There is something to be said about those who open their hearts when nobody is watching.
In our Oct. 23 edition, the Plant City Times & Observer ran an article I wrote about Lisa Brown and her 12-year-old daughter, Haley Brown. Haley had been diagnosed with a heart condition called paroxysmal atrial tachycardia, which causes the sudden onset of a fast heart beat. She needed to have immediate surgery.
Following the news, Lisa lost both of her jobs within a week of each other. The family was forced to move out of their apartment, and Lisa ended up selling many of her belongings to put food on the table.
On the Monday following the article’s publication, I was contacted by Ricky Young, one of the directors of the Sunshine State Bluegrass Association. He told me that he was moved by Lisa and Haley’s story, and that the Sunshine State Bluegrass Association wanted to hold a fundraiser concert for them.
I was touched. Here was a man, an entire organization, who hadn’t heard of Lisa or Haley until the article ran.
Later that week, I interviewed Ricky and Eddie Nelson, another director of the bluegrass association. Since Ricky first proposed the idea, the organization had already enlisted four bands to play at the Brown benefit concert. Some of the band members came to Plant City’s Shiloh Baptist Church to perform from as far as Englewood.
The benefit concert was held Sunday, Nov. 8. Lisa was able to bring Haley, who was on the road to recovery following her heart surgery. It’s hard to imagine that Haley had gone through an extensive heart surgery just a few weeks prior — she talked to me excitedly about Sailor Moon and other anime shows she enjoyed, and drew me a picture. She has more spirit than anyone I’ve ever met.
The sanctuary was full of people who had chosen to dedicate their Sunday night to come to a benefit concert for a stranger in need. A full week later, I’m still in shock about what that concert yielded: $3,082 dollars for Lisa and Haley.
In two short hours, the community had raised almost three times the amount of money the Brown’s GoFundMe account had raised in over a month.
I am so happy to have been able to go to such an event — one that started out of something I wrote and the thoughtfulness of strangers.
When I first spoke with Lisa via Facebook, she almost declined the offer to do an article, but eventually agreed. I know that she and Haley are both extremely grateful and touched by everyone who has reached out to them during their time of need.
So am I. As an Orlando native, seeing the way a small-town community bonds together to help one of their own warms my heart.
It’s a lesson too. Imagine what could happen if we all helped a stranger in need. There’s a lot of tragedy in the world, but it doesn’t cost a dime to show compassion.
We are in the season of giving thanks, and of showing our appreciation and love to our friends and family. It’s easy to be thankful during the holidays. It’s much harder to be thankful when we’re down on our luck or when we’re busy. But we should challenge ourselves to be better.
Contact Emily Topper at etopper@plantcityobserver.com.