Life often teaches us profound lessons through the crucible of experience. For my family, these lessons arrived with a force that reshaped our very existence. There's a powerful, almost mystical force that emanates from acts of giving, a force that doesn't just return what we put out, but amplifies it, often when we are at our lowest ebb. It's a testament to the interconnectedness of our world, a belief that when we extend ourselves for others, the universe conspires to catch us when we fall.

When My World Shattered

August 28th, 1993, is a date seared into my memory. My daughter, Melissa, just thirteen years old, fell from our swing. It wasn't a simple scraped knee or a broken bone. It was a devastating head injury, so severe that she was airlifted to Harborview trauma center in Seattle. She arrived unresponsive, intubated, her tiny body fighting for life. The doctors performed a craniectomy, removing the entire front portion of her skull to relieve the immense pressure on her brain. For two agonizing months, Melissa lay in a coma, and we lived in a state of unbearable uncertainty, not knowing if she would ever wake, or what damage had been done if she did, as her mother, I could not speak or touch her, even as she lay in a coma. The human bond, and the mother/child bond so strong, that if I touched her or spoke, her blood pressure would go up. I ached not being able to let her know I was here for her (more on that later).

The fight for Melissa's life was far from over. She contracted an infection, and in a heartbreaking turn of events, both frontal lobes of her brain had to be removed. Years later, an attempt to reconstruct her skull with her own bone failed when her body rejected it, leading to more surgeries, more pain, and more rebuilding with specialized plastics. We were crawling out of this abyss, financially and emotionally shattered.

Punch in the Gut Number 2: Jessica's Journey

Then, as if the universe intended to test our very limits, on September 3rd, 1995, just two years after Melissa's accident, my youngest daughter, Jessica, then only five years old, was diagnosed with cancer. The weight of the world pressed down on me. I was consumed by self-blame, questioning every choice, every action, wondering what I had done, or failed to do, to bring this upon my children. Suddenly, I had both my daughters in Children's Hospital – Melissa, grappling with the long, arduous path of brain injury rehabilitation, and Jessica, bravely fighting a terrifying battle with cancer.

Adding to this overwhelming crisis, I lost my job without a word, I lost my home, and my only car was on the brink of being taken. The constant barrage of calls from bill collectors felt like a relentless assault. I was homeless, penniless, a single mother to two critically ill children, and my pride, a shield I had always carried, prevented me from reaching out for help. I know now that many of you reading this have faced your own moments of profound despair, feeling as though you are utterly alone against insurmountable odds.

In those darkest days, when it felt like every door was closing, something extraordinary happened. It wasn't a lottery win or a sudden inheritance. It was a quiet, powerful wave of support that emerged from unexpected places. Friends rallied, offering what little they could. Strangers performed acts of kindness that felt like miracles. The doctors and nurses, dedicated beyond measure, became a second family. These acts of generosity, given freely and without expectation, were the lifelines that kept us afloat. They were the universe answering our unspoken pleas, demonstrating that even in the deepest darkness, the light of human connection and compassion can shine through. This experience taught me, in the most visceral way possible, the incredible power of giving – not just in the blessings it brings back, but in the essential support it provides during life's most challenging storms.

My mother always said, "no matter how bad life gets, keep putting one foot in front of the other, no matter how small the steps and you will find your way forward." So that is what I did. Had it not been for the giving of others in my time of need, I do not really know what would have become of us. Waking up to bags of groceries on the front porch, getting an envelope delivered from Melissa's school with over $1000 in cash for her meds (they knew I could not afford them) along with gift cards to local grocery stores. Finding out from someone who did research that my utilities could not be turned off due to a federal law when you have a child hospitalized for more than 90 consecutive days. It was these things from our "community" that kept us going. It was the love that was poured out in the form of an ear to listen, a free massage, and yes, even just a phone call asking how I was doing. IT ALL MADE A HUGE DIFFERENCE!

Although the debt was crushing and I felt like the walls were falling in on me daily, I had HOPE, and that came from all the people, many whom I did not know, who willingly in their own way, through donations, acts of kindness, were all saying the same thing… "we got you," and all of us need that at times in life. I learned many lessons through all of this, and I will share more in future articles about the journey.

FORWARD FOCUSED

 Today, I am focused on giving back, sharing knowledge, being an ear, giving what is needed, and helping where I am able. When each of us does this, our energy is combined and used for so much good! There is someone in your circle right now, suffering, maybe in silence. Maybe it's you. Each of us can make a life a bit brighter by doing what we can, no matter how small, as a COMMUNITY we can affect the lives of those we may know, and those who we may never meet.

This Is Vince

In today's article, I am asking that you help me help some dear friends going through some horrific health issues like many of us have. Vince is suffering from 2 types of stage 4 cancer. The bills have been mounting, they are losing their home, and they need a helping hand. Please consider any size donation today! CLICK HERE to help!

When you choose to give, you are not just offering a helping hand to someone in need; you are stepping into the role of a true blessing in their life. You become the extraordinary person who lights up their darkest hour. The gifts you give, whether tangible or intangible, carry a powerful energy that resonates far beyond the immediate moment. And in return, the universe has a beautiful way of reflecting that generosity back to you, often in ways you can’t even imagine. Embrace the power of giving, for it is in sharing our abundance, our time, and our compassion that we truly enrich not only the lives of others but our own as well. Let’s be that light for each other! ✨💖🙏

Part 1: Melissa's Path to Recovery

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