Week 18 – Breakthrough – YES!

This week was the week I have been waiting as I knew it would come if I was faithful to myself and the work we are doing in this Mater Key Experience. One of my biggest challenges was to wording a true emotion behind my Definite Major Purpose (DMP) in life or Dharma. I thought I had written it well but it was more like a checklist or list of steps rather that the forecast of who I will be in the future.

My DMP is to provide volunteer and financial assistance for families and friends of people who suffer traumatic brain injuries from motor vehicle accidents, slips and falls, strokes or other trauma to the brain. This assistance will begin within the first 5 hours and continue for the next 5 weeks or longer depending on the situation.

Here is how my week unfolded and my DMP came to life. A good friend posted on Facebook that a single mom friend of hers had a infant son in the ICU. My friend was asking for help with a “meal train” so the other children would have simple ready to eat meals. Without hesitation I posted asking what could I do with food or whatever. She mentioned that some snacks, etc for the kids back at home. I gathered the snacks and brought them to her in a nearby town. Other people have since donated gift cards, cash, and other items to help out.

After dropping off the groceries it reminded me that my family was in the same situation just over three years ago. My lovely wife was in a serious car accident and suffered a severe traumatic brain injury. Within few days friends and people we didn’t know started donating food, meals, gas cards etc. to us.

All these donations are well received and very helpful but as time goes on the needs may continue and will probably. And that is where my DMP comes in. An ongoing support network for persons with traumatic brain injuries to help organize volunteer efforts and find other resources for the families and friends. Some way to acquire or pay for lodging costs, onsite meals, parking, airfare – if the family is not near the hospital can they afford to fly and/or stay in the area? What about lost wages?

I don’t have all the details worked out in my head yet but the grassroots effort could benefit from social media such as Facebook pages to find out what is needed and how to get it to the right people. People who have been through similar things can lend their knowledge. Lists of resources both public and private that can provide emotional and financial support can be listed.

Every situation is unique but I believe the family finances will take a major hit in every case. This can be an incredible burden on the family. I will find a way to make available ~$500 per family or more to help defray the immediate costs for meals, lodging, airfare, etc. As time goes on I will find more money either in the form of donations or in finding other funding to compensate for lost wages, transportation, etc. In the longer term find a way for the family to become self sustaining with a work at home job that pays better than ever before or find a way to pay for someone to be at home with the injured person while the bread winner can get back to work.

My DMP coming to life was a great breakthrough and gave me the vision I needed of the end goal instead of the steps needed to accomplish it. How was I supposed to know the steps as I’ve never done what my DMP states? I concentrated (meditated) on the outcome more than the steps and the perfect situation arose and I jumped in and it made of my DMP crystal clear. This is going to be exciting!

My name is Michael Puffer and I always keep my promises.