Embraced

What an ROI

2011-06-11T05:56:00.000-07:00

This week was an amazing week for Embraced. We were able to give someone a prosthetic leg, which will now allow them to walk again. Let's just say, there were a lot of tears of happiness at Embraced. The leg is currently being "tweaked" by a wonderful prosthetist, who indicated that Ms. Nancy, will be on her feet again in the next couple of weeks...more details to come.

From the Embraced vantage point, this of course is a very rewarding...however, interestingly enough, is that we are able to accomplish this just 2 years in, very, no, extremely limited budget. Which then, makes me very excited about the future. Excited because I can only imagine the amount of impact we will deliver, when we have a bigger budget.

It is amazing, how much can be done with very little.....however, imagine what we can do, with just a bit more. Please make a donation, so that we can help to more people like Nancy. Click Here to make your donation.

"Connecting the Dots" by Nathan Hartman

2011-05-09T14:51:00.000-07:00

It warms my heart to hear and see the good work that Lauren O'Brien and Embraced have done. Knowing that children like Leila can receive, at no cost, expensive equipment that will aid in her road to recovery is truly a gift. My small part in making this happen originated in awareness ofI Child Spring International through the work of Rose Emily Bermudez, and after learning about Embraced, I thought that the two might work together one day in achieving a common goal: helping disabled children in need. Little did I know how quickly this connection would lead to children receiving the help they need.

Lending a hand is not always easy. Our time is filled with work and relationships and any number of other duties and responsibilities. To pile on the task of helping total strangers seems impossible. We tell ourselves that there simply aren't enough hours in the day to make a real difference, but any amount of time can do real, tangible good if our efforts are directed towards the right cause. Making an introduction between Embraced and Child Spring only took a few emails, but those minutes have already secured necessary post-operation equipment that will help Leila walk. Organizations like these can use our individual talents and connections to make profound positive changes in the lives of people in our hometown Atlanta, across the country, and around the globe. So whether we have a free weekend or just a few minutes, there is a way that you can make a real difference in the live of others. Contact Lauren O'Brien at lauren@embracedatlanta.org to find out how your talents can change lives.

- Nathan Hartman, ESQ. MTS

Hartman Private Law

Newton's 3rd Law

2011-05-03T10:00:00.000-07:00

Sometimes we get referred a patient that needs multiple pieces of medical equipment and we just don't have everything. Because we rely on donations, sometimes inventory varies but, I kid you not, for some reason it always works out. I recently delivered a wheelchair and walker to a 15 yr old over at Children's Hospital. The case manager indicated that he also needed a shower seat. I told Colleen, "nope we don't have one right now, but I am sure we will have one soon". She looked at me suspiciously and asked me if I had other resources or if I were going to go buy one. I told her with utmost confidence, "Colleen, this is how my life has been working out for the past two years- trust me, I can almost guarantee, we will get one in the next day or so".

Shower seats are not common- we have been donated 2 shower seats in the past year but for some reason, I just simply knew it would all work out. I left and went about my day.

It wasn't until Monday that I received a voice message from a woman. She told me her mother had just passed away and she was wanting to donate an item, but was not sure if we would take the item and to please call her back. I returned the call, inquired about the item and learned her donation in question was a shower seat.

Coincidence or serendipity...who knows. But, we all managed to work together to make sure our kiddo, Jonathan, had a solution.

Shower chairs might not sound that grand. But, this is one less piece of equipment his working family has to worry about, one less piece of equipment headed to a landfill and one less headache for Jonathan who is simply trying to adjust to his new life in a wheelchair, so that he can focus on recovering and healing.

Milli Vanilli, Goats and Hot-Dog truck drivers- corny or clever?

2011-05-02T07:15:00.000-07:00

I swear I'd talk to a wall if it would talk back, so I rarely need an ice-breaker. Sweaty palms and that "cat's got your tongue" feeling is unknown to me. However, I do realize that we are all different, so at my first Battle of the Burgers committee meeting, I decided to do an ice-breaker exercise at this meeting. Now, these said ice-breakers usually annoy me for the first 10 min of most meetings, well, because they are usually really boring...and I never really felt anymore connected to "Hi, I am Jack and I am from Maryland". So are 6 million other folks, Jack...wow, we have so much in common. I have a nose too, Jack- does that makes us connected? Maybe I am a bit harsh, but I just never did an ice-breaker that was beneficial.....until the other day...

I asked guest to state the usual...name, work, where they are from..and then, I asked them to recount one interesting and or embarrassing fact, keyword:interesting and/or embarrassing.

I then started strategically because I knew the first person to "go" would set the tone. I praised that person for revealing that she was a professional "back-end fender bender", having back-ended a slew of cars in her days of driving. This set the tone: positive praise for embarrassing facts.

Other fun things I learned:
1. one girl drove a Oscar Meyer-like hot dog truck
2. someone lost 70lbs- very AMAZING
3. someone actually partied with MIlLI Vanilli!

So, moral of the story: embarrassing/interesting facts bond us together... we all felt a bit connected through sharing laughs and smiles about how weird we all are.

PS- I had a pet goat named Sylvester when I was 7...and he ate dog food.

Fostering innovation

2011-04-30T06:30:00.000-07:00

I subscribe to this online newsletter and really enjoy reading it....this was yesterdays info:

This was taken from Katya's Nonprofit Marketing Blog

5 tips on fostering innovation at your organization

A big topic at the Fast Company Innovation Uncensored Conference in New York this week was how to foster innovation at your workplace. Thought leaders from JetBlue, Hulu, Pepsi, OWN/Oprah Winfrey Network,DonorsChoose and even Jared Leto weighed in on the topic. Here were some of the more helpful themes:
1. Take the time to define for everyone in your office the kind of organization you want to be, or else it will just happen to you by default. For example, Hulu defines itself as a customer company, not a media company, which affects how to approaches just about everything. Their aim is to create a service that “users, advertisers and content owners love.” They designed Hulu to work for all of those audiences - rather than to just disseminate videos.
2. Have a few simple shared values that serve as everyone’s North Star. For example, JetBlue stands for safety first, as well as caring, passion, integrity and fun. This permeates the culture (though as JetBlue said themselves, one flight attendant managed to violate all of them.) When you have these, you can empower people throughout the organization to make decisions as long as they follow the values.
3. While everyone needs formal processes in the workplace, needless bureaucracy squelches creativity and discourages innovation. At Hulu, staff raise their hand if they see signs of bad bureaucracy.
4. Stories are a great way to do just about everything: inspire, communicate and bring people together. “The center of our culture is narrative,” as FX executive John Landgraf put it.

And my favorite....

5. Be a dreamer. Build a company on what you hope to happen, not what you fear will happen. It works better.

For more on nonprofit innovation, check out this month’s blog carnival at RAD.

http://www.nonprofitmarketingblog.com/

co·op·er·a·tion noun \(ˌ)kō-ˌä-pə-ˈrā-shən\

2011-04-25T13:31:00.000-07:00

Recently, I placed a call to a fabulous non profit organization. I knew it would be hard for Embraced to work with this organization because they do not provide medical missions...however, I figured I would just give a call to introduce Embraced.

I spoke with a passionate director, who too, concluded that there was not a "working" match for us to work together, but then, she told me that she would love to put me in touch directly with other organizations. And this is what made me so happy.

She understood that as a result of her putting Embraced in touch with other potential collaborating organizations, she in turn would help to accomplish the mission of Embraced- to provide orthopedic and prosthetic equipment to individuals in need-both locally and globally.

Without any benefit to her, she went above and beyond. But, then I realized something grave. The definition of cooperating is:

cooperatingpresent participle of co·op·er·ate (Verb)

1. Act jointly; work toward the same end.

Her "end" was ultimately helping individuals in need- not exclusively through her organization, but more so, through her actions.

What is your "end" mission and are you cooperating?

Leila was Embraced

2011-04-21T09:56:00.000-07:00

Meet Leila. This beautiful girl is smiling because in a few days she will have surgery that will allow her to walk.

Leila is 11 years old and while her recovery from surgery will be long, it will be a bit easier thanks to the equipment- wheelchair and walker provided by Embraced.

Embraced just dropped off a wheelchair and walker that will make it's journey to Greenville, SC today to where Leila is anxiously awaiting her surgery.

Embraced had the pleasure of working together with the fabulous organization know as Childspring International to help an individual in need- to help Leila.

For the next few months this wheelchair and walker will provide mobility to Leila and will help her to heal properly.

Your monetary donation will allow Embraced to help more children like Leila. Please click HERE to make a donation.

SAVE MONEY: READ THIS

2011-04-19T15:37:00.000-07:00

I met with the case management team at major hospital today. The goal of a case manager is to pretty much do two things:

1. make sure the patient receives appropriate care

2. reduce hospital expenditures

In general, they work with patients who can't pay their bill. This, as you can imagine puts the case manager in very difficult situations- juggling two goals (delivering healthcare while reducing costs) as polar opposite as yin and yang.

Case managers have access to funds that are derived from tax dollars. So, case managers often use these funds to buy durable medical equipment, all the while, there are tons of wheelchairs, walkers and other durable medical equipment that are sitting under a bed- perfectly usable...but stranded.

Embraced works with case managers to empower them with a solution by providing them with durable medical equipment (crutches, walkers, wheelchairs, etc) in an effort to:

a. not use as much tax dollars

b. to utilize funds better- ie on disposables, like antibiotics or medications.

I always wondered what happens when a case manager runs out of their fund for uninsured patients...where or what do they do? After talking with a case manager today, I learned a startling fact. For purposes, I will use an example. Tommy, an uninsured, breaks his leg. He needs a wheelchair and crutches. Hospital funds have been depleted for the year. Tommy sits in a hospital until he can get the medical equipment he needs, thus increasing the LOS (length of stay). Each day he sits there, he costs the hospital money.

Could this be a reason why healthcare cost so much?

Embraced partners with hospitals to make sure that uninsured/non-paying patients like Tommy are given the medical equipment to get up and out of (reducing the time in the hospital to return to society to be productive, all the while reducing healthcare costs.

If you like this, I encourage you to join in the Embraced movement by:

1. Follow us...on facebook, twitter and blog so you keep up with us

2. Volunteer with us! Whether it is Saturday Sort day or Battle of the Burgers,we have a wide variety of great volunteer experiences

3. Donate money. We need donations to support our work.

Meeting my idol

2011-03-31T12:59:00.000-07:00

This morning I met one of my idols, Carol Cone- the mother of cause marketing. I was flattered to sit across from this brilliant mind and discuss with her what Embraced has been currently doing, where we are heading and our needs. If you have not read her book- Breakthrough Non Profit Branding- please do yourself a favor and put it on your next important agenda item.

Who knows what will happen, but I walked away from the meeting with a few thoughts. First, I walked away validated that Embraced is an "organization". It is no longer "me"- while I would love to pretend to have "founders syndrome"- I truly want Embraced to grow, provide more services and allow for others to continue the work of Embraced. I felt like my "baby" went to school today. A small step on a long journey, but a step that will foster Embraced to have it has its own identity- an identity that some very big players are taking notice of and lending their ear.

Second, I realized just how powerful the message of Embraced is- it is becoming a movement, a new way of thinking, all the while solving a huge health care issue.

Please visit www.embracedatlanta.org for more info.

2011-02-21T13:01:00.000-08:00

Imagine not being able to feel your feet and how scared you would be that you would fall over with every step. That is how Alysia feels everyday. At 11:45 am today, Embraced gave her equipment so she can simply take a step with confidence.

Meet Alysia. This is her story.

Alysia has drop-foot. Drop foot is a condition in which nerve dysfunction hinders the ability to lift one's foot off the ground while walking. Today, Embraced gave her two AFO's, which is a splint that keeps her foot in a flexed position, so she can move her legs without her feet falling under her, potentially causing her to fall and sustain other injuries. She has already broken her toes as a result of not having the proper medical equipment she needed- AFO's.

Why does she not have this equipment? Like many Georgians, she is uninsured. 1 in 3 in Georgia are uninsured.

"I applied for Medicaid, but that takes 45 days and I'm still waiting on my case worker to return my call. I can't take a step without being terrified I will fall. What can I do? I called and got a $500 quote for the equipment I needed- which was not helpful because I can't afford it. Then, thats when a friend of mine heard about Embraced and I contacted you and here I am".

In the course of getting her the equipment that she need, Alysia told me this was the first time in 34 days that she left her house. After she stated this she told me she thought she was going to cry. I told her that I thought I would too.

After the sentimental "Oprah" moment, we went back to joking around and I learned a little more about Alysia. She too was a "joke-ster" and we cracked jokes and laughed. For being in such a hard situation, it was so inspiring to see her in such high spirits.

She told me how happy she was that Embraced existed because it was a solution for her. She just wanted to walk and to move without being scared that her foot would turn under her. She just needed a simple piece of equipment to do so and Embraced made it possible.

But, as always, it was more than equipment that was given. Alysia was embraced.

Shanti

2011-02-06T05:05:00.000-08:00

I was pleasantly surprised to receive a very special gift recently. It was a necklace that had a message in Sanskrit- "Shanti"- Peace. I loved the design, but more importantly the message. I thought how appropriate because weeks earlier, unknown to the gift giver, I had make a new years resolution, centered around peace.
So, I wore it with more depth and meaning, it was more than just an accessory- but rather a reminder of my life mission. It became very sacred to me.

And then, in the hustle and bustle of an early morning flight, almost missing my plane and several pat downs from security, my necklace broke. My peace broke.

Immediately I launched into the script in my head that immediately plays. You know, the one that say, "gosh Laur- why can't you be careful. Why do you break everything? Why cant you just have something nice for a bit?".

Then, I chuckled. I grabbed the necklace and started fixing it on the escalators down. I ignored the fact that I have no nails and huge hands (think :man hands" from Seinfeld, well, not really, but thats what it felt like trying to fix this delicate necklace).

I realized that this (fixing it) now meant more to me than just having a pretty necklace to adorn my collar. It meant learning to remain calm when an unfavorable situation arises. It meant learning a new dialogue to put into my head- one that doesn't take away but rather adds positivity to myself.

Calmly, with a couple deep breathes, patience and a knowing that nothing would break my peace, the necklace was mended.

Lesson: Aim for peace. Surround yourself with peace. At times it will get interrupted, get broken, but when it does, have trust in yourself that you possess every capability of restoring it.

Shanti-
Lauren

Admission: I have fallen in love.

2011-02-01T06:20:00.000-08:00

Admission: I have fallen in love. Her name is Dollie and she is the best thing that has happened to me. She is always there,behind me, carrying my load with such grace, such ease. At times, when I need extra room, she just folds down and takes the back seat. She is amazing.

What is even more amazing is how people want to steal her away (Raul, watch out, Dollie is mine!)- they see how special she is, how supportive and how strong she is- she is amazing.

Not only is she amazing, but she is also very philanthropic and ends up carrying most...okay, all, of the collected equipment at Embraced.

Dollie- you are amazing, shiny, strong and yet, filled with such fluid grace as you move. You have changed my life and I am forever grateful for you. You are the wheels beneath my load.

New Leaders Council

2011-01-30T08:19:00.000-08:00

I have to admit- I am a skeptic. I am an optimist, but maybe its just experiences like living in third world countries, experiencing reality and just life that keeps at least on foot on the ground. So, when I was nominated for a leadership council, I immediately was a bit skeptic- 5 months of leadership training, support and networking just because someone saw that entrepreneurial glimmer in my eye?

I was also a little hesitant to give up a whole weekend a month- my weekends are filled with catch-up hours of work...so, I was just trying to figure out where I would cram those hours....but, I walked into Turner Studios (Thanks Turner!) unaware that this council would be one of the bridges that get me to the next place, the next step. The weekend consisted of a ton of sharing, setting goals, discussing key issues that leaders are faced with and more importantly, making new friends.
As I left the training on Sunday, I left with not only with 25 new contacts, but I left with 25 new friends. Friends, who I know, will push me, I too, them to the next level- whatever it may be.

New Leader's Council- thank you- for providing such an important community for today's young leaders.

Conan was at NLC too!

getting a little personal

2011-01-28T04:56:00.000-08:00

I get excited about off the wall stuff. Yes, I realize, I am a "dork" for not only remembering physics equations, but having that high inflection in the tone of my voice, which means only one thing: joy when reciting them. I love learning about systems- whether it is the adrenal or Systems of a Down. I love orthopedic and prosthetic equipment- now that is just weird.

One thing I am not too keen on is weekly planning meetings. Yes, I see the utility in them- they are a must, but lets just face it, they are not that fun. This Thursday, I decided to switch it up a little. I decided to add in the end two items. I contemplated doing so, because these two items were personal- should I, or rather, is it okay to add in too personal items into work? I am a little sensitive about not being too down to business simply because I am a young, female leader....not to down play or up play any of the typical stereotypes that surface as a result of that comment...but just want to run an professional, respectable organization where I am respected.

So, this week, in the meeting as we finished up discusing our current professional goals, I asked for a "personal goal"...."it can be anything that you have been wanting to do in your personal life...but you have to start on it this week". Wow. To see the look on my director's face was priceless. His face filled with excitement as he gushed about various goals- his passions erupted as he spoke of all these goals. One of his goals was to improve fitness, so we both decided one way to measure this would be to time his mile run, ...which by the way, I have not done since, ummm, high school?

The other exercise I added was to come up with a motivational quote that we would recite during the week- a mantra. Again, it was such a great team building exercise to do this.

As we finished up and I was on my way- I realized something- first, that it is so easy for small business to incorporate fun into their work place- you don't have to be some silicon valley company with fuzeball and guys traversing through company halls on skateboards to be cool (however, that does sound pretty sweet).

Secondly, as I was finishing up the day, thinking about the events and preparing to sleep, I realized our mantra this week ironically was "bring life to life". I felt like we did that in our meeting. We brought purpose to our meetings aside from just being centered around work. We brought balance. Moments after that thought surfaced at 9:30pm in the evening I received a text from my director- "4.25=1/2 mile; 9.02= 1 mile, can't wait to hear your times....". I smiled.

Liberia at La Parilla

2011-01-26T14:08:00.000-08:00

Besides dental floss, my favorite thing in the whole wide world is the ability, awe and wonder when individuals share ideas and have the potential of turning those ideas into real, tangible outcomes. I get excited just from typing that thought!

I was so flattered to meet with Amanda, who works for the government in Monrovia (Liberia). Amanda is an Atlantan who decided that she was going to do something big with her life- something that made a social impact. I listened to her story- how she decided to leave a high end corporate position after completing a compelling volunteer internship. How she found herself, her happiness through service. Due to her volunteer experience, she was offered a position working for the Monrovian government. Although reluctant to turn in her US life for a world away, she knew that this opportunity was her life story- what was going to make Amanda, Amanda.

It was so amazing to meet this inspiring woman- both for the mere fact, that I too, am a woman that shares a common interest- improving the lives of less fortunate individuals and to witness her wondrous spirit.

I will keep everyone updated on the hospital adoptions in Monrovia. I have absolutely no doubt (and yes, chills are going down my spine as I type this) that as a result of a simple lunch at La Parilla on Howell Mill, Embraced and more importantly, Amanda, will improve the lives of so many individuals.

Who knows...maybe we can have a soccer match in Liberia after we get done providing them with orthopedic equipment through Embraced.

Dream big because there are a lot of Amanda's out there to make it a reality.

creating a movement versus an organization

2011-01-20T12:56:00.000-08:00

Anyone that works for a non-profit will tell you how important their organization is to the community. There are thousands of individuals right now dedicating countless hours to their organization. But, is this effective? Is that enough? Should the focus of a non-profit leader be to build an organization?

As the founder of Embraced, I am also creating an organization. But, while my focus is on building an organization, my overall objective is to build and create a movement.

But, then I am confronted with the proverbial question of chicken and egg...which comes first- the movement or the organization?

As a founder, I am left with addressing and creating both. But, at the end of the day, I realize that movements are what will get my organization (Embraced) to the next level. A movement implies basic quantum physics- mass, acceleration and force come to mind.

So, as life has never failed at demonstrating to me that everything happens for a reason- I did not take two years of physics for nothing...but rather to understand how to incorporate momentum (which is the product of mass times velocity) into my organization to create a movement.

What is inside of you?

2011-01-12T21:27:00.000-08:00

There is nothing more gratifying than knowing that your work makes a positive impact in the life of someone else. Embraced received this email today:

"We found you through Kim, my friend who also attends church. She needed some assistance with her wheelchair and someone at Embraced offered it to her.
Kim was, until recently very marginalized and living in poverty with her sick uncle and developmentally handicapped cousin as her care givers. Embraced helped her when she grew taller and needed some help with a wheelchair. Kim has now successfully been "adopted" as a young adult into a home and the Ormewood Park community. She lives with a loving family and their children part-time and her dear friend and adopted grandma part-time. She is no longer marginalized, and living in poverty. She lost her uncle but her cousin visits regularly. We are going to be donating her current wheel chair soon, because she is now able to afford a comfortable customized wheel chair to fit all her needs.
Thank-you for being there for my friend Kim."

You can't help but to smile at that note. Whether it is a few hours a week or a change of careers, we all have the capacity to give. We all have the capacity to not only make a difference, but to be that difference. I encourage you to dig deep and be proactive about doing things that have a positive impact on our community.

In the words of Oliver Holmes, "What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us."

- LOB

Embraced: Creativity comes from....a treadmill?

2011-01-03T18:46:00.000-08:00

Embraced: Creativity comes from....a treadmill?: "A friend recently told me that I am funny because I tend to do everything backwards. Besides, putting my nouns in front of adjectives,..."

Creativity comes from....a treadmill?

2011-01-03T18:44:00.000-08:00

A friend recently told me that I am funny because I tend to do everything backwards. Besides, putting my nouns in front of adjectives, friend good, I tend to just do things, well, differently. I account this, very scientifically, to my astrological sign of rebellious water bearing...its really rebellious, I tell you.
Doing things backwards, like starting a non-profit organization because it is a calling versus a way to shelter money, requires, well, quite frankly, a ton of....creativity.
But, just like any entrepreneurial endeavor, it takes resourcefulness, a bit of endurance and a ton of creativity.

Sometimes I wish I could record all the thoughts I have on the treadmill....well, okay, not all of them. I try so hard to not think...but the neurons keep firing. I think about all the crazy, out of the box ideas that will get Embraced more funding, so that we can continue to grow and help provide more orthopedic and prosthetic equipment to those in need.

However, every time I start into a new festival idea or think about Battle of the Burgers 2011...I keep remembering a non-profit training seminar where they preached about not focusing on special events as a source of funding. I somewhat agree and understand that lesson. However, grants are few and far between right now-what in the world is a non-profit supposed to do with the fact that grants right now are so entirely competitive?

Now, I understand why special events should be taken with care and caution. A lot of the time overhead costs pile up and before you know it, you need a huge turnout to even break even.

This is where creativity comes in. It is an absolute must to make a profit. Even though you might operate a non-profit, money is still needed. So, here are my suggestions and things I learned, should you be planning an event for your non-profit:

1. Get creative- do whatever you have to do- run on a treadmill :), read the NY times, and do not be afraid to do something different.
2. Trade- with such an array of businesses in financial stress right now, it is a perfect time to trade. I highly suggested using this when deciding to plan your next event.
3. Facebook is great- Use it. If you don't believe it as Goldman Sachs, they just invest $550 million.
4. Waste is bad! - Ask my interns. I make them use the backs of every paper- yes, every square inch. Not only is it good for the environment, but we are not hear to waste donors money. Not even a penny. Think like that about everything as much as you can within reason.
5. Think big- the only thing holding you back is, well, you. Reach as far as you can imagine and then add a foot.
6. Have fun-Attitudes are contagious. If you are excited, people will get excited. And, your event will be exciting.

If all else fails, just hop on a treadmill.

-O'Brien, Lauren

a personal tale...

2010-11-28T08:51:00.000-08:00

I suppose there might be an ounce of rationality in believing that if you collect orthopedic/prosthetic medical equiment, that maybe by the simple act of being constantly surrounded by it, you might find yourself needing it one day.
Unfortantely, the day came about a month ago for me. I fell and to my dismay, ruptured my anterior-talo- fibular ligament. You dont need to be bothered with the details, however, the translation is no walking for 2 months, a few months of rehab,tons of crutch-armpit burns and frustration.
My first week I have to admit, was extremely difficult. I happen to live on the top floor of a condo with no elavator. Crutches and stairs don't really go well together. Throw a dog into that mix and well, you are pretty much..you can do the math.
On top of all of the frustration, I also experienced many life changes during this month- not going to get too personal, but lets just say, nothing is permanent, nothing lasts forever. Many of these life changes caused me a lot of grief. I found myself at one point asking "why is the universe doing this to me?". I honestly felt bad for myself.
And then, BAM! Well, not really like that...but for dramatic purposes of this blog, I will fast forward the gradual realization into a full on, cheesy, Batman and Robin "Whack!, Baaaaam! Boom!" screenshot.

"The universe is not doing this TO me. The universe is doing this FOR me."

As silly, cheesy, of-centered or maybe even dead-on accurate as it sounds, I realized that through all my frustrations with crutches, all my annoyances with a leg injury, I saw just how one silly ligament being temporarily disconnected in your leg, can really cause a lot of external trauma. I can not imagine or even comprehend not having a few resources to get me through such a vulnerable time.

I suppose this accident, might be a "happy accident" as a friend once told me. As a start-up non profit, sometimes, even though you believe in your mission, you feel as if the world might not hear you or that there is not enough of "you" to accomplish your mission. But, this accident could not have come at a better time because before I realized what Embraced does and what we have the capability of doing. But, much more than just realizing what Embraced does, right now I feel it.

I can see clearly now...

2010-11-13T12:54:00.000-08:00

This week I fell and found out, regretfully, that my life will involve more crutches than I had hoped for...only this time, I would not be donating them for a while, but instead would be using them. I'm active, I love to run and more importantly, have found my independence not only a personality trait, but rather something that defined me.

This past week, without being a "whining-baby" was sort of hard. Hard because I am now in a position of relying on someone (my very amazing boyfriend) to do everything for me- walk the dog, bring me water, take out the trash, get this, get that. As much as I say I would love to have someone at my beckon call, it has been the hardest thing for me. But, as I sit here, leg up in the air, I can not be anything but so entirely grateful for my crutches I have that get me around, for the great environment that I have- a comfy couch to sit on, the distraction of reality TV show and great friends. And still, it is hard for me. I can not imagine the mental capacity of the people that Embraced helps. I can not imagine on top of having to deal with not being "able" to care for myself, having to worry about not having the medical equipment to allow me to get around a little or to not be able to afford it.
Without exercising my true independent, self-sufficient, not wanting to rely on anyone nature too much- I am sure I will be fine, but I will not stop until I know that all people in similar situation- situations of reduced mobility- are given the resources they need, to at least get up and have the option to help themselves.

wheel'in around

2010-11-04T15:50:00.000-07:00

"I need a wheelchair, my friend broke his shoulder and leg. He doesn't have insurance" says a voice over the phone. This is such a common call to Embraced.

So, I head to our facility to pick out a shiny, almost new wheelchair for this person who lay in a hospital bed in Atlanta. I wonder as I am touching this wheelchair, where it has been and where it will go. How many people have you helped Mr. Wheelchair? Who have you given the gift of mobility to? Who has been so relieved to see you and so relieved to get rid of you?

See, the truth is, while being in a warehouse full of crutches, walkers and prosthetics might be a little freaky for the average person....I view it as tremendous...the exponential potential of positivity this equipment has to offer is what keeps all of us at Embraced motivated.

Embraced is providing this link- matching the excess medical equipment that sits idle- under beds, closets, or basements with folks who just need a little bit of help. We are providing a solution for the healthcare crisis.

Visit www.embracedatlanta.org to learn more about this BOLD idea for social change.

2010-10-10T16:04:00.000-07:00

The story is far to familiar for me, but for most- it is not so familiar and the irony is- it is right here in our own backyard......

    A 28 year old mother of 4, with a 9 year old son who broke his leg. Ironically, he broke his leg while she was in a training program for a new job, which forced her to leave the program to tend to her son's broken leg. This left her, once again, without a job.....uninsured, sitting in the ER, she sat wondering how she would pay the bill. Released from the hospital, she carried her son home, whom sat idle as mom dialed clinic after clinic, searching for a pair of crutches for her son. For the past week and a half, she was carrying her 9 year old son, who's blue cast started at his toes and made his way to his hip, from couch to table, to anywhere he needed to go. A simple pair of crutches was what she needed. That is it.

     My phone rings. I am driving to a meeting with an orthopaedic surgeon to tell him about Embraced and how setting up a collection bin in his office, which collects crutches, walkers, wheelchairs, etc can and does make a huge difference right here in Atlanta and across borders as well. A tired voice on the other end of the phone tells me that she talked to someone, who talked to someone, who told her we (Embraced) might be able to help. She told me she applied for medicare but had to wait 45 days for that to kick in...so essentially, she had to wait 45 days to get a pair of crutches, which meant that a 9 year old might miss 45 days of school because of a broken leg. She told me all she needed was crutches so that her son could go back to school. The school would not let him back unless he could prove self-reliant mobility.

    So, as simple as it sounds- I drove out today, across town, to a neighborhood I would not usually frequent and dropped off a pair of crutches, a wheelchair and some hope to a mother who is simply trying to get to a better situation in life and a boy- who was simply trying to go back to school.

Embraced is the solution. You can be part of that equation. Visit us at http://www.embracedatlanta.org/ and figure out how you fit into that equation.

its all coming full circle now

2010-09-25T08:11:00.000-07:00

The day I gave Guerline a new arm was the day I realized that things really do happen for a reason—even things that seem horrible when you’re going through them. I’m not talking about Guerline losing her arm happening for a reason. Maybe it did, but that’s her story to tell. I’m talking about my story… the path that brought me to Guerline.

I’m not a doctor. I was going to be once (and maybe one day I still will be). It was my plan my entire life. But, as fate would have it, life had different plans for me than I had for life.

After 9 months of studying for the MCAT’s, I needed a day off, so I went horseback riding. For a few brief passes through a wide-open field I was able to forget about how I “had” to pass this exam so that I could become a doctor-so that I could help people, so that I could make a difference.

That’s when it happened—in slow motion. As I took off for one last race across the grassy meadow, I felt the excitement in the air. And then I felt myself flying through it. And then the pain came. There were ligament tears and there were broken bones. And there were shattered dreams of medical school. There was no way I would recover in time to take the very last MCAT exam that year.

I went through all the stages of grief. I was shocked and in denial, and then I was filled with anguish and guilt for doing something so reckless at such an important time.

But I worked through the pain, both physical and mental. Eventually I didn’t need the crutches, the braces or the constant visits to physical therapists. As my physical wounds healed, so did my emotional ones.

As I sat staring at all of my orthopedic equipment, sitting in my closet after I was finished using it, reminding me of everything I lost, I started laughing. “It’s ironic. Immobile mobility devices” I said aloud, even though nobody could hear me. Suddenly, instead of questioning, “Why did this happen to me?” I was questioning something completely different: “If the purpose of crutches, braces, walkers and wheelchairs is to provide mobility, then why do so many sit idle- in closets, basements, or worse- in landfills?”

I decided that I would not just let my used equipment go to waste…at the very least somebody else was going to benefit from me having been hurt. And so began a chain of events that changed everything. Again.

I went online and looked for a place to donate all of the perfectly usable equipment that I didn’t want to have to see anymore sitting idle in my closet. All I wanted was to give it all away, because as soon as it was out of my life, I thought I could move on and get back on my path to medical school.

My goal was to find an organization that would not only take my equipment but one that I could connect with the non-profit health clinic where I was volunteering, with the hope that the clinic could obtain a sustainable supply of equipment for their uninsured/underinsured patients. But I couldn’t find anybody to take my crutches or my braces. I couldn’t find a single organization in Atlanta that was willing to take any orthopedic equipment from me (or anybody else) and redistribute it to others in need. I called the big name organizations that we all donate to when we have things we don’t need. They told me they throw away medical equipment because of the liability. They told me to find somewhere else. The problem was there was nowhere else.

I was shocked. How could this be? I had volunteered in a clinic where countless patients came in, uninsured, and couldn’t afford the crutches they needed to walk. I had seen old ladies who couldn’t get a walker because they didn’t have the money. I witnessed innocent gunshot victims who couldn’t get a new leg because they cost $10,000 or more.

Here I was, with items that so many people needed and there was no bridge to connect us. It made no sense. A solution was needed.

I found a group in Canada that collected and distributed orthopedic equipment. I’m not sure why, but at this point I was obsessed with this problem. So I flew up to Canada to talk to them, and to see what could be done to fix this problem in America. I didn’t really think I would be the one to fix it. I was young, and naïve, and thought that I’d find somebody else who would fix it… while I went to medical school.

On the flight home from Canada I realized I had a decision to make.

Somehow I now had this knowledge that there was this major problem in America. It was a problem that DID have a solution, but in order to have a solution, it took someone who was willing to create a solution. This problem was going to require someone with a business background coupled with an unyielding passion for helping others through orthopedic equipment. I could not think of anyone who fit this description, other than me. However, the only problem was that I did not want to tackle this; I wanted to go to medical school. So I asked myself… “If I go to medical school, will I be able to live with the fact that I didn’t try to fix this first?”

I was 24 years old. I wanted to be a doctor. I didn’t WANT to find a way to get used orthopedic equipment to underprivileged people. I didn’t have any idea HOW to give used orthopedic equipment to underprivileged people. But I knew that ethically, and morally, there was only one choice that I could make. The right thing to do was to figure out a way to connect those who had this equipment that had no value to them with those who needed it. One man’s junk is another man’s treasure, right? If you’re talking about arms and legs, it definitely is.

Embraced started with absolutely no money, and one bin collecting used equipment at a doctor’s office. Patients would come in for their appointment and be asked to donate what they didn’t need any longer on the way out.

I was shocked when, two days later the bin was full. Beginners luck, right? I emptied it, took the equipment home and set it back out. Two more days, another full bin.

I never thought I’d live in a condo that was filled with prosthetic arms, plastic legs, wheelchairs, and countless other orthopedic devices; but a few months later, my neighbors were giving me really strange looks because I was the freaky neighbor that did. I won’t even tell you how this impacted my dating life.

Embraced partnered with the clinic in Atlanta that I used to volunteer at and another organization that distributes medical aides to developing nations. Together, we are able to distribute the collected items to people who really needed it.

None of it has been easy, but all of it has been entirely rewarding. Starting a non-profit with no money is a lot harder than most people would expect. It turns out that it makes grantors a little nervous to fund a brand new organization run by a twenty-something year old.

But two years, 45 collection bins, countless hours and 1500 pieces of equipment redistributed later, there are so many stories of people Embraced has helped. There is a man in Ecuador who had polio and needed crutches to walk-- Embraced gave him the crutches. There was the boy in Atlanta who was shot when he was 18 months old, and at 17 years old still needed countless pieces of equipment just so he could live a semi-normal life—Embraced gave him the equipment.

And there was Guerline, a 33-year-old Haitian woman who spent two days trapped beneath earthquake rubble before she lost her arm. The type of amputation she needed was so rare that the prosthetic arm she needed cost $51,000. When she came to Embraced and asked for help, I was, against all odds, able to say “yes, we can help you. And yes, we will help you.”

I’m not a doctor. I wanted to be. I still want to be. But sometimes life has other plans.

I never thought I’d look back at my personal accident and be happy I fell off of a horse, had my body broken, and had my dreams put on hold. I never thought I’d meet Guerline, let alone be able to give her a second arm. It turns out that being a doctor isn’t necessarily my only path to helping people, even if I always thought it would be. I never thought I’d say that.

http://www.cbsatlanta.com/positively-georgia/index.html

An unexpected tearjerker.

2010-08-01T17:01:00.000-07:00

In January when the earthquake in Haiti shook the world into action, Embraced too was one of the organizations which, in a small part, helped. We sent equipment on its way, to hopefully, provide a resource to help to heal all the broken bones, ligaments, and quite possibly, ultimately heal the hearts that were crushed as a result of the destruction. While we of course were called into immediate action, I knew that when all the rubble was cleared, when the dust settled, we would then, finally see the true reality of this event.
Fast forward a few months, my intern mentions a story about this young Haitian amputee in Atlanta he saw on the news the night before. He follows through with contacting them. Before you know it I am across the table from Franz and Guerline. Guerline, a few years older than me, sat across the table, missing her left arm. As many times as I have seen the lack of limbs, it still manages to perplex me. I secretly hope that it is just my brain playing an optical illusion on my eyes and that if I rub them hard enough that maybe possibly that might restore what is not there. I hate it because it never does and I want so badly to fix it.
We get through the normal conversation that occurs in Atlanta every August about how hot it is as we excuse the multitude of sweat stains that accrue as a result of just simply existing outside. I then invite the inevitable but necessary account of why Frantz and Guerline are sitting in front of me rather than back home, in Haiti. "So- tell me your story" I say.

I love hearing people's stories. It is a way for me to somehow transcend into their thoughts, feelings and emotions. I suppose it is the closest way for me to feel like I actually might be able to understand and might possibly build that bridge that allows me to connect to them.

As Guerline spoke in her native creole tongue, while understood every third word from my fluency in another latin-based language, I felt every word. Each and every word piled on my chest- no my heart, like a ton of bricks. I stared into her eyes, to somehow give her a hug, comfort as she relayed to me the horrific and horrendous series of circumstances which resulted in her, one less arm, sitting in front of me, looking for someone, something to make her whole again. Tears rolled out of my eyes unexpectedly.

At this moment, I realized why it is that I have spent the last almost two years struggling, trying so hard to get a non-profit off the ground. It is moments like these that give you the energy and potency to keep persisting, keeping moving forward regardless of the fact that you have no salary, yet. I take these moments as messages, clues along my journey, hinting to me that I am on the right road, regardless if it is uphill at this moment.

We wrapped up the meeting a little bit changed. Guerline's face was washed of the hard look that people sometimes get after they have knocked on every door possible, only to receive one rejection after the next. She smiled after I told her that Embraced will help her, staring into my soul, deliberately saying to me "Merci" as if she not only wanted me to hear it, but rather to feel her gratitude.

I found myself saying "thank you" to her. Thank you Guerline, for the opportunity to help you. Thank you for being the one that reminds me just how spectacular and special the act of making someone else's tears my tears, my prayers, and now my mission.

Here I go....

2010-08-01T14:58:00.000-07:00

So, a lot has happened the past two years and like many people, you end up looking back thinking "Man, I never saw that one coming!". Two years ago, I would have thought it was a joke if you told me that I would not be in medical school but rather challenging myself to start a non-profit at the worst economic time in history. I always manage to take on these uphill tasks. Aside from the non profit, I just love challenges in general. I see them as bench-presses for your spirit and the opportunity to grow. Of course, they are so entirely uncomfortable, but they also remind you, you are alive...so here I am, 26 and trying to make a difference through my non profit, Embraced. Embraced sets up bins in doctors offices, gyms, therapy clinics etc to collect crutches, walkers, wheelchairs, braces, etc. We then inventory and redistribute this equipment to individuals in need- both locally and globally.

I have decided to blog about Embraced because it is essentially my baby. I have birthed this creature and thus far has been the biggest joy- filled with hilarious moments, sad moments, scary moments, "oh my god, I feel like I am going to throw up and have a nervous breakdown all at the same time" moments and every other possible emotion you could imagine. While I feel vulnerable exposing that I simply don't have all the answers to everything and also struggle, it is also nice sharing with others, that I too, am human ;) I laugh at how silly this sounds. It is so normal to not know the answer to everything, yet, why is it so unacceptable to admit it- why is it seen as a sign of weakness and that somehow people will now think you are not a leader? Maybe my honesty will make others doubt my capabilities, but I hope rather it teaches me as well as others the wonderful lesson of humility. Regardless of what illusion of strength or weakness this projects, I am simply trying to make a difference.

Initially, I really did not want a non-profit. Yep, that is right. I wanted to be a doctor. But, when I found out how much perfectly good and usable equipment gets thrown away while people in need literally sit idle because they don't have something as basic as crutches, I could not turn my head. I wanted to, Ill admit it. It is so easy to just ignore a problem and brush it off saying "yeah, maybe I will do that when I am established..." . Which, I respect those that will do something when they are established, but I just tend to subscribe to the "now and here" mentality. Even though I am 26, there is no guarantee I will be here for a set amount of time.
Not to get morbid- I just think that life is so much richer when you subscribe to the mentality of "carpe diem".

I hope that this series of blogs do not come off as arrogant as if the world should pay ME attention because I (in a long exaggerated cadence) am doing something to help others....I just hope to accomplish a few simple things from this story telling experience. First, I hope to inspire others to find their passion- whatever it may be. I hope that through my mess-ups, my raw honesty about all the road bumps and crap that happens, that maybe you will find that "it ain't easy for anyone" and that will help and give you comfort when following your passion becomes, well, uncomfortable. Secondly, I hope to poke fun and find the humor, the joy and the beauty of this struggle. This is more of a selfish motivation, but I think that through sharing this journey, I will be able to give myself a break, relax and recollect on the time. And lastly, as cliche or however "Jack-Handy-like" as it may sound, I really hope that by reading this plethora of babel that maybe, just maybe, you can manage to deduce something and whatever that something may be, that somehow, someway it manages to make you feel a stronger, deeper, connection and appreciation to humanity. Happy reading.