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This is my story of 4 black tweens and teens. One of them is dead.
I try to be optimistic. So let’s begin with the three who have so much to live for.
I went to LAX on Friday night at midnight to pick up two boys from Africa. They are twins. They share a rare disorder on their hands and feet. I can’t begin to describe it so I have added a photo. It maybe hard for you to look at. But believe me it doesn’t bother them.
They are here with Mending Kids. The have surgery on Saturday. While they heal they are staying with my beautiful (in every sense of the word) friend Brooke Bohm. Since Brooke is always taking pictures of my family I went to take a few of her new extended family.
The twins are almost 13 and almost the happiest kids I have ever seen. They were amused by the automatic doors at LAX and that is only (literally) the beginning.
One of them barfed (sorry… maybe I should have warned you that was coming but you don’t always get warning with vomit) in the car on the freeway. It reminds me of my sweet Sandra. She barfed at least 10 times on the 10.
In Ethiopia their family lives on 22 dollars a month. Yes, a month. The boys shine shoes and make 80 cents a day. Hopefully after surgery they will have more opportunities in life.
Like my friend Werneh. He had surgeries ( 7 of them) on his hands 6 years ago. He had 10 pounds of tumors removed from his hands.
Before Mending Kids he was living at Mother Teresa’s for the Destitute and Dying. I have been there. It’s worse than the name.
He was hidden from the world because people could not stand to look at his hands (they looked like a scary version of Mickey Mouse hands).
Now he is in school. He writes, even plays basketball with those hands.
To me… he is a walking, smiling, Laker loving miracle.
Those are “my” African tweens and a teen.
And then there is the dead child. He was African-American.
I don’t think the prosecution in the Trayvon Martin case was great. But here’s the line that lingers in my brain “this case is not about standing your ground it’s about staying in your car.”
I’m not going to retry this case in my blog…but a child is dead. If George Zimmerman is not guilty… is Trayon somehow guilty?
George Zimmerman told Sean Hannity that he did not regret the events of that night. He said it was God’s plan. I believe in God. I do not pretend to know his plans.
But I can not imagine God planning for George Zimmerman (who was on his was to Target) to stop and target a kid.
I’m going to do what Trayon’s parents suggested…I’m going to Church.
As for the other 3 young men, they are going to do great things. At least I hope that is God’s plan.
Thank you Dorothy…. Trayvon should NOT be dead and Zimmerman should NOT be free.
Thank you Dorothy…. for the beautiful things you do for “our” children. You make a wonderful difference in their lives!
Juls
Profound and gripping. You had me to the end. I am so thankful you wrote this, did this, said this. Hans.
While I’m not a believer in god, I do leave the door open that there might be one. But if anyone is doing God’s work, it’s Mending Kids, everything I read about the organization seems to do more actual good, than most all the churches on the rock combined.
When I see the stories about the heart patients, and like the twins above, I’m actually reminded of how good humans can be. They can care, help others, and do it without being preachy.
As for Zimmerman, he’s not any kind of human, no real human, would be able to live with the fact he killed a child in cold blood. I was in the ARMY, and had to do some bad things from time to time, but none of them every involved an unarmed person. Not one. For Zimmerman to sit there, in open court and look stoic as his defense tried to make Trayon out to be something he wasn’t, is unconscionable. An American, unarmed child was killed by someone the police TOLD, not to follow. I know if I don’t listen to a police officer’s orders, I got to jail.
If Zimmerman were actually a human, he would have plead guilty, or hung himself by now. I know I would, I’m scared to death I’ll hit a dog with my car, and how I would live with that, let alone a child. People say, it’s not about race, but rest assured it is. It’s about the human race, and Zimmerman is as far removed from the human race, as we are from ants. While we shouldn’t hunt Zimmerman down, because that makes us as bad as he is, but we should do something old school and biblical, we should SHUN the hell out of this guy. No where he goes, where people just turn their backs on him. He goes out to eat, they turn their backs. He tries to buy a burger, we turn our backs. Shunning used to be incredibly effective. Maybe it’s time to bring it back.
beautiful dorothy. i love the way you have chosen to live your life. you inspire me to (try to) make a difference too. thanks!
I so agree, Dorothy you are doing God’s work and you are a blessing to the world
Dorothy, how does someone get involved in mending kids. I am retired, and live over the hill in agoura. Please let me know. I am Jewish, although not a strong believer in God. I do however respect certain organizations, and yours seems legitimate. If it involves going to church, then no I am not interested, but I do like to help.
Ann
Hi Ann,
Lots of ways to help! Check out MendingKids.org. We also have a Malibu Guild. We are on FACEBOOK MKI Malibu Guild.
xo DL
Dorothy,
You are so inspiring and uplifting. I read your blog and got chills up and down my body. I have been a fan
of your for so many years . I won’t go into the Fox drama but I love the fact you are your own and you give a lot of credit to you charities, you are the one who we listen to as you tastefully give your opinions with such respect and compassion and empathy. You are a gem who always sparkles. I wish I could be more like you. God bless you Dorothy. you are our living angel that has graced us with your presence, love and you dedication in helping so many children. May we all count our blessing to have you in our lives. and in our hearts. xx00
The world needs more Brooke’s and more Dorothy’s and less George Z’s. Your post touched my heart! Thank you.
You said it all! Thank you and by the way, I haven’t watched Good day La since you left.
Dorothy, I really miss you on Steve edwards but it sounds like you are doing much better and more
rewarding work. Why don’t you try for channel 5? They sure could use you on the9 o’clock hour.
Best of everything to you.
What great work this organization does! Thanks for sharing the stories of these young men. 
Who is Trayon? I thought your Dad was the Chief of Police? Shame on you, he is probably spinning in his grave right now
thank you Dorothy…you always were a class act, and now you have classier group of people to hang out with. May God bless you for your never ending compassion
I think so many of us direct our attention on the racial ,political, and social aspects of this case and eventhough those are very important issues that have to be discussed…. we should not forget that a child was killed. My heart goes out to his parents. It is unimaginable to me how they are dealing with this and still manage to be so classy.