Full Circle Associates

This piece from one of the community leaders at March of Dimes' Share Your Story (or Share as we call it) is a community indicator all wrapped up in a beautiful piece of text. Darcy has given her permission to share it here on my blog.

As a bit of context for those not following the stuff I've been writing about this site, Share is an online community for parents who have had premature baby or a baby who has spent time in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Share is a place of amazing warmth and support. Here is Darcy's from the heart description of what Share means to her.

FALLING IN LOVE ONLINE

Aug 16, 2005 09:14pm (EST)

"OK, I admit it. I always thought those people who 'fell in love' on the internet were just nuts. Jerry Springer's next stage-show. I have always believed that a computer is impersonal; people only give you a glimpse into their lives and usually the glimpse is over-rated, over-inflated, or simply, an alter-ego of their less-glamourous real selves.

I'll confess this, too. I am beginning to understand and come around. Why? Because I have fallen in love through SHARE. No, I'm not leaving 'Mr. Darcy' for a new internet romance... rather, I've come to love these babies, their stories and their parents who day after day, selflessly and with wild abandonment come to tell their stories and share their lives. Really, I'm humbled to be a part of it. The stories told on SHARE are often of our most difficult, heart-wrentching times. We share our fears. We sob while we write or read. And we come to love eachother's children.

Ok, I've said it. I love these babies. I've never even met them. Yet, for the ones I've gotten to know... I've winced at their backfalls, cried at their set backs and leapt out of my chair in joy when one of them hits a milestone.

Messages posted about medications no longer needed make my day. I pace my kitchen when one is headed in for surgery. I feel anxious about doctor's appointments in states far away. I celebrate loose teeth, first steps, tolerated feedings and developmental milestones for babies who live thousands of miles away.

So, I get the internet love thing. I was wrong. Computers aren't impersonal. When used in a manner like SHARE uses them, this site is a gateway into meaningful lives of some really amazing kids. And I haven't even begun to talk about their parents....

I'm getting a new bumper sticker: I fell in love on SHARE."

Darcy

When I talk to people about the power of online interaction, I tell them that sometimes it takes a transformational experience to see what can really happen. Darcy describes that experience. And it comes with love and heart.

community_indicators, shareyourstory nptech