Miracles N’ Progress And The Power Of Showing Up

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What's going on, everybody?
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Welcome back to another episode of Elevate with Elsner.
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Today we're talking about something that really puts life into perspective.
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Joining me is Trina Eakins, founder of Miracles in Progress, an organization that spent over a decade helping children battle cancer and other serious illnesses while supporting their families along the way.
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I've had the opportunity to be involved with this awesome organization myself.
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And today we're diving into the stories, the mission, and a pretty incredible holiday event that they've got coming up.
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Trina, welcome to the show.
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Well, hello, Blake.
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How are you?
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I'm doing great.
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Thanks for coming on here.
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And I'm excited to uh kind of talk about miracles in progress.
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So why don't you just take us back to maybe like I don't want to say day one or maybe like the first year of doing this and what kind of sparked all this?
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It's funny you say that because I don't know, and I'm sure a lot of people out here uh can can relate, but you don't plan something like this.
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Um it's not something I woke up and said, okay, today I'm going to start an organization.
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Um, and this is where I'm at.
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No, it's about going out there and actually helping people and then being told, man, you're really good at this.
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I think that you you love kids, you love being around people and you're good at it.
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You need to start an organization.
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And I was like, oh, whatever.
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I didn't even know what it was then, honestly.
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Like, let's get real.
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It was not on my radar, you know.
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Um, so I was like, I just like helping people.
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Well, I love building like events, I love children.
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So I ended up doing an event to help St.
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Vincent Hope for children years ago.
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Um, when I did that, I found a spark in my own life and I found a way that I was able to, I don't know how to explain it, but when you go through things in life, sometimes doing things for others helps you get through whatever you may be going through.
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And so, like, I truly believe that I was probably going through some things at that time and lost some family members and stuff through through my life of cancer.
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But most of all, is like, I love changing lives.
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So I was just doing and being me and in the process being able to help people.
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I would have done anything, not even thinking to go out of my way to make sure I could help a kid.
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I couldn't say no.
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If I heard of a story, I always wanted to help.
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Um, and it was that event that we did for St.
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Vincent Home for Children that changed my life and saying, man, this is pretty simple.
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And I guess when things are simple, you know it's meant to be for you.
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So that's how I got there.
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Yeah, and I think when you mean simple, like it's like these families, they they're not asking for a whole lot, right?
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It's kind of like life is a little more it's simplified, right?
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Like the things that matter to us really don't matter to them um anymore because of you know the moment of of the kid's sickness or or going through battling cancer or whatever it may be, um, you know, you look at life from a perspective of that and things get a little smaller, wouldn't you agree?
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And when you yeah, definitely.
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And when you know that you personally can do something and it doesn't take much time of yours um to do it in the moment, and you know you have access to do it, it just makes sense for us all to truly like try to help someone else and kind of think outside the box.
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Like, what if you were in their shoes?
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Um, you know, in every situation in life, I feel like we kind of go through that.
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If we look at things and we're like, oh my gosh, you know, if we can do something no different than you say all the time, just open up a door for someone makes a difference.
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Imagine a kid just saying, Oh, I want to go to Dave and Buster's, and you know that you can do it, why wouldn't you just say, Hey, I'll I'll do that for you?
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You know, I don't know.
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It doesn't take work to do the right thing.
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That's uh it's true.
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And I just watched actually, um, not to kind of change subjects, but watched RP Exotic.
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They did an awesome thing with a kid that just got done with cancer up in Columbia, Missouri, and I saw that.
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Um, and stuff like that is kind of like, you know, it doesn't take, like you said, it doesn't take a lot um for businesses to get involved, for people to get involved, um, and to like give back and to help and feel like you said, it's interesting how you how you kind of framed it to say like you were kind of going through stuff.
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So while you were going through stuff, you're like, why don't I go and help people?
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And and I think that's kind of the founder of great nonprofits have that type of character in them.
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So for you to continue doing, did you ever expect it to continue like a decade?
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Here we are, like a decade later.
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Do you did you ever imagine?
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No, and it's funny when you ask that like because I look back 13 years ago now, and I see our pictures and our photos of our kids that we had 13 years ago, and it still brings tears to my eyes, and it still like has that warm fuzzy feeling of like, I did this, like how, and where it started and how it developed, and like just how far we've come compared to then, but really how much love I had for it then, and now I'm craving so much more.
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Um, you know, I want to be successful in my personal life, is why I'm asking you to help me, is because I want to be successful in everything I'm trying to do so I can do more to give back.
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And that I think is what separates some organizations from one another.
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You know, I'm out there striving and working really, really hard in my daily life and to have an organization.
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I need lots of great people to come together.
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So therefore, we can accomplish great things together that are like-minded, and that's not easy to find in the world anymore.
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Yeah, that's true.
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And some people might not realize that, yeah, you are have been building a business, a massive business alongside um this nonprofit.
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And obviously, we're still running a you were running a large job for a big company as well.
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So, like you had a job, you were start trying to build a business, you are building a business, and you know, running this nonprofit, um, it's a lot to juggle.
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So, you know, I I think coming from all these different things, you know, it's really put into perspective how much you've done these other, you know, these other um avenues like the the business stuff to then hopefully propel um this along.
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Yeah, yeah.
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The feeling that you go through, and I you've been part of this and kind of watched even a year from now, you know, things that we've talked about, but what you go through, um, and the tears and everything that comes with just losing children in general.
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I'll just talk about that a little bit because starting 13 years ago and losing some of the coolest kids I've ever met in my life, um, still inspires me to continue doing what I'm doing because it was such an impactful thing for them.
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But not only that is that people don't realize like it really impacts you as an individual if you're operating with heart.
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And when you look at life that way and you say, Oh my gosh, I changed a life, whether it was, I mean, so many moments, I can say just any wish that a kid came to me with at the time, I did almost every wish for one of those kids, every wish.
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And to be a part of that and to see these pictures of them in your basement, um, having Christmas with you, or you being behind the scenes at a rock concert because this kid loves it and you might not even like the music, but you're there because you see that smile on that kid's face and they get to throw those drumsticks out, or to have these events where we can all come together.
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So they can see exactly what you can do to change a life.
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I don't ask for people to get involved for the simple fact, like, I'm not saying, oh, you have to be there every day and do something, you know.
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I'm asking for you to come for support and maybe once a year come see the lives that you change.
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You know, because being at an event and meeting some of these kids, you are changing their life.
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And I said this years ago at Superstars and Supercars.
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You are changing a kid's life by starting that now.
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So many people are doing it.
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So many people are it's still kind of doing the same things that we started.
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You know, they're they're doing these cars and pulling up, giving kids rides.
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They're they're putting things in perspective, and it's all about that seat.
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That kid sits in that car and then they find out whose car it is, and you just bonded with a kid that needs you.
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So, I mean, there's stories we can go on forever about that stuff.
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But if you're doing what's right in life, it's gonna work no matter what it is.
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You just gotta keep fighting.
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And just like those kids that are out there now, they're truthfully fighting.
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And if you sit in the hospital bed like I have many, many times reading books, knowing their favorite ice cream and their favorite colors, those little things when you walk in with a basket man is all they needed for that day or that year.
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I mean, it's simple.
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To me, it's simple.
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It's hard when it comes to your heart.
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You want to cry, you want to give up.
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Um, you don't like loss.
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But if you're doing it for the right reasons, it all works.
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I mean, it works, and I need more people to come together to help us to do this.
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Yeah, I definitely agree.
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I think there's, you know, there's tons of people out there that um, you know, probably have been wanting to get involved with something like this, and they're like, how do I how can I get involved with something that's you know, like almost like farm to table, right?
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This is this is as about as close as you can get to, you know, donating to a nonprofit and actually getting to see the work or being a part of the work, yeah.
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Um as well.
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And that kind of that kind of actually leads to like also the the part of, you know, you got the kid that's sick, right?
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But then you also have the family.
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Um, I think I think just as tough of a situation that needs to be supported is the family that's alongside the kid, wouldn't you agree?
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Yeah, absolutely.
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You know, one of the best wishes I've watched is uh a young teenager, and I'm not gonna spill out names, but I really love to.
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But, you know, one of her wishes is to give back to her mother, you know, and to give something really special to her mom.
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Her wish was to give something to her mom.
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And that in itself, her last words and her last moments was as a teenager, she wanted to get married.
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She wanted to give something back to her mom.
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She wanted to make sure her siblings were taken care of.
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And coming from that aspect, I've been from this the the young girl that's three to five years old that wants to, you know, be at Disney World and know all about the characters and that's all they dream about to the teenagers that are are passing with osse sarcoma, any of the sarcomas out there.
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Um, we know that that's immediate, like it's time to jump in and help.
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Um, but to hear that, like they wanted to give to their parents, um, they didn't even think of themselves.
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They were thinking about what they're leaving on this earth.
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And they are more worried about that person that that brought them into this world.
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And to me, that's why we do help the mom, the dad, the siblings, because if you knew the behind the scenes, Blake, like uh, the things that happen, um, you know, the kids screaming in the middle of the night because they're in pain, and the kids hearing that that their sister or their brother is passing, um, and they hear the tears, they they then have to have counseling after that.
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They have to because they hear that in their sleep, and it becomes that moment where you know, all of a sudden they're gone.
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And then you think about us organizations that help in that time and we get close with those families, and then they get all these wishes, right?
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As a family, they get all this stuff, and all of a sudden they lose their their brother or sister, and now they're no longer doing any of those things and they have no support anymore because they don't the child, the cancer child's gone.
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That to me is why we have to come together as a community.
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And I have long-lasting relationships with those parents.
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I have conversations where they'll always attend these events because they remember what we did for their kids and they became a part of our family.
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That's what a community is, it's family.
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But if people don't start talking and doing these things and talking about this stuff, and their children, um how are we teaching our children then?
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Because we don't know.
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We don't we're not promised tomorrow.
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But I think that's where people just say, Oh, well, that nonprofit, I don't know about them.
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I'm not gonna help uh that person, I don't know even if they work or whatever it may be.
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It's been a struggle to try to get this jumping because we do work.
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You know, you've wanted to help.
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Other people have wanted to help.
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But there's whole families out there, like you said, there's moms, dads, siblings, and we do take care of them on our events.
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We never ask for a dollar from those families.
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We tell them to come and they they're given the same as their children are.
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Um, because we love them.
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You know, we're community.
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We're asking them to come join us because we want them to have dinner and and not worry about that evening.
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You know, why are you pulling out your pocketbook for dinner or having to pay for the hot chocolate when you go to see the Christmas lights?
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Why are you doing that?
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Um, why are we ever even think about telling them to pull out that?
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Go enjoy your event that I brought to you.
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Um, was truly about a little Christmas magic.
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It's it's kind of like show up and we'll have a couple of hours with you to talk and have kids talk and have our sponsorships get up and take pictures with these kids and have fun.
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But we want them to go leave that beautiful dinner that we have and go explore the beauty of having Christmas family fun time together without being stuck with the nonprofit.
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You're just walking up with your wristband and saying, I want a camel ride today, mom.
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Well, don't worry about it, kid.
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Let's get on the camel together or get on with your brother and sister.
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Oh, I want hot chocolate.
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I want donuts.
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Well, go get them.
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You don't have to worry about asking for anything.
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Just walk up to the booth and you get it all.
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Well, mom, look at it.
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It's Legoland.
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You know, now it's time to go play.
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You're not with us on those moments.
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We're doing this so you could go have those moments together.
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All we ask for you to do is to show up, have dinner with us.
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Let's talk about some of the cool stories that we've we've generated through our nonprofit.
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You know, some of the kids want to talk about it, but that's it.
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And we need sponsors to come help us to give that kettle corn out, to go play at Legoland, and some photographers to take pictures of these moments so we can make this a lifelong event.
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Um, and it's going to be.
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Next year, we're looking to do some huge things there.
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Huge.
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You know, so I'm just needing you to help me to to get out there to to make a difference this year together.
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Yeah, we we uh I knew I'd I knew I'd get upset over this episode.
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I got a got a soft heart, but you hear this stuff and it's you know, it's uh it's strong stuff, man.
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Kids kids are out there and they're struggling.
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Yeah, and there's a lot of them.
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A lot.
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Um more now than I I've imagined.
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Uh just again, I don't, I'm gonna get teary-eyed.
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I do this most of the time, anyways.
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Um I'm getting used to crying, which is not cool.
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But I do realize they're happy tears as well, because whenever uh we have these events and hearing these things, sometimes you're kind of numb to it, Blake.
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Like I've done this for so long that I cry the day of because I get to hear from our kids' perspectives how they see me or how they see our team.
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And they thank the sponsors and write letters to our sponsors personally because they're blessed to have that time.
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And I think we all forget, you know, it doesn't take much to change a life, period.
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Um, neither it does for you and I to talk on the phone and help each other in a moment.
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It's these kids and they're kids, they're innocent.
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That's why I choose children, because we can all sit here and judge each other.
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We can pick apart stuff, but when it comes down to it, a kid's a kid, and they're only going to become what we teach them and what we show them.
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And if we could show them that we can get involved with this, then we're bringing more kids into this that one of them carry a legacy on with us, just no different than Shay, my best friend.
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You know, we started years this years ago, and they had two small children and now that are graduating and going to college, but they've been with us for years.
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They can tell you, they can get up and talk now about what they witnessed and what they were part of for so many years of their life that made them as good as they are now because now they know that could have happened to them, and they were able to participate and be a part of handing out candy to kids and helping kids that are sick.
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I mean, that's what we're here to do is to help each other.
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And I'm just asking that people listen, you know, it's it's a big deal.
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Yeah, and I think sometimes, you know, we get we get caught up, you know, in trying to fix everything that we kind of forget, um, you know, how powerful it is just to give these kids like a a great day, like like you kind of said, like the experience of a great day.
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Mm-hmm.
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Because think about how many dark days they have, um, and how many how many days that they're they're not knowing the numbers of how many days they're here.
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And for all of us, how do you how do we go to bed at night knowing that somebody came to us and asked us to help them with something so simple of no different than if I asked you to go to church with me one day and you looked at me and you're like, oh, well, that's an hour of my day.
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I get it.
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I get it.
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But when a friend needs you or somebody needs you, and they're just asking for an hour or even a couple of hours of your time, it could change your life and you don't even know it.
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And there's a reason why they asked, and that's why we're on this today is that I'm just asking, I need help.
00:19:17.090 --> 00:19:26.930
I need help to help others because I'm one human and I have a couple of people that do this with me, and we put our blood, sweat, and tears into this.
00:19:27.250 --> 00:19:33.650
But I need more people to get involved so they can understand others and help others.
00:19:33.730 --> 00:19:35.250
There's kids that need us.
00:19:35.490 --> 00:19:43.250
Yeah, and I think I think to break it down, you know, um, you know, there's five five main areas I would say of support.
00:19:43.329 --> 00:19:55.009
You have miracle wishes, you have health, you have fitness and nutrition programs, um, educational resources, activities, and memory makers, and financial assistance and referrals.
00:19:55.090 --> 00:20:05.730
And I think people, you know, people might hear miracles in progress and assume, you know, you guys put on, just put on events or grant wishes, but there's you know, there's a lot more going on um behind the scenes.
00:20:05.890 --> 00:20:10.450
Would you would you kind of walk me through like some of these programs that you kind of offer?
00:20:11.890 --> 00:20:21.970
So family comes in and they reach out and maybe the hospital directs them, or somebody that knows who we are directs them to us.
00:20:22.289 --> 00:20:27.329
Um, we try to figure out what they are their needs are from the beginning, you know.
00:20:27.410 --> 00:20:36.529
Um, because when you get thrown the question of, like, oh, my kid was diagnosed with cancer, or my kid needs a new heart.
00:20:36.769 --> 00:20:38.769
You know, we have a patient like that too.
00:20:38.930 --> 00:20:40.370
He had to get a new heart.
00:20:40.610 --> 00:20:44.450
He's only asked us for one wish, and I'm trying to get that done this year.
00:20:44.690 --> 00:20:49.170
But when they bring it to us, they say, I need this, and some of them are quick.
00:20:49.250 --> 00:20:50.690
I mean, Blake, we got to jump.
00:20:50.769 --> 00:21:55.910
Like some of them, you know, they got a month to live, some of them may have days, and some may have four months, and some could have a year or overcome, which we pray for every day.
00:21:56.150 --> 00:22:02.230
Um, but miracles happen when you say walk you through it.
00:22:02.470 --> 00:22:04.390
It's what do they need when they call us?
00:22:04.550 --> 00:22:06.230
What do they need when they reach out to us?
00:22:06.310 --> 00:22:09.670
I feel like if you're me, we have programs galore.
00:22:10.310 --> 00:22:15.830
But when they ask to do something for a child, if we can do it, we do it.
00:22:18.470 --> 00:22:23.350
Yeah, I think that's the the part too, like, you know, if if they say, Hey, can you jump through the soup?
00:22:23.510 --> 00:23:14.070
You're you're gonna do it because that's you know, that's the the wish, and that's kind of I think the the purpose of you know, you're you know, God gives people, I think, purposes like this to if not to help kids, you know, to to go to get you know families and sick kids like this um help and and assistance, and I think um, you know, really you know, breaking this down a little bit more, uh you know, I I think what you're doing is tremendous, and like I said, it's a it's a thing from God that um people like yourself are here to help um individuals uh carry on these uh you know wishes and try to help the families and the sick kids try to move on from this this this stuff or try to put it in the back of their heads as much as they can to try to have a normal day.
00:23:14.230 --> 00:23:16.070
And I think that's what the best part about.
00:23:16.870 --> 00:23:18.550
Um, this event that's coming up.
00:23:18.630 --> 00:23:20.070
It's home for the holidays.
00:23:20.230 --> 00:23:26.470
It's at National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows, which is um in Belleville, Illinois.
00:23:26.550 --> 00:23:31.030
And it's gonna be Sunday, December 13th from 3 to 7.
00:23:31.190 --> 00:23:36.870
Um, there is a sponsorship packet, and I think uh there's gonna be a Lego land.
00:23:37.190 --> 00:23:43.350
I mean, you got Christmas lights, camel rides, hot chocolate, dinner, um, like you said.
00:23:43.510 --> 00:23:47.590
And I know this is not the first year, so it's gonna, it's gonna run even better.
00:23:47.670 --> 00:23:49.270
Um, every year it gets a little bit better.
00:23:49.350 --> 00:23:59.270
And I think the goal is obviously just just to give these families a few hours where they just don't have to think about doctors, treatments, bills, um, or whatever else they're they're dealing with.
00:23:59.830 --> 00:24:01.030
Well, Christmas.
00:24:01.270 --> 00:24:13.110
I mean, the big thing is that the bigger that we can get this out there and the more money we can raise um in the people that'll even get in and just even bring something to this event that could change a life.
00:24:13.190 --> 00:24:14.710
You know, think about Trina.
00:24:14.870 --> 00:24:17.990
I might not do this, but man, I could give away this.
00:24:18.230 --> 00:24:20.630
I could show up and this kid could have a wish.
00:24:20.710 --> 00:24:35.190
You know, we have a kid that all he's ever wanted, and it's funny because he's a grown kid now, but I know he would be so excited if we were able to put a clubhouse in his backyard that he can get away from everything and just go chill in it.
00:24:35.430 --> 00:24:36.630
He's always wanted it.
00:24:36.710 --> 00:24:43.350
He's come to me for a couple of years now, and it's been weighing on my mind saying he's right here in Fenton.
00:24:43.750 --> 00:24:53.510
You know, why cannot somebody, a builder, somebody that does construction, go out there and give this kid a clubhouse?
00:24:53.750 --> 00:24:59.030
It, you know, it's those things, and you be a part of his everything.
00:24:59.750 --> 00:25:01.750
You know, it's I don't know.
00:25:02.070 --> 00:25:03.590
I think we I think we can find that.
00:25:03.670 --> 00:25:07.670
I think we can, I think we can find a a builder, maybe KB build, right?
00:25:07.750 --> 00:25:11.670
They could get out there and take one of their one of their crews and get out there and build that for us.
00:25:11.750 --> 00:25:13.110
Um for this kid, right?
00:25:13.350 --> 00:25:13.910
That's a huge.
00:25:13.990 --> 00:25:15.590
We have a kid that that's all he's wanted.
00:25:15.670 --> 00:25:23.510
He just got a heart transplant, you know, and he had issues and he still has issues going on, but he has a lot more going on with him.
00:25:23.670 --> 00:25:27.270
And his mother is a very, very, very close friend of mine.
00:25:27.430 --> 00:25:34.710
Um, and she has been working so hard, living in and out of the hospitals, and that's where she's been in and out of hospitals.
00:25:34.870 --> 00:25:38.070
Every time I call her, you know, she says, Where do you think I'm at?
00:25:38.230 --> 00:25:41.830
Our second home, you know, and it becomes their second home.
00:25:41.910 --> 00:25:45.270
But what if they came home and he had his little second home?
00:25:45.430 --> 00:25:49.350
You know, his little place that he could say, It happened.
00:25:49.670 --> 00:25:51.030
Trina did it again.
00:25:51.190 --> 00:25:52.790
These people came in and helped her.
00:25:52.870 --> 00:25:53.750
She asked for it.
00:25:53.910 --> 00:25:56.630
These people helped her, and now he gets to meet them.
00:25:56.870 --> 00:25:58.550
You know, that's that's awesome.
00:25:58.710 --> 00:26:04.070
To me, like that's one of my wishes that I have is to make sure that I deliver that this year.
00:26:04.390 --> 00:26:08.870
And any other children that come to us and have such little ask.
00:26:08.950 --> 00:26:13.270
There's little ask too, like very little things that kids will come to us for.
00:26:13.510 --> 00:26:20.230
And to get any of that accomplished, I don't care if it's money, I don't care if it's you buying a gift for a child.
00:26:20.390 --> 00:26:23.830
It's about let's come together and see how big we can do this together.
00:26:24.070 --> 00:26:28.710
It's not about me, it's not about miracles in progress, it's about making the miracles happen.
00:26:28.950 --> 00:26:32.310
But it takes an army to build an army to help others.
00:26:32.470 --> 00:26:46.150
And I just need a few of you guys to come together and say, look, I'll I'll do this, I'll be your sponsor and get on a podcast and talk about what you did and show those videos of what you did and feel good about it.
00:26:46.310 --> 00:26:53.750
I mean, you're walking into 2027 saying this is what I did this year, and I I feel good that I did this.
00:26:53.910 --> 00:26:55.830
I stepped outside of myself.
00:26:56.070 --> 00:26:57.510
And yeah, that's so true.
00:26:57.670 --> 00:27:00.950
And I can't wait to have be able to see who that business is.
00:27:01.110 --> 00:27:02.950
Like to have them come on the show.
00:27:03.190 --> 00:27:05.190
I promise I won't, I won't cry.
00:27:05.350 --> 00:27:07.030
I won't cry while you're on the show.
00:27:07.190 --> 00:27:12.710
But you know, this stuff is very it's when you have a when you have a six-year-old and you have a two-year-old, this stuff is tough, man.
00:27:12.790 --> 00:27:15.590
It's it's it's hard to listen, it's hard to hear.
00:27:15.750 --> 00:27:19.910
Um I can get you know worked up every single time I think of this stuff.
00:27:20.150 --> 00:27:21.830
Well, you better be at the event, yeah.
00:27:21.910 --> 00:27:31.030
So you better be with your six-year-old and two-year-old, too, because they're gonna look at this and go, wow, dad, like I get to have all this chili hot dog.
00:27:31.430 --> 00:27:35.830
I got to run around Legoland and I met all these little kids, you know.
00:27:35.990 --> 00:27:37.430
That is what I'm talking about.
00:27:37.590 --> 00:27:43.270
I mean, you don't have to have a sick kid to come, you just need to be a part of the growth of where we're going.
00:27:43.430 --> 00:27:53.430
And you get to show your kids this is what you did, and you took your time to be able to take time to help someone else and these other children, and your kids get to see it.
00:27:53.590 --> 00:27:59.670
You know, our our sponsorships, man, they get to come participate, they get to be a part of their day.
00:27:59.830 --> 00:28:04.070
I mean, you get to bring your kids, and your kids get to see what you just did.
00:28:04.150 --> 00:28:07.350
I mean, to me, that would mean everything.
00:28:08.470 --> 00:28:17.110
Yeah, and and on top of that, like, you know, if you can't donate money, obviously we need bodies, we need people to have volunteers.
00:28:17.270 --> 00:28:24.390
Um, yeah, like so you're just as capable as the is the person giving ten thousand dollars to make just the same impact.
00:28:24.630 --> 00:28:29.030
Um or you might know someone, or you might want to go.
00:28:29.110 --> 00:28:38.230
And I think, like you said, uh, that's a big part that you know, be a part of the mission, be a part of it, and definitely come out and and have a great time with these kids.
00:28:38.390 --> 00:28:51.670
And you know, if you want to be a part of it, we're all we're always willing to uh accept any and all volunteers that that come and and want to put forth their time and you know, feel feel good about giving back to to sick kids and families.
00:28:51.830 --> 00:28:57.670
Um I don't care if they have candy canes, we'll we'll give you the candy canes, hand them out to the kids as they come in.
00:28:57.910 --> 00:28:59.990
But at least you're interacting with them.
00:29:00.150 --> 00:29:02.390
You're you're being a part of that smile.
00:29:02.550 --> 00:29:05.670
He would that one kid might be like, oh, I wanted that, you know?
00:29:05.910 --> 00:29:07.910
And that's where we should be smiling.
00:29:07.990 --> 00:29:11.590
That's what makes me smile because I I cried all the time during this.
00:29:11.750 --> 00:29:17.510
Like I could cry now thinking about what I've lost, but I have to get through.
00:29:17.670 --> 00:29:25.670
And I have that day where I do cry because it's these events that they talk to me and the kids come hug me and it's over for me.
00:29:25.910 --> 00:29:32.950
Um, now I know that I have to get through so they can get through, and I have to make meet those goals for them.
00:29:33.110 --> 00:29:34.630
And that's where I'm pulling the trigger.
00:29:34.710 --> 00:29:36.870
And I came to you and I was like, can you help me?
00:29:37.190 --> 00:29:38.870
Because it's hard.
00:29:39.030 --> 00:29:39.910
It is so hard.
00:29:39.990 --> 00:29:41.350
I'm getting it's it.
00:29:41.830 --> 00:29:43.750
Um, I thought I was gonna go without it.
00:29:43.910 --> 00:29:44.550
You know, empathy.
00:29:44.630 --> 00:29:49.990
Empathy is another thing I think um some of us maybe need to work on a little bit better.
00:29:50.070 --> 00:29:59.030
Is it's kind of understanding that, you know, somebody else's problems are problems, like and somebody else's sickness, like they need help.
00:29:59.190 --> 00:30:05.030
Like we have to help um people who are out there, and these kids, they they need our help.
00:30:06.550 --> 00:30:17.030
And I think uh, you know, this this organization, you know, if there's if there's anything out there um worth worth giving to, I think it's miracles in progress.
00:30:17.270 --> 00:30:22.870
Sorry guys that this will be an episode that you know Trina Trina knows I'm I'm pretty soft.
00:30:22.950 --> 00:30:26.150
A lot of people know I'm pretty soft when it comes to like this type of stuff.
00:30:26.310 --> 00:30:28.230
It really pulls on me.
00:30:28.390 --> 00:30:33.990
Um so I hope I hope that there's people out there that will help.
00:30:34.310 --> 00:30:36.710
And it's okay to have those heart strings.
00:30:36.870 --> 00:30:40.790
That's why you do what you do, and that's why I do what I do.
00:30:41.030 --> 00:30:50.070
Um, everybody knows, and including my fiance, Blake, like I get told all the time, like I'm I'm so nice to a fault sometimes, right?
00:30:50.230 --> 00:30:52.390
And we get hurt very easily.
00:30:52.630 --> 00:31:03.910
Um, and getting into an organization where um everything hurts, whether it's you didn't do something right, you don't give enough, or people may say you're not this or that.
00:31:04.150 --> 00:31:06.710
Um, what comes with having an organization?
00:31:07.110 --> 00:31:15.910
Look, it's not something that you want to sign up for because it's very heart-wrenching in every direction, how people may perceive you as good or bad, the way they look at things.
00:31:15.990 --> 00:31:19.430
It just depends on the human that that feels.
00:31:19.990 --> 00:31:26.630
I just know that every little thing gets to me and every little thing is growing me.
00:31:27.190 --> 00:31:39.830
And I've learned a lot from the beginning of starting an organization to today to building a huge company, um, to knowing the reasons behind what I do, and it's only to give back.
00:31:40.150 --> 00:31:45.350
It's only to give back because we only need so much to live, and we all know that.
00:31:45.430 --> 00:32:01.990
And with the economy today, um there's we all need, we all need, and I don't care who is listening, the bottom line is that there are people that need people, and right now we're either there for each other to help each other, or we're not.
00:32:02.390 --> 00:32:05.030
We want to give, or we want to be the one that takes.
00:32:05.350 --> 00:32:10.230
Now I'm sorry, I'm gonna take only what is given.
00:32:10.790 --> 00:32:13.830
So if you hear that, take only what is given.
00:32:14.390 --> 00:32:15.750
So I'm the giver.
00:32:16.390 --> 00:32:18.790
I'm a giver, and I'll always be a giver.
00:32:19.110 --> 00:32:32.070
And I've gone through a lot in this organization and questions and stuff that I've been asked and things that have been said, that all I can tell you guys is if it feels right, do it.
00:32:32.230 --> 00:32:34.470
If you're doing good, it's good.
00:32:34.870 --> 00:32:47.270
And this is good, this is good stuff, or I would have given up a long time ago because it takes a lot of work, a lot of pain, a lot of heartfelt moments, a lot of tears, as you see Blake doing right now.
00:32:47.510 --> 00:32:52.710
I've done for over 13 years doing then a nonprofit that I never dreamed of doing.
00:32:52.950 --> 00:32:57.190
But it's stepping outside of yourself and not thinking about yourself.
00:32:57.350 --> 00:33:03.030
I'm taking the time that I don't have and making time to give.
00:33:03.430 --> 00:33:08.230
And everybody knows that I always do this and I'll come through either way.
00:33:08.870 --> 00:33:14.070
But here's the deal I want to grow it to large, large levels.
00:33:14.390 --> 00:33:17.270
So this is just gonna be a thing then.
00:33:17.430 --> 00:33:20.150
This is gonna be we're just doing it and we're gonna rock.
00:33:20.390 --> 00:33:24.710
We don't have to think about how we're just gonna say we're going to.
00:33:25.670 --> 00:33:28.230
You know, and that's where I've decided this year.
00:33:28.310 --> 00:33:29.350
I'm I'm jumping out.
00:33:29.510 --> 00:33:35.430
2027 is gonna blow up in every direction of my life, and I hope many lives out there.
00:33:35.910 --> 00:33:37.830
Please, please get involved.
00:33:38.310 --> 00:33:41.270
Bring your families out and bring the kids out.
00:33:41.350 --> 00:33:47.190
And if there's any sick kids, if anybody knows of anybody, go to Miracles in Progress and sign up today.
00:33:47.430 --> 00:33:48.390
Sign up today.
00:33:48.550 --> 00:33:50.310
We have it on our website.
00:33:50.550 --> 00:33:56.790
Yeah, you put your kid in there, what they're going through, add the family members, come be a part of this.
00:33:57.030 --> 00:33:59.670
Volunteers, sign up, go online.
00:34:00.470 --> 00:34:02.310
It can be taken care of there.
00:34:02.470 --> 00:34:10.150
If you have their wishes or any notes or messages, you can email us online and we get them right away, and you'll get a response right away.
00:34:10.389 --> 00:34:16.150
And for those sponsors, be a part of the picture, be a part of that picture of those children.
00:34:16.309 --> 00:34:18.230
It comes with your sponsorship.
00:34:18.550 --> 00:34:23.750
Stand up, give them a hug, take a picture with them so you can leave proud for 2027.
00:34:23.909 --> 00:34:25.510
No, you did the right thing.
00:34:25.909 --> 00:34:26.550
I love that.
00:34:26.630 --> 00:34:30.230
And I finally, finally caught my breath at the end of this episode, I think.
00:34:30.389 --> 00:34:35.030
Um, but you know, Trina, I I really, really appreciate you know you coming on here.
00:34:35.110 --> 00:34:42.949
And I think the biggest thing I hope um people take away from this conversation is that you don't have to be wealthy, you don't have to be some massive platform.
00:34:43.269 --> 00:34:47.829
You certainly don't have to have all the answers to make a difference um in somebody's life today.
00:34:47.909 --> 00:34:59.349
Sometimes it's a meal, sometimes it's a gift, sometimes it's helping family um pay for gas to get to their child's treatment, and sometimes it's just giving a kid the opportunity to be a kid again.
00:34:59.510 --> 00:35:02.550
And I think that's what Miracles in Progress is all about.
00:35:02.710 --> 00:35:08.389
Um, so if you're listening and you want to support this awesome organization, please uh message me.
00:35:08.469 --> 00:35:14.070
Uh message Trina, head to miracles n as the uh letter n progress.org.
00:35:14.309 --> 00:35:20.869
Um, whether that's sponsoring home for the holidays, making a donation, volunteering, or simply just sharing the mission.
00:35:21.030 --> 00:35:23.190
There are plenty of ways to get involved.
00:35:23.269 --> 00:35:28.309
So, Trina, thank you for what you do, and thank you for being a part of Elevate with Elsner.
00:35:28.550 --> 00:35:32.710
And to everybody listening, remember you never know what somebody else is going through.
00:35:32.869 --> 00:35:38.309
Be kind, look for opportunities to help, and don't uh underestimate the difference you can make.
00:35:38.470 --> 00:35:41.670
Um, until next time, uh, keep elevating and one love.
00:35:42.710 --> 00:35:43.510
Thank you.