This Saturday, at the CFF Leadership I met a lot of people I had been waiting to meet. It was not the first time I met Dr Beall. The first time was at Dr Schmidt's house when Philip was just a baby.
This time, I was in the parking garage at the Hyatt charging my cell phone. I showed him my van and all of the "artwork" for CF on it. He thanked ME. He thanked me for spreading awareness and raising money for the foundation. That's right, the President of the foundation that works tirelessly to save my son's life, thanked me. I had no words for him.
There is some misconception that I am some pillar of the community, out doing all this good. Wrong. I never was. I, like tens of thousands of mothers, was forced to do this. The thought never crossed my mind to go out and fundraise for anything. I was perfectly happy living MY life, worrying about me. So I thought.
One terrible personality trait I have is not having the ability to wait. I am impatient and strong willed. AKA- pigheaded. I guess that is a good thing now. My only option is to go out and help find a cure for this horrid disease NOW, not 20 years from now, when it will be too late for Philip.
I have never been a salesman. I have never, ever, liked asking people for money, especially strangers. I am now shameless. I will approach anyone that will listen. I have to.
So many good things have happened since we entered this CF life. I know I have said this many times, but I have met the most amazing people within the CF community. Everyone of them is such a genuine, wonderful person. I have never been to a conference where every person there was so delightful to be around. Perhaps the most amazing thing that has happened, though, is the change in me. I see everything differently. I feel every emotion more. That is a good thing. I donate time and money to charities that I know nothing about. I do this because people have done this for me.
I have not only met wonderful people, but seen the love in people that I did not know they felt. There are so many people that have given and helped since Philip's birth. Even people that I have not seen in 20 years, or classmates from high school that I never even really associated with much. Amazing.
So, I have a little trouble understanding why there are CF families that are not involved. The CFF is amazing. I urge you to call your local chapter. They are there for you. This organization is like no other foundation I have ever heard of. Harvard law school studies their policies. When you donate and get involved with the CFF, your money is not going to waste. This investment you make today will show dividends in your lifetime. This disease will be cured, and I will be a better person in the end for being a part of it. I keep telling myself this, because I know it is true. Too many things in my life have changed for the better in spite of this unfair disease residing in my baby <3
Love to all of you!
This time, I was in the parking garage at the Hyatt charging my cell phone. I showed him my van and all of the "artwork" for CF on it. He thanked ME. He thanked me for spreading awareness and raising money for the foundation. That's right, the President of the foundation that works tirelessly to save my son's life, thanked me. I had no words for him.
There is some misconception that I am some pillar of the community, out doing all this good. Wrong. I never was. I, like tens of thousands of mothers, was forced to do this. The thought never crossed my mind to go out and fundraise for anything. I was perfectly happy living MY life, worrying about me. So I thought.
One terrible personality trait I have is not having the ability to wait. I am impatient and strong willed. AKA- pigheaded. I guess that is a good thing now. My only option is to go out and help find a cure for this horrid disease NOW, not 20 years from now, when it will be too late for Philip.
I have never been a salesman. I have never, ever, liked asking people for money, especially strangers. I am now shameless. I will approach anyone that will listen. I have to.
So many good things have happened since we entered this CF life. I know I have said this many times, but I have met the most amazing people within the CF community. Everyone of them is such a genuine, wonderful person. I have never been to a conference where every person there was so delightful to be around. Perhaps the most amazing thing that has happened, though, is the change in me. I see everything differently. I feel every emotion more. That is a good thing. I donate time and money to charities that I know nothing about. I do this because people have done this for me.
I have not only met wonderful people, but seen the love in people that I did not know they felt. There are so many people that have given and helped since Philip's birth. Even people that I have not seen in 20 years, or classmates from high school that I never even really associated with much. Amazing.
So, I have a little trouble understanding why there are CF families that are not involved. The CFF is amazing. I urge you to call your local chapter. They are there for you. This organization is like no other foundation I have ever heard of. Harvard law school studies their policies. When you donate and get involved with the CFF, your money is not going to waste. This investment you make today will show dividends in your lifetime. This disease will be cured, and I will be a better person in the end for being a part of it. I keep telling myself this, because I know it is true. Too many things in my life have changed for the better in spite of this unfair disease residing in my baby <3
Love to all of you!