When turning sixteen becomes less about you.
Yesterday my big twins – Imogen and Madeline turned sixteen.
It’s a big milestone in any person’s life.
It’s a big milestone in a mother’s life too.
It’s hard to believe that these two babies are now old enough to learn to drive.
To say I am amazed by their grace and beauty and the way that these two wonderous creatures have chosen to carry themselves through life
would be an understatement.
I was truly blessed the day they came into my life.
Yesterday they and a few of their friends chose to become first time blood donors.
The usual birthday festivities gave way to the planning and execution of their ‘blood donor party’ which had been a year in the making.
It was all they wanted
and so Dave and I hired them a stretch hummer
because if you are going to do something as selfless as that on a day that should be all about you
then you might as well do it in style.
It rocked up to the school gates to pick them up at 3pm.
They put the call out to their friends and eight others joined them, David, Mum, the other kids and I.
It wasn’t about the ride in the fancy car, either.
(It was SO about the fancy car for Noah and Mal ).
It was because all of these kids honestly wanted to help.
They wanted to help Ivy mostly
but some of them had stories of family, who had needed blood too
and Immy and Maddy also had their grandmother on their mind, knowing that she needed a transfusion just last week.
When we arrived we were met by the lovely Talia from ARCBS, who stepped the kids through the interview process.
She had decorated the waiting room with balloons and streamers and organised cake.
There was a lot of nervous tension – giving blood is a big deal in anybody’s world
but being sixteen and first time donors, there was a lot to think about.
Most of them were worried they wouldn’t get through and that they would not be allowed to donate
and of course there was the worry about having a needle.
The first five went through and were knocked back for various reasons, my Mum too
and I could see everyone becoming disheartened
especially my girls.
They all understood though that there are strict guidelines for a reason and that Australia has high standards in blood service because of it.
When Maddy’s name was called she looked anxious
but came out minutes later with tthe biggest smile on her face.
She was the first one through and the first to donate from our little group.
Maddy was very wary of the needle but Ivy was there holding her hand tightly
and soon enough it was in.
The look on Ivy’s face said everything – she was at once in awe and proud of her sister.
I was proud.
After that the two boys who had come with us were given the okay to donate and we were on a roll.
There was much celebration in that little donation room.
As each person got through there were cheers and rounds of applause, not only from our crowd but from the nurses and the public who were there to donate too.
Finally it was Immy’s turn who set a new record by pumping her first donation out in five minutes and five seconds.
They were all amazing (even the friends who were unable to donate) and I thanked them all profusely.
Of course I was most proud of my girls, who made their sixteenth birthday about giving to others.
Maddy said it was the best birthday ever – to see Ivy’s reaction was the best feeling
and Immy said it felt good to be able to give something back, after all that had been given to help Ivy
and that, for me, was the best gift I could possibly ask for.
Happy 16th birthday girls.
Thank you for being you.
Bless them !! I’d write more if I didn’t have tears running down my face !! Mx
Amazing. Happy birthday Immy & Maddy. Brought tears to my eyes reading & living it thought your photos Tiff.
I will be making a time to go in & see if I am able to donate yet (ten years of pregnancy & breastfeeding has left me unable). Rohan is over 1 now so hoping that even though I am still Breastfeeding I will be allowed.
Happy Birthday to your beautiful girls, they are amazing!
Your girls Rock Tiff. What wonderful, thoughtful teenage girls you have. You must be so proud.
I am crying too because they did as soon as they possibly could and they did if for their baby sister.
How perfectly precious xx
Happy Happy Birthday to your girls!!
This post is amazing. Immy and Maddy, YOU are amazing. xxx
Oh dear … Here it is 21:30 in my part of Canada…
and I’ve got tears streaming down my face, sobbing at your amazing wonderful family…. AGAIN.
I swear if my kids turn out half as wonderful as all of yours, I’ll be a happy woman.
Happy Sweet Sixteen Immy and Maddy. A lovely way to celebrate! What a beautiful family, inside and out. Happy Mother’s day, Tiff
Happy birthday to two beautiful girls. Fairy wishes and butterfly kisses
Happy birthday girls…
Tiff you have raised some wonderful young ladies.
Sending love…
Oh my. I think I have something in my eye
Truly amazing,totally selfless
You are raising wonderful kids Tiff
Happy Birthday Immy & Maddy. Thank you for making the world a better place. Your smiles light up this post & your selflessness is wonderful.
Tiff, I know that you have more than your share of challenges in this world – but you raise such beautiful and caring children.
I just hope I can be half as good a mother as you are.
xxx
S
Look at Ivy! She looks so healthy in these pics, you can totally see the improvement. And congrats to you and your gorgeous big kids. Wow.
Happy Birthday to a pair of amazing and beautiful young ladies!!!
Tiff your girls are postively lovely inside and out. Happy sweet 16 to your daughters. Thank you to their friends too!
Fabulous, wonderful girls who are so blessed!
Happy birthday to them both and congratulations to their lovely friends
Your children are an amazing testament to the wonderful mother you are. What beautiful, giving children you have. Your twins have astounded me with their selfless generosity on a day that is all about them. I loved this post. LOVED IT. I also must confess to often needing to just stare at Ivy for long moments. She is just ethereal.
What a pair of beautiful & caring young women these two first born of yours & Dave’s have become. No wonder you are so proud of them, they are a credit to you both and all the love & wisdom you have shown them on their life’s journey.
The memory of these 16th birthdays will be one that will remain with Immy & Maddy, with you, and with Ivy always.
Halfway through the teen years, no longer children but not quite yet considered adults and gradually becoming more independent is what being a sixteener is all about. Both exciting and worrying at the same time for both, teenagers & parents, with new found adult freedoms & choices now within reach, making blood donations and learning to drive, to name just two. Decisions about their futures, now theirs. A true feeling of having “grown up” & a confidence that they will make all the right choices.
Yes indeed, an exciting time in their young lives, but all that you have taught them to become the amazing young ladies that they are, will always be with them, whatever life may bring or wherever they may be in their future lives. xoxo
I was in tears reading this post Tiff. Totally choked up. What a beautiful story, and what beautiful, big hearts your girls have. That sort of love is infectious
Well done, and thank you! I now know first hand what a difference a blood transfusion makes for the recipient. Thank you all, and God Bless you xoxoxox
Happy Birthday girls you are beautiful.
How awesome are those beautiful girls and their friends.
So heartwarming to hear such good news stories.
This is yet another one of your posts that made me cry, this time tears of happiness..
What beautiful girls you have created- again this emphasises what i said last week- look at those faces- their smiles and their eyes..and their actions..
You produced these beautiful girls..
I love, love, love the photos of them holding Ivy’s hand while donating..what beautiful photos..
Happy Birthday Immy and Maddy, what a gorgeous pair you are- inside and out!
Sweet 16th is something you only get to be once in your life, and you’ve made this even more special by your selfless actions..
Two wonderful girls with incredibly bright futures ahead of them with attitudes like that. Very obviously raised by wonderful parents. Happy birthday girls, you’re real angels! x
All those kids are so awesome!!!!
Oh im overwhelmed with tears.. reading thru with the photos i felt i was there too…
The girls are beautiful inside n out with such warm heart! To all the friends that went along too… you all rock!!
Way to go team!
this made my heart happy.
Tiff, you have the most amazing kids! All of them.
Happy Birthday Immy and Maddy and thank you for joining the ranks of blood donors.
Tiff, what a beautiful family you have!!! I had tears in my eyes reading this most touching story of Immy and Maddy…what amazing, special and caring girls you have raised!
The look on Ivy’s gorgeous face is priceless!!!
Happy Birthday Immy and Maddy….you have done your family proud!!
Love and Best Wishes to you all…..Jennifer and Andrew xx
You should be proud. You have produced and moulded the most selfless and caring family. As I have said before you are REMARKABLE. Happy Birthday to your beautiful daughters. Beautiful inside and out.
What a fabulous post…what a fabulous birthday for the girls. They know the meaning of giving and they know how people really celebrate the milestones of their lives. But I am not surprised, since they are YOUR girls!
Wow, what amazingly beautiful, selfless women you hqve raised. They are a credit to you and your husband. The look on Ivy’s face was priceless. Happy birthday to them both. Xx
I rarely comment, but I have to here, especially after this post brought tears to my eyes! I have a soft spot for blood and platelet donors (I’m a lymphoma researcher in Boston and a dedicated platelet donor!) but this is by far the most beautiful and heartfelt sixteenth birthday party I’ve ever seen. What wonderful selfless children you have raised (and gorgeous to boot)!!! I hope I am able to raise such fantastic kids. Kudos to you and them
Just beautiful Tiff. Very rightly proud Mum you are to two remarkable 16 yr old’s.
First time I’ve heard the lovely Ivy’s voice
What a wonderful story to read when many young people get so much bad publicity, it is a joy to see two young ladies who want to help others and get their friends in on it as well! Giving blood is a great way to help those who need it and it only takes a short time to do. I donated from when I was in my early 20′s through to late 40′s when my need for medication for my thyroid stopped me being able to continue. I had a Grandmother who had needed three major operations and if it had not been for the donated blood, she would not have made it. I wanted to give something back to help others.
I discover that I was a fast bleeder and had a high platelet count so started to give platelets in my 30′s. I got a real buzz from helping burn victims and seriously ill children. I got my 200 pint certificate just in time before I had to stop! ( you get 2 for platelets in the UK!)
Well done girls, keep it up – it makes a huge difference to so many people.
Wow! What wonderful girls and that their friends joined them as well is testament to how wonderful they must be. Sometimes Tiff you doubt your abilities as a mother, don’t! Look at your big twins and how caring and mature they are. That is in part due to your abilities as a mother and the caring person you are. I say in part because I am sure your hubby has done a great job too. But you should be very proud of them and yourself as their mother.
That’s awesome and amazing. I love it!! Thank you for sharing such a beautiful story. All the best to you and your family.
Happy Birthday Maddy & Immy! You are such thoughtful, caring and sweet girls! This story made me cry tears of happiness as well. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for you two.
Happy 16th Birthday Immy and Maddy. You girls are AWESOME as are you friends that joined you hoping to donate too. You’ve inspired me, a middle aged woman that thought she couldn’t donate blood, but is going in to see if that has changed.
Tiff thank you so much for sharing their birthday story in word and pics. You have a special way with it that is always extra moving, and makes me feel like I’m there with you all.
I wanted to edit my comment to add ;
Immy and Maddy, you are both GORGEOUS young ladies, inside and out. You should be so proud of yourselves, as I know your parents are.
What fabulous young people… yours, and their friends, too. Happy birthday Immy and Maddy! Thanks for sharing this heartwarming story.
May the good that you do come back to you over and over again. Birthday blessings.
This post had me in tears! I hope I can raise my kids as well as you did Tiff!
Oh wow, you have such amazing kids. Loved this post
had me in tears.
Happy birthday to the twins
so lovely – what wonderfully amazing girls you have.
I am reading this at work and honestly tears are running down my face and I am smiling too! It feels great!
Want you to know, I think of you so often and you and Ivy and your family are ALWAYS in my prayers!!!
xoTiffany
Oh I am in tears. Amazing girls you have there
Madeline and Imogen —
You two take my breath away, truly.
Such beautiful wise souls you are.
Lovely, inside and out.
You are all that I hope for my little girl to be one day.
Well done you two, and happy 16th!
(And tell Mum and Dad I think they’re pretty fab too
)
~Michelle
I first read this on my phone and couldn’t comment… or if I did i don’t remember doing so haha. Your girls are just amazing! Such a noble thing to do and what a way to celebrate turning 16. Ivy looked very proud indeed, and so she should. No wonder you’re proud of your girls. You’re doing an amazing job raising lovely kids Tiff! Happy birthday girls (belated I know sorry)