Roses and Robbie...

So… At around 11pm on Christmas Eve I get an email from a lady named Christina telling me that I’m scheduled for a placement time of 3:30pm on Monday to place and dedicate roses in the Family Circle Rose Garden for Kari and for Chloe and for Chase…

My initial response, at midnight after hanging with my family celebrating Christmas, was “Grrrrllllll, seriously... It's Christmas Eve!!! What are you doing working on my late stuff at 9:00pm your time on Christmas Eve?!?!” I thanked her profusely for what she’s doing – I mentioned how amazing these past eight years have been for me – and I thanked her for giving people like me the opportunity to honor our donors and how much that means to me…

A half hour later – she explained that they work late hours and through the holidays to make certain that everything goes right – and that it means the world to them to hear they are appreciated… Christina told me she read my posts, and Melissa's post about placing Chloe's flowers, and they brought tears to her eyes.  She told me she is “completely 1000% invested and excited about this incredible cause…” Then, beyond being appreciated, she gave me another reason why this is close to her heart…

This is a picture of Christina… She’s got a stethoscope on Maria’s chest. Christina is listening to her younger brother’s heart. Christina lost her brother, Robbie, in May, 2005, to a brain aneurism… Robbie, and Christina and their family, donated seven of Robbie’s organs and Maria lives because of Robbie’s beautiful heart.

Christina sent me a few articles about her brother, and about Maria – and about Robbie’s family meeting Maria. They were published in the San Diego Union – Tribune, and Mienlace (in Spanish), this past November. Here is the Google translated version of the Mienlace article.

This is Robbie… I know Christina and her family will be placing a rose in Robbie’s memory near the roses I’m placing for Kari, Chloe and Chase… Their tribute reads: “In memory of Robbie & Mike Courtney - Our beloved angels, you will live on forever in our hearts and memories. Thank you for all the hidden gifts… Love Always, Chris, Mom, and Jon”

I get to hug Christina on Monday…