Community Corner

Feeling a Bit Down? 9 Things to Help Inspire You

Yes, everyday life can be a challenge. Need some inspiration from those who 'climbed a mountain?'



Written by Chandra Johnson-Greene and Todd Richissin

Is daily life really so tough?

Well, yes, it can be.

Here, though, is to keeping things in perspective. For more than a month now, Patch and Grape-Nuts have teamed up to present stories about your neighbors - neighbors who have faced challenges that would seem insurmountable to many of us.

Find out what's happening in Fairfieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

But not to the people we've featured in this series, Journeys.

Not surprisingly, the stories have generated dozens of comments on Patch and on Facebook: "Great story..." "Thanks for sharing..." "So wonderfully inspiring..." 

Find out what's happening in Fairfieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

And, so, here they are again. Great stories shared to inspire. Take a look at what these people have faced. Then click on the story to see their responses. And, feel better about things.

Wilton Teen Stands Tall Against Global Violence

Caitlin Witty, a high school sophomore from Wilton won a coveted role in the  music video for “Break the Chain,” the centerpiece song for “One Billion Rising,” V-Day’s global campaign to reduce violence against women around the world. Here's what she said about her experience: 

“It’s hard to think about the subject—I haven’t been exposed to any of that around here. In school we learn a little about domestic violence. But just hearing about it in terms of one billion women, and all around the world, one-out-of-three, it wakes me up. It made me even more proud to be involved. It went from just a singing thing and getting to work with Debbie Allen to something much larger. I think this is such a great cause, and I’m so proud to have been chosen to be a part of it.”

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Mary Ann Wasil: Changing the World One Girl at a Time

A breast cancer survivor, Wasil is the founder of The Get In Touch Foundation. She is the winner of the Oprah Magazine CoverGirl 2010 Giving Beautiful Back Award, and she just released her own book, "A Diary of Healing: My Intense and Meaningful Life with Cancer."

"My own two daughters were just turning 12 and 13 when I was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2004. Teaching them the importance of, and how to do a breast self exam became paramount, a critical family health care initiative since my daughter’s would now be considered “high risk” for breast cancer. I soon realized that all of our daughters, not just the ones that call me 'Mom,' needed access to this important breast health information."

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Survivor Rides for Other Young Women with Breast Cancer

Jamie Pleva Nickerson led a team into the Tour de Pink to raise awareness and money for the Young Survival Coalition, an organization dedicated to helping young woman who are at risk for, recently diagnosed, battling or survivors of breast cancer.

"I have a great team. Last year I rode with my two sisters, a brother-in-law, my husband, a close friend of my sister's and a cousin. I’m riding this year as a four-year survivor. Looking forward, next year will be really good: I’ll be a five-year survivor and it’ll be the fifth year since my sister passed."

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Croix Sather's Inspiring Story Resonates in Newtown

Sather, a father of two, was nearly killed and permanently paralyzed when he was a child growing up in Westchester County. The doctors had told his parents that he would be paralyzed for the rest of his life if he survived. But the boy who now epitomizes the saying 'never give up' woke up from that coma. He recently ran 2,600 miles in 100 days.

"There's nothing special or extraordinary about me," he said.

"No matter what, I do not stop," he continued. "The ones that succeed, they never quit."

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After Toddler’s Death, Connecticut Family Channels Grief into Action

Four years ago, Eliza and Lee Florian’s two-year, two-month and two-day old son Joshua Seth died of ALD. Since his death, the Florians have worked tirelessly to get a bill passed through the Connecticut legislature requiring a simple screening test.

“One voice is a whisper, but many voices in unison are a shout to change the law,” said Eliza Florian. “Our family will not stop until all Connecticut newborns are safe from this devastating disease. And when Connecticut passes this bill, we will keep moving forward to support this effort across the United States.”   

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Wife Donates Kidney to Husband With No Hesitation

Colleen Alleyne turned out to be a match for a kidney donation for her husband, Michael, who for years suffered from polycystic kidney disease and also is a diabetic. But there was a stumbling block: Colleen, 46, was told she needed to lose 20 pounds. She eventually chose the Jenny Craig weight loss program and was cleared for surgery:

“I never lost sight of my goal, but at times I was scared I was going to fail and worried my husband would have to go on dialysis,” Alleyne said.

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Mom Channels Grief Into Crusade for Safe Driving

After her son Matt died in a car accident four years ago, Lynn Riordan, has channeled her grief into a crusade against destructive driving decisions and speeding. Summoning strength and courage, she has been on a mission — lecturing at area high schools and driving schools about safe driving. 

"I am proud to call Matthew Picciuto my son and my heart is happy knowing his life does make a difference every day in the lives of so many," said Riordan. "I will never, ever know just how many lives he has saved." 

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Former Journalist Turned Pastor Puts Words Into Action

When an opportunity arose for Adam Bowles, former Norwich Bulletin reporter, a devout Christian and longtime pastor at the Peniel Church in Norwich, to go on a church relief mission to Haiti with the local First Haitian Baptist Church, he jumped at the chance. The trip inspired him to start his own charity.
 
“All the challenges my family and I faced launching 35 Seconds for Haiti have been worth it. I didn’t do it to be ‘successful.’ I believe that one person can make a big difference in this world,” noted Bowles.

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Liver Transplant Survivor: 'It Changed My Life Completely'

In 2007, Stamford resident Michael Kirshbaum underwent a liver transplant after being diagnosed with a rare disease 14 years earlier.   

"This disease changed my life completely. I’ve learned that life is short and that you have to make the most of it. It’s also important to try and make life better for others. I never thought that I wasn’t going to get through this. Even when I lost 25 lbs and couldn’t eat, I kept exercising. I kept going and I am still here to tell the story."   


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