Turn around
By Kevin Barnard, Columnist
We had a front row seat to the effects of stage 4 cancer on a body. We watched her battle…struggle…courageously and elegantly. Then came the toughest day. Ultimate victory…and at the same time devastating loss.
We walked forward through the fog. We had good days and bad days. We fell…got back up…fell again…and again. Not sure where we were going but doing the best we could with the hand we were dealt.
Then one day, I watched my daughter turn around. She knew what she went through and wanted to help someone coming behind her that was facing the same difficult journey. She had been given a quilt at the hospice center, something simple that impacted her. So she turned around and started making quilts for the same hospice center…. for those on the same journey….to make the same impact.
I’ve seen many turn around. Some simply clean out refrigerators…. because they know food will be coming in at a record pace. Some send cards later…. because they know that funerals aren’t always the hardest days. Some make calls or visits AFTER the services…. because they know how quiet it can get after everyone goes back to “normal”. They’ve turned around to help someone else. They’ve taken their terrible experience and decided to help someone for the good.
No awards. No recognition. Just following their heart…. trying to help others and in turn…helping themselves on the journey to Healing Out Loud.