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Thursday 19 February 2015

#1000 SPEAK - 1000 VOICES FOR COMPASSION


1000speak On February 20, 2015, 1000 Voices For Compassion will share their thoughts and stories about compassion in all its forms (love, kindness, understanding, empathy, mercy, etc.). I am so excited to be part of this, because in the last few years I have been on the receiving end of so many acts of compassion, a couple of which I would like to share today.

One of the stories which comes to mind occurred when Ashton was in grade 1. She was 6 years old and was suffering from terrible asthma and recurring pneumonia. At one stage I felt so desperate because the GP just did not seem to understand how sick Ashton really was and was limited help. So, I placed a call to the paedatrician in Perth and told him about my worries. I actually sobbed my heart out because he was so kind and attentive. He told us to come straight to Perth ( 4 1/2 hrs away) and Mark, my husband left with Ashton within the hour.That's a big job, to drive for that length of time with a very sick child.

Why didn't I go? Well at the time I was a Home Economics teacher and my students and I were in the middle of preparing to cater for a big function. This was a big assessment piece which needed me there and I just could not leave until it was over. So, the plan was that Mark would go down with Ashton to the paediatrician and I would fly down with Ciara (age 3)  when the function was over.

I was exhausted beyond belief. For the two weeks leading up to this I had very little sleep - kids always want Mum at night! On the days the GP had actually hospitalised her I had been sleeping at the hospital and leaving for work from there. I would then return to the hospital after work. My house was a disaster zone. Neither one of us had the time nor the energy to cope with anything other than the kids and some work.

With the function successfully over and with Ashton admitted to the children's hospital in Perth, I started to pack to join them. I felt terrible not being with my child but was making the best of the situation. At 8 pm, while I was bathing Ciara my doorbell rang. Being past exhaustion I hoped it wasn't a social visitor who would require a cup of tea and time I didn't have.

It was a visitor, my colleague Kate whom I had seen at work that very day. But, she wasn't there to be entertained. She was there to help.

Diary of a Doting Mom: Raising our voices: The right way #1000Speak | 1000 Voices Speak Up for Compassion | Scoop.itIn the next two hours she cleaned my house from top to bottom, helped me pack clothes for myself and my daughter and made me coffee and food. She joked about my fridge, telling me she never knew I had an interest in cultivating bacteria. I should have been so embarrassed but I wasn't. Her compassion overwhelmed me and I left for Perth in the morning with a spotlessly clean house and a place in my heart that will always be hers. It was the nicest thing anyone had ever done for me.

Ashton spent 8 days in Princess Margaret Hospital.My mother's intuition was right, she was very ill. We booked into a nearby hotel we couldn't really afford, so that we could  be close to our girl. It was the worst hotel I had ever stayed in but we had no choice as it was the closest to the hospital. Over the eight 
days Mark and I worked in shifts. One night he would sleep upright in a chair near Ashton's hospital bed and I would spend the night in the hotel with Ciara. The next night we would swap. Ciara screamed non stopped for whichever parent wasn't there. She was terrified and so was I by the drunken shouts from adjacent rooms.

When Ashton was finally discharged, we went to pay the bill at the hotel only to find that some compassionate human being had paid the bill for us. Now, I'm pretty sure I know who did it but she never admitted it. The fact that we didn't have to pay for that accommodation saved us, because as I had been off work I wasn't getting paid and we really had very little money.

Over the years as our health issues amplified there were many other examples of compassion. To me compassion is being empathetic. It means showing people in some way that you get their situation and you're on their side. It means going out of your way to make life better for someone else.

During my teaching, I often did a " pay it forward" project. If you haven't seen that movie you should. I found that the kids I taught, often from low socioeconomic backgrounds absolutely thrived from showing compassion; by doing good deeds for others and forgetting about their own situations for a while. One year for Mothers Day we made hampers of goodies for older women in the community who deserved a treat. The compassion and the love that went into these works of art was amazing! The tears on the kids' faces when they realised they had caused this happiness was priceless.

A little compassion in a world hell bent on negativity and bad news goes a long way. Try incorporating it into your life on a regular basis and always remember to pay it forward. Sometimes all it takes is a simple smile at someone to show you care and wish them well.


C  O  M  P  A  S  S  I  O  N

Till next time...xxx

(If you enjoyed this post please consider sharing it) .

ST




21 comments:

  1. Beautiful story! Kindness does make the world go on, Suzannah!

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    1. I agree Vidya and it takes so little effort.

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  2. What a lovely story of compassion! Boy you have had a long road of medical issues with Ashton bless your heart... All of your hearts! One of the things I that have made me adore you so very much Suzannah is/was your compassion despite all that is going on in your life right now. You may not know this but when you called the other day you saved me from a very deep dark place and I thank you for that! Despite what is going on in your life you reached out to a friend and I will forever be thankful that I am blessed enough to call you my friend!

    Much love,

    Lysa
    #SHINEBlogHop

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    1. Blessed that our paths have crossed. I am here anytime for you. Xxx

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  3. What a wonderful and inspiring message.

    I have seen Pay It Forward-- so uplifting.

    Thanks for sharing and for linking up to the #SHINEbloghop.

    Wishing you a lovely day.
    xoxo

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    1. How lovely to have you stop by. Thanks Jennifer xxx

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  4. Hi Suzi,
    Don't know where you are living in WA but I was living in Geraldton when I was diagnosed with hydrocephalus and was catching the bus back and forth to Perth for medical tests. I am from Sydney and had immigrated west but my health problems were too much and I returned home East.
    I feel for your situation with your daughter and your own health and it sounds loike you have some real bedrock supporters around you. I also have an auto-immune disease which flares up periodic with life-threatening force. I try not to ask for help too often because I never know when the tsunami is about to hit but a few friends drip feed into our family very quietly and I really appreciate it. My about page explains our situation.
    Here's my contribution to the big day: https://beyondtheflow.wordpress.com/2015/02/20/compassion-fatigue-a-light-bulb-moment/
    Wishing you all the best xx Rowena

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    1. I live in Geraldton so you're familiar with the distance I cover on a regular basis.
      Enjoyed the wisdom of your article and have signed up to follow you by email. Stay in touch xxx ST

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  5. I think this is a great idea 1000 voices to express feeling of compassion, I have read some of these posts and so heart warming, make me cry.

    Thanks for sharing on The Oh My Heartsie Girls WW this week.
    Have a great weekend!
    Karren
    Oh My Heartsie Girls -Host

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  6. thanks Karren. Wasn't sure at first if it was relevant for your linky but I gave it a go dos the message is so special. Xxx

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    1. Suzi, I am so glad that you did. It is a message that needs to be share, with so much going on in our lives it helps to know that there are moments of compassion going on in others lives. It was a perfect title!!!
      Be well, Karren @Oh My Heartsie Girl

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  7. Dear Suzi, you can't see it right now but I am giving you and Ashton the biggest bear hug right now. May love, light and happiness find you. And god bless the angels in your life. May they multiply, always, and may you never be short of a helping hand or a miracle. Your story touched a chord deep within which I rarely acknowledge to myself. That;s the best I can do on this poignant post.Thank you for this. For you and your family, I will pray tonight. Hugs.

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    1. My goodness. One of the nicest comments ever. Thankyou

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  8. Beautiful, concrete examples of compassion. Lovely! Thank you for sharing this!

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    1. So lovely to be able to acknowledge the compassionate nature of these people.

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  9. I totally feel for you. My son was diagnosed before Christmas with Type 1 Diabetes which took us by surprise. It was hard being with him at the hospital and having 3 more children at home. We both spent the 1st night at the hospital then my hubby stayed the other 3 nights. I opted to stay at home so I could nurse our toddler and keep things "sane". So glad your daughter is doing better. Thank you for sharing on OMHG.

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  10. This story was from when my daughter was 6. This Thursday she turns 21 and will be in hospital on her birthday. Different illness but in need of compassion and love and good wishes xxx

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  11. All the best to you and your lovely family and to Kate who is clearly a rock star. Pay it Forward is such a beautiful film. If I feel like a good cry, it's one of the films I turn to. I think it is absolutely splendid that you employ that lesson with your classes.

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  12. Absolutely beautiful story, thank you for sharing! I love that you did a Pay it Forward project with your students...we need more teachers to teach kids about life and human kindness

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