Two weeks ago, several friends and I stayed up all night cooking BBQ on a smoker—we were helping a family, that we are all connected to, raise money to bring home a child they are adopting from the Ukraine.
The boys name is Tavin. He is a special child. His legs are twisted and being an orphan that makes him ‘unwanted’ by most—and even in his own country that equates to him spending the first two years of his life confined to a crib.
Imagine not being held because you are different, or being sent to a ‘hospital’ to live out the rest of your days when you are not adopted in the first couple years. (&that the mortality rate in the first year in the hospital is nearly half)
For the last year the couple that is adopting Tavin has been raising money toward the adoption and travel expenses. At the BBQ we raised $3500, leaving them several thousand short of the total they needed.
So I wrote a poem & provided a link to their site.
Which led to a bunch of virtual friends going to their site and donating.
Betsy, a friend for the last 6 years, that I only know through our websites, wrote a post.
And even more friends gave money. And friends I have not met yet, gave money.
All of this happened in the last week.
All adoption expenses are accounted for. There is enough surplus that the family is considering adopting another child once they are in country—especially if they find that Tavin has an undisclosed sibling.
I share this not because I am asking for money—but because this is the power of what happens when we come together. People we never knew prior can change our life and the lives of those around us. This is the kind of community that I want to be a part of.
Maybe we don’t have to give money or don’t have money to give…but we all have our words…both in our writing of poems…and in our encouragement of each other. When we get that right–amazing things are possible.
If you are looking for inspiration for your poem for OLN, maybe write about someone that has touched your life, or a worthy cause you support—or maybe you want to share in the comments below.
Thank you to all those that give. See you tomorrow at 3 PM. ~Brian
Note: In two weeks, I plan on addressing critique. We have had several that have offered to act as crit partners to poets.
Note2: We have had a handful of people submit pictures for the new header. Please keep sending them in to dversepoets@gmail.com
So glad this was possible – for some reason I seem to have missed this the first time round… Well done, Brian, and the best of luck for your friends and Tavin.
most def…you know, back when i first started i never would have imagined that there would be people i never knew before that would be willing to invest in lives of people they dont even know…its def a cool world we live in at times….smiles.
This brought tears to my eyes. I believe most people are good as is shown in this story. I’ll check out their link. Peace
i would like to think so as well….
i need to fix the picture when i get home too…as i am not seeing it…
ah, actually i see it now…ha…
oh wow .. that is amazing indeed…. how wonderful that they will be able to soon get him home then… and amazing how many people helped together to make this possible….that is powerful indeed – best luck to them!!
yeah its really cool…they are just waiting now on the call to go over…they have to spend 30 days in country in order for the adoption to go through, so they are taking leaves of absence from work and will live there in an apartment for the month…they are on a cool journey
What a sweet story with a happy ending. So glad it all worked out and Tavin will have a home soon. I don’t know why adoption is so expensive. They should make it easier for couples to adopt children, so more babies can find a loving home. Nice that you helped out to make this happen, Brian 🙂
i agree…and i dont know if in country it is cheaper than if you adopt overseas…its good to have those happy endings on occassion you know…i def look forward to meeting tavin…
Brian, deeply touching story of the possible positive impact of the Internet. So much generosity on the part of the couple and of those who want to help them.
it is cool how people come together and make things happen…makes me think of that Margaret Mead quote you know….
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”
Brian,
I haven’t written a poem in over a month and as such, feel a little out of sorts. But your piece on Tavin pulled at my heartstrings.
Thank you for doing what you do. So earnestly.
hey hopefully that pull at the heart strings gets you to writing…
i hope everything is alright that you took such a time away from the pen….
Brian, thank you for sharing Tavin’s story, your poem and all the good that came from the barbecue and internet outreach. Your friends are truly special people; I’m thrilled that all has worked out for them. Please, keep us posted–that little boy and his new parents are part of all of our hearts now…
most def…i look forward to meeting him in person in the coming months…and maybe telling him the story one day of how so many people that didnt really know him but heard his story and how they gave…
Your friends rock, Brian. Yes, the power of these connections never fails to astound me. What a great heartwarming story.
hey i got good friends all over…what can i say….smiles….
it def amazes me…and when i started the online journey i never really would have believed it…
Very cool. I read your poem..I remember. I missed the part about the link to donate so I went over now…I am sure it all adds up. So happy you are a part of something so important and magical. Thank you for sharing.
as with most things in life…every little bit helps…
and def this is not a call to donate, but it just astounds me the response
its very cool….smiles.
🙂
This is a heartwarming story, Brian! I hope they are able to bring their son home very soon! What special people the adoptive parents are.
ah we are all waiting for that phone call….will miss them the month they are gone, but will be a great homecoming when they return…
This story touches my heart. It’s good to know there are still people out there willing to help those in need… even in the virtual world.
in the virtual world, in the real world…we are all human you know…and we are in this together no matter how we are connected…smiles.
Tavin is so blessed to have finally found a family who will love him unconditionally and “friends” who are willing to go out on a limb just for him to have a happy life. God bless you, Brian, for advancing Tavin’s cause and spreading the goodness of people.
thank you…its an honour really to be a part of it….
Thanks for sharing this amazing story of love and generosity… your poignant poem also! May friends like you continue to support Tavin and his “forever family” in their future joys and challenges. So happy for them!
forever family…i like the sound of that….smiles…
i wish all children had those friends that cared for them
my most fulfilling work in life has been with kids
mostly disadvantaged
Amazing response. Proves the kindness and goodness of poets. We need more in the world working together towards peace and love.
amen to that….
Your words moved Brian ~
Thanks for sharing this lovely story ~
thank you grace.
smiles.
This is great. The power of compassion and do good can do wonders. It only depends upon our will .
that is very true….
This is something I can relate to Because i am a mother of a special child. Poor kid…. only he had someone to sit next to him and feed him.. Good these people were able to make it other wise………… I wonder how many kids are like this left without any one to even lean on………..
I had tear seeing it……… Hope he gets back and becomes a family and learn to love of a mother and family………….. God may give strength to those parents
aw, i did not know that about you…thank you for making it otherwise as well in the life of your child….oy, hard to think on the number of kids like that….heartbreaking actually…
To adopt a disabled child is a very selfless act. A heart warming story and one that has inspired a poem to others I know, who have devoted their lives to their care and protection of society’s unwanted children. Best of luck to your blogging friends and hope they reach their goal and everything runs smoothy for them.
thanks cressida
I read their story through you, after you wrote that poem about cooking up the ribs. What a selfless humanitarian act, from two people who are devoted to children. The fact that they hopefully can medically help this darling boy, for him to lead a full and happy life with love around him..makes me smile. A beautiful story Brian and thank you for sharing it.
thank you ma’am….they are good people…i will see steve tomorrow evening…he is a great guy…..and crystal as well, ha….
My heart goes out to the little boy and the wonderful family who are adopting him. You’ve done a wonderful thing x
Sent by Brenda Kimmins
>
smiles…thank you brenda….
I’ve been waiting for this posting, Brian, since you wrote about that sleepless night.. Seeing you do this, seeing Sherry and friends send a child through college, expands my imagination on what can be done by a person and by a community. Once a commitment is made , that commitment moves mountains.
ah i so agree on the commitment to bond together, to truly become a community…anything can happen that is for sure…
Tears roll as I read both story and poem. This little boy is so blessed to already have so many who love him, and wonderful new parents who can’t wait to bring him home. A once sad destiny now has a bright future and so much hope. You have a good heart Brian. I wish all good things for your friends, and prayers that others like Tavin may find the same hope.
smiles…thanks ginny…i feel much the same…i have to curb my enthusiasm at times because i would love to save them all, but have to realize that i can not….
Love to hear these real stories of not just acts of kindness but people as a group taking action to help special children, anyone in need and having others follow suit and pay it forward….what you did, wrote about, and have inspired in others is good for the soul…
it is cool the energy that it generates when people come together and work toward a common goal that captures their hearts…..
I have been to Russia and came home with a child whose age made him “less desirable” as a potential adoptee. Children all over the world are abandoned, without hope for the love many of us take for granted. What you and your inspired community have done is the kind of act that shows the best in humankind…the kind of act that will someday make the lives of all children a testament to the best that humans have to offer.
so you adopted a child yourself? there are so many children that need a loving home to show them that the world is a place where such a love exists….
This piece is like the 2 minutes CNN gives out daily to share the “Good News”, even our local Northwest news hours are trying this when some positive story stirs them up. Human nature seems to respond to the less fortunate, but there is such a plethora of causes & situations out there to “donate” to, it can be hard to stay focused; & on the flip side, the wily immoral con men who rip off the folks who think they are donating to a worthy cause really burn my butt–ran into a bunch of them pretending to help Veterans.
you def need to be discerning…as there are plenty out there ready to take your money…and sadly the way our laws are set up they only have to give a percentage of that to where they say it is going…if they even try to be legitimate….
knowing the parents, this is legit…and i look forward to tavin coming home…the last bit was sent today…and he should be coming home in mid-may…
My cynicism aside, my alacrity side-stepped, we do applaud that Miller heart, obviously bigger than your butt, and there is just something life-affirming in your tale, within the truth of it that you helped to facilitate; good on you, brother.
I was one of the few that sent you a dozen of my images to consider for a dVerse header; unfortunately, I have never taken pics in bars, pubs, or saloons–so just enjoy the images. Who knows, one of them might catch your fancy.
yep, we got them…thanks g….
Thank you for the follow up to your original posting that told of Tavin’s plight. I’m very happy to hear that he will soon have a new family who will hold him and love him…as all babies should be. And hoping any and all medical bills will be covered for him as well if he needs medical attention. I was curious about his country, Brian. Where is he from…do you know…did not get this information if you already disclosed.
i know it is in the Ukraine…i will get that for you….
as all babies should, for sure….smiles.
Thank you, Brian. I was just curious…please don’t go to too much trouble. He’s such a darling little baby.
i will ask steve when i see him tomorrow if they can release the name of the actual town…i searched their site and it only references the ukraine…
I am a little in and out of the pub but whenever i step in there is a touch of warmth here – how much more there is to life than living?