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Palliative Care

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Build it and they will come

10 year founders SCG copy 2

Ten years has gone by in a flash! Where it has gone?  Somedays I honestly don’t know. A decade ago a group of us got together and founded a non-profit called The Spiritual Care Guild of Childrens Hospital Los Angeles. Our goal was to provide chaplains 24 hours a day 7 days a week for the children, families and staff at CHLA. We knew then if we simply could help one life, then we had succeeded. That was the beginning of the motto, “One Spirit, One Soul, One Child at a Time” and of our non-profit.

I am happy to report that we have exceeded our wildest dreams. Dreams are exactly what started this in the first place. Our friend, Father John Sigler was a chaplain at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles and he had a dream of chaplains of all faith traditions at CHLA and reached out to us for help. Our first event was appropriately called, “Field of Dreams.” A benefit held in a stunning backyard that had a regulation baseball field. That in itself was an almost impossible feat!

Guest walked in thru turnstiles, strolled throw rows of fresh corn, met Dodgers and Angels baseball players and then at the twilight hour set up their blankets and watched the movie Field of Dreams on a 30 ‘outdoor screen. It was a magical night that changed everything.

 

This Saturday, May 10th, the 10 founders will once again return to the baseball field and revisit our very own Field of Dreams. What started a decade ago was much bigger than a cornfield, it was bigger than each of us and continues to continues to impact thousands of patients and families. I know that 10 years ago I could not have imagined what has been accomplished today. The one thing I will know for sure when I walk onto that field this Saturday night. I will know that dreams do come true if you just Go The Distance.

Charity Matters.

 

Copyright © 2014 Charity Matters. This article may not be reproduced without explicit written permission; if you are not reading this in your newsreader, the site you are viewing is illegally infringing our copyright. We would be grateful if you contact us.

A place where dreams come true

Whats the expression, one person can change the world? Well, when you hear Thomas Rollerson’s story you will believe that. He has changed the lives of over 10,000 terminally ill people by granting their dying wish through his Dream Foundation. Org

Thomas’s journey began in 1993 when his partner was dying and had the simple request to see the movie Mrs. Doubtfire. Thomas called a wish granting agency for children and learned that there was no such place that honored last wishes of adults.  Thomas then went to the movies studios and asked them for help, so his partner could watch the film at home. He was so moved by the studio’s outpouring of love to make this final dream come true that Thomas knew he needed to replicate this for others.

One year later he created the Dream Foundation.Org.  His dream simply to enhance the quality of life for people suffering from a terminal illness by providing peace, joy and closure for them at the end of their life.

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Most of the organizations “dreamers” have a life expectancy of less than a year and because medical expenses are financially devastating these dreamers resources are limited. The dreams can be as simple as having the heating bill paid, reuniting with loved ones or creating a happy family memory for the children whose parents are terminally ill.

The Dream Foundation works with more than 600 hospices and healthcare organizations nationwide along with hundreds of volunteers determined to fulfill thousands of dreams each year.

Thomas Rollerson has taken his grief and turned it into hope, love and joy for thousands of dreamers each year. Sounds like a dream come true.  What’s your dream?

Charity Matters.

Copyright © 2012 Charity Matters. This article may not be reproduced without explicit written permission; if you are not reading this in your newsreader, the site you are viewing is illegally infringing our copyright. We would be grateful if you contact us.