Recently, I was honored to be nominated as one of the “Wilton 25” by Wilton Magazine. It was so incredibly thoughtful of my friend to nominate me. The “Wilton 25” are considered: The Most Dedicated, Most Creative, and/or Most Intriguing neighbors.
My friend nominated me because of all I do for the Ronald McDonald House of the Greater Hudson Valley, STAR Inc…Lighting the Way, along with creating general awareness of congenital heart disease and volunteering at my daughters’ schools. I do put as much time and effort into these causes as I can while raising three girls.
I’ve always had a philanthropic spirit. It grew significantly after my son’s initial diagnosis and subsequent death. I do a lot of volunteering because I enjoy it, but it is also a great distraction.
I love my girls so incredibly much, even on the toughest of days. They are also a constant reminder of what I missed with my son and what I’ll continue to miss. Registering my older daughter for kindergarten has been one of the hardest days so far. I also watched two friends register their sons and it was heartbreaking. My son should have been my first to go to kindergarten and the first to ride the bus. He is my first, but many of the first milestones we celebrate should have been his and they are not.
Many of the organizations I volunteer for help me feel closer to my son because at one time they helped him and our family. However, there is one that I did not expect to bring waves of unexpected grief: volunteering at the elementary school library. My shift has six second grade classes; my son would have been in second grade. I take this as a sign to see the children he would have been friends with. I get to see the books they take out and watch them learn new things every other week. It helps me see some of what could have been. I need that every now and then.
I need many of these distractions to keep busy. I take my efforts seriously because I want to give the best and most I can to the deserving organizations that I’m involved with. If I can make a positive impact in any way and it helps keep my grief at bay, helping me to move forward, I will continue to do what I do. And if I happen to inspire others to get involved along the way, even better!
