It was 40 years ago that L. Brooks Patterson organized a golf outing as a way of turning a heartbreaking tragedy into something beautiful. What began as a gesture to honor a friend and his children killed in a plane crash planted a seed that grew into The Rainbow Connection.

Its mission to brighten the lives of sick children and their families by providing them with fun, joy, comfort and inspiration during their darkest days has been growing ever since.

“We get to grant wishes to brave and wonderful Michiganders,” said Ingrid Todt, executive director of the Rainbow Connection, who was a college intern when she started working for the charity. “I did a picnic for a wish family and fell in love with the work.

“I’ve been here ever since.”

Since the first wish in 1985, granted to a 16-year-old patient at Children’s Hospital of Michigan who wanted to meet the legendary Muhammad Ali, more than 4,300 children have had wishes granted.

One that Todt will always remember had her traveling to Washington, D.C. at Christmas-time with Adam, a 12-year-old boy who wanted to meet President George W. Bush.

“He had a very old soul and just wanted to see what it was like to have a conversation with a president in the White House,” said Todt, who remembers the trip came up suddenly and Patterson, who served as Oakland County Executive for more than 26 years before his death in 2019, secured a private jet to get the boy and his family there in time.

It was a dream come true.

Adam was ushered into the Roosevelt Room where he and his family not only met with the President and First Lady but were given enough time to have the conversation he always wanted.

Wishes are granted through a process that involves a referral by hospital staff or online application. Once the application is approved, Rainbow Connection staff will set up a meeting to discuss what sort of wish the child might like.

“It’s usually something to do with going somewhere, meeting someone, or receiving something,” Todt said, remembering a young girl who wanted a shopping spree, another child going to the Super Bowl and one little girl who had her photo taken with the entire Dallas Cowboys cheerleader squad.

Medicine has come a long way so many children with life-threatening illnesses are doing much better than previous generations, but they have to go through so much to get to that point.

“The wishes give them the opportunity to focus on something amazing and fun during their journey,” said Todt.

For Scarlett Morales, 17, of Clinton Township, who is battling cancer,  a trip to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando with her parents and young sister was exactly what she needed.

“At the prime of Scarlett’s teenage years (age 16) she got diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia,” said Scarlett’s mother, Estela Morales. “We felt like our world was collapsing. We did not know what to expect with this new journey. As the initial weeks of treatment started to become more intense she started to feel like she was in a hopeless hole.”

That’s when she got a wish.

“When Scarlett was informed that a wish could be granted she did not know what to ask for,” Estela said, adding her daughter has always been a very grateful young lady and even something as simple as a popsicle would bring about a smile so she was a little dumbfounded by the offer.

However, after meeting with the Rainbow Connection and thinking about how her illness affected her sister she decided on a trip that would create memories for everyone in her family.

“We all went on an adventure of a lifetime,” Estela said.

Scarlett concurred.

“My happiest moment was to see all of us enjoying our time together, especially when my little sister Leah got to meet the character Stitch,” Scarlett said. “The Rainbow Connection is a magnificent organization and thanks to many generous people is able to make children’s wishes come true.”

One recipient who battled cancer as a child and grew up to become a health care professional said the charity provided her and her family with moments that impacted her life long after granting her a wish.

“This organization becomes an integral part of your family, providing financial support if needed, special events for the families until 18, scholarships for trade school/community college/University and more,” Jennifer said, in a testimonial recalling her wish 20 years ago.

“I’m never going to make a ton of money,” Todt said, of her role as the executive director of a nonprofit. “But I could never imagine doing anything else.”

For more information visit rainbowconnection.org/.

By JESSICA DAMIANO

If you’re gearing up to plant fruits, vegetables or herbs this spring, why not grow some extra to donate to your local soup kitchen or pantry?

The national Plant a Row for the Hungry campaign, launched in 1995, has been encouraging home and community gardeners to do just that every year to help feed neighbors in need of fresh food.

The program was spearheaded in 1995 by Anchorage Daily News garden columnist Jeff Lowenfels, who wrote a column encouraging his readers to plant extra crops and donate their harvests.

After seeing the impact that his column had on local food donations, Lowenfels partnered with GardenComm International, then known as Garden Writers of America, to enlist garden columnists all over the country to promote the cause in their own communities. Since then, more than 20 million pounds of produce, providing more than 80 million meals, have been donated through the campaign by home gardeners.

“All of this has been achieved without government subsidy or bureaucratic red tape — just people helping people,” according to organizers on the campaign’s website. And there’s no big advertising campaign, either — just garden columnists and their readers spreading the word.

If everyone reading this column planted one extra row and donated its harvest, together we could have an impact on hunger.

So what do you say?

To participate, plant an extra row or container (or, if you’re short on space or resources, even just one additional plant) and donate its harvest to your local food pantry, soup kitchen, house of worship or informally to a neighbor who could use it.

If you’d like to help even more, consider starting your own Plant a Row campaign with friends, neighbors or co-workers and plant individually or at the office, in a community garden, school garden, prison garden — whatever garden you have at your disposal.

If you need help getting started, GardenComm.org has posted steps for running your own campaign and a listing of existing campaigns to join in your state and town.

But it’s not necessary to join a group. To find food drop-off sites near you, visit AmpleHarvest.org and plug in your zip code.

Before dropping off food, call the organization to confirm they accept perishables (soup kitchens are generally more likely to have the refrigeration necessary for storage than pantries or food banks, but there may be exceptions).

Jessica Damiano writes weekly gardening columns for the AP and publishes the award-winning Weekly Dirt Newsletter. You can sign up here for weekly gardening tips and advice.

Jesse Wahby and her husband Logan Reardon have been renting a home in St. Clair Shores for three years, giving them enough time to finish school and save for the down payment on a house.

Now that they’re ready to buy their dream home, the search has proven disappointing.

“We’ve been looking for five months,” said Wahby, a graduate of Michigan State University and a nurse practitioner. “We got married in September and want to find a home so we can start a family.”

Many of their friends are already homeowners.

“I feel like we’re kind of behind everyone else,” Wahby said, of her and her husband who are hoping to find a home in the New Baltimore or Chesterfield Township area. “We have a Jetski so we’re looking for something close to the water and near the expressway.”

Wahby said they’ve placed bids on two homes but lost them both to other buyers.

As with many buyers who have been looking over the winter months, Wahby is hoping spring brings a new crop of homes to the market.

Latest trends

It’s true what they say about winter being hard on the housing market.

“February is typically a slower month for home sales and that was the case again this year. A mix of several days of measurable snowfall, along with a few cold snaps, prompted some buyers to hit pause on their search,” said Jeanette Schneider, president of RE/MAX of Southeastern Michigan. “Meanwhile, interest rates, tariff developments and broader economic factors continue to influence the timing decisions of both buyers and sellers to enter the market.

“As a result housing sales were down close to 12% across Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties.”

These factors have slowed home sales everywhere but with different results.

In some areas of the country, properties are staying on the market longer and that’s helping to grow inventory levels.

“Active buyers now have more homes to choose from and a little more time for decisions going into the spring market, a benefit last year’s buyers didn’t have,” Karen Kage, CEO of Realcomp II Ltd. said, in a news release.

The housing market in Southeastern Michigan, however, is not experiencing that.

“Both Macomb and Oakland are seeing homes on the market averaging 37 days and there’s still an inventory issue,” said Schneider, following a review of RE/MAX of Southeastern Michigan’s annual housing report.

Other factors in the February report showed:

• The number of days on the market in Macomb County went from 31 days in 2024 to 37 days in February 2025, an increase of 19.4%

• Oakland County: 35 to 37, up 5.7%

• Wayne County: 36 to 41, up 13.9%

• Livingston County: 39 to 33, showing a drop of 15.4%

Livingston County was among the few areas to show an increase of 13.8% in the number of homes sold in February, going from 109 in 2024 to 124 in 2025.

Macomb County home sales were down by 10.4%, from 529 homes to 474.

Oakland County: 762 to 669, a drop of 12.2%

Wayne County: 1,132 to 970, drop of 14.3%

One trend that was consistent among all the counties in Southeastern Michigan was the median price of homes. All of the counties showed an increase with Wayne County seeing the highest increase at 15.2%, followed by Livingston at 9.9%, Macomb at 3.7% and Oakland County seeing an increase of 1.3%.

Schneider said there are currently 1,817 homes for sale in Macomb County.

Among the most popular areas for buyers are Sterling Heights, where median home prices are still around $310,000, Shelby Township at $353,500 and Clinton Township at $282,450. Among the cities still giving more bang for your buck is Warren, where homes average around $200,000.

Oakland County currently has 2,439 homes for sale.

The median prices for these areas showed:

• Rochester Hills at $438,000

• Pontiac $126,500

• Madison Heights $225,000

• Royal Oak $365,000

• Southfield $245,000.

These are the average prices for most existing homes.

Future trends

As for the average price on new home construction?

What might have been $400,000 in February and March could see a significant increase by spring and summer due to the tariffs.

“We get our drywall from Mexico, our lumber from Canada and our appliances from China,” Schneider said, of three countries that have been targeted by President Donald Trump’s tariff initiatives. “I’m already hearing that builders are adding language in the contracts that says prices may change.”

So, that would be one warning for home buyers.

Other tips would include:

• Reading the contract and be sure you are aware of the totals or changing prices.

• The National Association of Realtors also recommends working with a trusted real estate professional.

• Make a good offer because with a low-inventory market, yours is unlikely to be the only one on the table. Talk to your agent to be sure your offer is appealing to the seller.

• If you’re buying an existing home, factor in maintenance and repair costs for the first year. The NAR said lenders and insurance companies generally suggest setting aside 1% to 4% of a home’s value for annual maintenance costs. This will prevent your new home from deteriorating.

• Narrow down your search area so you can revisit listings that might include a cost reduction.

• Develop a wish list (see example the National Association of Realtors) and prioritize items that are most important, such as school districts and neighborhoods.

• Read the contract and be sure you are aware of the totals or changing prices.

Schneider also advises home buyers to be patient.

Patience and persistence are key to finding your dream home.

“I know it gets hard. It can be challenging and it wears on a person but, really, patience and persistence in the end will pay off,” said Schneider, who moved into a new home and knows exactly what buyers are going through.

Schneider said they put an offer in on a home they wanted and while they never heard back from the seller they never gave up. “We kept watching and they did a price reduction before Christmas when no one was watching, and we jumped on it,” she said, of her dream home on the water.

Schneider said they are seeing homes available in all price points.

However, sellers really need to price their homes appropriately.

“Nowadays, buyers are a lot more savvy,” Schneider said, noting what might have slipped by years ago no longer flies.

“We found a home in Chesterfield Township that we really liked,” Wahby said. “It was a beautiful house but they didn’t winterize the pool. It looked like a swamp.”

So, they crossed it off their list.

‘It’s discouraging,” Wahby said, but they remain hopeful that spring ushers in a new crop of houses.

School isn’t the only thing that’s been cancelled this winter.

Since January numerous blood drives have been called off nationally due to severe winter weather and it has created a shortage, according to the American Red Cross.

As a result donors are being urged to give blood or platelets in February to help build up the supply.

Especially needed is type O negative blood but all blood types are in short supply. Those who choose to volunteer are encouraged to make and keep their donation appointments so hospitals can continue to ensure critical care for patients this winter.

Flu and other seasonal illnesses are spreading, which could also force more people to cancel what has already been more than 16,000 blood and platelet donations nationwide.

To book a time to give blood or platelets, use the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

As a thank-you, all who come to give by Feb. 28 will receive a $15 e-gift card to a merchant of choice. Visit RedCrossBlood.org/Flurry for details.

In a hurry?

To save time, donors can use the RapidPass to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, before arriving at the blood drive. To get started, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Blood Donor App.

There’s also a need for volunteers, which gives people who are unable to give blood an opportunity to give back to their community by serving as a volunteer blood donor ambassador. Blood donor ambassadors help greet, check in and thank blood donors to ensure they have a positive donation experience.

For more information visit redcross.org/volunteertoday.

Pregnancy loss such as a miscarriage is often considered the most common adverse pregnancy outcome, but the psychological impact it can have on an expectant mother can be overwhelming.

Amber Robinson of Macomb Township was expecting three times.

“I had two miscarriages and then we found out I was pregnant with twins,” Robinson said, referring to her high school sweetheart Kyle Williams, both of whom are graduates of Anchor Bay H.S.

Having experienced two miscarriages already, news of the twins had Robinson feeling  a mix of emotions. For one, she was nervous about just being pregnant and overwhelmed at the idea of twins but also very excited about two babies coming at once.

“He was ecstatic,” Robinson said, of Williams.

However, just when they started making plans for two cribs, two strollers and two of everything else, Robinson learned she had miscarried a twin and that the other baby might not survive.

Among the questions that Robinson asked at this point was why?

“Why is my body not capable of holding children,” said Robinson, who has autoimmune disease and suffers from fibroids.

“Fibroids, also known as uterine leiomyomas, are benign (non-cancerous) tumors that grow in or on the uterus,” said Dr. D’Angela Pitts, director of maternal infant health equity at Henry Ford Health. “They are not directly related to autoimmune diseases, as they are primarily caused by hormonal factors, particularly estrogen and progesterone as well as genetic and environmental influences.”

But it’s possible that these fibroids led to the early arrival of Averi Zianne Williams, born at 32 weeks, weighing 4 pounds, 3 ounces.

“Over the course of my pregnancy, as she grew they (fibroids) grew,” Robinson said, until they were the size of oranges. “She was fighting for space and came early.”

Averi, while born tiny, was mighty.

After spending 21 days in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, was able to go home and has been thriving ever since. In fact, the happy, tall-for-her-age 3-year-old will soon be a big sister.

Robinson said having Averi helped her get through the depression that lingered over the loss of her twin and previous miscarriages but it also brought on new struggles associated with postpartum depression (PPD), a common condition that affects approximately 10-20% of pregnancies, although the true number may be higher due to underreporting.

“It can be triggered by a variety of factors including complications during pregnancy or delivery, sleep deprivation, a history of depression or anxiety and stressful changes such as the loss of a child,” Pitts said.

“When she finally came home I was scared of everything,” Robinson said. “I wouldn’t take showers because I didn’t want her to be alone too long.”It’s then that she leaned on her village including her doctor and family.

“I cannot thank her enough,” Robinson said of Pitts. “She would literally hold my hand. I couldn’t have done it without her and my family. My parents and Kyle’s parents. They were there to make sure I was OK and for reassurance.”

Robinson said she often worried that it was something she did that brought on her pregnancy problems and after going from not having any children to having a child was unsure of herself. They helped stifle those fears and assure her that what she was doing was the best for Averi and that she was the best mom. They also made her feel comfortable enough to take a nap while Averi was in their care.

“I’m still going through therapy but I’m doing a lot better,” said Robinson, who was told in December that she’s pregnant.

“I’m still working but I reduced my hours and this baby is due in August. I think that will help too because the weather will be nice and I won’t be stuck inside all the time,” Robinson said.

She also knows that should things get difficult she can turn to people for help and advises other women struggling with postpartum depression to do the same.

“Lean on your village, your family, your spouse or your friend, and let them know how you’re feeling,” she said. “Then, just take it, day by day.”