Another week has gone by and for the first time I am asking the question.....where has the summer gone?
I feel like it was yesterday when I walked aimlessly into Children's for the first time wondering what this summer had in store. Yes, the first week contained me getting lost, forgetting people's names and people probably wondering who is this kid?
What I did not realize was how much I was going to learn and do in a matter of four weeks. Somehow my great team has allowed me to go to numerous shoots, a Braves game, the Zoo and meet countless individuals who have impacted people of all ages.
I know the fellow interns can agree with me on this when I say there really is never a dull moment at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta.
Yes, I may have to take naps many days because my body is still not used to getting up at 6:00, but this is what I love. I love the fast-paced environment of children every single day coming into the hospital needing your help. I am blessed.
Sitting at home one day this week, I heard the news of a teenage boy battling leukemia at Children's. A good friend of mine kept me updated all week on his condition. Each day, his condition continued to worsen until finally the doctor said there was nothing else he could medically do to keep him alive.
On Thursday, this teenage boy was released to go home for the final time. Sadly, yesterday he passed away. My friend could not say enough great things about this young man. He was a teenager who genuinely cared for the people around him and never stopped smiling.
My friend later described how he fought to the very end and never gave up. His body had failed him, but that love and kind spirit he showed until the very end was never forgotten.
He found strength and comfort in his Heavenly Father who is our sole provider. The Lord never wavered from his side even through the toughest moments. He was there with him each and every breath up until his last.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4 says praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.
Life is so fragile, but let us never forget we have a Father who is always there.
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Saturday, June 16, 2012
Looking Through Another Person's Eyes
What a week.
I have got to say I have an incredible team of people to work with. Their constant patience with me never goes unnoticed, and I am truly grateful to them for creating an uplifting atmosphere where there is nothing but smiles and constant words of encouragement.
This week was jam-packed getting ready for events, learning Vocus and soaking up all the knowledge I can about this great place.
Last night was my first event with Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. We had patients' families enjoy a relaxing evening at the Atlanta Zoo. They were able to see all the amazing animals and eat pretty good food if I say so myself. You could tell each and every one of the children were having a great night.
One point in the night I was able to talk with a family who had a 7 year-old girl who had
two liver transplants at a young age. The girl never stopped smiling as she danced to each song the DJ played. Another child that evening had undergone an open heart surgery at a young age. These kids were true fighters.
As I was leaving the event and remembering all the children I had met that night, I couldn't help but think back to how my life would have been different if I had gone through the circumstances these children had to overcome so early on in life.
You see we don't know another person's story. We don't know what other people have gone through in their life. From the outside, these girls looked like any other 7-year-olds running around and playing. Instead, these girls have been through so much and another day for them is never guaranteed.
It got me to thinking. I have no idea what another person is going through in their life. People could be going through family struggles, illness, financial insecurity or various other problems that you could never see from the outside.
The question that hit home in my mind was when was the last time I tried to get to know someone else's story or the problems weighing on their life right now? A while.
You see you will never know what it means to another person when you might go up and see how he or she may be doing. Taking a second to listen to their thoughts and how you may help is genuinely caring for someone and sometimes that is what makes all the difference.
Galatians 6:2 says it best.
"Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ."
Bearing another person's burden's and standing by their side even in the toughest moments is what we are called to do. This is the kind of love we have been shown by Christ.
Lets start looking through another person's eyes and genuinely be there for others because we have no idea what another person may be going through.
I have got to say I have an incredible team of people to work with. Their constant patience with me never goes unnoticed, and I am truly grateful to them for creating an uplifting atmosphere where there is nothing but smiles and constant words of encouragement.
This week was jam-packed getting ready for events, learning Vocus and soaking up all the knowledge I can about this great place.
Last night was my first event with Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. We had patients' families enjoy a relaxing evening at the Atlanta Zoo. They were able to see all the amazing animals and eat pretty good food if I say so myself. You could tell each and every one of the children were having a great night.
One point in the night I was able to talk with a family who had a 7 year-old girl who had
two liver transplants at a young age. The girl never stopped smiling as she danced to each song the DJ played. Another child that evening had undergone an open heart surgery at a young age. These kids were true fighters.
As I was leaving the event and remembering all the children I had met that night, I couldn't help but think back to how my life would have been different if I had gone through the circumstances these children had to overcome so early on in life.
You see we don't know another person's story. We don't know what other people have gone through in their life. From the outside, these girls looked like any other 7-year-olds running around and playing. Instead, these girls have been through so much and another day for them is never guaranteed.
It got me to thinking. I have no idea what another person is going through in their life. People could be going through family struggles, illness, financial insecurity or various other problems that you could never see from the outside.
The question that hit home in my mind was when was the last time I tried to get to know someone else's story or the problems weighing on their life right now? A while.
You see you will never know what it means to another person when you might go up and see how he or she may be doing. Taking a second to listen to their thoughts and how you may help is genuinely caring for someone and sometimes that is what makes all the difference.
Galatians 6:2 says it best.
"Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ."
Bearing another person's burden's and standing by their side even in the toughest moments is what we are called to do. This is the kind of love we have been shown by Christ.
Lets start looking through another person's eyes and genuinely be there for others because we have no idea what another person may be going through.
Sunday, June 10, 2012
What Keeps You Going?
We sometimes get in a rut. Sometimes we get tired of doing the same thing every single day. That is human nature.
I was at that stage. At the end of the school year, the complaining started because I was "tired" of what I was doing every single day. I did not look at the bigger picture, but instead was consumed in the hours of studying and meetings I needed a break from.
I remember the first day at orientation sitting down and talking with a few employees. I was expecting to hear they had been there a couple of months or a couple of years, but everyone I talked to said they were going on their 10th, 15th, 24th year at Children's....Yep for many wondering that is more years than I have been alive.
My next question was simple....What keeps you going?
I write down everything, and his response was simple. The people. He went on to describe the lives of the people he has been able to make better. These memories keep him going.
This past week at a meeting they showed the story of a young girl. She was diagnosed with stage four cancer. The doctors found a large tumor behind her liver. It spread quickly, but thankfully the doctors were able to stop the cancer from spreading for the meantime through chemotherapy. She was not done however. She had a relapse and went through a second round of chemotherapy. After excruciating treatment, she was singing and full of life, grinning from ear to ear.
Watching that story, I went back to thinking about my colleague's answer on what kept him going. It is stories like this young girl that keep employees at Children going.
I was driving home this week from work reminiscing on this story. I could not help but ask what kept me going?
You see life is precious. I remember graduating elementary school, thinking I was all cool in middle school and saying good-bye to my parents as they drove off at the University of Georgia. The crazy thing is all these moments feel like yesterday.
With this short amount of time we have on this Earth, we are called to have a sense of urgency. This sense of urgency is for the people around us. Similar to the response my colleague had earlier, we are here for other people.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8 says it best.
"Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away."
We are here to serve God who has loved us so much and thus love others in that same genuine and authentic way.
Next time you may be in a rut remember the stories you have heard like the young girl's above. Remember that we called to be here for others and love one another. In the end, that is what should keep us going.
I was at that stage. At the end of the school year, the complaining started because I was "tired" of what I was doing every single day. I did not look at the bigger picture, but instead was consumed in the hours of studying and meetings I needed a break from.
I remember the first day at orientation sitting down and talking with a few employees. I was expecting to hear they had been there a couple of months or a couple of years, but everyone I talked to said they were going on their 10th, 15th, 24th year at Children's....Yep for many wondering that is more years than I have been alive.
My next question was simple....What keeps you going?
I write down everything, and his response was simple. The people. He went on to describe the lives of the people he has been able to make better. These memories keep him going.
This past week at a meeting they showed the story of a young girl. She was diagnosed with stage four cancer. The doctors found a large tumor behind her liver. It spread quickly, but thankfully the doctors were able to stop the cancer from spreading for the meantime through chemotherapy. She was not done however. She had a relapse and went through a second round of chemotherapy. After excruciating treatment, she was singing and full of life, grinning from ear to ear.
Watching that story, I went back to thinking about my colleague's answer on what kept him going. It is stories like this young girl that keep employees at Children going.
I was driving home this week from work reminiscing on this story. I could not help but ask what kept me going?
You see life is precious. I remember graduating elementary school, thinking I was all cool in middle school and saying good-bye to my parents as they drove off at the University of Georgia. The crazy thing is all these moments feel like yesterday.
With this short amount of time we have on this Earth, we are called to have a sense of urgency. This sense of urgency is for the people around us. Similar to the response my colleague had earlier, we are here for other people.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8 says it best.
"Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away."
We are here to serve God who has loved us so much and thus love others in that same genuine and authentic way.
Next time you may be in a rut remember the stories you have heard like the young girl's above. Remember that we called to be here for others and love one another. In the end, that is what should keep us going.
Sunday, June 3, 2012
Learning through Children
Children. Yeah, they are known for spilling things and being a little clumsy at times but sometimes we overlook the many lessons of life we can learn from them. This week I had the opportunity to see firsthand the impact that children can have on people around them.
I was priviledged enough this week to tour the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. Beforehand, I really did not know what to expect. Walking down the hallways, it was a sight that I will never forget.
Children were grinning from ear to ear. Many of the children were receiving chemotherapy or getting tests down with wires dangling from many parts of their body. You would have never known it. There were no tears but instead pure joy as the doctors were right by their side.
On the bottom floor of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston, there is a place called The Voice where patients can come learn about radio and select a song they would like to hear throughout the hospital. The guest that day was a childhood cancer survivor from California.
Talking with the girl and her mother, I found out how incredibly hard it is for a patient to be going through cancer. There were so many days where the mother could only use the word agonizing to describe how hard it was to see her daugher go through this at such a young age.
From the struggle of chemotherapy to now graduating high school and moving on to Pepperdine University, she is giving hope to many children across the country.
Isn't it is amazing the example that children can give us when there are moments in our life that just seem unmanageable? They remind us that even in the toughest moments perseverance and joy are things we should always exhibit.
Ouch. This one hit me hard. Am I showing joy in every moment of my life? Am I persevering when things get a little tough?
This is a lesson we can all learn from children who have pushed through agonizing moments with a smile on their face.
James 1:2-4 says it wonderfully.
"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."
The next time you go through a hard time are you going to count it as joy?
It is amazing what we can learn through children.
I was priviledged enough this week to tour the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. Beforehand, I really did not know what to expect. Walking down the hallways, it was a sight that I will never forget.
Children were grinning from ear to ear. Many of the children were receiving chemotherapy or getting tests down with wires dangling from many parts of their body. You would have never known it. There were no tears but instead pure joy as the doctors were right by their side.
On the bottom floor of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston, there is a place called The Voice where patients can come learn about radio and select a song they would like to hear throughout the hospital. The guest that day was a childhood cancer survivor from California.
Talking with the girl and her mother, I found out how incredibly hard it is for a patient to be going through cancer. There were so many days where the mother could only use the word agonizing to describe how hard it was to see her daugher go through this at such a young age.
From the struggle of chemotherapy to now graduating high school and moving on to Pepperdine University, she is giving hope to many children across the country.
Isn't it is amazing the example that children can give us when there are moments in our life that just seem unmanageable? They remind us that even in the toughest moments perseverance and joy are things we should always exhibit.
Ouch. This one hit me hard. Am I showing joy in every moment of my life? Am I persevering when things get a little tough?
This is a lesson we can all learn from children who have pushed through agonizing moments with a smile on their face.
James 1:2-4 says it wonderfully.
"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."
The next time you go through a hard time are you going to count it as joy?
It is amazing what we can learn through children.
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