When Laurie
approached me in 2005 about my interest in helping her start an
organization designed to help children & their families who are
faced with a devastating diagnosis, I never could have envisioned the
magnitude of the people we have been able to touch with kindness, a
helping hand, and also a way for others to reach out and give of
themselves.
The timing of
when Laurie approached me could not have been more perfect. At that
time, my son Eric, who was 5 years old, had been about 1-year past
his bone marrow transplant. He was back in school after having been
"quarantined" at our house for over 8 months. I was not
working at the time & the impact of what had happened to us was
just beginning to hit me personally.

Creating and
building A Room to Heal was able to take my nervous, sense of panic
energy, and channel it into something so positive and so special for
other people. When my family was going through our crisis, first with
Eric's diagnosis of Leukemia, and then with his relapse & bone
marrow transplant, it was incredible the way the community - our
friends -- our neighbors
-- my husband
patients -- our co-workers all reached out to us, said prayers for
us, made meals for us. They made us feel like we were never alone.
A Room to Heal
clearly became a way for me to give back.
And
a perfect way for me to heal.
Although I am
leaving the Board of Directors, I am not leaving the connection and
the good this organization can do for others. It means too much to
me, and, frankly, helping others has truly become my life's work.
My plan is to
continue on as a volunteer, maybe be a project coordinator once or
twice a year for a room recipient, and, of course, offer any support
or advice I can to the continuing board members and volunteers.
A Room to Heal
has been good for my heart
and for
my soul ... and I truly thank all of you for that.
Happy New Year
to you and yours.
Linda
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