brave Gown designs, please click here. Learn more and donate a Starlight Brave Gown for $25 to a seriously ill child at www.starlight.org.

 About Starlight Children’s Foundation

Starlight’s mission is to brighten the lives of seriously ill children and their families by turning pain, fear and stress into laughter, fun and joy – because a sick kid is still a kid at heart. Founded in 1982 by Peter Samuelson and Emma Samms, Starlight has helped more than 60 million sick children in the US, Canada, Australia and the UK by providing programs that offer the best in entertainment, education and innovative technology. Steven Spielberg serves as the organization’s Chairman Emeritus. Learn more at www.starlight.org and follow Starlight on Instagram and Facebook at /StarlightChildrensFoundation and on Twitter @StarlightUS.

 About The Michaels Companies, Inc.

The Michaels Companies, Inc. is North America's largest specialty provider of arts, crafts, framing, floral, wall décor, and seasonal merchandise for the hobbyist and do-it-yourself home decorator.  As of July 30, 2016, the Company owned and operated 1,356 stores in 49 states and Canada under the brands Michaels, Aaron Brothers, and Pat Catan's.  The Michaels Companies, Inc., also owns Artistree, a manufacturer of high quality custom and specialty framing merchandise, and Darice, a premier wholesale distributor in the craft, gift and decor industry.  The Michaels Companies, Inc. produces a number of exclusive private brands including Recollections®, Studio Decor™, Bead Landing®, Creatology®, Ashland®, Celebrate It®, Art Minds®, Artist's Loft®, Craft Smart®, Loops & Threads®, Make Market®, Foamies®, LockerLookz®, and Sticky Sticks®. Learn more about Michaels at www.michaels.com.

Media contact:

Christopher de Haan

Starlight Children’s Foundation

424-245-3698

chris.dehaan@starlight.org

Summer Germann
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Last Push For 2016! Help Us Go Out With A Bang For St. Jude & Then I Hand It Off!

Last Push For 2016! Help Us Go Out With A Bang For St. Jude & Then I Hand It Off!

Hi,

So it’s me, Summer! I’ve been sitting here staring at the computer for a good five hours. I promised myself that I wouldn’t take a shower until I get this blog up. Well, I'm pretty darn greasy and I have to get to the post office to send out packages so I'm finally wearing myself down. I've answered emails, drank two cups of coffee, brought in the garbage cans, organized my daughter's school supplies, turned on a motivational tape and put a hat on, so I'm running out of distractions. I am so excited to get this message out, but I want it to be perfect and I actually want it to be a video, but I cry when I make videos and this girl has no time to cry today!

You see, I've come to terms with the fact that I'm allowed to hit my goals for Brave Gowns without being embarrassed or ashamed. When I usually hit goals, I get quite and overwhelmed. Too much goodness in the world is hard for me to bear. I feel it physically in my bones. It's paralyzing. Somewhere along the line, I learned to handle pain easier than it was to handle achievements. Because of this, I probably made some poor business choices, but you will never meet someone that listens to her gut like I do. The instant that something doesn't feel right to me, it's like I was sucker punched in the stomach and I run. It's saved me from a lot of poor decisions and anytime I tried to fight it, I regretted it with all my might, because my gut was always right.

For a year you would never have heard me talk about Brave Gowns out loud. I felt like it was something so much better than I and I wasn't worthy of being the source behind it. Then recently something just switched. I get emails, texts and calls from families every single darn day updating me on how their kids are doing. What the test results were, how the surgeries went, their MRI results, the actual images of their bone scans, etc...God picked me, because a Brave Gown isn't just a product, it is a gift of hope, a sign of someone out in the world saying, "we can't even imagine what you're going through, but we wanted to show you support from our family to yours." I was given the gift to bring Brave Gowns into the wold, because I lived it. I was in the hospital with my family at times when we thought my brother wasn't going to make it through the night. We lived through moments where we were told to say goodbye and then he lived for months and became cancer-free. We lived through multiple moments where we'd be sitting there laughing and then he'd go into cardiac and before you know it, I'd be thrown into a hall with doctors and nurses running past me and watching them revive my brother and then life would resume to be "normal" again. There is a smell that sticks with you that you never forget. Once in awhile it still hits me and I drop straight to my knees and remember how scary, yet wonderful life once was. So I do not just selling a product, I make sure that I am in contact with the families of every child that wears a Brave Gown. I know their names, the illnesses, the important dates coming up for them and their families phone numbers. I get texted when they get results and when they come back with wonderful news, we celebrate together. When scarier news comes, I provide any and all words of encouragement and offer prayers, because that is all I can be in that moment. Through their families I get a moment to be there again, with one more shot at a happy ending.

Next month, I have the opportunity to partner with an organization that is already in every children's hospital. They work closely with the child-life in the hospitals and has their own corporate and private sponsors that will be able to do what was always my end goal "PUT A BRAVE GOWN ON EVERY CHILD BATTLING AN ILLNESS!" I will still own and run Brave Gowns, but the Give-A-Gown program will be ran by them. I will still be able to "give gowns" but it will be through their "Give-A-Gown" program, so Happy Ditto would be a sponsor as well. Ironically, if we move forward together, the launch would be on Halloween. The exact date that my brother was diagnosed and the exact date where I painted his face as a zombie and triggered the thought of Brave Gowns! It's so amazing how the universe works and if you trust the process and have faith it works out exactly as it was meant to be. I can't wait to be able to sit down some day and tell the real story of Brave Gowns and all the miracles I've witnessed first hand!

With that said, I want to finish what I started and know that we finished what we set out to do! We are still 500 gowns short for St Jude. I know that we can hit this goal! I am asking that one last time you can give $36 to provide a gown for a child at St. Jude. That together we can hand this off knowing we hit our goals and that we started something that the next group is going to have huge shoes to fill and that we can say one more time, "Hey Mac, look what we did, Buddy. We did good, Kid! We did good!"

I am forever grateful for all of your support! This is just another chapter in Brave Gowns journey!

Be Blessed!

Summer

Hey Summer, I can Give-A-Gown Today!

 

Summer Germann
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Brave Gowns Are Spreading Like Wild Flowers & Bringing Smiles and Hope!

Brave Gowns Are Spreading Like Wild Flowers & Bringing Smiles and Hope!

The Brave Gowns video has been updated in the beginning and the end to show actual Brave Gowns with their new and amazing front and back designs! They just keep getting better and better!

We start another clinical trial with a children's hospital next week and are also very actively trying to raise 700 gowns for St Jude! If you can find it in your heart to sponsor a Gift-A-Gown for a child, whether it's your first time you or you have supported Brave Gowns since the get go and keep making these miracles happen now is a very crucial time. We have promised St Jude to have the gowns to them by the end of August! That's approximately $25,000 in less than a month that we have to raise! Even the smallest makes a huge difference. We are determined to bring happiness to these fighters at a time when all other children are excited to back to school, but these kids are still in the hospital fighting for their lives. It's the least we can do!

It's so easy to sponsor a gown! If you want to choose any monetary amount and receive a write-off you can go directly to www.happyditto.com.

Or if you want to sponsor the Gift-A-Gown you can click on the image below and pick the option of your choice! GIFT-A-GOWN

We've been spreading so much greatness and happiness! Please help us continue our journey!

God Bless,

Summer

www.bravegowns.com

Summer Germann
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So Many Reasons To Be Grateful! This is Karter.

So Many Reasons To Be Grateful! This is Karter.

I logged on to write a list of things I'm grateful for, which is so darn much, even though I can't get out of my own head this week. When I did, I found a family that has the love of a two year-old boy with cancer as we did for Mac. They tried to get a hold of me every which way possible, which is just what I would do. It was the aunt and I loved her from the get-go.
Here's what one message read:
He is a 2T, loves the beach and boogie boarding.. I found you on facebook, messaged you and then figured you didn't sere my message because we are not friends... So then I added you on fb so you can see the message but I don't think it was approved - that's ok! I am just trying every which way to get a hold of you. After searching your website and reading your story I immediately became angry.. A medical error. Wow. You took my breath away. I am happy to see that you found good in the worst situation and have made it a mission to help others. I couldn't love this idea more. Please let me know you got this ASAP - Thank you :)
 
Initially, I didn't realize Karter was just diagnosed with Neuroblastoma last week. You can find his story on Facebook as Saving Karter. He took my breath away. He has the blonde hair, blue eye of Mac and he loves the water and to surf. I'm pretty sure Mac sent this story my way, to remind me that there's a reason I'm doing this and to never forget. He wants a "Muscleman" Brave Gown because he loves the ocean and his dad has tattoos. My new favorite quote is "Rough seas make the best sailors."-Ghandi. Isn't that the darn truth! Please send a prayer out to his family. They are good people.
 
So when I keep posting about Give-A-Gowns and ways to help, don't let it drive you nuts, please just know that it is because Brave Gowns goes for weeks without getting one gown sponsored and I get story after story like this and behind every story, there's an adorable child, with a family that is scared beyond belief! If Brave Gowns give them a little hope, then a Brave Gown they shall get!
 
2,200 gowns to go for the month of July. Will you be one of the 2,200 people to sponsor a gown to be part of this journey?

or if you want to make a donation for a write-off please go to www.happyditto.org.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart!
Summer
Summer Germann
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Give-A-Gown Today and Recieve A Trucker Hat!

Give-A-Gown Today and Recieve A Trucker Hat!

Have you been wanting to sponsor a Give-A-Gown, but hadn't had a chance yet? Well everyone that sponsors a Give-A-Gown to a child currently battling a terminal illness will receive a Brave Gown Trucker Hat, so today is the perfect day to sponsor a gown! Make a child feel like a SUPERHERO today! www.bravegowns.com

Summer Germann
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