Whenever
tragedy strikes as it did this week in Las Vegas, I find myself
struggling to know where to begin or what to do. I feel helpless, like
so many others, worrying about those directly and indirectly affected. I
feel sorrow for those lost, those left behind, and the people I love
who live in a world where we have to worry so much about things that
should never happen. It's overwhelming to carry so many emotions and
feel so powerless to change anything.
Sadly,
nothing can undo this week's loss of so many undeserving people. Nobody
can change the outcome and save them, as much as we would all love to
do. All we can do, moving forward, is what we strive to do every day,
which is overpower the bad with the good.
When
so many people are seriously injured, the impact on first responders is
great. They rush to the call of duty, suspend all fear and emotions,
and help. While others run away, police and ambulance crews run toward
the gunfire to save people and secure the scene. They transport people
in critical condition to a hospital, where nurses and doctors face the
harrowing task of trying to save people with limited space, resources,
and assistance, often running on little to no sleep and no time to pause
or take a break.
At
the end of the day, after working such an unexpected and difficult job,
there may not be time or people present to say thank you.
That is where we have decided to come in.
With
all of the painful, difficult, frightened feelings that most people
have after such a tragedy, it is hard to imagine what it would feel like
to be there and face that in person. Yet these people do that, every
day of their lives. And not only with mass casualties, but on a regular
basis. These are the people who have to comfort the sick and dying,
speak to the family members, find the courage to keep going, and turn
around and do it all again the next day. They are heroes.
We
are currently accepting donations to create thank you packages for
first responders. However small a gesture this may seem, it is a
tangible way to contribute and thank the people who never give up when
times are tough. We are the voice of those who cannot express their
gratitude, and the means for all those who still can.
If you are able, please send a donation through PayPal to cathy@sofiasangelsfoundation.org and remember that this is a gift and should be marked as such.
We
will be hand delivering these packages, thanks to the generous
assistance of friends who have helped make this and many other projects
possible. Our goal is to reach as many of the first responders involved
in the Las Vegas shooting tragedy as possible. However large or small
your contribution may be, it will assist us in touching their lives and
reminding them that we notice what they do, and we support them.
Please help us by sharing this blog entry with as many people as possible.
