| About Carlana |
A beautiful, successful and privileged seventeen-year-old, Carlana Stone Lawson had it all: she was a gymnast, cheerleader and president of her class. In a moment of bad judgment, she got into a car with some friends in Dallas, Texas, after a night of drinking. A terrible accident occurred, and everyone walked away unscathed except for Carlana, who never walked again..
Read More>>
|
 |
Previous Post
|
|
| Wednesday, November 30, 2005 |
^ top |
Houston
Hey Y'all!
It's time to talk about my fantastic trip to Houston! Ray Chang, my special angel in the form of a restless Chinese guy, was joined to me at the hip the entire time. He is so determined to make a difference in this world, and I know that he will. One step at a time, one city at a time we are going to make it happen!
My dear friend Jay Silverman's company Vibrel sponsored not only my trip, but my two amazing speaking engagements there and I am eternally grateful to him for making it all possible. My first order of business was the Vibrel ''Women's Empowerment Series,'' where I not only got to speak, but meet and interact with some really great people. My dad made the trip to Houston for this one, and I was so happy to see him, but it really laid the pressure on thick. He used to be a public speaker and I practically grew up at his seminars, in complete awe of him. It's kinda cool that I'm doing what he used to do, but I really wanted to impress him.
The conference took place in a special room at the Marriott, and a few people who had never even heard of me before wandered in out of curiosity and left with hope and inspiration! Everyone there had a story to tell and interacting with them was such an awesome time. I met a recovering addict who had been clean for 66 days. Vibrel gave everyone who attended a copy of the book and I signed hers with that magic number. Her family didn't even know that she had had a problem, but I am confident that she left with the courage to continue her battle and win! One woman came up to me before I started speaking and told me she had noticed my poster after another function she was attending at the Marriott ended, and she read the words ''Never Give In, Never Give Up'' and felt like they were a message just for her. She was undergoing a terrible divorce and really came away with a new outlook. The conference was great - we were really making a difference, and my Dad was so proud of me! He even filled out the flip chart! Look out for a video of the whole thing on the website very soon!
The next night I spoke at MD Anderson, the top cancer research facility in the US, to a big group people in the Rotary House International. This center houses about 400 people going through chemotherapy and their families. For me, meeting these incredible people really put things back into perspective. Meeting these people really drove home for me the fact that we have so much to learn from one another. There were so many tears in the room that night, but it was SO special, because I felt like I was really making a difference. It was a great feeling. That's what it's all about.
I am so grateful to my friends Nicky de Berardinis and his fiancee Belma for setting up this opportunity for me. Belma beat cancer and had a special connection to MD Anderson, and when I found out about the chance to speak, Vibrel stepped up once again to sponsor, and brought along even more books for the patients and families. This was a really great experience to meet some very special people.
Ray and I realized on this trip that we are on to something big and that the message I am trying to get out there really does resonate with people. Regardless of status or background, there really are no boundaries when it comes to effecting change. I couldn't do this without him, he is one of the most wonderful people I have the privilege of knowing, I'm so lucky to have him on my team.
I'll be very busy in the next few weeks (the newsletter is coming out, and I have my first solo flight on Friday and London after that!), but I'm going to start writing in this blog every day. It is a journal after all! We'll meet again soon, but until then take care!
Kiss kiss~
Carlana
|
|
|
1 Comments:
Hey Carlana! We spoke a couple of days ago on the phone. Oh my gosh, I just read this blog and I was like that is my mom you are talking about the woman going through the terrible divorce that you met at the Marriot in Houston. That is sooooo crazy I was actually in Houston and was going to meet up w/ her at the other conference she was attending, too bad I didn't b/c I would have loved the opportunity to meet you that night. God I love her so much and she is having such a rough time even though they divorced in May. Please keep our family (esp. my mom) in your prayers. Love Always :)
Katherine Bates
Post a Comment
<< Home