Life Saver

This past weekend I participated in the American Heart Association's Start! Heart Walk. The team honored my friend, Sara Mckee's father David Mckee, who passed away suddenly last April from a heart attack. Sara is one of the most dedicated people I have ever met. She is on the Start! Heart Walk committee and organized a team for the event. The weather was perfect and the location of the walk was beautiful. My team is still taking donations, which can be sent to me or donated online at:


http://www.kintera.org/faf/donorreg/donorpledge.asp?ievent=292700&supId=268174063&msource=boundlessfun&ref=mf

I could gush for a very long blog post about how impressed or proud I am with Sara for using her experience to help others. It takes a strong person to do that, and I am looking forward to helping her again next year!

Your parents do what??

I am often embarrassed by the response people give me when I tell them that my parents built an orphanage for 50 kids with HIV/AIDS in India. To me, its their job. Going out to Chandrakal was a good reminder to take a step back from the requirements that come with their job and see the bigger picture. First of all, my parents couldn't have picked a better place to build the orphanage. After the monsoon comes, the scenery is painted green and flourishes with color. Neon greens, pinks and purples stick out in the various villages as members of the Banjara tribe are scattered around the area. Driving to the orphanage reminds me of driving through certain parts of Israel, so vast and beautiful.

I am so glad that I had the opportunity to go out to the orphanage multiple times. The kids know me now and it makes it much easier to take photos without them posing. Here are some of my favorites. My parents are using these and other photos for their non-profit Living India. I am so excited about my new role in their work with these children.



This photo sums up why I came to India.









I am so proud of my parents. 48 children get to be kids, not victims.