Blog

April 1, 2020

By Anne Dabbs, 
NCAN TN Chapter Leader, NET Patient

Perhaps you remember Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood on TV from your childhood? Perhaps you raised your children watching Mr. Rogers? Whatever your connection, Fred Rogers, with his constant calm and comforting assurance, transports us back to a simpler time.

Mr. Rogers once shared: “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’”. His mother’s calming advice is timeless.

And just like that, we find ourselves in 2020 surrounded by a constant stream of scary and uncertain news. Mrs. Rogers’ words are as relevant today, as they were then. I take great comfort in her words, and am always searching for the good in everything and everyone. Amid the world’s current turmoil, I see the helpers everywhere. Doctors, nurses, EMTs, pharmacists, store clerks, safety officers, and so many others who are putting themselves in harm’s way for the benefit of others.

These helpers need our help, as well. By social distancing, and reducing the spread of the Coronavirus, we become helpers ourselves. By checking in on family, friends and neighbors, either by phone, letter, or social media, we help. We can transform our physical separation into a an effort of caring and connecting with others. By sharing our concern and conversation, we become the helpers.

Mother’s Day, on May 10th, is going to be a different type of celebration this year. Let’s honor our mothers, our very first helpers, by remembering the words from Fred Rogers and his mother. Let’s be a helper to others.

Wishing you all a safe and Happy Mother’s Day.

Celebrate your mother from afar with a gift from the NCAN Zebra store, or an event ticket that can help NCAN continue their important mission of educating ad supporting the NET community.

Find out more about how YOU can help the NET Community.

Disclaimer: NCAN blog posts are the opinions of its writers and are not intended as a replacement for medical advice. Please consult your Health Care Providers for individual concerns.