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Gift
of Life, Inc.
NOTES
FROM OUR CHAIRMAN
Robert
P. Donno on the Road
Sunday,
September 30th
Recent
events have shown us the capacity of mankind to be cruel and brutal.
Our first glimpse of New York’s skyline yesterday was a stark
reminder of what hatred can drive people to do. The emptiness in our
hearts was overwhelming. We ware our NYPD hats in honor of those who
served us heroically during the attack on our country and continue
the massive job of digging out and trying to find those that did this
to us.
Today,
in a bone chilling rain, we saw yet another example of what hatred,
greed and cruelty. A small group of men, women and children from
Sierra Leone met us at the base of the Goethals Bridge. Their arms
and legs, chopped off by the soldiers of their country. One could
only try to imagine what that must have been like for these people.
What kind of society would do this? What kind of men would hack off
the leg of an innocent child? We are a nation that has been protected
from these kinds of horrors. Our good nature tends to make us naive.
I believe that there is more of this than we would like to think.
These
children received new arms, legs and hands through the “Gift of
Limbs” program that was sponsored by the Verrazano Rotary Club
and the 5 Rotary Clubs on Staten Island. On this day when most
sensible people would have stayed in doors, this group met us at the
base of the Verrazano Bridge to walk the bridge to help other
children receive life saving open-heart surgery.
We
said our daily morning road prayer with these new immigrants to our
country. We carried some of the little ones as the others walked. I
watched one little girl hobble and limp across the bridge with her
new leg. Her big brown eyes smiled as she made her trek over the
mouth of New York harbor. Quietly, she walked with the knowledge that
she was helping to bring life to another child whose heart might soon
stop beating if not for her efforts. A child that has seen the worst
in people manages to bring out the best in people. Their effort
covers us like a warm blanket on a cold day. We see people who know
what tragedy is reach out to give back. We are grateful for their company.
As
with other places, there are expressions of thanks and gratitude,
hugs and embraces, and the mandatory group photo before we move on to
our next destination.
There
is much to write about this day. As we drive our RV back to Coachman
in South Bend and our van to Chicago, we will put the final chapter
of the 1,000 mile run to bed.
Our
legs are sore, our bodies are weary, but the spirit has been filled
with the love of many.
God
Bless America!
Robbie
Donno
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