durbustweeb

For the past while I've spent a lot of time working with kids at Children's Healthcare Atlanta. I've seen really tough stuff, but I've also seen absolutely wonderful things - amazing surgical results letting a deaf girl hear, spinal surgery to straighten horrific curves, facial reconstructions to remove hideous deformities, and much more. People like to be free with their praise of my work, but frankly, it falls on deaf ears. Talk is cheap.

The greatest gift we can give to anyone else is just ourselves. Things, or the lack of things, will always be there, but very few stretch themselves to contribute to the life of strangers in a face-to-face manner.

Two weeks ago I held the hand of a boy whose face was cut wide open in several places... a day earlier. His family didn't see it important to bring him in right away. After that I drew pictures with a little guy who had self-medicated and had to wait with mom until it was clear to go home. I've been there for scared kids going into major surgery, bored kids with no one there with them, angry kids who were abandoned, babies who craved touch, siblings of kids who were both bored and afraid of what was going on.

Being there for others is the very key to opening up your own life. Opportunity arises, and self-pity withers. It's the coolest thing in the world.