Posted on December 17, 2010
Was I crazy, lonely or fearless? Let me share a story how a serendipitous connection was made by sharing feelings of grief, hope and action through – wait–Facebook?!
ADAO has been uniting asbestos victims and volunteers for more than seven years, the old way – ha – through emails and websites. But as you know, social media is revolutionizing the way we connect, communicate, and collaborate. It’s now global instant everything! Education and advocacy are strong core tenets for ADAO but it is really about community. Through the power of Facebook (truly amazing and not just for our teens – I was wrong) I finally met Deborah Morosini, MD. I had been thinking about sending her a letter for months, as her strong voice for lung cancer has been seen and felt. Her sister, Dana Reeve, was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer nine months after her husband, the actor Christopher Reeve, passed away. I took a bold step, but heck, that is what asbestos victims do everyday – bold and sometimes painful new steps. Well, by chance I found Deborah’s Facebook page and without rational thinking, I sent her a message. Within a few hours I received a reply, but more importantly, through cyberspace, we became friends, sharing our stories about Dana and my deceased husband Alan, whom as you may know, I lost to mesothelioma in 2006. Deborah’s tenacious and passionate voice has moved mountains. Not only has she lived our pain, but she is a pathologist at AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals working in the area of research and development of cancer drugs.
ADAO networked with the Lung Cancer Alliance and other organizations during the month of November – we know together change is possible. ADAO’s November press release reported more than 5,000 people die every year from asbestos-caused lung cancer. Deborah’s great NBC interview is powerful. As we reflect on the success of November’s National Lung Cancer Awareness month, we are fortunate to have Deborah share her knowledge and experiences with us.
Alan sent me an early holiday present, Deborah, a new friend who thinks and feels so similarly. Linda
Caroling our Way through Winter’s Darkest Days by Connecting with the Timeless by Deborah Morosini, MD
Thank you Linda for welcoming me to your community. I am honored and hope to come to know you all, as we commit our hearts and souls to a shared mission.
It’s funny how we are called to action. We are often tossed into Action’s fray by the jolting pain of loss. Yet it is that very action, arrived at through loss that so often galvanizes us together in unique and miraculous ways.
I am very close to my sisters. To Adie who is living, And Dana, who is not. It’s easy to call Adie up and cajole her to come cook the feast of the seven fishes with me. Or to meet up at my Dad’s.
My connection with Dana remains strong and palpable, but its manifestation lies more in the realm of miracles, symbols, and…frequently song
I ask Dana what to do. Her answers are not always text-message immediate, but trust me, they are right on time. My shorthand for this is “connecting with the timeless.” The phrase flew out of my mouth as I was packing to go on a speaking tour a few years ago. I had a burst of thoughts and asked my husband to try to capture them for me while I raced around in a blur. I remember him looking at me with a look of confusion. “the timeless?” Becoming impatient I must have repeated, “the timeless…you know…the immortal…the everlasting.”
To be everlasting. It’s an alluring construct. Yet, as each of us moves through our journey, it eventually dawns on us that it is not a question of “IF we will we lose our dear loved ones” but, a question of “when.”
This can feel gloomy.
Or, it can feel calming, and communal.
To me it felt all those things. But in that moment of recognizing that absolute truth, (“it’s not IF it’s WHEN”) I felt comforted. Comforted by knowing & trusting my intuition. I’ve cultivated my intuition by experiencing its clear guidance & been reassured that I’m on the right road by the Tom-Tom GPS of Intuition’s Sister, Synchronicity.
It’s not for everybody. But it’s for me. It’s my conduit to that elusive “everlasting.” And boy-oh-boy does it help me get through Christmas.*
My sisters and I are singers. Madrigal vocalists. Wedding singers. Lullaby mamas. And when I raise my voice in carol, as I do each winter, I experience this crazy rush of joy. Because, I hear my sister. My lost sister. My way-amazing Star Spangled Banner singer sister, Dana.
She filters through in funny places. Tonight we caroled at my son’s Waldorf school. I got a few flickering glances from the conductor, Chuck Claus (sister synchronicity struts her name stuff) as Dana chimed in “and together we can build a snowman…hmmmmmm…Parson brown…he’ll say hmmm hmmm…you’ll say no man…Later on by the fire….hmmm…hmmmmm hmmm walking in a winter wonderland.”
I bid you sweet dreams and miracles. Winter wonderland walks and song snippets from the beyond. Connect with your own quiet. Ask for help. And may the Season bring you peace.
*thanks for following the Star of Wonder. I hesitated to be specific about CHRISTMAS. I was going to go more holiday-generic. But, I didn’t grow up with “holidays.” I grew up with Christmas…so I’m keeping it Morosini, and really specific. Please, please share your own stories on the “Voice on the Wall” …they are rich and beautiful and poignant and hilarious. Please reach out. xoxo Deborah Morosini
Email: debospeaks@gmail.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/deborah.morosini
Twitter: @deborahmorosini