SedonaKind
  • Home
    • Our Story
    • Board of Directors
    • Contact Us
    • Documents
    • Our Sponsors & Friends
  • Kindness Charms
  • Community Projects
    • Season of Kindness 2024
  • Inspirations
  • Membership Roster
  • Calendar of Events
    • Videos
  • Heartfelt Connections
  • Home
    • Our Story
    • Board of Directors
    • Contact Us
    • Documents
    • Our Sponsors & Friends
  • Kindness Charms
  • Community Projects
    • Season of Kindness 2024
  • Inspirations
  • Membership Roster
  • Calendar of Events
    • Videos
  • Heartfelt Connections

What Can We Do To Help?
​By Ruti Lovitt

Picture
October 10, 1999.  My 50th Birthday.  About 11:45 AM.

This was the third day a Hospice volunteer had arrived promptly at 9:00 AM to assist my husband in getting ready for the day.  Prior to three days before, I was his sole care giver during his 15-month battle with the devastating damage of a malignant salivary gland tumor and the “treatment” thereof.


The Hospice volunteer also gave me a much needed 2-hour window to have the luxury of a normal shower and walk.  I had savored every step, soaking up the sunshine, brilliant colors and bird songs of a spectacular Montana fall morning.  Then I was back on duty.  Tough, totally absorbing duty.

The week before, Jim had assured me he was fine and I went to take a quick shower.  A couple minutes later I heard him call.  He had a sudden need for the bathroom and had fallen trying to get up.  I had to cut his clothes off of him.  Thus, against his wishes, I had called Hospice.  It was the hardest thing I have ever done; it felt like admitting defeat.  It turned out that this was the last week of his life
Picture
The doorbell rang.  I opened it to two radiantly smiling faces.  One was the only lady air traffic controller, who had become a very good friend since I had become a flight instructor, and the other was one of her colleagues who always wore a shirt with “Smile” embroidered on the pocket.  Jodie immediately placed a cardboard “Queen for a Day” crown on my head and said, “We are kidnapping you for lunch”.  

I could see beyond them.  There was a decorated flatbed truck, the bed lined with hay bales, balloons flying in the breeze.  The hay bales were covered with friends in high spirits, waving and smiling.  I cried.  I said, “Oh, Jodie, this is so wonderful.  But I cannot leave Jim.”  Then “Smile”-on-his-pocket Steve said, “I’m not only an air traffic controller; I am a Hospice volunteer.  I know how to take care of Jim.”  I have a lump in my throat as I write, remembering this amazingly thoughtful kindness!  On behalf of many people!

They whisked me away for 3 hours of absolute bliss!  They took me to my favorite lunch spot, gave me crazy cards, and made me belly laugh over and over and over.  

When I was returned to Jim, I had incredibly renewed energy.  Their loving kindness truly sustained me through not only his remaining 4 days, but the months of grieving that followed.  I can still see their kind, loving faces.  I can feel the courage it took to whisk me away, not knowing how I would take it — would I resent their joy in the midst of my gut-wrenching sadness?  I’m so glad they took the risk to be themselves and gift me with 3 hours of celebration, not only of my birthday, but of the depth of friendship and support that existed in that room.  
​

SedonaKind
PO Box 3059
​Sedona, AZ 86340




Event Calendar
Kindness Charms
Charming Responses
​Inspirations

Community Projects
​Documents
Meeting Minutes

Gratitude Trees
​Knitting Kindness
Dress A Girl
Contact Us
Column Archives

Teacher of the Year
How You Can Help
Summer Reading
Board Only





​Column Archives
Community Project Archives
Boxes Of Love
SedonaKind in the News
​Membership List

Season of Kindness 2024
Kindness Benches
Operation Special Delivery 2019

Operation Masks & Gowns
Past Meeting Videos
Six Years of Kindness
​Heartfelt Connections

April - Kids Say The Kindest Things
Proposed 2023 Projects
Charming 
Party Photos