Natalie and I just returned from North Carolina where we shared Mitchell’s Journey with the pediatric medical staff of New Hanover Regional Medical Center. We were so inspired by the incredible kindness and compassion of their staff, hospital administrators, and surrounding community. On this trip, we shared two presentations: What Happens on the Other Side of Medicine (for medical practitioners) and A Practical Guide to Making Moments Matter (for parents and caregivers).

“ That is what makes all of this journey worth it ... to see other lives blessed.”

— Christopher M. Jones | Mitchell's Journey

There is another side to Mitchell's Journey that isn't always apparent in our grief stories, and that is the practical, "I can do that!" guide to making moments matter. It was so fun to share that presentation on Thursday at one of their events. We shared what our family has done over the years to make moments matter and offered 6 ideas on how to turn ordinary moments into extraordinary ones.

Our hearts were overflowing to see parents come up afterward and express their feelings and personal discoveries. One young boy came up to me and said enthusiastically, "Do you know what we're doing tonight? We're having our first family night." He was so excited to spend quality, focused time with his mom and dad. I nearly broke down in tears. Other parents said they felt like they had an awakening. That is what makes all of this journey worth it ... to see other lives blessed.

Another woman, Stephanie Burney, also spoke. She’s a local mother who lost her daughter in a tragic zip line accident almost 2 years ago. That was her first time speaking to an audience about her tremendous loss and she did a wonderful job sharing the impact a medical community can have on the lives of families who experience any kind of medical hardship.

After our time with the medical community, we spent time with two gentlemen who own a funeral home (Wilmington Funeral & Cremation) that we were honored to meet last year at a different speaking engagement. These two men are some of the kindest and most compassionate people I’ve ever met. They introduced us to a family who lost their 19-year-old son to DMD a little less than a year ago. So, on our last night, we spent time at their home to learn more about their story. We were so inspired by their goodness. There are stories just like that of little Mitch, all across the world. I wish I could tell their stories of faith and courage, love and family. Perhaps one day. That would be a dream.

This has been a lovely, healing trip. There's something very special about the people of Wilmington, North Carolina. You may come into town a stranger, but you leave as friends. That's not their slogan, but it should be.