I’ll start off by saying I hate those emails and other chain letters where you’re supposed to forward to ten or twenty of your closest friends to avoid bad luck, be loved by the deities, etc, etc. BUT, that said, while glancing through online news, I came across the story of Baby Avery and the Bucket List Blog her parents created for her earlier this week, and an update today: she unexpectedly passed away April 30, 2012.
The original blog: “Avery’s Bucket List”: http://averycan.blogspot.ca/2012_05_01_archive.html
The article I came upon today: Yahoo article about Avery Canahuati
I’m not sure what exactly it is that so touched me about this story – perhaps that I have a young daughter myself and couldn’t imagine what it would be like to go through what this family has. And I know I’m not the only one – since visiting the page, the number of views is just huge, so people around the world are likewise finding the same thing. Perhaps its a case of something being shared across humanity, of the generally innate urge to protect our children, and the preciousness of them. Perhaps too its a particularly modern phenomenon where, with the way we’re so interconnected with each other via technology, what would once have been a family’s private pain and grief has spread so much further. I once heard the quote that you don’t know what fear really is until you become a parent, and now that I am, boy is that ever true. Every one of us has horrific fears lurking in the darkest parts of us that we can hardly even put voice to – like something happening to our loved ones – and we grieve for those who suffer the reality of these fears.
Yes, this blog is supposed to be focused on writing, the journey to publication, and the paranormal, but today I wanted to make an exception. Because the parents of Avery – and in the voice of their child – want to spread the word about SMA (Spinal Muscular Atrophy). I know I’m not doing much, but it just seems important, as though I can somehow help that family. So, do check out the blog, and find out more about what SMA is (vist: http://www.fightsma.org/ for more info).
Our world is a beautiful place, but it can also be so filled with tragedy. But, perhaps if we can somehow try to reach out and help others (even strangers) through the worst of times – like candles glimmering through the dark – who knows, maybe the world could become a better place.
Thanks for reading, and have a great week.