|
Outreach
In this article I have the privilege of writing about some extraordinary people.
The first is the single mother of two terminally ill sons. They both have a rare genetic disorder called Leukodystrophy. Both of her sons are patients in the pediatric hospice program.
I had the honor of delivering the Christmas gifts and food to them of behalf of St. Johns. Going into this, I knew her sons were 28 and 30 years old. I knew also that she had no other relatives to help her. I had an image in my head of what I would see. Nothing could have prepared me for what I really saw because it was completely opposite.
I walked into a house filled with durable medical equipment. The only gifts in this house were the gifts that we carried in. There was no Christmas tree because that would’ve been one more thing for this mother to deal with.
It was difficult not to show the emotion that I felt. Chronologically her sons were 28 and 30, but mentally and physically they were infants. They look as though they are around 8 years old and weigh between 50 and 70 pounds. They cannot walk, talk, or even feed themselves. They are totally dependent on their mother the same as an infant would be.
I tried to put myself in that mothers shoes. She will NEVER be able to do things with her sons that we all take for granted with our children. She will never teach them to ride a bike or even throw a baseball. There will never be that mothers’ day card made out of construction paper or that wilted flower picked out of the neighbors yard. In her sons’ world the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy don’t exist. She will never see that look of wonder and amazement on their face on Christmas morning and will never get to explain how Santa got those gifts into the house. I remember the feeling of hearing my children say “mom” for the first time. She will never experience that. If she’s having a bad day she cannot call a babysitter and just take a few hours to herself. Taking care of them is a big responsibility and not just anyone can do it.
Some people in that situation would be angry and bitter, not this woman. She feels that this is the life that God has given her. She has two beautiful sons that she loves very |
|
much and nothing else matters. She has had 30 years to adjust to her situation and her strength is remarkable. She is one of the strongest and most inspiring people that I have had the pleasure of meeting. When I have one of those simply dreadful days where the kids are screaming because one got hurt and another is complaining about starving to death before dinner is done, I step back and realize that I should be thankful for those moments because not everyone can have them. I walked out of that families house that cold December night with far more than I carried in.
The other extraordinary people that the Outreach Committee has had the pleasure of knowing are the area teens that put on the Teens for Tots concert for pediatric hospice patients.
Gregory Carter Jr. had wanted to do this for some time and did all the work to set this up. This group of teens took their time and talent and put it to use to help others that are faced with unfortunate circumstances. They not only took the time to perform, they also spent many hours preparing and practicing. Not even foot surgery could keep Kimberly McElheny from helping.
This standing-room only concert has raised nearly $1,000 for pediatric hospice patients and their families. We have envelopes for anyone that was unable to attend the concert but would still like to donate. BRAVO!
I now realize that superheroes do exist. They don’t wear capes and cannot fly. They don’t have really cool gadgets that can get them out of any tough situation. They are people around us that have the courage to stand up to any situation no matter how bad it is. Self pity has no power over these people. They are the people that give of themselves to benefit others even though they have never met them. I am very blessed to have these people in my life.
Peace, Patty Paris |
