Pequenos passos: Mantenha os aniversários de todos os portadores de FC

Por Jessica Rutstein Lazarus, membro da diretoria do Emily's Entourage e melhor amiga de Emily

Being a parent to two young children means that each day I complete approximately 750 small tasks, most of which will go unnoticed by anyone but myself. But lately, both of my children have been delighting in catching other members of our family completing little acts of kindness around the house. Madison (almost 4 years old) tells us we earned a “kindness heart” when we help carry her baby dolls into the playroom, or when her brother helps fix her Lego tower. My son, Nathan (almost 7 years old) tells us we completed a “bucket filler” when we fill up his water bottle for soccer practice, and when his sister makes sure to get an extra lollipop at Trader Joe’s ‘for her bruh-der.’ [Don’t be fooled, these little acts certainly occur in the midst of much sibling teasing, bickering, and wrestling.]

I’m thrilled that they learned these lessons from school and now apply them to their broader life. And you know what, it actually feels realmente good to be recognized and thanked for some of the little things we do! But aside from how nice it feels to have our small actions noticed and appreciated by others, I value that they are now focused on how something small, a little act, can have a big impact on someone else.

This idea that sometimes it’s the little things that matter most, and that something small can lead to a much bigger outcome is something that Emily not only taught me, but something that she truly lives by each and every day. 

When we lived together in Philadelphia, Emily would leave me a little note of encouragement on my desk when I had a grad school exam, and she would find the perfect little treat for me when I finished a big project. Anyone who is lucky enough to be friends with Emily knows that she is the one who remembers the important dates you mention in passing, the one who follows up after your appointment, the one who sends a special gift just because, and the one who checks in to see how you are doing. All of these little actions make those of us in her orbit feel seen, valued, appreciated, and loved.

It’s not hard to draw the parallel between little actions making a big impact and the profound growth and ongoing momentum of Emily’s Entourage. We are quite literally the prime example of how thousands of tiny steps can culminate into massive achievement. We are making progress and changing the world of research because one woman, and one family, believed that when we put all of our little actions together, the results could be momentous — and had the courage to take that first step. 

And they were certainly right. Little actions have propelled us forward from day one; a thoughtful conversation, a fortuitous meeting, an email sent to the right person, an introduction to a friend of a friend, a research grant awarded to a scientist. Eleven years later, those single, little actions have amounted to something that is anything but little — a pioneering organization driving transformative progress for those in the final 10% of the cystic fibrosis (CF) community that do not benefit from existing mutation-targeted therapies.

I think that Emily, along with Emily’s Entourage (EE) has taught todos of us this lesson. What can my small donation do, what can sending out one email possibly accomplish? The answer: a whole lot. That first small act can start a movement, it can find an unlikely ally, it can reach someone who was wondering how to promote change. If Emily and Emily’s Entourage has taught us anything, it is to never doubt the impact that one small, sometimes daring, sometimes simple  action can have.  

Please consider taking the small step of donating $38 in honor of Emily’s 38th birthday.  Together, we can have a huge impact and make her ultimate wish — to keep birthdays coming for EVERYONE with CF — come true!

.DONATE $38 FOR EMILY’S 38TH