I started Making a Difference Mondays as a way for me to use my once miniscule blogging voice to try and change the world one kind deed at a time. Each Monday, I'll post about something I've done to make someone's day a little bit better, and I invite you all to play along by doing the following:
1.) Make your own Making a Difference Monday post, explaining to your readers these rules, and sharing the story of some small act of kindness you've performed in the past week. It could be anything...holding a door, helping a little old lady cross the street, or even just stopping at a red light when there's no one around to know the difference.
2.) Enter a link to your post in the Mcklinky box below.
3.) Link back to my post in yours so that your readers can find the full list of participants.
It is with one person and one action at a time that we change to world. Why not try to change it for the better?
-Carrie @ [carrotspeak]
My thoughts last week all seemed to drift back to one thing, my cousin Perri's foster son Ryan. He's only 10 but is having some very serious issues. When he was still in the womb he was exposed to drugs and alcohol which greatly affected his developing brain. For those of you who don't know, depression and many other types of mental problems are illnesses that you can't control on your own, just like diabetes.
I was unlucky enough to be born into a family that has many people battling depression. I have bounced on and off of tons of different antidepressants since I was in junior high. I don't ever really remember a time when I was really and truly happy with myself. And as sad and pathetic as that all sounds, it is nothing compared to what poor Ryan is experiencing right now. Anybody who cares about children should really thank whatever divine being they pray to that Ryan was able to come to Perri and Bill. I honestly don't know where he would have ended up if he didn't have them to help him through all of this.
Last week, Ryan had to be hospitalized. His emotional problems were becoming much more severe and even manifesting themselves as physical violence. At one point he even talked about suicide. However, he is getting the help he needs now. He is in therapy several hours everyday and he is learning how to deal with his anger as it comes and not keep it in until he blows up. The doctors are also trying to get him set up on a medication regimen that will help to even out his moods without making him a zombie. It's a tough task for someone as young as him but I have a lot of confidence.
Last week, I sent out a post asking for letters, cards, thoughts, and prayers from everyone for Ryan and his family. Today, I am asking you to continue all of those things. Some people may not believe it coming from me, but this year I have seen what good thoughts and prayer can do. My mother and father are both still here with me and it truly is a miracle. Now I'm passing on a little of that miracle to Ryan and asking that each of you do the same.
Posts
