hi everyone. i hope you had a wonderful thanksgiving and continue to be filled with gratitude for all you/we have.
i just received this email from carrie cohn who founded
www.carriesheart.org. the 2008 recording artists retreat was so phenomenal and we raised a lot of money for 13 handicapped children and their families. if you weren't at the 2008 festivities let me just say it was the best yet and those beautiful kids and their siblings touched all our hearts. Little Valerie, who was our first client, made her transition and moved only a few months after the retreat and concert. the memory of her beautiful smile and laughter will always be with me. and the work will go on. the 2009 retreat will include another benefit concert for the 12 children and families that carrier provides such wonderful medical and nutriional and emotional and other care, for.
god bless carrie and god bless you.
revroy4u, rrr, rrrr, broy, roy
Roy D. Fisher 
Date: Sat, 29 Nov 2008 00:21:12 -0500
From: carrie@...
To: pescadablanca@...
Subject: Gifts of Gratitude
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Dear Carrie's Heart Family,
I intended for this letter to get to you all by Thanksgiving. However, I have been struggling to find the way to express what is in my heart. For almost two months now I have lacked the words to express what I feel. Those closest to me know that Valerie and I shared a very strong connection. Not having children of my own, I truly feel that my Carrie's Heart kids are my children. Valerie holds a very special place in my heart. I now understand the deep pain of losing a child
I often feel that I am unable to put into words the intensity & impact of the work that we are doing with our children in Mexico. Those who have had the opportunity to travel to the Yucatan and to visit the families have all expressed that my words & pictures did not come close to capturing the reality of the lives of the children. The need there is immense.
So...in thinking about what I would want to share with you all at this time of year...I think of Valerie and all the other children we will help in her name. My hope is to share with all of you who help to make up Carrie's Heart the thanks and gifts that we have received....THEY BELONG TO US ALL!
Gifts of Gratitude:
A deeper appreciation for what we have...Health, Home, Family and the simplest pleasures of life. Being humbled by receiving expressions of gratitude from families who can barely meet their basic needs...a soda right when we arrive from Juan Diego's mom, Lucelly's mother making tortillas to feed us each time we visit. David reaching out to hold your hand. A mother expressing the difference we have made in their life...knowing that they have help in caring for their child...no longer feeling alone. Jose's smile when he sees us!
Experiencing firsthand the truth in that if you give you will receive. Being given little love notes and pictures from the siblings of our children...giving back to us a gift from their heart. The laughter of a child who is so excited to see you again & uses their laugh to say hello!
TOGETHER we bring joy into the lives of some very special children...whose lives are very different without us. This is the greatest lesson I learned from Valerie. When I look back over the past years I remember most, the moments of true joy that we experienced with her...visiting Santa, her first Christmas tree, blowing bubbles, laughing at Dora and playing with Valerie and her boyfriend "Panchito". All of these moments are the most important moments of giving & receiving. Thank you to each of you for helping in your own ways to bring these moments of joy to our children's lives.
It has been difficult for me to prepare for the holiday season this year. However, I know that the work is not done. Our other children still have great needs to be met. David & Lucelly have been having medical complications throughout the fall. We have children who are still in need of wheelchairs. We have children living in homes that expose them to the elements and are in need of blankets & clothing this winter to keep them warm. Our families are being directly affected by the financial crisis that we are all experiencing. Their livelihoods depend on tourism and this has been a very difficult year for them.
We have also accomplished a lot this year. We are continuing to sponsor the needs of twelve children. We have provided for the nutritional, personal care and medical needs of the children. Over the past few months all of the children are now receiving physical therapy for the first time in their lives...and we wish for that to continue because of the noticeable changes in the children physically. We have seen positive changes in all of our families...some greater than others...but all making changes in their own way.
I believe that we are to continue on, helping the children who come across our path. I did not come across Valerie by accident. Her story did not touch so many by accident. She was a light...illuminating our way, teaching us what we needed to learn and continuing to direct our way in helping others. We can only continue this work, helping children that no one else is reaching out to, with the support of each of you. It takes each of us giving of ourselves in different ways, knowing that nothing given is ever too small...when together we are making the difference in the life of a child.
At this time of year when we all reflect on what we are thankful for....I am thankful for each of you for the ongoing support you have given Carrie's Heart that allows us to continue our work in Valerie's name.
Carrie
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| Alone we can do so little;
together we can do so much.
~Helen Keller | |
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 This email was sent to pescadablanca@... by carrie@.... |
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Carrie's Heart | 14354 Memorial Drive #1006 | Houston | TX | 77079 |
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