An Intrinsic Motivation, An Inspirational Soul

Page history last edited by Michelle Stiegart 14 years, 7 months ago

Clay Shirky asks in his book titled, Cognitive Surplus, what would motivate someone to give his or her much enjoyed free time to produce something with no concrete compensation (69)? Although the answer is different for all, one’s motivations either intrinsic or extrinsic according to Shirky, the answer for me personally is quite clear (75). My reason for giving happened on January 21, 2011, a day I wish had never existed. The day I lost a dear friend, Sammy to cancer, specifically a childhood bone cancer known as Ewing’s Sarcoma. The twenty year old was an inspiration to all who met her. Her selfless attitude, optimistic life approach, and contagious smile made her attractive. Following her death, I vowed to keep her memory alive by devoting my free time to simple acts from becoming a registered potential bone marrow donor and an active blood donor to participating in Relay for Life and donating my hair.

I decided I wanted to help the awareness of childhood cancer through simple services and donations. Sammy had been plagued with this wrenching disease since she was thirteen years old and had been in remission twice before the cancer took her life. I wanted to spread Sammy’s story and inspire others to take some sort of action no matter how small. The beginning of this journey started with little paperwork and some cheek swabs. After being informed by a friend and nursing major of the opportunity to listen to a lecture by a donor advocate, Gina Cousineau, my friends and I took up the opportunity and had no hesitation to become potential bone marrow donors. Cousineau was invited by the nursing program of Valparaiso University to share her organization Be a Hero, Become a Donor. In my quest to spread Sammy’s story I encountered the founder’s story behind her foundation. Her motive as Shirky labels it was intrinsic, her motive was her son, Evan Cousineau (75). Evan, at the age of nine was diagnosed with a genetic disease called adrenoleukodystrophy (ADL) (Why We Do It). After losing her son to an infection because of his compromised immune system, Cousineau decided she wanted to do something great in his honor. Finding hope after receiving a bone marrow and cord blood donation and knowing that only two percent of Americans are donors, Cousineau decided she wanted to raise awareness and speak against the rumors of becoming a bone marrow donor (Be the Match). Gina Cousineau started her foundation which focuses on educating the public on all forms of donating with a particular emphasis on bone marrow donations shortly after his son’s death in 2007 (Why We Do It). Bone marrow donations are essential to the recovery of those suffering from a variation of diseases including the common cancer types of leukemia and lymphoma (Be the Match). Remembering all Sammy went through as well as millions of Americans plagued with cancer and other diseases, filling out that paperwork and swabbing my cheeks were one of the easiest things I have ever done.

Registering to become a potential bone marrow donor only sparked my enthusiasm of giving back and aiding those who are diagnosed with cancer and other life threatening diseases. Sammy, weeks before her death received blood transfusions daily. She was one of the 4.5 million Americans who need a blood transfusion each year (The Red Cross). I had given blood previously to Sammy’s latest diagnosis but had always been a sporadic donor, this I wanted to change. By signing up as a member on The Red Cross website I received email notifications weekly of blood donation drives going on within walking distance from me. I have since become a more active blood donor and give as much as I can. Coming to the realization that I have been blessed as healthy, young adult, it is my choice to give blood to those who do not have such a choice.

Along with donating blood, I reached another conclusion that donating my hair every few years would also be something I wanted to be actively invested in. Looking up the requirements on Locks of Love’s website, I found that I was eligible to donate my hair. Sitting in the chair the hair dresser seemed surprised that I wanted to donate. “You sure?” she kept asking me. I nodded in response. She then measured the pony tail, “Well I can take off another two inches and make it a whole foot,” she added. I made a deep gulp and nodded somewhat reluctantly, wondering how short my hair truly was going to be. Within seconds the hair dresser placed my ponytail of hair onto my lap. “Look at that”, she shirked, “I think that’s more than a foot there.” At that moment I did not care how my remaining hair looked; the hair on my lap was off to a better home. The hair dresser smiled, “So any story behind why you decided to donate your hair?” I gave one last nod with a smile.

With my solo acts to give back to those suffering cancer and other diseases, myself along with mutual friends of Sammy and her family came together to participate in Relay for Life on June 3, 2011. Raising funds and donations in all ways we could, we came together to remember our loved one in an active way. Collectively as a team, we raised over $6,000 dollars to go towards cancer research. We all sported team Super Sam shirts which were modeled after a shirt given to Sam after her first remission. On the back of the shirts was written in honor of Sam, “Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for a while and leave footprints on our hearts, and we are never, ever the same” (Flavia Weedn). Sammy did not lose her battle to cancer, she simply handed it over to us.

Although her death was a tragic event in my life and for all those who knew and loved her, Sammy definitely left footprints on hearts. Her courage, optimism, and strength continue to thrive through the souls she touched along her journey. She may not be physically here anymore but her spirit and all she stood for is here to stay. To answer Clay Shirky’s question, she is my intrinsic motivation and aspiration (75).