Hello, my name is Julie. The donor is Alvin. His wife of more than 50 years passed away in April. I met Alvin & Terri when their son & I started dating. We lived together for 10 years. No ceremony but common law husband & wife. Dustin’s parents lived in Hawaii. And yes, Dustin was from Hawaii. Although Dustin & I are no longer together, his parents & sister have always had a place in my heart.
I remember when Dustin, his dad, me & Jennah drove around the island to the most southern tip. The green sand beach. You had to hike a mile and a half in because the black solid lava didn’t allow vehicles to cross. It was a hot day. Alvin is an insulin-dependent diabetic. His sugar started to drop rapidly. Dustin took off running for the Jeep; he was only wearing his ‘slippers’ or flip-flops. He managed to drive the Jeep over the lava as fast as he could. His dad had oranges & other food to bring up his sugar level. He also was able to give himself an insulin shot. I remember Jennah & I struggling to hold it together, hoping Dustin would show up in time. I closed my eyes & just prayed. Dustin got there in time & Alvin, weak from low sugar, slowly brought up his insulin levels. We were all so grateful. That day showed me how much Dustin & Jennah loved their dad.
I have recently started talking to Jennah online. I had asked her to tell her mom ‘hi’ for me & that I often think of her. Jennah did call her mom & told her I wanted to say hi, and I still think about you. Terri was an amazing person; she touched the hearts of everyone she encountered. Terri & Alvin lived in an old sugar plantation house on stilts that you could see the ocean from the kitchen window. I wouldn’t say they were poor; however, what they earned paid the bills & allowed Alvin to pay for his insulin.
I left a very abusive relationship 6 months ago. I took my dog, whatever could fit in my car & drove to Michigan. My brother took me in, had the means to financially help me out, and when I returned to Colorado, he cosigned a lease with me. I’ve been hidden away. Without my brother’s support, both emotionally & financially, I would still be stuck in that relationship.
For the past 6 months, I have lived only on my pension. Yet I promised Jennah that when I had money to give, I will always give. I believe that when you give…be it a small amount or a large amount…it is always considered a random act of kindness with no expectations. When you give from the heart, it does come full circle back to you. I also call it paying it forward to someone in need.
Cutting to the chase….I love these people with everything I have to offer. Dustin & I are a thing of the past. His mother, Terri, once you met her, you never forgot about her. She made living worthwhile. She is my hero & although I haven’t seen or heard from her in 15 years, I have never forgotten the remarkable person she was. Her passing was unexpected. Both Alvin & Terri made it month to month. Without Terri by his side, the anchor of the family, Alvin is left with making ends meet, making sure he has access to his insulin, and most of all, having a proper memorial for his wife of 50+ years. To date, I have not heard Jennah mention an upcoming memorial. It saddens me because this woman deserves a memorial that demonstrates the love she poured out to everyone she crossed paths with.
Even after Dustin & I parted ways, I almost always felt Terri’s presence. It was her undying love for everyone. Her belief system lay within the island of Hawaii and what it stood for. She was a native to Hawaii yet opened her arms and accepted me, the white girl, no questions asked. I am willing to donate a month’s worth of my wages from a job I will start next week. My donation is not based on how much I believe I can raise to support Alvin financially and to finally put his wife to rest. My monthly wages will be $2600. I lived on my pension only for almost a year. I’m OK with donating that amount because I was fortunate to have a brother get me out of a situation I couldn’t get myself out of. It’s a random act of kindness along with paying it forward. I don’t expect huge donations…whatever you can give, even if it’s $1. It’s a dollar more than we had. I truly hope that anyone reading this post could understand the need for donations. And I bet anyone who donates will feel Terri’s presence…love each other well & always be kind. Love to those who stuck it out & read to the end.