Operation Xmas Jammies; A virtual giving tree is the brainchild of the Schmidt family from Becker.

 

It all started with the Schmidt family (Nicole, Paul, Lindsey, Hannah and Andrew) and their sweet young boy who was diagnosed with Pallister Killian Syndrome at the age of five. 

 

The tree was launched as a way to spread awareness and celebrate PKS Day  Dec. 4.   The idea has turned into a small but sweet token of love for special PKS children all over the world.  

 

The Schmidt family found that people want to help but they weren’t sure how.  

 

“It can be very difficult to buy for PKS children as they often don’t know how to play with the normal toys a child would engage with,” said Nicole. “Operation Xmas Jammies became a way to engage the community with beautiful kids from all over the world who are affected with PKS.”  

 

Nicole says it has been the beginning of relationships created between other PKS children and their families.  

 

“It is breaking down those walls of isolation that can result in living a life with a severely handicap child,” she says.  “It is fostering conversations about what it is like to have a child with unique needs, what the needs of the family are, and how can a community help.”   

 

In the spirit of the season, the Schmidts ask those more fortunate to take a moment to learn about this rare genetic condition and the sweet faces of PKS children.  The idea is to make someones day just a bit brighter and harness the spirit of giving by gifting Xmas Jammies to a very special little boy or girl. 

 

Interested givers are asked to go to operationxmasjammies.com to sponsor a PKS child with Xmas Jammies.  

 

The website, operationxmasjammies.com was built by distant friends of the Schmidts —Mike and Di Rydell of Arizona — in hopes they could create greater awareness for PKS kids with a wider range of audience to participate.

 

“They not only built the website,” said Nicole, “but also sponsored those who were not chosen.”  

 

Last year, 68 PKS kids were sponsored.  This year, the Schmidts and volunteers  have 70 + kids!  

 

Andrew Schmidt of Becker middle school recently celebrated PKS Day with his classmates with cupcakes, McDonalds for lunch, more cupcakes and pizza with friends.  His classmates had a dance party and made him a special book with their pictures and names with sensory touches so he could feel their name instead of reading it.