Chris' Legacy

Saturday June 9th we celebrated the life of Christopher Adams. Chris came into this world almost 33 years ago and passed away awaiting a double lung transplant at Mount Sanai Hospital in Toronto on May 19, 2007. Chris spent his lifetime facing many hurdles due to his body being inflicted with a rare disease called Chronic Granulomatous Disease.

I met Chris a few brief times during his short lifetime, but his spirit, his strength touched me despite our distant connection. My connection to Chris came through my relationship with his father, Walter Adams. Walter is an incredible friend, a strong and compassionate man whose family truly is the centre of his universe. Walter and his wife Marilyn have devoted their lives to the care of their sons and making sure that they had the best possible life, despite the challenges they faced.

Chris had an incredible attitude. The tributes at his memorial spoke of his strength, his courage and his passion for life despite the adversity he faced. Chris faced life with a passion that most of us never come close to having in our lifetime....he truly made the most out of every moment he was blessed with.

The sanctuary was overflowing at Chris' memorial. The tears flowed freely as did the love throughout the room. Evidence of Chris' ability to touch the lives of many through his life's journey was apparent in the heartfelt words, the resounding voices that sang and the spirit within the room. I am positive Chris was present with us in the sanctuary, basking in the love that was returned to him...the love and the life's lessons that he gave to others. Friends and family members spoke of his courage, his positive attitude and the true "fight" within his spirit. His attitude is truly one to be admired. Chris faced challenges that many of us will never have to face, yet he was blessed with the ability to truly LIVE each moment. They say that our true self is most present during times of adversity.....and Chris' true self was very remarkable. It is also said that we learn the most during our times of struggle and adversity, that it is those moments we look back upon and know that we were truly living life.....Chris must have learned a lot during his brief lifetime, but not only did he learn a lot more so he taught a lot.

So, as Chris passes on into the next branch of his journey....his tree here on Earth is fully grown....he leaves behind a true legacy. A legacy in the lives he touched. His legacy in knowing the importance of organ donation is very real....should Chris have received his double lung transplant he may have had a longer life's journey.....and there are many more like Chris awaiting a transplant.

The importance of organ donation touches me on a level far deeper than my connection to Chris. As a recipient of a corneal transplant in my left eye....the gift of sight.....I am truly blessed by someone's gift. I await a transplant in my right eye and will once again be blessed by another's gift. The gift of knowing that my life can be enhanced, that my vision may be saved, because of another person cannot be justly put into words. I will never be able to repay my donor, other than by graciously appreciating the blessing of their gift. But what I can do for Chris, and for my donor/s, is encourage all those who read this entry to register as an organ donor. Take the few moments of time to save a life, to enhance the life of another.......and please, do it today. Let Chris' legacy live on ~ give the greatest gift of all and encourage all those in your life to do so.

In BC alone (as published in the Richmond News on June 5, 2007) ~

~There is a chronic shortage of hearts, lungs, kidneys and livers

~More than 400 people await organ transplants in BC, with hundreds more awaiting cornea

transplants

~Approximately one in three organs that could be available for transplant is lost because family

members do not know the wishes of their loved ones

~Only 15 percent of BC residents are registered as organ donors

~Since January 1986, more than 3000 organ transplant procedures have been performed in BC

Register today.......

www.transplant.bc.ca.

Goodbyes bring HOPE....

I sit here tapping my fingers to the keys in hopes that doing so will rejuvenate my spirit....the mind is full, my body is weary and I have that "run over by a truck" feeling......all the result of a very emotionally intense weekend. Perhaps I feel this way in part due to the fact that my calling....my need to write, hasn't been honoured as much of late. Maybe my spirit misses it more than I am aware. I know that part of the way I am feeling is because this weekend began with an already quite empty emotional cup from the days that precipitated it.

This weekend was filled with several goodbyes, all taking place in different forms, but none more or less significant than the other. They were all goodbyes to specific parts of life's journey.

Saturday morning began with a memorial service for a friend's son....an incredible man who was honoured deeply by those whose lives he touched. The tears flowed freely around the sanctuary as his life was celebrated....making those present feel the very realness of how precious life is. Thoughts on my experience, and on Chris' journey consume my mind and have done so since the memorial service. I feel my spirit calling me to write more....and I will do so, in a separate entry.

Sunday I celebrated and I suppose in part, grieved, my eldest son's graduation from high school. Attending the Valedictory Ceremony brought upon many emotions....from pure joy and pride, to that feeling of sadness that my little boy isn't so little anymore. And of course the experience would not be complete without that feeling of fear ~ of sending him out to face the often scary real world. Quite like that first day of kindergarten....dressed in their new outfits, looking their best, feeling proud yet apprehensive....we as parents sent them off into this whole new world, out of the folds of our protective arms and gaze, and trusted them into a system that would help to mold, shape and define them. One that would provide many blessings and learning opportunities....and of course challenges. That familiar first day of school feeling came back as I watched with a heart filled with love and pride, my young man, my little boy, walk across the stage. I celebrate with him as he completes this branch of his journey and enters into the world of adulthood....one that is full of possibilities for him. While at the same time I grieve the loss of that little boy who I have spent my years loving, nurturing and protecting, knowing now that it is most definitely time for him to spread his wings and fly and yes, he isn't so little anymore. He has grown up into a fine young man....one that this mother is very proud of. I look forward to watching him embrace the opportunities that life's journey provides. Yes, as I ramble on about this one I do believe I am feeling a calling in my spirit to honour him within a separate entry.

Sunday evening was spent honouring the term of service for our youth pastor. Not much older than my eldest son is now, Jesse stepped into this role of leadership with great passion and enthusiasm. I am sure his mind and heart were filled with mixed emotions as he took on such a significant role, as he followed God's call for him. His presence in the life of my two eldest son's and in my life and my other children's lives has been incredibly significant. There are not words to fully describe what it has been like to have been touched by his gifts. His spiritual passion and his passion for life has helped not only my children grow in their faith journey, but myself as well. I will deeply miss his leadership role, hearing him speak and teach with passion and that secure feeling that, as a mother, I have felt knowing that my children were being loved, supported and nurtured by an incredible young man who truly understood them and helped them to grow in their faith journey. Who wasn't afraid to talk about the tough stuff with them and as well, to get down right silly with the best of them. His smile despite the challenging times, his influence and his passion will be carried in my mind and heart, and those of my children as we continue on our spiritual journey. THANK YOU.....is not words enough. Again, I hear my spirit telling me to write a separate entry that would truly encompass the depth of Jesse's ministry.

So....with that spirit calling me to write, write, write....why do I combine these significant events this weekend in one entry prior to honouring them with individual entries? Because they are all linked together in my mind. They were all experiences of goodbyes this weekend, in their own unique way.

And yes, this woman doesn't like goodbyes.....and so I choose to think of the experiences as new branches....new opportunities. Goodbyes are final, they are sad and don't leave a lot of room for HOPE. Yet, new branches signify growth and opportunity. The place where HOPE grows. Yes, my heart still feels a sense of sadness mixed in with the other emotions....but my heart knows that it is in these opportunities where we see where HOPE can grow. There have been many times in my life, and even more so recently, where I have struggled to find HOPE.....to find that place where I see beyond the impossibilities, the endings, the fears and know that through each experience a new branch is forming in my journey....it is my choice to choose whether or not to take it.

So I let these goodbyes....opportunities to demonstrate HOPE....fill my spirit as I face my journey.

Chris.......your pain has ended, your time here was spent fully embracing life despite adversity.....and your legacy lives on.....the way you lived your life and what you have given those whose lives you touched gives me hope.......HOPE that we can all make a difference and that life's challenges can be faced.

Jeff....my son....my heart is filled with HOPE for you.....of knowing that there are so many opportunities out there for you and that you will embrace them. Your spirit, the essence of who you are is incredible.....you have a true gift for touching and blessing the lives of others. And I know that as I watch you embrace adulthood with all its blessings and challenges my life will continue to be blessed and I know the world will be a better place because of you....it gives me HOPE for the world that can sometimes seems so cold and unfriendly and filled with obstacles, that your light and joy will shine through that.

Jesse.....your passion, your zest for life.....your willingness to stay true to yourself and your calling gives me such HOPE.....through your eyes, your words, your spirit I know that there truly is a power far greater than us here on earth who lives within us.....because I see that spirit within you. You give me HOPE that even on the darkest of my days there is always light.

HOPE....