Partnership includes the values of care and compassion. It supports financial abundance but also recognizes that there are ends that are far more important and intrinsically valuable than economic ends alone. Sometimes when we follow our hearts, we make a profound difference in the lives of others.
One such extraordinary woman is Gina Gippner-Woods of Just Mom, Inc., a non-profit organization that provides comfort toys to seriously and terminally ill children at Childrens Hospital in Los Angeles. Gina taught me that we never know the impact we have on the lives of others.
This is the story of how and why Gina founded, Just Mom, Inc.
“Once upon a time a woman named Gina Gippner-Woods was admitted into the hospital. There was no room for her in the adult ward, so she was placed in a room with a child. A little girl.
This young girl was recovering from surgery which removed a tumor from her brain. She had no family and her nurse developed a friendship with her and would bring her in gifts daily. One morning the nurse brought this young girl a stuffed, plush puppy. The little girl took one look at the plush pup and threw it across the room. Gina, not understanding why she would throw it, got out of her bed and recovered the toy.
Taking it back to the little girl she asked, “Honey, what’s wrong? Why did you throw your puppy?”
“It’s not mine. It’s broken!” The young girl replied.
At that moment Gina looked at the plush puppy and realized that its ear was ripped. She looked at the young girl and then looked at the loose gauze which was lying on the table next to her bed. Immediately she grabbed the gauze and began bandaging the head of the broken puppy to match the little girl’s bandage. When she was done bandaging the plush puppy she looked at the young girl and said, “It’s not broken. It’s got an “owie” like you. It’s your ‘OwieBowWowie.'” The little girl then took the dog in her arms and comforted it, and it became her friend, accompanying her through all of her challenges…
I was surprised and saddened to hear that there are many seriously and terminally ill children who don’t have any family or visitors. So, Gina founded Just Mom, Inc., to provide comfort toys for these children so they don’t need to go through their ordeals alone.
Gina’s effort to get the word out is heroic. For example, she is donating her time for projects, with the funds going towards the purchase of a comfort toy for a hospitalized child. And this is a micro-charity, so it’s easy for any of us to make a difference. You can see a heartfelt mission in action on her site: http://www.owiebowwowie.net/_mgxroot/page_10723.html
BECOMING LIKE CHILDREN
Hi Lisa,
Your previous posting “We never know the impact we have on the lives of others” started me thinking about the child—as person, symbol and ideal. While walking Robson Street yesterday I noticed a little girl holding her mother’s hand and singing as she walked. So beautiful! I thereupon wondered at what point adults cease to sing.
The references to the child in academic and sacred writings are astounding aren’t they? Only today I watched a co-worker’s PowerPoint presentation containing the expression, “If my heart can become pure and simple like that of a child, I think there can probably be no greater happiness than this.”
That aphorism reminded me of an example in the Christian Scriptures:
Matthew 18:1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, 3 and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 “Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. (NKJV)
It’s interesting that grown men (teachers in training) were told that passing their final examination would hinge upon their becoming like “little children.” I suspect their Rabbi meant that they should be humble, modest and emphasize equality rather than “greatness” or superiority. But the example may also suggest eagerness to learn and receptivity to new ideas.
I believe young children may be the ideal of a better workplace and world in general. Page 3 of the Fifth Discipline says, “From a very early age, we are taught to break apart problems, to fragment the world…We can no longer see the consequences of our actions; we lose our intrinsic sense of connection to a larger whole.”
The next page says: “Learning organizations are possible because deep down, we are all learners. No one has to teach an infant to learn. In fact, no one has to teach infants anything. They are intrinsically inquisitive, masterful learners who learn to walk, speak, and pretty much run their households all on their own.”
In terms of Personal Mastery, I believe children are naturally creative (versus competitive and dominant). They have no mental models (“deeply held internal images of how the world works”). And who are more “dialogic” than children? (Team Learning)
I love the way W. Edwards Deming says, “People are born with intrinsic motivation, self-esteem, dignity, curiosity to learn, joy in learning. The forces of destruction begin with the toddlers—a prize for the best Halloween costume, grades in school, gold stars—and on up through the university.”
Lisa, I am wondering how “Participation” views the child?
Bye for now!
Carman
Hi Again,
Lisa, please delete references to the Paradigm Conspiracy. I usually type in Word and copy to a page. In this instance I copied too much.
Thanks!
Carman, Thank you for your thoughtful and insightful post.
I deleted the references to the Paradigm Conspiracy, as you requested. I had not discovered this resource, but it touches on so many areas of interest to me, that I was awed to read it! The authors have a gift for integrating and seeing the interactions between each level of paradigms — from ecological/social, ontological, epistemological, …
In my opinion, a Dominator culture is co-dependent culture, and the I have suspected that the recovery literature could support Senge’s work as an example of one approach to healing and transformation. And, as my dissertation develops a process philosophy in dialogue with spiritual experiences, I also very much appreciate their discussion of epistemology…
Not to wander too far from your interesting topic!
As always, it’s a pleasure to hear from you.
Best wishes,
Lisa