Wow! Another busy week is in the books. Earlier this week we had the privilege of speaking to a group of interns at a major hospital. We were able to take quite a bit of time as we shared Hannah’s Story with them, and then we opened it up for questions and conversation. It was an amazing time of just real talking with these up-and-coming medical professionals. Some of them have experienced deep personal loss of their own, and it was another reminder that even though our loss affects us deeply, we are by no means alone. For these special young people, loss has been a motivating factor in their lives. It has shaped the way they evaluate their goals, it’s a factor in how they manage their time, and it is the fuel that drives them to do as much as they can to help other people and to make their lives matter. To be honest, after our loss we look at life a lot differently. That innocence we once had is gone. Nothing is the same anymore and the illusion of a simple, fun, happy, care-free life is gone. Loss has left us with a far more sober-minded outlook on life, and there are very few things that really matter to us. Those are the things that we focus on, those are the things that influence our decisions, and they are the things that get us excited.
As amazing as these young people are, I wonder to myself, “Are they extra gifted? Are they extra smart? Are they in some way extraordinarily unique physically or mentally?” I think the answer can be a little “yes” but perhaps often it is a lot more “no.” I do think that, to some extent, there certainly can be “smarter” or at least more retentive people, and some people do absorb more information than others throughout formal education. But I think far more often the one thing that makes these students “more special” than the average young person isn’t their mind, it’s their mindset. They are not inherently born special; they choose to be special. Like Hannah they are motivated, they set goals, they limit distractions, they intentionally prioritize all aspects in their lives, they are willing to make change when necessary, and they are willing to put the WORK in to become that person they want to be.
We hope to make a long-lasting impact on these young people, and we hope to see them grow and become the valuable life-saving professionals they are meant to be. We look forward to more opportunities like this in the future!
Also, this week we were able to walk in a 4th of July parade, in the Milwaukee area, in support of organ donation. We had a great time walking the route and passing out candy. We were with some other great volunteers who are connected with organ donation through the loss of a young man and his decision to choose organ donation. So, they are connected on the recipient side. It’s always encouraging to hear stories like theirs, and to see the impact that one person’s decision can have on the life of others.
After the parade we helped set up a display table and talked to people about Hannah’s Story. With us on the donor side and them on the recipient side, our stories combine to cover the full spectrum of organ donation. Those who came and talked with us could hear and sympathize with our loss, but they could also literally see the life-saving power of organ donation right in front of them. Some of these other volunteers had recently been at the transplant games that we mentioned in our last post. They traveled to Denver, competed in several events, and came home with quite a few medals! We are thankful for these opportunities, and we are always thankful for our chance to meet recipients and to see them living active, healthy lives. They never take their Gift of Life for granted and they never forget that one special person who saved their life!
We are blessed.
P.S. We can’t do this alone. If you would like to donate to Hannah Helps:
PayPal: paypal.com/us/fundraiser/charity/5609126
Venmo: venmo.com/u/hannahhelps19
Your support is needed and greatly appreciated!
Thank You!
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