The little guy just gave up because he no longer had his brother with him

Steve is a former colleague and friend who lives with his family in London. He sent me an article in 2012 which I shared in a post titled “Running…with red eyes“. He’s back a year later sharing a personal experience that I felt was fitting to share on a Sunday morning. And yes, more red eyes for me.  Here’s Steve:

Dave,

Hi there, it’s been a long time. I read with real sadness the article you posted about Disney (“Evolution. In Reverse.”). Sometimes I just don’t get people. However, while the Disney story is almost certainly the low point in my reading journey this week, I already have read the high point of my week – and it’s only Wednesday. I know it’s a high point, no doubt about it. I thought I’d share a story with you, perhaps you might like to share with the DK community if you want to. The story shows that while there are many selfish people out there, there also many who give for a living……….

I’ve been involved with a charity for some time now. It’s called Julia’s House. It’s a charity based on the south coast of England in a county called Dorset. The charity provides hospice care for children with some unimaginable disabilities that are life limiting. Rarely will the children JH cares for live beyond 10 years old. The work the hospice does is amazing – not just for the children they help but for the work they also do for the brothers and sisters and families of the children in the hospice. Julia’s House gets very limited government support and they rely on fund raising. My friends in the UK and I do all we can…..I don’t quite know where I find the time but when you connect with something that inspires you, time presents itself differently doesn’t it?  

Anyway, the story…..Two brothers died recently at the hospice, they were 3 and 5 years old. Unbelievably they were both born with the same condition. Their parents were broken, yet unbelievably strong. With very little warning, the boys deteriorated rapidly and died just a couple of days apart. We thought the second little guy just gave up because he no longer had his brother with him. We’ll never know. Hard to compute. Still is for everyone connected to Julia’s House.

The chief executive of Julia’s House, an amazing guy, had an idea. In the midst of that sadness he saw a way forward. He decided to invite every family who had received support from Julia’s House and had lost a child to a celebration. A celebration of life. A celebration that let every family know that even though their child was no longer around, their child was special, unique, that they were a gift, no matter what disability they had.

Martin, the CEO of Julia’s House wrote to me this week…..here is what he said….

“Steve,

Just a note to say on Saturday we held our first annual Memorial gathering for bereaved families at Julia’s House. It proved to be an occasion full of warmth and companionship, with many families bringing grandparents and small children too, making it a whole family occasion. There were many poignant moments, much bonding between families, and we gave each family a pebble stone carved with the name of their child. We encouraged all the families to realize that, despite all they had gone through, they had done everything possible to enrich their child’s life.”

~ Martin

I simply loved that. A pebble…something so small, so unique, so pure, yet part of such a bigger plan with its very own place in our world somewhere, somehow. I know every parent will cherish that pebble and all it represents. So Dave, while you, me and everyone who reads your blog will be saddened by the Disney story, I hope that a story from halfway around the world will perhaps put a smile back on the face of your followers…..

Hope you and the family are well, take care Dave.

Good Sunday Morning…

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