QOTW Interrupted – Fundraising for Dell!

My apologies.  It’s not that funny things haven’t been said (because they have!), I just have lots of things to share in the next week – Anna-Laura’s graduation and birthday, Will’s baptismal anniversary, Luke’s 8-month update (holy smokes!), blah, blah, blah.  Here goes…

On Monday evening, Luke and I gave our first speech.  Well, I’m certainly no stranger to public speaking, Luke is the newbie, but this is the first time I’ve ever been asked to speak at a fundraiser.  Eeeek.  White Construction Company is one of my clients and they host a highly successful golf tournament every year.  Think six-figures.  They also happened to be the general contractor for the Dell Children’s Medical Center.  The crazy thing is that I had seen SO many photos of that hospital as I created marketing materials for White.  Silly me thought I knew that place like the back of my hand.

I do now.

At any rate, they wanted me to share Luke’s story before they presented the $60,000 check to Dell (they gave another $60K to another local charity).  Oh, and the President of the hospital and the Executive Director of the hospital’s Foundation were also there.  Eeeeeeeeeeeek.  Quite honestly, the entire way over there, I kept scrolling through my notes in my head.  Should I say this?  Oh, I definitely can’t forget to say that.  Should I go there?  What if I cry?

Typically, before I speak anywhere about anything I get a little nervous.  The butterflies start stirring and I usually have to take a few deep breaths.  Not this time.  Not one butterfly.  Not one ‘oh my goodness there’s a roomful of people here and they’re all staring at Luke and I’.  Nope, just pure calm.  I suppose it was part me holding Luke, part subject knowledge and part (big part) Holy Spirit.  My only prayer before I began was, “Come Holy Spirit…guide my words.”  And He did.

I shared the highlights of Luke’s story, expressed my thanks to his many doctors and nurses and to the sponsors in that room and then people were clapping and I was done.  It was almost like I had an out-of-body experience.  I knew that if I fell apart, that wouldn’t convey the story.  I remember scanning the crowd thinking, “Wow, big golfer man over there is dabbing at his eyes…and so is she…and so is he.”  But, I just kept talking and sharing.  I felt so honored.  And, in that moment, I also realized just how far Luke had come.  I mean, this kid stopped breathing and was intubated and we were baptizing him in the NICU Bay for goodness sake.  Just how did we get from there to the happy, smiling baby in my arms?

What a moment.  I don’t know if we’ll ever be asked again to share “Luke’s story” in such a public setting.  But, I am so grateful for the opportunity that we did have.  Luke. Is. A. Miracle.

Make it a great weekend…we have lots of celebrating to do here!