<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto">Wonderful on all accounts! Thanks for sharing.<br><br><div dir="ltr"><span style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 47px; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">Ericka Nelson</span></div><div dir="ltr"><br><blockquote type="cite">On Apr 26, 2020, at 4:34 PM, Michael Kelley via Community-Service <community-service@nfbnet.org> wrote:<br><br></blockquote></div><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr">
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<div>Greetings Darian,</div>
<div>In light of the pandemic, I wanted to share something great I thought you
might like to hear! A few things: On December 3rd 2019 I had surgery to restore
my hearing, and it was on the day of my surgery that I handed out holiday cards
to all the hospital staff to wish them a happy holiday, and they were
exponentially overjoyed when I handed out the cards! They weren't expecting me
to do that at all because they said that usually when patients come in for
surgery all they really think about is getting their surgery out of the way so
they can get back to feeling better so they can get back to living their lives
pain free. The medical team told me they don't get very many thank yous from
patients, so they were a little caught off guard when I came in and handed out
all those cards to everyone! Another service project I wanted to share was on
November 29th of 2016 I handed out my huge stash of leftover Halloween candy to
the sick children at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. And there
was even enough candy for some of the nurses there too! This was also done on a
day I was having surgery. My staff person and I just couldn't believe how big of
an impact I've been in the lives of the hospital's staff and their patients! I
remember the nurses would ask me, "What was your reason for wanting to do this
wonderful thing for us?" I told them I didn't exactly have a definite answer to
why I did it, but that I have had such pleasant experiences each time I've
needed surgery or any kind of medical care, and every single time I've had
surgery the medical team have always been super compassionate towards me, and
they kept me calm and walked me through the process and they explained what all
was gonna happen in an understanding way and they said after I handed out those
cards and the candy I didn't really need to thank them in words because my
generosity and in showing them how much I appreciate them for always being there
for me when I needed it most had definitely made up for these three words:</div>
<div>Thanks everyone tremendously!!!</div>
<div>And I want to finish this message with a bang! The doctor that did my
surgery on December 3rd had showed me what the ossicular implant feels like, and
I think it's super amazing how such a teeny tiny piece like that can restore so
much hearing, and the testimony is to follow, and it's that since surgery I
haven't needed my hearing aids anymore and I was rewarded and blessed with close
to normal hearing, and I believe this was God's way of thanking me for showing
how much I appreciate all that these health professionals are doing to staying
committed to our well-being. Today is Sunday April 25th 2020, and I am happy to
say I am still doing so well, I haven’t had any ear infections since surgery,
and I have been doing great, hearing great, and healing up quite well! Here
lately I've just been reflecting on how well I've been doing since surgery and
how happy my medical team is in having me hand out those cards and the candy. I
reflect on the positive impact we've made in each other's lives. And one last
service I've done is at my day program with Clovernook Center for the Blind. I
would always donate coffee creamer and sweeteners, plastic bowls, or I'd bring
in bags of chips or soft drinks for those at the program who needed something
extra to have with their lunches, or if they needed cream and sugar in their
coffee I'd assist in the supply to make sure everyone got what they needed, and
everyone there appreciated me for everything, and I would always apologize and
tell them I know it's not much, and they would always encourage me and tell me
every little bit counts, and even the smallest acts of kindness goes a long way!
At the time I didn't think so. I would always feel like I'm contributing, I'm
giving it my best effort, but I always felt like I had to do more, or like I
wasn't doing enough, and the people at Clovernook were very understanding and
again they kept telling me every little bit goes a long way, and they told me
not to worry myself too much about it because they appreciate me for whatever I
do for the program whether it's big or small. Thank you everybody for all you do
to help us live the life we want!!! YOU ROCK!!!!!! With warmest regards, Michael
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<div style="font-color: black"><b>From:</b> <a title="community-service@nfbnet.org" href="mailto:community-service@nfbnet.org">Darian Smith via
Community-Service</a> </div>
<div><b>Sent:</b> Sunday, April 26, 2020 3:10 PM</div>
<div><b>To:</b> <a title="community-service@nfbnet.org" href="mailto:community-service@nfbnet.org">Community Service Discussion List</a>
</div>
<div><b>Cc:</b> <a title="dsmithnfb@gmail.com" href="mailto:dsmithnfb@gmail.com">Darian Smith</a> </div>
<div><b>Subject:</b> Re: [Community-Service] [community-service] Honoring our
first responders!</div></div></div>
<div> </div></div>
<div style="FONT-SIZE: small; TEXT-DECORATION: none; FONT-FAMILY: "Calibri"; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; COLOR: #000000; FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline">Michael
and all,
<div>Thank you for sharing such a heartfelt note to the list.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="WHITE-SPACE: pre"> </span></div>
<div>Our first responders have been and continue to be tremendous
assets in the fight against the corona virus.</div>
<div>Our medical professionals, scientists and more have been so valuable
as well, and thanks just don’t seem like enough. </div>
<div>I am sure we all hear about and many people participate in moments of
solidarity to support those front line workers out in our communities and I hope
more of us continue to.</div>
<div>After all, we are members of our community and as members of our
community we are equal in sharing in the joys, challenges, rights and
responsibilities that come with membership in that community.</div>
<div>.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>I think about other ways that we can contribute to supporting those
frontline workers or our neighbors who might be struggling or our
federation brothers and sisters.</div>
<div>What are the things that our division is doing?</div>
<div>If nothing is in the works how do we put something into motion, who do we
talk to in leadership of our division to start to make something happen?</div>
<div> Michael your words were thoughtful, full of reflection
and gratitude. Thank you for sharing them and thank you for the
great text description.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Regards,</div>
<div> Darian ,,
</div>
<div> </div>
<div> </div>
<div>
<div><br>
<blockquote type="cite">
<div>On Apr 24, 2020, at 3:19 PM, Michael Kelley via Community-Service <<a href="mailto:community-service@nfbnet.org">community-service@nfbnet.org</a>>
wrote:</div>
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<div>
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<div>Commemorating our First Responders</div>
<div>Image shows Michael wearing a face mask to prevent the spread of COVID-19
virus to self or others.</div>
<div>We would like to have a moment of silence to honor and commemorate all
the masked heros fighting on the front lines during this global pandemic. We’d
like to reflect on all the great and wonderful things these health
professionals are doing to keep us and their families well! We’d like to give
a bigggg shoutout to the doctors, nurses, police and firefighters and
Emergency Medical Technicians for continuing to staying committed to keeping
us safe and helping us out one body at a time, whether it’s during a fire
rescuing people from their burning homes or whether it’s transporting someone
to the hospital who has corona virus-related symptoms. Even the smallest acts
of kindness go a long way and we’ll get through this crisis. Because of our
medical staff and our first responders staying committed to best medical
practices and doing these wonderful and heroic deeds we will continue to
survive and thrive and we can push ourselves through this pandemic with that
added hope and peace of mind that we are resilient and if we can get through
cold weather, then we can make it through anything. I know it’s hard, I know
it’s not butterflies and rainbows even for the bravest of souls, but we’ll get
through it one day at a time, one step at a time, one day of service at a
time, one journey at a time. WE ROCK!!!!!!</div>
<div>So first responders, if you’re reading this, I just want to say that
there is no words to describe how much you mean to me, and I know and I
realize that we can’t do it without your help and without your being there for
us in the most challenging of times. And we thank you for your award winning
world class service, your kindness, and your generosity and for taking the
time out of your busy schedules to be there for us, saving lives, and paving
the way for a better</div>
<div>tomorrow. Thank you, and remember the most important things:</div>
<div>Stay safe, stay healthy, and see you soon!</div>
<div>Take care and stay healthy friends!</div>
<div>Michael </div></div></div></div><span id="cid:0A6A6CC8-3BD2-4E71-B8CD-ED277753017E@hsd1.co.comcast.net"><IMG_3095.JPG></span>_______________________________________________<br>Community-Service
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<div> </div></div>
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