Tonight's picture was taken in May of 2005. Mattie was three years old. That weekend we took him to one of our favorite places in DC, the Aquatic Gardens. These Gardens are like the best kept secret in the District. They are truly peaceful, beautiful, and the Gardens attract amazing bird life. As you can see from this photo.... Mattie was all business. He was walking around and looking for birds, frogs, and turtles!
Quote of the day: When you put love out in the world it travels, and it can touch people and reach people in ways that we never even expected. ~ Laverne Cox
Given the intense rains and wind, I couldn't take my parents out today. It just would have made no sense. Because I would have gotten soaked addressing each of their needs to and from the car. Being home a whole day is challenging at best. In the midst of the usual chores, I had to call my health insurer. I was scheduled to get an MRI this Friday (at an outpatient radiology center), until I learned that my insurer approved the scan at the hospital. Since I prefer having my scans done at the hospital, I was thrilled for the approval. I called the hospital and scheduled my MRI there and canceled my Friday appointment at the outpatient radiology center. However, thankfully I had the wherewithal to call my health insurer. I did this because I do not want any billing surprises. Sure enough my health insurer said the prior authorization letter in my portal was not accurate, as my scan was not approved at the hospital. I literally was arguing with four different people at my health insurer company because wouldn't most patients believe the preapproval letter their insurer gave them was accurate? I have just gotten cynical and trust nothing, so I verify, and re-verify. Thankfully I did! By the time I got off the phone with the health insurer, I thought my head was going to split open. I could feel my blood pressure was high and I felt like a squirrel locked in a cage.
When I have that feeling.... outside I go! With all the rain and wind, I picked up countless fallen branches from trees! Then later today I had a phone call with a Foundation supporter. This is an individual I do not speak to often, yet it was such an inspiring phone call.
This supporter has been struggling with her own health issues for years. I will not be sharing her details, as this is her story. But suffice it to say, though her issues and mine are different, as hers are physical and mine are emotional, we share many commonalities. Grief and trauma look very similar regardless of the origins of the issues. I found this woman absolutely inspiring because despite her physical limitations and struggles to regain her health, she continues on. She pushes herself and never sits long in the darkness. Our commonality is we find great therapy in doing tasks and helping others. As I said to her, the best medicine for healing, is helping others. I truly believe dwelling in trauma and loss is counterproductive. You can only sit there in small dosages, because if you really sit in it, it will consume you and then it will be close to impossible to recover and stabilize.
What this woman wanted to convey to me is that anyone and everyone who knows Mattie Miracle, knows that I am the heart of Mattie Miracle. That I am the one who has run it for years and she said given her years consulting with non-profits, why Mattie Miracle is successful is because of my philosophy. Which is that I make it a point to connect on some level to each and every person affiliated with the Foundation. She is spot on! As Mattie Miracle's president, I have always made it my business to acknowledge each and every contributor and to get to know people who I interface with personally. I do not do this because I have an ulterior motive, I do this because I genuinely care.
I know this about myself and my leadership style, but it is always fascinating hearing it through the lens of someone else. When we signed off with each other today, I think we both felt better about the day. As I always say..... each of us has the power and ability to make someone's day better and brighter, or worse and painful. Her phone call enabled me to be grateful for my health and thankful that I have the strength and ability to manage my parents, the house, and the Foundation. I do not take the gift of health EVER for granted. I learned that early on with Mattie's diagnosis. But I also heard today the importance of this woman's husband and children in her life. They are her ultimate supports! NO ONE is going to support you like your spouse and children. You may disagree, but given my insights with what it takes to be a caregiver, I speak with confidence. Not having Mattie or my husband, is a daily sobering reality check.
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