A Note from Shadow Buddies Creator, Marty Postlethwait

As a mother of a child born with multiple congenital birth defects, I can personally speak to the importance of emotional well-being during the healing process. My son Miles who is now 36, has undergone more than 50 surgeries, and together, we have spent countless nights in the hospital. I can attest that hope is a powerful antidote during uncertain and life challenging times. It’s essential to promote hope when dealing with fear and uncertainty that is brought on during major life changes at any age. Shadow Buddies provide all the right tools to help comfort and educate families while going through a crisis situation. Our mission is to enhance the lives of families in communities, all ethnic backgrounds, for people of all ages. When addressing the psycho-social needs of children and adults, our Buddies are supporting the well-being of individuals, allowing communities to have a hands-on teaching tool to elevate their level of care and treatment. Hope comes from the most unexpected sources, and I remember the sheer joy I felt when, from beneath the hospital sheets, his little thumb emerged to me the signal “I’m good Mom”. Thumbs up, he was saying, it’s going to be okay. And this was the creation behind our registered trademark. 

Thanks to supporters like you, 2023 marked our 28th year providing “Miles of Smiles” and joy to children in need. It was a year like no other as we continued to adjust to an ongoing pandemic and being creative in raising funds so that we could commit to our Shadow Buddies programs. We stand strong in our mission to continue to provide Shadow Buddies to thousands of children and their families in need.

Marty Postlethwait