Three years ago, after a lovely Christmas with my family, I opened my Facebook to see how others in my network spent the day. When I came across a chilling post by my friend Margret: Our Gavin passed away today… All I could do was stare at it, through welling tears, my jaw hung open. Gavin, their new son, was a mere 51 days old. I had not even gotten up to visit and meet him yet! While the rest of us woke up and opened gifts, they woke up to find their son had stopped breathing. As the days and weeks unfolded, I witnessed Margret and Bobby live through a hell that every parent fears. I witnessed them deal with insensitive family, their own grief and rage, and lean on friends for support. Gavin died of SIDS. And their world came crashing down around them. And now, Margret is doing what I know to be one of the most healing and powerful things someone can do -- she has created art from her own grief. She has written and will perform a one-woman show in the spring: Finding Gavin: Unexpected Survival Lessons. As many of you know, I performed a one-person show several years ago -- and am launching a program, Power of One, to aid a small group of people to do the same. I can tell you firsthand that what Margret is doing is brave, challenging, and a gift to others -- and what she is asking for here is an incredibly small amount. I believe she will reach her goal over the remaining six days. But I want to see her exceed it. Wildly. Because the show will be powerful and moving. Because it will heal others. Because it is an important story to tell. Because one family is willing to share their grief, their lessons -- to pull back the curtain and show how they got up every day when many of us wouldnt -- they will change the lives of others in their circumstances. They will raise awareness. They will raise hope. They cant bring Gavin back. But they can -- and will -- give his life meaning with this show. I know I have a powerful group of friends and colleagues here -- who understand the impact of this kind of performance -- and have the heart to help. I am asking for your support today. Thank you!
Posted on: Sat, 15 Nov 2014 19:57:38 +0000
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