Harmony, Unity and Health

Several years ago, a friend died in Kuwait on his way into Iraq.  It was a horribly tragic accident which devastated a lot of people, especially his family.  I was able to serve his family as the causality assistance officer, basically a liaison between the family and the Army.  His family were members of a small catholic church, his best friend's family the members of a large baptist church.  This is in a small Mennonite town.  Sounds like the beginning to a great joke, but i swear i'm coming around to a point in this narrative.

Because it was a small town and his family is/was well liked and respected, we expected upwards of a 1000 people to attend the funeral.  Clearly too many for his small church to accommodate.  The baptist church was willing to host, but was still a little too small.  So the pastor of the baptist church and the priest of the catholic church, together with other local leaders, convinced the elders of the Mennonite church to allow a catholic service to be held in their sanctuary.  If you know anything about these three sects of Christianity, just about the only thing they have in common is Christ. 

Despite their very different points of views and closely held ideologies, they were able to come together as one body in Christ to honor my friend and serve his family.  It was one of the most amazing acts of true  Christian behavior I have ever witnessed and served as a powerful testimony of Christ's love to everyone. 

Since deciding 2 weeks ago to start a foundation in Maddie's memory, I have been reminded multiple times that many CDH organizations already exist.  Why would I want to go to the trouble of starting my own just to spend my time and effort doing something that someone else already does and probably does better?

My best answer is that it's important to me to feel like I'm actively doing something positive with this loss and doing it in a way I wish it had been done for my family.  My other answer is that we are all one community under the CDH, sick baby, sick child, deceased child umbrella.  To me, it doesn't matter if I raise $500 for CDH families or if someone else does, so long as that $500 is being raised and used to help each other.

More to the point, the Madelyn Spence Foundation may only participate in one sporting event.  We may only do one fundraiser.  We may only help one family establish a benevolence fund.  And after that, we may fizzle out and dissolve into nothingness.  Or, less likely, we may become the biggest nonprofit in the world and raise millions upon millions of dollars.  I imagine that most nonprofits that start, just like most businesses that start, last for 3 years or less. 

But I firmly believe that during those 3 years, we can all serve as force multipliers for each other, spreading the message, raising awareness and hopefully increasing funds for the nonprofits that stick around for the long haul.  Much like the three small churches finding ways to work together and support their community, I am hopeful that Maddie's Mob can achieve the same sense of harmony and unity with other nonprofits when and if appropriate. 

I also wanted to address my health - I was discharged from the partial hospitalization treatment program last week and feel like a new woman.  I am optimistic again.  I am focused again.  I have a hope and a joy and a belief in the future that was missing for far too long.  When the time came where something was going to give and I was sure it was going to be my life and/or my sanity, I am so thankful that this treatment plan was an option.  It truly saved my life as well as my marriage and my health. 

I am now considered an out patient, meaning lots of medical appointments and medication adjustments but no acute behavior health problems.  Dealing with "real life" for almost a week now, I would go further and say I am a much healthier and happier person then I was even before Maddie's death and getting better every day.