Steve McGraw from the Starlight Children’s Foundation invited me to help him with a radio spot that features his charity organization. The piece focuses on what the Starlight Foundation does for families with chronically ill children. I was there to share Erin’s story, how it has affected our family, and how the Starlight Foundation has helped.

I headed out early to the radio station, because Seattle traffic can be a bitch. It took me about 90 minutes to get to downtown. There were huge double doors that led into a lobby with no less than four radio stations there… apparently all are owned by CBS radio. The other stations were JACK FM (96.5, pop), AM 1090, KMPS (94.1, country) and KZOK (102.5, classic rock).

Steve McGraw recording an interview about Starlight Foundation

I met with Steve in the lobby and was joined by another Starlight parent named Sue. Our interviewer, Tama, met us and led us through the office hallways to a small soundbooth. There was an open window to a large soundbooth, and the live morning show was going on.

The interview started with Steve talking about the Starlight Foundation, and what programs they do to help alleviate the pain of families dealing with catostrophic illnesses.

Tama turned to Sue, who told her story, which was particularly moving.  Sue has seven children, and their youngest, age four, had a drowning incident that left him in a state that requires constant care and monitoring.

I was next, Tama asked me to explain Erin’s condition.  I was hoping that I wouldn’t get choked up, especially since I’ve been telling this story for over a year… but I choked.  It was obvious that I was sobbing as I explained that my wife and I have to watch our daughter grow into a living statue.  They asked how Starlight has helped, and this is where I was stumped, because honestly we haven’t been able to tap into too much… but will as Erin gets older.  I tried to edify Starlight’s mission as best I could.

The interview is going into editing, and the show will be broadcast sometime in June.  We will receive an MP3 of the show, and we have been given permission to make it available here.

More autographs in our tiny sound booth

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