A few weeks before Christmas I got an e-mail from someone whom I consider one of my favorite people on this planet and I started looking into the organization he was telling me about so that one day I could share it with you all. Today is that day. Let me start by saying … I was going to say friend, which I suppose he is but we don’t see one another on a consistent basis, tho I wish that were true. I’d say I am his biggest fan but his wife might tell me otherwise…. He calls me a “blessing” but he’s by far blessed me more than I have him …. so I’m going with my favorite person.
This fella, who shall be named later I assure you, is a
member of an organization that is called “Triumph Over Tragedy Foundation” which exists to help families
financially, who have had loved ones that have been in traumatic accidents that
have left them either paralyzed or severely impaired. They support the family unit
through biblical principles from the initial impact of tragedy or illness to
the ongoing circumstances faced in the years to come. Often organizations are
all in at the beginning and the individual comes home alone to “figure things
out.” This organization, based on what I’ve learned about them, is the
opposite.
The
organization was born out of necessity, as most often are, when a young man of 9
named Wesley was playing with his friends and fell 20’ from a makeshift zip
line breaking his neck and becoming a quadriplegic. Wesley spent 6 months in
the hospital with his parents and older brother, Reggie, by his side. In the aftermath
of the tragedy, they thought of all the people who helped them during this
difficult time and Triumph Over Tragedy Foundation was born. They knew they had
to give back and a foundation that focused not only on the injured party but on
the entire family unit was the way to go. They focused not only on the physical
impairments but on the emotional scars that the entire family now faced as well
as financial assistance. From guilt, to anger, frustration, and down right
panic about what was to come, and depression it all needed to be addressed and attended
to in different ways.
Their
assistance is broken down into 3 main categories:
- 1. The initial onset of illness or injury
- 2. Adapting to life after the illness or injury
- 3. An escape from the stress caused by the illness or injury
That escape part is how my favorite person initially learned
about this organization. Bryan White, who loyal readers to the Blog know is one
of my heroes, was invited to come and play music and participate in their
annual golf tournament in Conyers, Georgia several years ago and now sits on
the Advisory Board and is helping raise awareness about this organization. So
of course, he reached out to me, and several others around the holidays to talk about this organization. Then I looked into it and here we are.
The easiest way to help is to earnestly pray for the Care Team, who make the initial touch with the family in the aftermath of the event, the grief counselors and pastors who are trained to sit and listen and talk with family members in their time of need, the Adapt Team who helps readjust the houses for wheelchair accessibility, and of course individual families forever changed by the event. By raising awareness in the community about the foundation so that others might know of the organization and what they can provide. Most importantly is by giving to the foundation so that they can continue their efforts and provide financial support to the families as they adjust to their new normal. Triumph Over Tragedy Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. All contributions are tax deductible, but most importantly can impact a family for a lifetime.
One of the planned initiatives for the coming years is the building of an “event center” near Mansfield, Georgia (east of Atlanta). The event center, a short drive from one of the best rehabilitation centers in the Country, will serve as a retreat for those families and serve as a place to hold fundraising events, weddings with wheelchair access and eventually a concert venue to entertain guest and families in an effort to take their minds off of their troubles if only for a few hours.
If you are interested in learning more about this organization
or in donating to their cause, check out the Triumph over Tragedy Foundation website (links below).
From the stories on their facebook page, to what I’ve read about them they
really are restoring hope by restoring families and I’m happy Bryan put them on
my radar.
Links about the organization:
https://www.facebook.com/TriumphOverTragedyFoundation/
https://givetotriumph.org/#donate
