Yesterday one of our customers reached out to me looking for help for her friend. The friend’s child was at INOVA due to an accident, and one of his injuries is a TBI. I truly love being able to help other families navigate what is potentially their worst nightmare. But I would be lying if I said it didn’t trigger some emotions that I wish I could keep dormant.
As I was texting the woman whose son was injured, I was at the pool, handing out team t-shirts and helping with team pictures. My mind was on a million things, as I tried to type helpful and empathetic words to a total stranger.
The volcano of emotions got me thinking about all the things in our life that have happened as a result of Bensten’s accident. And not to take away from B’s hard work- since his sheer desire to get better is what got us to this point. But so many good things have come from that horrible event.
The irony was not lost on me- that I was messaging with this person from The Langley Club- the same pool that organized and hosted the prayer walk for Bensten while we were in the hospital. I started to think of all the people we have met due to Bensten’s accident and recovery. And the friends we already had, who held us up when we weren’t sure we could stand on our own. It’s funny, cause I often say that I am not sure I would have raised my family in McLean, if it weren’t for the fact that my siblings and parents all live within 5 miles of me. But today I realize that I am not sure that I really mean that. Yes, this area is super intense. But apparently that same intensity goes into caring for our community when someone needs help.
Bensten was assigned a Capstone project at school this year. He told me he was doing it about his accident, and we never really discussed it again. When it came time for him to turn in the final project, he showed it to us. His capstone wasn’t about his accident. His capstone was about ‘community’ and the role his community played in his recovery. At the ripe age of 14, he knows the importance of the people he surrounds himself with. And he does not take any of it for granted!
As I typed snippets of hopefully helpful information to the mom sitting at the hospital, Izzy was working just a few floors below her in the INOVA Peds ER. And it occurred to me that Izzy picked her profession due to Bensten’s accident. (And she is LOVING her time at INOVA. She is getting incredible experience and working with amazing doctors and nurses.) Would she have found her calling if it were not for his accident? I'm not sure. Would my kids have such a profound understanding of community at such a young age? I am not sure. If my life hadn’t been turned upside down, and I had not reevaluated everything in my life- would we have this little bakery? I am not sure.
But I am very sure that I am grateful to be where we are today…..and I am certain our community is beyond amazing!
AND, since we have not done it in awhile- I am opening a few frontline donations. I have been trying to bake for Izzy’s co-workers each week, but I never send enough! Now that I have a delivery girl going directly to the INOVA ER 3 times a week, I might as well capitalize on it and send baked goods for these heroes that take care of so many kids!
Thanks for being a part of my community! I will attach Bensten’s capstone if anyone wants to have their heart strings yanked ;)
HBS
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