What makes a hero?

[kro]

I too have been in the presence of those whom are fated, and know it. The little ones can humble the mightiest "hero", by their sheer acceptance of the hand they're playing out.

[Donor]

Sorry donar dont want to take over your thread but reading throught this got me thinking so Have put one up myself.

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...ad.php?t=52377

Fine by me! It's not 'my' thread anyways, and I was hoping like hell someone woud pick this up 'cos I can't organise my way out of a paper bag!

Working on some corporate input at the moment though... huzzah!

[BuFfY]

It is sad to think that terrible things have to happen for some amazing things to happen. That young girl is the sort of person who is needed in a world like ours... but she will make her impact before she is gone, and she obviously is well on her way seen as there is support like this for her.

My main fear in life is to get cancer. It is a real fear, not heights, not spiders, but cancer. And to think of a child passing before the parents... is so heart breaking.

I spent a morning in the special needs unit of the school I am in at the moment, that broke my heart... but those children (and their teachers) have hearts of gold.. you have to be a special person to do what those people do.

I personally wouldn't shave my head but would offer any other body part to you to wax/shave

[Beemer]

Have a big problem with sportsmen being described as "heroes", especially the ones who fall in to believing their own hype.

Have much respect for people like your young friend being described as such.

I totally agree, and they are not celebrities either. I went up to Linton camp recently to take a photo of them handing over a cheque to the Child Cancer Foundation. The little girl who was there to accept the cheque was in remission but the woman from the foundation said her son lost his battle aged four. I just find it heartbreaking because you can't always beat it.

I also covered the last few months of Nathan Blackler's fight with cancer. While in remission he walked from Auckland to Burnham and raised more than $60,000 for the Child Cancer Foundation. Unfortunately he didn't win his battle with cancer but he did what he could to help others even when he was dying. They are the ones I feel are heroes.

The day he died was the national collection day for the Child Cancer Foundation and his family asked that donations be given to the foundation in his memory, so that was a fitting tribute to a decent bloke.

[Donor]

I am working nights at the moment, and last night I got a message on my pager from our Comms center that there was a package at station for me.

Couple of hours later I made it back to station, and 3 other ambos were standing around waiting for me to open my package.

I opened it, and inside were a thank you card from my little patient I had taken down to Palmy, as well as a bracelet and key chain that she had made specially for me.

I swear, after I walked outside into the night air, said a little prayer and shed a few tears, I was walking on cloud 9 for the rest of my shift.

I am no even more determined to do something to help these cancer kids out - and I hope to drag a lot of you all into this with me!

Right, soppy moment over, off to work... with my new key chain

[gijoe1313]

I'm sitting in class with my seniors at the moment, and I have a little water around my eyes reading that... So touching...

You're paying it forward my main man! Keep it going - those stories are an inspiration to us all...

[Donor]

I learned tonight that the wee lass has died.

It's made another night shift very hard to deal with...

Life may be precious, but it's seldom fair it seems.

[Grahameeboy]

I learned tonight that the wee lass has died.

It's made another night shift very hard to deal with...

Life may be precious, but it's seldom fair it seems.

Sad news but she left her mark which many of us will never do in our own lifetimes..............I suspect she knew it was soon to be goodbye matey hence the gift............

Oh little one
You make us seem dumb

You have suffered enough
And your life has been rough

But you changed many a heart
Before you chose to depart

Thank you for that

[chanceyy]

I learned tonight that the wee lass has died.

It's made another night shift very hard to deal with...

Life may be precious, but it's seldom fair it seems.

sorry to hear that Donor, there are some ppl who really touch your lives .. this wee lass would have touched many

at least she is now at peace & her memory will live on in many ppl ... she may be gone but never forgotten


RIP wee one ..

[Donor]

Thanks folks.

Hoping to get contact details for her family in the next few days, I want to bring them on board for the fundraising ride I want to put together.

Funny, I knew her for only a day, yet feel like I have lost a friend of years.

Hug your kids parents, and treasure every thing about them.

Run out of things to say really, and going now because it doesn't look good for an ambo with red runny eyes to be seen running round hospitals.

RIP Elle... and thankyou so much for my gifts and lesson in humility

[Bloody Mad Woman (BMW)]

Thank you for sharing that. I felt so sad to read she had passed away. I have always donated to Canteen. My brother was given 2years to live at aged 9, they used him as a guinea pig for new cancer drugs - he's been in remission for 38 years, was told he would never have kids and fathered a son. It was a taboo subject back then.

About 5 years ago he was reunited with the Nurse who nursed him at the time. Still brings tears to my eyes. They hugged and greeted each other like long lost friends.

No parent should ever suffer the death of their child. Really no words could truly describe that experience.

One never ever forgets children like that little girl. They teach us so much.
RIP

[007XX]

Thanks folks.

Hoping to get contact details for her family in the next few days, I want to bring them on board for the fundraising ride I want to put together.

Funny, I knew her for only a day, yet feel like I have lost a friend of years.

Hug your kids parents, and treasure every thing about them.

Run out of things to say really, and going now because it doesn't look good for an ambo with red runny eyes to be seen running round hospitals.

RIP Elle... and thankyou so much for my gifts and lesson in humility

My words mean little here now...

But, RIP Elle...with all my heart!

And Donor, I admire you for your balls in giving a hoot on a daily basis.

[Donor]

Sorry to flog an old thread here folks...

I got another surprise a couple of days ago.

The transit care nurse that traveled with us received a letter a couple of days before Elle died (7/7/07). In it she talks about the trip down and how she really enjoyed it, especially when we hit the lights and sirens to give her younger brother something to look at when we drove past their driveway. She also talked about the hard case ambulance officers, and how if it hadn't been for them then she would never have got back to Palmerston North.

I have a copy of this letter, the nurse photocopied it for me. So now it sits neatly folded, along with my bracelet and keychain, in a leather chest that holds all my precious trinkets, things that mean something to me.

I'm slowly making progress in contacting the family, and have settled on the charity that I will donate the money raised to, this is the Manawatu-Wanganui Child Cancer Foundation, as this is the charity Elle gave all the money she raised from her bracelets to.

Hopefully some folk out there will give me a rev up with this, but I'm aiming to have something organised for when the warmer weather is upon us.

Right, back to... well, whatever it was you were doing before you read this

[Donor]

Just keep coming back to this ...

Yesterday was 1 year since Elle died.

S'funny, I have been involved with my current employer for 8 years as a volunteer, and worked full time for a year and a half, and this is still the only person I have ever had stick in my mind this long.

Today is a good day to fix the bike and take a ride methinks...

[Citroenjunkie]

Thanks for reminding us to appreciate all the great things we have.

Thanks too for doing such a great job! The Papakura Ambulance guys saved my life 10 years ago when I had a heart attack. I was 29 at the time.

Everyday I wake up, I remember, and am greatful!