While Melodina was alive she inspired people with her ability to stay positive about the future through incredible suffering. I was thinking (and crying) this morning remembering. One of the main thoughts that helped me cope with Melodina's disease and suffering was the idea that if she could come through everything she had to face she would be an incredible inspiration to many, many people. I could just not understand how anyone who had been as healthy as she could get as sick as she did unless it was to somehow help others.
My false faith told me that the reason for the suffering was so that she could live and help others. What I didn't know was that she would die. What I didn't know was the number of people who were being and would be inspired by Mel's strength, her courage and her indomitable faith. I was right in thinking that Melodina would inspire many many people in a great many ways. I did not realize that she didn't need to live to accomplish that.
Recently a High School in Kitchener held a fund raiser for Cancer. Kids got together and formed Team Mel and donated their time and money in Melodina's name. They are inspired. I am inspired. I will be riding soon in the National Kids Cancer Ride in Melodina's name. I had hoped to ride with her but I will ride in her name. Within the next few days I will post information about how you can sponsor me and donate to cancer research. Please consider doing so, if you can. Everything helps and your money will help save lives and reduce suffering for children well into the future. I will be back to you soon with a posting containing the details of my participation in the ride and how you can be involved. Until then, smile, life is amazing.
Friday, May 29, 2009
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Mother's Day
Today is a very difficult day. Not only is it Mother's day but Melodina died exactly four months ago today. My mother, who was living with us, died exactly three years ago today, four months after Melodina first went to Sick Kids.
Indira looked after my mother with the same attention she would give her own mother if she had the opportunity. They had a wonderful relationship that my mother cherished. Our observations lead us to believe that my mother decided it was time to die after Melodina got sick. She just couldn't face that fact that a grandchild might die before her. All these things are clear in our minds today.
Still we have a lot to be thankful for. We are at Harmony's house today. Harmony and Mike always welcome us lovingly. Our grandchildren Hannah and Carter always love us and enjoy our company. Because of each of them we are having lots of love and even some smiles and laughs.
It is a day to enjoy the children. It is a day to reflect on love past and present. To be quite candid, I was somewhat afraid to face this Mother's day - the first without Melodina. Indira cried first thing this morning and I held her. Nevertheless there is love in the world and we can all find some joy in that love. We wish every Mother a very Happy Mother's Day.
Indira looked after my mother with the same attention she would give her own mother if she had the opportunity. They had a wonderful relationship that my mother cherished. Our observations lead us to believe that my mother decided it was time to die after Melodina got sick. She just couldn't face that fact that a grandchild might die before her. All these things are clear in our minds today.
Still we have a lot to be thankful for. We are at Harmony's house today. Harmony and Mike always welcome us lovingly. Our grandchildren Hannah and Carter always love us and enjoy our company. Because of each of them we are having lots of love and even some smiles and laughs.
It is a day to enjoy the children. It is a day to reflect on love past and present. To be quite candid, I was somewhat afraid to face this Mother's day - the first without Melodina. Indira cried first thing this morning and I held her. Nevertheless there is love in the world and we can all find some joy in that love. We wish every Mother a very Happy Mother's Day.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Just a Note
I thought that some who read this blog might be new to it. I have been writing it with the hopes that others who need it will find both hope and inspiration. I encourage you to go back to the beinning and read from the first posts so that you might have and opportunity to get to know Melodina and her struggle with cancer. I believe that it is an epic and inspirational story.
Although Melodina passed away on January 10th, 2009 she inspired many around the world. Her life and her story still continue to do so. I expect to post some of the comments from people who wrote about Melodina and how she effected their lives on this blog in the coming days and weeks. I trust that in keeping Melodina's memory and her inspiration alive that you and others may be inspired in your own lives. Together we can help change in world - one baby step at a time.
Although Melodina passed away on January 10th, 2009 she inspired many around the world. Her life and her story still continue to do so. I expect to post some of the comments from people who wrote about Melodina and how she effected their lives on this blog in the coming days and weeks. I trust that in keeping Melodina's memory and her inspiration alive that you and others may be inspired in your own lives. Together we can help change in world - one baby step at a time.
A Prayer
I am cleaning out my home office after over a year at the hospital with Melodina. I have certainly found some interesting, sometimes emotional memories. The following is a prayer I found, undated and written in my mother's handwriting. It seemed to have a very profound effect on me and I thought I would share in the hope that someone reading it would find that it touched their life.
My Mother’s Prayer
Lord help us to look outside the ghetto of self, to perceive other human persons and to choose – however tentatively – to relate to them at levels of humanness. May we decide that certain things in the world, including love and justice, matter even more than our own lives and commit ourselves to them. May we continue to give love and receive joy in resolving to serve and not just in being served.
Teach us when to act in support of the oppressed; Teach us why we have to act; Teach us to be clear for whom we will act; Teach us where to act; Teach us how to act and give us courage to move out for you.
Oh Lord, Help us, not only with a reorganization of society but a fundamental reordering of priorities that sets being above having; Sharing above possessing; Creativity above manipulation; and joy above anything.
Amen
The above prayer was written by Ethel Patricia Herman in Winnipeg – date unknown
My Mother’s Prayer
Lord help us to look outside the ghetto of self, to perceive other human persons and to choose – however tentatively – to relate to them at levels of humanness. May we decide that certain things in the world, including love and justice, matter even more than our own lives and commit ourselves to them. May we continue to give love and receive joy in resolving to serve and not just in being served.
Teach us when to act in support of the oppressed; Teach us why we have to act; Teach us to be clear for whom we will act; Teach us where to act; Teach us how to act and give us courage to move out for you.
Oh Lord, Help us, not only with a reorganization of society but a fundamental reordering of priorities that sets being above having; Sharing above possessing; Creativity above manipulation; and joy above anything.
Amen
The above prayer was written by Ethel Patricia Herman in Winnipeg – date unknown
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