Earlier this year, I helped plant a garden. It wasn’t very big—just 200 square feet in all. We got a late start, so even with the help of organic mulch and fertilizers, the garden didn’t produce an abundant yield of anything other than zucchini. The tomatoes were stunted by cool, cloudy weather; the cucumbers and beans shriveled on the vine; and the peppers refused to grow. But the vegetables weren’t all that important. What we were really growing was hope.
You see, the garden was part of a larger makeover project at a home for abused, neglected and at-risk teen girls. Spearheaded by a nonprofit organization called Enchanted Makeovers (founded by my sister-in-law), the endeavor brought together dozens of volunteers and more than 200 corporate and individual donors who each had the same purpose: To show the girls living at the shelter that they are worthy of love, beauty and a bright future. The project recently culminated in a stunning transformation of the dorm’s hallway and 11 bedrooms, and I was privileged to be there when the final touches were revealed. I will never forget the expressions of wonder and tears of joy on the girls’ faces when they saw their freshly painted, beautifully decorated rooms and all of the gifts that had been lovingly created and donated for each of them. It was a heartrending moment for me and the other volunteers who witnessed it.
What does this story have to do with surveying and mapping? Absolutely nothing. But it embodies the spirit that transcends every profession and connects us all as human beings. I’m reminded of this spirit every time I read about anyone getting involved in a completely selfless endeavor—whether it’s donating time and services for a large project through organizations such as Engineering Ministries International or KnowledgeWell, or individual acts of kindness like those highlighted in this week’s
Surveying in the Headlines. As we reach out a hand to assist others, so often we’re the ones who are lifted up.
As I celebrate Thanksgiving this week, I am incredibly thankful to have been a part of this journey of giving. I know that many of you are involved in similar journeys of your own. Please consider sharing your story below.
I wish all of you many blessings this Thanksgiving and during the holiday season.
By: Deral in Lawton
Posted: November 24, 2009 4:42 PM
I had the pleasure and honor of being apart of a world wide outpouring for my partner in surveying at the City of Lawton. It became know as the Michael Porter Fund.
Micheal has a disease that is non-curable and will someday need a liver transplant. He is one of the finest men that I have ever known. A devout Christian, non-smoker and non-drinker.
My respect grew day by day after I became employed at the city and watched Micheal take care of his mother who had alzheimers. He sacrificed everything to take care of her daily until she had deterioated to the point where it was a danger to her and him by leaving her alone at any point. Burners on the stove with an empty pot and those sorts of things that would have eventually led to some serious consequence.
During that time he was diagnosed with his disease and he really started to deteriorate himself. The stress of both was immense.
Adding to this stress was the qualifications needed to get on the transplant list. He already lived the lifestyle that they required but they also needed an account with $60,000 in it to fund just his after transplant drugs. Maintenance drugs I suppose they are called.
I recall an old science fiction story called the "Cold Calculations". That is what Micheal was involved in with the doctors. They want to do transplants on those that will get the most benefit from them and with the best chance of long term survival after the transplant. Part of that is the financing portion.
Micheal needed to raise $60,000 so we started what I thought would be a good start by having some people donate items that others on the POB bid on. This soon blossomed into much, much more with noted authors donating works, Topcon the manufacture donating a base station and many other generous donations.
And some were uniquely personal gifts. Afghans hand knitted or birch wood baskets made as they did hundreds of years ago.
It was the most amazing thing that I have ever been a part off and in about 6 months time Michaels account with the National Foundation for Transplants had grown to over $60,000.
What does this all have to so with surveying? Well, Everthing. We are seen as having the reputation for being stubborn, opinionated and often just downright onery.
The Michael Porter fund showed the side that every surveyor that I have ever met has within him. The giving side and the caring for a brother in need.
And this was not surveyors that worked with Micheal or that even knew him. This was a world wide effort by the entire fraternity of surveyors.
It was very special time and I hope the others got as much enjoyment as I did from watching or participating in the auctions over those months.
And several contributed a huge amount of time and effort and I will never be able to thank them enough.
But for me. Michael will get a shot at a liver when his time comes.
And Surveyors can feel that were a huge part of that process.
Micheal is a pretty private person but I could see him improving both in health and in attitude as the auctions went on and I think he was surprised by the outpouring of compassion and help by people that he had never met.
Deral