But we could remove unnecessary barriers, support experienced community organizations, and make our contributions more useful.
I thought about Lily and Emma whenever I was tempted to believe that good intentions were enough.
Their actions had been simple. They noticed a problem and called for help. The adults around them then had the opportunity to respond.
I began to see a connection between that moment and the work our foundation supported. Compassion was not always about solving an entire problem. Sometimes it meant recognizing a need, taking the next appropriate step, and helping others do their part.
Several months after my collapse, I returned to the park with Marcus.
The trees were green again, and children played across the grass. People walked their dogs, shared snacks on benches, and hurried toward their daily appointments.
I stopped beside the path where I had fallen.
I could still remember the uncertainty of those minutes, when I could neither control my body nor explain what I needed. Then I remembered the pink backpack beside my hand.
