I See You. You See Me.

The talk is rampant of people being labeled, “illegal.” I heard one expert speak this week and made the comment, “People cannot be illegal. They can be undocumented, which is different.” Honestly, from my viewpoint, I agree 100%, and see labeling people “illegal” just as offensive as labeling someone by their diagnosis. (cancer patient, ADHD child, asthmatic child- the person is a person with a diagnosis- I am Anna, who has multiple chronic diagnosis. I wouldn’t ever want any one of these to define the complete existence of myself or anyone else). The people that are being labeled in this way simply, either did not have the correct information to obtain the correct documents when entering the US, or neglected to do so for a reason we cannot just assume. And some are just being wrongly accused, period.

The bottom line is this: people, we as humans, are not illegal. Our actions or inactions can be illegal. We must really watch how we phrase things – remembering we are all people with many things that make up who we are. See the person.

Nothing brings the stories of others alive to me than documentaries/movies. (I love meeting people and learning their stories, but there are only so many people you can meet in a lifetime.) And of course, there are wonderful children’s books that can introduce you to many amazing people 😊. Today, though, I am going to “review” (I use this word lightly) five movies I have watched recently that have increased my gratitude, broadened my view, and introduced me to some incredible people and their “breakthroughs” in a world that was not so welcoming. Let’s dive in:

Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot:

• Short version: Based on a true story. Kids needed homes. And a town in Texas came together and gave them homes.
• The hope started with one person that asked questions. The case worker warned of the trauma and the behavior that may arise, but it didn’t deter the family, because a child needed shelter. They set up a meeting with the case worker, assuming they would say they were done as all other families had done before. But that’s not at all what they wanted to talk about. They had more homes that wanted to welcome more children. I’m sorry to give it away- but eventually in this town there were ZERO children without a home. All because one person, one church, one pastor asked people to pray for the needs of these children.
• You don’t have to provide a home 24/7/365 to be apart of the community of children currently in foster care or in need of adoption. You can offer respite care, provide an hour or two of hanging out with the children while the adults get other things done or go to an appointment. If you have training in counseling or art therapy, or any mental health or behavioral health expertise this can be extremely helpful for families. Offer a class or individual consultations. If you have security or policing background, your help can always be helpful for the families that are willing to bring the most at risk children into their homes. Key takeaway: you can always do something! Pray, open your home, your heart, share your expertise! (I will add that you may think the church has it all together in how to welcome and aid these families, but most do not at all! The church I have been attending via YouTube, offers an adoption and foster care information class a couple times a year. Simply informational. Led by professionals and by families who have been through the process. I would have loved to have known about this when I was in the process!)

https://www.angel.com/movies/sound-of-hope-the-story-of-possum-trot

Sound of Freedom

• Based on a true story. A Dad with Homeland Security. A Dad in Honduras. Both have children. The children in Honduras get trafficked and split up for different paths of trafficking. Homeland Security official bust the trafficker with the little boy, the son. But the daughter is no where to be found. The little boy gives as much detail as he can remember but he is young. There is still an empty bed when they return to Honduras. The dad, homeland security officer, is in the search for this little girl no matter if it meant losing his job. The horror of what had to go down and what was already (and continues) being done in Columbia, is horrific.
• We must be knowledgable about the horrific trafficking happening all around the world. But it’s not just happening in other countries, it’s happening here, in our cities, on our streets. We may not see hotels full, although these can be “hidden,” but just because it’s horrible and dangerous work, we must stay vigilant.

https://www.angel.com/watch/sound-of-freedom

Sight

• Based on a true story. The story of eye surgeon Dr. Ming Wang, who immigrated to the US from China for school. Childhood experiences influence what he wants to accomplish as a doctor. He is determined to restore sight to an orphan brought to his clinic, then another child, and the story still continues on…
• This is a powerful and important look into what makes up someone’s passion. The life he had to live before being chosen to come to the US for schooling. **Yes, chosen, think about this the next news report on students being denied their education and beaten with words from the highest authority in our nation!** Because of experiences in his childhood that he saw, he discovered a lens that could restore sight. Now if you don’t have any vision problems, the lens part may not be as much as a miracle as it was to me when I saw it on the movie, but lets just say I had many tears! It is a marvelous miracle!

https://www.angel.com/movies/sight

The Quilters

• What does a Missouri maximum security prison, prisoners who have committed the worst crimes, and quilting have in common? A heart for children who don’t have a blanket to call their own.
• The credentials for this job is the highest level of responsibility and superb behavior while serving time. There is a system and a certain protocol you must follow. If your tools or your quilt is not finished on time or you break rules within the prison, you are out of the job. However, if you keep up with your responsibility and really want the joy of making kids happy, you have the best job you can get while in prison!
• These men make quilts specifically for each child. Each quilt that is requested has a description of what the child likes and they work that into the design. And when I say these quilts are works of art, I mean they could sell them for hundreds of dollars! Some of these men have a talent that is beyond comprehension! Most of the men know they will never see the outside of the prison, but they have committed to making children feel seen, and striving to prevent them from ending up where they are. The wall in the shop is full of pictures and letters from case workers and kids, thanking them and letting them know how much it means to them. They see the kids. The kids see them. It’s a powerful emotion: to be seen.

https://www.netflix.com/title/82006530

Audrey’s Children

• British Pediatric Oncologist, Dr. Audrey Evans, is hired at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) in 1969. She was determined to get funding for new research, and find live-saving treatments for her patients. However, she was a female in a male dominate career field, but this didn’t slow her down, rather it made her a force to be reckoned with. Not only did she fight for her patients in the hospital, but also fought for shelter for the families of the patients. She became the first co-founder of the Ronald McDonald Charities.
• Audrey always referred to her patients as “my children.” She cared for their well being, worried at night when she left the hospital, was concerned about where their families would sleep and eat. I would love to hear a doctor or nurse refer to my child and their other patients as “my children.” I symbolizes the amount of care and concern and thought they are putting into action for my child. (I actually find myself referring to the children I kept as my children- so I believe the doctor and I are on the same wavelength here.😊)
• She took very big risks- such big risks that it came close to jeopardizing her medical career. But if she didn’t take risks, pediatric oncology wouldn’t be where it is today. Pediatric cancer research funding is gut wrenchingly low. The research that Audrey Evans did was over 50 years ago, we have made some progress in pediatrics, but no where near what we have achieved for all other cancers. Not that I value one life over the other, but adults have had a chance at life and they shouldn’t just give up. But children who get cancer, most of them have lived very little life and some none at all, before diagnosis. I’ve watched both children and adults – and neither is easy to swallow. We have a lot of medicines and interventions for adults though, and very little for children. I believe we can do way better.

https://www.audreyschildren.com

From needing shelter, to needing safety and protection, to the work of those who come to study here and make the world a little more brighter, to the ones who know they have messed up, but also know the truth about redemption, to those who come to work and research here in the US and make life saving discoveries. We all are ragamuffins on a journey – the past has shaped us, the present is teaching us, and the future, well, that’s in God’s hands. Let’s make it a priority to see the person, not the situation, not the status, not the diagnosis, not any labels. You be you. I will be me. And as Mister Rogers said, “Always look for the helpers.” And to that I say, be the helper!

Life Book of the Week: The Journey that Saved Curious George: The True Wartime Escape of Margret and H.A. Rey, by Louise W Borden

Side Note: If you need a validation that the comment, “we are all going to die,” in reference to Medicaid and Medicare this week, is the opposite of compassionate, here’s your validation. We indeed are all going to have our final breath. But what is not okay, is the consequences that will occur if cuts are made, which is healthcare being stripped away, which ultimately leads to possibly premature death. The issue for me goes beyond her nasty comment and her bizarre reasoning of likening it to ratting out the tooth fairy- which is such a disregard for The Rock. I’m not going to get into too much detail, but the difference between the Healthcare marketplace and Medicaid is a tricky balance, and very hard to navigate without an insurance agent. I will say that the new proposal for anyone receiving Medicaid would be required to report that they have worked or volunteered 20 hours a week is unbelievable. This is the job of the unemployment office- they are required to make sure you are searching for work. As someone who has to do the insurance tightrope every single November, and really all year I hold my breath, take it from me, anyone who is receiving their insurance through the marketplace or Medicaid would not be doing it that way unless absolutely necessary! It’s time consuming and a hair pulling, teeth grinding task, every single year.

FYI: Three of the above movies are on Angel Streaming. I personally am not an inspirational movie lover, but I joined because I wanted to watch Sound of Hope and Bonhoeffer (another good one). I have found some really good documentary/true stories. There are some that are a bit too inspirational and not enough context/story, if that makes any sense. But overall, you can find some excellent movies if you dig around a little. You can always try and cancel, obviously I don’t get paid by any influencing company 😂. I purchased Audrey’s Children on Apple Tv, but you can also rent it. And The quilters, I believe is a Netflix documentary, so only on Netflix. But then again all these could become available on other streaming channels. 😂😂😂