My Purpose is More

Hello Friends! I am so honored that our lovely Crystal has asked me to guest-post today. Some of you may know who I am, my name is Amy. I am Capt Snuggles' mama. I want to take a moment and thank every one of you who helped with the Planting Love fundraiser. It made such a difference to my family. I am truly blessed by the presence of each and every one of you in my life. If you don't know our story, please take a moment and read this and maybe even, this.

As you can imagine, I have struggled.

I struggle with my Faith in God.

I struggle with losing David.

I struggle with finding a Purpose in this whole teary mess.

I have found music to be my way of getting through the day. There's so many songs I find comfort in, but there's one song that has been on my mind, a lot.

There's one line in particular , that makes me cry every time I hear.

The song is "What about Now" by Daughtry and the line is:

What if you're making me all that I was meant to be?

For someone who is struggling with their purpose in life, it's a very powerful sentiment. What if losing David was meant to push me in a certain direction? What if his death was meant as the catalyst for me to step forward and make a difference in this life? Is it possible that God works that way? Part of me is very cynical when I think of God. When I think of him placing my sweet son in my arms, just to take him away.

But I don't want to be cynical. I want to find meaning. I want to find something bright and positive and good within the darkness that threatens to consume me. One thing I do, is write. I share my grief. I share it, in the hopes that it may help someone else see that they can make it through. It's not easy. Sometimes my writing is raw and painful, other times it's soft and sentimental. But it's always truthful.

Another thing I am currently involved in is organizing a Blood Drive in Memory of David. During the 5 months David was in the hospital, he required blood transfusions. A LOT of blood transfusions. As near as I can figure he had upwards of 40 separate blood transfusions, nearly as many platelet transfusions, as well as several plasma and cryo transfusions.

That's a staggering amount of blood products for 20lb baby. While his transfusions were approx 1/2 of a unit, it still means it took at least 20 unique individuals to provide all of those blood products just for him. 20 different people that donated blood simply because it's needed. To save the lives of complete strangers. Amazing, don't you think? One of my Canadian friends wanted to help in just this same way. Kirsten chose to donate blood for the first time, to honor David,  back in December, when he was still with us. It's coming up on her time to donate again and this time, she wanted a way to honor his memory. She asked me if it was okay to organize an 'online' blood drive to try to and rally folks across continental lines to step up and donate blood. My response?

Heck, yeah!!

So we chose the first week in April to motivate people into donating blood. You can visit the Capt Snuggles Blood DriveFacebook event, it's a public event, so you don't need to be our 'friend' to RSVP. (You can if you want to, though!) In addition, if you're in the Cincinnati / Hillsboro area, I took it a step further and organized an actual blood drive. We will be hosting the 1st annual David Hillis Memorial Blood Drive on Monday, April 4th from 1:30 - 7:00pm. It will be held at the Highland County YMCA. 

I did it! Through my funk and despair, I contacted the director of the YMCA and asked if he'd be willing to let us use the facility. Then I contacted our local Blood Donation Clinic and worked with them to get it set-up. Now I'm working on promoting it, both online and around the town I live in. I'm forcing myself to talk with people. Share David's story. Work through my grief. I take each day as it comes. Some days are bad, I won't sugar-coat it. Some days are truly mind-numbing. But other days are okay. I've even had a few days that bordered on pretty good. I understand it's a long process and I'm working through it the only way I can think of, by giving back.

As an added bonus anyone that donates blood and snaps a pic or a bit of video of themselves at the blood center, can send it to us and it will be included in a PSA video that Kirsten will be putting together.

I think this event could really make a difference. We've already had folks donating. It's amazing. It amazes me that David touched so many lives. I am honored that he chose me to be his mama. I truly hope I do him proud by finding ways to honor his memory and help make the world a better place, all at the same time.

Won't you consider donating blood the first week of April? It could save someone's life, maybe even someone you know.

For information on Blood donation in the US: American Red Cross

In the Tri-State: Hoxworth Blood Centers

In Canada: Canadian Blood Services