We're happy to report that Harry finished round four of chemo yesterday afternoon (Mothers' Day) and was discharged from the hospital in fine physical shape and even better spirits. We will post updated pictures soon. Almost a month ago, Cynthia prepared the message that follows, which describes one of the countless acts of love and support that have characterized Harry's journey to healing ...
Thursday, April 17th, 2008
One of the blessings we have been given as we walk with Harry on this journey of healing and laughter is the outpouring of kindness, love and support in so many different ways from family and friends - by people we know well, by people we have only met a few times and by complete strangers. It really gives us hope and re-affirms our faith in the goodness and joy that is in the world if only we give it a chance.
Miyuki and Kirk Cumming, along with their wee daughter Lisa are three such wonderful people. We have only met Miyuki and Kirk a few times. We are connected through Fort Rouge Co-Op Day Nursery, Lydia’s old daycare located in Osborne Village on Stradbrook Street in St. Luke’s Anglican church.
Lydia attended FRCDN from November 2005 until September 2007, when she started Nursery school. This is a wonderful daycare, with a fantastic and dedicated staff and an amazing director. I (Cynthia) remained on the parent Board of Directors as a community representative even after Lydia went on to Nursery school. I met Kirk and Miyuki via the parent board.
Miyuki is from Japan and when she learned of Harry’s illness she offered to organize a ‘1000 Origami Paper Crane’ healing project for Harry. The other parents on the board were incredibly responsive and supportive and this wonderful group of friends started work on folding 1000 paper cranes for Harry.
Miyuki described the 1000 Paper Crane project in this way in an email to me:
“I know Harry, you, Henry, and Lydia are going through a very difficult time right now, and I wanted to do something to help you all get through this difficult time. I am from Japan, and in Japan, the crane is a symbol of longevity. We believe that making a thousand origami paper cranes will recover anyone's health. We actually made more than 1,000 cranes for Kirk's (my husband's) dad when he was in the hospital after a very serious car accident last April. He was in a coma for 3-4 months and he went through a lot of ups and downs. However, he managed to recover consciousness, and eventually, he was able to breathe and eat by himself. He moved out of the hospital last week to a nursing home.
I also believe that people's prayers and love support each other, and I would like you to know that we are all thinking of Harry, you, and all of your family. I would be honoured if you would include our origami project in Harry's journey of healing with others.
We hope we can deliver the cranes that a lot of people are making right now to Harry's room of healing soon.”
Miwa and Yuki helped out
This amazing group of friends at FRCDN started working on the 1000 origami paper crane project in mid-March (around March 22). Parents and children at the daycare all took part. As well, several of the parents are teachers and they took origami paper to their classrooms and got their students involved in folding paper cranes for Harry. Many of the children wrote messages of healing and hope for Harry on the paper before they folded the cranes.
Lyla and Miyuki deliver cranes to Cynthia and LydiaYou can view photos of the crane project coming together and the final delivery at Kirk and Miyuki’s Flickr photo site at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kirkandmiyuki/sets/72157604361539798/
Henry and I are so honoured and deeply touched by this gesture of kindness and the love for Harry that it represents. We truly believe that these acts of love are healing Harry. And, in the way they connect us, are also helping to heal each other too.
The cranes hang in the centre of our house in Harry and Lydia’s playroom, where we can enjoy their beauty and the healing love they represent each day. We will take the cranes to the hospital this Friday to hang in Harry’s room while he undergoes his next round of chemotherapy.
We want everyone who was involved in this project to know just how much it means to us and to know that you have really touched us by your act of kindness and love! Thank you so very, very much. We especially extend our gratitude to Miyuki, Kirk and Lisa for spearheading this project. Thank you!!!
Peace, love and blessings,
Cynthia
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