HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — For Erika Scott, her annual Beau Strong Toy Drive was born from unimaginable loss.
“We’re doing a toy drive in honor of my son, Beau Scott,” she said. “We received a hard diagnosis about three years ago. He was diagnosed with leukemia.”
Erika had to step away as the softball coach at Aldine MacArthur for four months to be with Beau at Texas Children’s Hospital while he received cancer treatment.
“I leaned on family, friends, and faith,” she said. “You have to be strong because you have kids who are depending on you, and you are just laser-focused on the treatment. I had stopped working, so I wasn’t sure how I was going to pull off a Christmas for my kids.
The hospital and nonprofits stepped in and helped with presents for the kids.
“Beau didn’t make it,” Erika Scott said. “He passed away at 9 months old, three days after Christmas.”
Understanding the incredible challenges families face while receiving cancer treatment, she set out to help.
“The cost of cancer treatment can really just financially burden a family,” she said. “It’s just a relief because you have so much on your plate.”
Her softball team, along with the MacArthur and Aldine ISD community, helped collect toys.
“Well, we have a lot of elves around here,” Scott said. “It really is teamwork, and I’m a coach, so I got my whistle.”
Former Texans player Mister Alexander and his Missing Element sports performance family also collected toys and donated them at the toy drive.
“Shoutout to our community,” owner Magic Robinson said. “We really want to thank our Missing Element community.”
The tables filled with toys were delivered by bus to the front door of Texas Children’s Hospital.
“The generosity is oftentimes overwhelming,” Erika Scott said. “It really makes me emotional.”
“I called him Beau the Messenger because he was sent here for a very short time, and he came here on purpose for a purpose, so giving back is really like where Beau Strong really comes from, which is helping those families. And eventually, you know, we can do more for the families that Texas Children’s, because so much was done for my family,” she said.
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