Today I met the mother of...

[rbnyc]

...Dominic Murray.

http://www.domheart21.org/

Dominic died in 2009 at the age of 17 from sudden cardiac arrest while playing basketball. He’d had an undiagnosed congenital heart deformity.

I met his mom, Melinda, today at a fundraiser to support a village in Rwanda.

After a video showing the genocide memorial and pictures of children with missing limbs and machete indentations in their skulls, we gathered in a circle and answered 4 questions:

Who are you?
Why are you here?
What do you need?
What do you have to give?

When it was Melinda’s turn to speak, she shared the story of her son. She said she wanted to prevent other parents from having “my reality become their tragedy.” She had specific reasons for feeling connected to this group that is providing support to the village. But she also shared her goal to certify 2100 people in CPR by the end of the year. One of the things her foundation offers is free CPR instruction.
I was amazed by her – just that she’s able to stand and walk and talk after such a loss, let alone GIVE.

I saw a lot of amazing things this morning and met a lot of beautiful people with great inner power. But I wanted to share Melinda and Dominic’s story with you.

Also, I invite you to answer the 4 questions. It was a meaningful exercise. Interpret the Why are you here question any way you like.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. My dear rbnyc...

This is a heartbreaking, fascinating story...

She has taken her grief and used it to accomplish something good. How many of us can say we even came close to doing that?

My answers to the four questions:

Who am I? A woman. A wife, a mother, a grandmother, a lover, a poet, a retired nurse, a lazy good-for-nothing creature...A soul.

Why am I here? I was told that I was here because this time, I wanted to have a family, which was something I'd never done.

What do I need? I need love, respect, consideration.

What do I have to give? I have to give my love away, and my words, and my intelligence, and my empathy.

Great thread!

Thank you for it...

:hug:

[rbnyc]

2. And you give...

...every day. Thank you.

[laylah]

3. Wonderful thread!

Who are you? Advocate for those less fortunate, since I was a child.
Why are you here? To learn what I did not learn the last time around.
What do you need? Love and respect.
What do you have to give? My heart, my dedication, my blood, sweat, and tears...have before, will always if asked.

Thank you! :loveya:

Jenn

[rbnyc]

4. Wonderful answers. (nt)

[Frosty1]

5. I can answer all those questions with one word. LOVE

Who are you?

Why are you here?

What do you need?

What do you have to give?

[rbnyc]

6. right on. (nt)

[datasuspect]

7. ansers

Who are you? one of the baddest mans alive

Why are you here? To haul ass and get paid

What do you need? Whatever i can get

What do you have to give? My heart

[rbnyc]

8. That's totally beautiful.

:toast: