Our Hero is Jane

 

        I took a deep breath before dialing. I had been rejected once already. It seemed like a good idea at first, but maybe it wasn’t. Now I had doubts swirling in my thoughts. Tamping the voices in my head I quickly hit the keypad and willed someone to pick up.

        “Hello, this is Jane.”

        She sounded nice enough.

        “Hi! My name is Vonda, and I have an idea…”

        And with that ignoble beginning, Project Armchair was born.

        Turns out Jane Morrow loves big ideas too.

        Let me back up.

        In the fall of 2015, I found myself at the crossroads of empty nest and new job. I left my tiny rural school for a larger district and a new professional challenge. Suddenly the sporting tournaments and band concerts were over for the hubster and me and as we felt our way through “just the two of us” I discovered quite accidentally that my new building sat just three blocks from a family homeless shelter. As I pondered that reality, I decided to expend some of that recently freed up time to reading to kids there.

        I loved it! I loved it so much that I decided to see if one, or both, of the local hospitals would appreciate that service as well. The first hospital politely said, “No thanks.” Which brings me to the beginning of this little story, my call to the second hospital. With sweating palms (metaphorically) and held breath I waited for someone to pick up my call.

        Without belaboring the journey details, Project Armchair soon had a name and board of directors who believed as much as I did that reading a really good book to a child in crisis might help that child cope just a little better. Gifting the book to the child would extend the positive experience so that every time they read it or looked at the pictures, they would remember the nice volunteer who spent a few quality minutes with them.

        In the intervening years since my first conversation with Jane, we have recruited dozens of volunteers and given away over four thousand books. We have weekly volunteers on the pediatric floor and the Neo-Natal Intensive Care Unit of the hospital. We serve the precious children at a local family homeless shelter (yes, the very one where it all began) and at a domestic violence shelter and its sister transition house. We have also created cozy reading corners at the state penitentiary and a local men’s prison.

        The community has embraced our work and donated thousands of books and monetary funds through individuals, schools, colleges, churches, and civic organizations.

        It all began with Jane. Jane believed in us, advocated for us, and cheered loudly for us at every opportunity. Jane was the True North on our compass.

        In April, I asked if I could take her out for supper. She is now living in Minneapolis but was back visiting in our area. We met downtown and never stopped jabbering for over two hours. Somewhere between the entrees and dessert, I told her that the Project Armchair board had voted to present the first annual Jane Morrow award to the Volunteer of the Year. Jane cried. She was so humbled and honored by the gesture. “I promise you this, Vonda” she said. “Wherever I am in the world, I will fly to Bismarck each year to present the award myself.” We hugged and parted, so happy to have spent time together reminiscing about the amazing journey we had been on together.

        In August, Jane suffered a catastrophic brain aneurysm. Through indomitable grit and the love and support of her family and her army of friends, she is slowly recuperating. Now we have the honor of cheering for her!

        Last night, we awarded the Jane Morrow award to Darcie Dykema, the Volunteer of the Year. Jane’s daughters, Sarah and Jenny, did the honors on their mother’s behalf. We cried a little. We couldn’t help it. Jane should have been the one to hand Darcie the red carnations (Jane’s favorite flower), a copy of the Box Car Children (Jane’s favorite children’s book), and the soon-coming plaque, which will be displayed on the sixth floor of Jane's beloved hospital. But we know Jane is home fighting like a champion. Living each day like she always has, her larger-than-life spirit resolute and full of hope. Jane was with us last night, regardless.

        We are indebted to that lovely soul. The children in crisis in the Bis/Man community are indebted to Jane. Project Armchair is indebted to Jane. She changed all of us for the better.

        You are one of a kind, dearest Jane. You will be there in person next year. I am holding you to your promise.