One way that Jenni has found to give back to the community is by donating blood. However, as a result of her recent diagnosis, she has been informed that, for the time being, she should “hang onto her own blood.” This news has been quite upsetting for her, and being the wonderful advisor that he is, Bruce Compas volunteered to donate blood during the time that Jenni isn’t able. This is how "Go Big" was born… Jenni got to thinking that it would be wonderful if people could go above and beyond just covering her part. For those of you who are able to, donating blood would be the perfect way to Go Big. If you are not able to donate, encourage those who can.
As luck (or fate) would have it, there are three blood drives on Vanderbilt's campus in the next couple of weeks...
Tuesday, March 18, 2008. 7:00 am - 5:00 pm
Vanderbilt Children's Hospital – Children's Theater (2nd floor)
Appointments to donate are scheduled every 15 minutes from 7:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.
To set your own appointment, go to www.givelife.org and use sponsor code Vandy19
Friday, March 21, 2008. 11:00 am - 4:00 pm
Vanderbilt University Student Life Center
325 25th Avenue South
Monday, March 24, 2008. 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
Vanderbilt University Law School, Law Parking Lot
131 21st. Avenue South
To make appointments or for more information on any of these blood drives or other Red Cross Blood Donation sites near you, visit www.givelife.org
Go Big for Jenni!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
My Vision for Go Big!
On March 7, 2008 my life got turned upside down. I was unexpectedly diagnosed with a brain tumor which was so not on my to do list! Equally unexpectedly, I had neurosurgery on March 20 and the results of the biopsy indicated that the tumor was benign. Thank God! Along this journey, I have taken solace in the fact that this is a huge opportunity for us all.
I am a clinical psychology doctoral student at Vanderbilt University. For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to make a huge difference in the world. For a couple of days, I actually feared that I had wished this scary and chaotic experience on myself and my loved ones, but then I was reminded that "life prepares life" and it all started making a bit more sense.
In a whirlwind of pre-operative appointments, Dr. Kyle Weaver, my neurosurgeon, told me that I should "hold onto my blood" which was a huge blow to me as I try to be a regular blood donor. Without skipping a beat, however, my advisor, Dr. Bruce Compas, made me an offer to "pick up the slack" which I believe was the impetus for this whole GO BIG challenge as it struck me then that perhaps we can all be doing just a little more.
As a person who hopes to make a profession and a life of helping children and families, I'm committed to helping others in the best way I know how. Consistently, I work with parents and children teaching them to praise the good and ignore the bad. Not my idea, but it is a behavioral principle that works. Now, don't get me wrong--I'm not blind to the evil in this world. In fact, I'm struck by our culture's fascination with drama, hurt, despair, and scandal. It absolutely blows my mind that these negatives suck so much of our attention that we can relatively easily forget all of the 1000's acts of kindness that are going on right this very minute.
My hope is that this website can be a central location for all of us to capture all of the really awesome things that we are already doing and that we can all be inspired by each other's goodness. It's not an original or courageous idea (although some have called it that), it is just an opportunity to do something that I've always wanted to do. And, I'll bet that if I'm anything like you, I'm just doing the best that I can in this moment. Sometimes that means that I offend people. We are all imperfectly perfect and I know that that is where the true beauty lies.
There are no absolute rules because I couldn't possibly predict the creative and imaginative ways that we can each help one another. Well, that's a lie. There is really just one rule: do what you feel in your heart! Try not to feel like what you do doesn't matter. It does! If you don't believe me, read the postings for yourself and see what you think. To somebody in that moment, you will have made a difference and for that I am eternally grateful.
So if you feel it in your heart or your head or whatever pushes you to act, try to do something. Nothing is too small and nothing is too big. Just put one foot in front of the other, and if you wish, take a risk.
Overwhelmed with a sea of emotions and an outpouring of support from our community, Austin, the love of my life, and I have felt so very blessed. I believe that there is always meaning out there in this precious world of ours, sometimes you just have to squint to find it. This past several weeks has been a truly rock ride and my guess is that life always will be. So, step aboard if you are up for the challenge and let's see how far we can get this good to spread.
With great gratitude,
6 comments:
Hi Jenni,
We have known your grandparents Pete and Nan since the days of Los Alamitos High School. We have been in private practice psyhotherapy since 1970 in Los Alamitos. We know you will have the strength, courage, support and postive thoughts and prayers of many individuals as you face this challenge. You have great purpose and meaning in your life and we know you will succeed and come through this surgery with flying colors. We promise to do a random act of kindness and post it here. In fact today I let two cars go in front of me that normally I would not have done. You know Calfornia drivers. Know that we care.
Drs. Lois and Herb Abrams
Hi Jenni:
My co-worker and I are keeping you in our thoughts and prayers. We are confident that God will bring you through victorious! Your blog has inspired me to be more conscious about random acts of kindness. Yesterday, I went to Baskin Robbins to get an ice cream cake for my husband's birthday. The young woman who always serves me when I get ice cream was afraid to write on the cake because it was a log-shaped cake that didn't have a flat surface for writing and she was afraid that she would not be able to do the lettering properly. I assured her that I would not get upset if the lettering was less than perfect. She was proud of herself when she finished and saw that she didn't do a half bad job and I was delighted just to have his name on the cake. I told her that I wanted her to do it because the more practice she gets writing on cakes, the better she would become. She was simply thrilled about her handiwork. It also made me feel good because I felt that I had helped a young person instill a greater sense of confidence in themselves.
Today at my conference I won a door prize... it was a baseball cap and a T-shirt from the American Red Cross! Of course it was becuase the universe is gathering positive energy around Jenni and those of us who love her. I will bring the cap and shirt to you, Jenni! And, you can decide if you want it or if you'd like it given to someone else! You hang in there. Patti
Go Jenni! We love you!
Dear Jenni,
Your Professor Giles is my Jess from down the block here in San Diego. Our kids were born in the neighborhood together and she provided the unexpected spark of energy to a group of women adjusting to life as new moms. She sent me the message about "Going Big for Jenni" and I feel privileged to join this network of love, support, positive thoughts, and prayers. Today, I made an effort to give undivided attention to my young children even though I felt like shutting myself away. They may not know what it took to be strong today, but I know that every little stretch makes us more flexible in the long run. I'll be thinking of you each time I'm strong!
-A Hot Mama Friend of Jessica Giles
I tried to give blood on Friday, but my hemoglobin was .1 shy of making the cutoff. I'll try again in a couple weeks after eating LOTS of leafy greens and lean meat! In the meantime, I am thinking of what else I can do in addition to the little things that I never remember to mention, like letting people merge in front of me in traffic. Hmm...well, now that my hair is longer than it has been in years, I think I'll keep it going until it's ready for Locks of Love.
Still keeping you in the light, Jenni!
Post a Comment