Listen Up T-Shirt to support Allison Kays!

What is happening in Allison's medical journey?
3+ weeks ago Allison was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia. Allison's medical journey has included bone marrow biopsies, 24/7 intravenous chemotherapy for 7 consecutive days, additional oral chemotherapy drugs, blood and platelet transfusions...all during an ongoing weeks-long hospital stay in a protective isolation room to avoid infections. In the coming months, she'll conquer more tests and treatments, including the possibility of a bone marrow transplant, which would require a weeks-long, out-of-state stay for Allison and her immediate family.



Who is Allison Kays?
Christian. Wife. Mother. Daughter. Sister. Cousin. Aunt. Granddaughter. Niece. Friend. Speech Therapist. Encourager. Friend maker. Stranger greeter. Funny storyteller. Great LISTENER.

What can I do to help Allison on this journey?
Of course buying a shirt or making a donation would be a great help. However, in the first days of her medical journey, Allison made a special request via Facebook Live in response to the question, "How can I help?" She said:

“…God gave me an answer to your question…during my devotion and prayer time. I was in James 1:19 where it says, ‘you must all be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to get angry.’ If you want to help me, here is how (a.k.a. your homework): At some point in your day, take time – even if it’s 30 seconds– to listen, to really listen, to another human being. Slow things down, ask them how they’re doing and then really listen to the answer. Can you listen up…for me? Because everyone has something hard they’re going through and everybody matters…. I would really love to see you hashtag #listenup and let me know that you’ve done your homework….”

About the shirt:

The shirt is inspired by Allison’s LISTEN UP challenge. The bold orange color is the official leukemia awareness color. The beautiful design was created by Allison’s sister.

If you’d like to read Allison’s full LISTEN UP challenge, you can do so below:

I’ve really been praying that none of my experience here is wasted. I do not like to be the center of attention; it’s not comfortable for me when people have such beautiful, amazing, wonderful things to say about me--I just don’t know what to do with it. I’m so much more comfortable turning the spotlight on God instead. My passion in life, what my heart aches to do, is to spend one-on-one time with people and just listen. I know how important it is because I have been blessed so much through counseling, myself. I know how much having a listener one-on-one can do for your heart when you just want to be heard. It’s what I would be doing out there if I weren’t in here, so I finally have an answer for: "We want a job. We want to help. What can we do?” God gave me an answer to your question last night during my devotion and prayer time. I was in James 1:19 where it says, “you must all be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to get angry” If you want to help me, here is how (a.k.a. your homework): At some point in your day, take time – even if it’s 30 seconds– to listen, to really listen, to another human being. Slow things down, ask them how they’re doing and then really listen to the answer. Can you listen up…FOR me? Because everyone has something hard they’re going through and everybody matters. I talk to every person who comes in this hospital room because it takes the scary part out of all of this, but also because it makes me realize that the doctor or nurse or member of the housekeeping team I’m speaking to is A PERSON. I don’t want to know them as their title in this hospital; it helps my heart to connect with them. To realize that we’re all people first -- they just happen to be on the other side of this thing. That’s what I’m asking you to do for me, while I’m in here and I would love it if you would hashtag it #listenup when you talk about it on social media. I want you guys to #listenup. There are people all around you that need to be heard. Even if you can’t do anything about what they’re telling you. Even if you can’t fix one single thing about it, it’s ok. Just listen. Pray for that person. Give it to the Lord and walk away knowing that what you’ve done is HOLY WORK. I promise you it IS holy work. There is nothing that would make my heart happier than to know y’all have been doing, out in the world, the work that I can’t do right now from this hospital room. I would REALLY love to see you hashtag #listenup and let me know that you’ve done your homework. I think that you’ll find that it will change your heart; it’ll change the way you live your life and the way that you interact with the people around you. There is nothing that we can do to change the vast majority of the hurt in people’s lives, but it’s there so just see if you can find it. Sometimes, like the infection in a wound that needs cleaned out--the infection that is just sitting there stagnant--it just needs to be released. To get out. So, I’m going to trust you guys to do that mostly because God told me to tell you; to give you THAT specific answer when you ask, “what can I do?” It’s the BEST thing you could do for me right now because I want to see God get glory and see lives changed in His name because you STOPPED to do this. Our world is so fast, and attention is at a premium, which is why commercials are so valuable. They get you for 30 seconds and that’s a big deal, so take 30 seconds of your life and give it to somebody else. Look for the hurt and bear that burden with them. Look for the joy and celebrate with them. Even if you don’t know the person you’re listening to--it could be a cashier at a gas station or the person working the drive thru at McDonald’s—just #listenup. I’m hopeful for y’all. I love each and every one of you and truly hope that you know how much I miss you. But rest asssured that God is doing something holy in this room, in my heart, and with you guys too. I just know it. I’m not worried. Ok…I’m a little bit worried. I’m not looking forward to the side effects that are coming, BUT for right now, I’m healthy and I feel good so I’m going to scoop up that joy and just celebrate today. You guys can celebrate with me. My good friend Jennifer Bowen said, “combat comes before victory,” so I know I have to fight. I know. I also know that victory is on the other side of this. I love you guys so much and I could not do this without you. When you think about me and are tempted to worry, just remember your homework: #listenup and then tell the world to listen up, too.