On the fourth of July, 2007 Caleb Potter was involved in a skateboarding accident.
He suffered serious injuries and continues to need all of our positive thoughts and prayers.
This blog is to serve as a space for updates on Caleb's journey of recovery.

Monday, November 15, 2010

Never to be underestimated....the power of words. Never to be belittled..the kind gesture, or pat on the back; never to be taken for granted...the smile of someone who cares. Always a lovely surprise to have a former policeman stop traffic to let me know he read my post.. stopping traffic as he encourages me to stay strong. Thank you for helping to pull me through..all you gentle, heroic giants out there. You along with that the powerfully resonating words of my mother. " When you are down..just find someone to help who is worse off than you are." ( OH, wise woman that you were! ) And they can always be found; those whose lives are falling behind and unnoticed.
So I placed my attentions and intentions on a young girl who is going through the same Brain Injury process as Caleb here on the Cape. She was a passenger in a car accident...She is petite and smart and was active and lively...she now is confined to a wheel chair, keeps her head and eyes bent toward the ground. Barely speaks. Her mother is a single mom who works at least 10 hours a day...so her daughter sits alone most days at home trying I imagine, to remember what went wrong..and why her. She is 17 after all.
She reminds me of the Sexton girl; fair haired, soft and beautiful, so much promise..it could have just as easily been her.
I remember speaking to you about random acts of kindness...those things we do without any thanks, or even acknowledgment...and so this holiday season I am trying on a new hat. I am now a philanthropist..and guess what..you are too. I wish to help this young lady in the worst way...so I will be taking from Caleb's generous amount of fundraising dollars and paying it forward.
I realized something very valuable in this process...I have it all! I am healthy, Caleb still smiles, Kai and Max are glued to my side when needed...I have my strong women friends, I have my silent, sturdy male friends. I have Aunt Carol, Uncle Ray and the rest of my blood in Ohio. I have you! I have love...and I have learned to love me. I am indeed in the lifeboat...but I am still singing!
So I am not accustomed to asking for help- but I am doing it now. I would ask that any of you who still want to help us, and I know there are many..to pay it forward to my young, dear friend who needs it more...much more! If you send checks to a favorite charity for the holidays; please consider this one.
Spend some of what my mother always referred to as your "moldy money"..and pass it along.
I know I am begging...but those of you who have not lived through this, who still have your healthy children heading off to college, expecting a baby, saying their first words, having their first heartbreak...you ..you who have that ....still have it all!
I am taking liberties here..but help if you can. I don't want to breach confidentiality...so you're going to have to trust me on this one.... please make a check out to me..Sharyn Lindsay...I will put it into an account and collect it to be sent anonymously for Christmas...believe me..if you can spare only one dollar -- it will count!

Now in parting ..another word from another wise mother" I know God will not give me anything I can't handle. I just wish that He didn't trust me so much."
Mother Teresa. Humanitarian.


45 Sapokonish Wellfleet Ma 02667people

13 comments:

Julie said...

You are amazing, strong, and so special Sharyn.
God bless you, your boys, and this wonderful young lady who will gain so much from knowing you.

J

Sky said...

beautiful, sharyn!

NY/Wellfleet Mom said...

Trust in you I do, Sharyn. What a beautiful idea. You can count on me.

NY/Wellfleet Mom

Jeff- in the Berkshires said...

The ripple of kindness spreads and is made even sweeter when it is shared. What a wonderful gesture. My check is in the mailbox.

peg said...

Sharyn, I am hoping for a tidal wave from your ripple! I'm in!
As always, with hope and love,
peg from PA
ps Thanks for your note regarding my This I Believe piece. Good things are coming my way from that...you just never know where you'll end up after that first step is taken!

janet said...

Thanks for the reminder, & for a chance to help. I like that image--
singing in the lifeboats after a shipwreck. May your new friend sing again, too!

jff said...

Sharyn
I can hear your heart singing like it always has, but with a more robust tune...was it coincidental that someone called me this evening and said he was watching "Pay it Forward."

peg said...

Happy Thanksgiving to all!
As always, with hope and love,
peg from PA

Jeff- in the Berkshires said...

Happy Thanksgiving to all! Peaceful and warm thoughts to all on this chilly New England day.

dan klonowski said...

i am glad to hear of caleb's progress. our thoughts and prayers have been with him. i met a judge from akron who was in wellfleet shortly after the accident. she was moved and amazed by the outpouring of support in the town. god bless and keep your family.

Janice said...

Are you still accepting donations for this Christmas gift?

Thanks -

Janice

Scupper's Significant Other said...

I've been "lurking" on the blog since the accident....I am in Wellfleet often and asked about the signs around town....not sure how I found the blog exactly. Anyway, I've addressed the envelope and will put a check in the mail today. Thanks for the chance to make a difference. Joan

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