the Dream
The night before Shelbi Martin took flight to Heaven, it was decided that there would be an ice cream truck business called “Shelbi’s Sweets and Treats” and with all the money brought in, there would be joy also going out. Shelbi’s ice cream truck would bring lots of joy to all kinds, young and old. It would go to schools, churches, baseball games, and even nursing homes. It would definitely be a double scoop of happiness because it would not only bring joy to the families struggling with cancer, as Shelbi did, but also bring happiness to all the children, young and old, who are eating ice cream. Shelbi would have loved this. This was the vision…
The Martin Family
Shelbi lost her battle after 15 months of radiation, chemotherapy, stem-cell transplants, surgery, and many pokes and pricks. Shelbi also went blind during her diagnosis. However, through all the struggles, the ice cream truck brought a smile on her face as did all the wonderful people who helped bring her joy, including Wishes Can Happen who sent her to Disney and to see Dora. Those were some of the most happiest, special times in her life, even through all the struggles. And “it wasn’t about the ice cream, but the pure joy it brought Shelbi to hear the music, run to the truck and choose her very own treat.”
On March 29, 2009, Shelbi’s earthly 6th birthday, Shelbi’s Sweets and Treats was unveiled. Shelbi’s Sweets and Treats is a non-profit, all volunteer ice cream truck business in which 100% of the proceeds go to bringing joy to families dealing with childhood cancer. That might be sending them on their dream vacation, buying them something they have always wanted such as a swing for their backyard, or purchasing an adaptive bike or piece of equipment that the family may not be able to afford.
Let us bring joy to families struggling with cancer. Even if we can give them a small scoop of happiness, we know those scoops mean the world to the families.
