Take the Step to Keep Memories

What would possess a person to sit down, and in less than a month, write a book about a person she had never met and knew nothing about, other than that he was a young man who had saved a woman from certain drowning, and less than a year later, was himself killed in an automobile accident?

In my case, it was a combination of frustration over the senseless deaths of thousands of Americans in September, the growing list of tragic losses of young Hanoverians, and concern that local agencies that deal with the disabled could see serious funding deficits in the near future. A chance reading of an article about the death of Elvis Gabriel Jimenez in a Richmond paper, and subsequent e-mails from parents of children with disabilities who detailed the good works he had done as an aide in a Liberty Middle School self-contained class galvanized me to step out in unchartered waters to write The Memory Keep.

Part disability awareness book, part grief manual for young people dealing with loss, but mostly a book to honor the memory of a special young man who died far too soon, The Memory Keep is, through the direction of its proceeds to establish the Elvis Gabriel Memorial Scholarship Fund, a way to perhaps augment donations for Hanover Arc. The Hanover Arc has graciously agreed to oversee the fund, which will provide educational and social programs for children with disabilities. Our hope is that the book will gain a wide audience and provide comfort to the bereaved as well as monies for new programs.

A premise of The Memory Keep is that each one of us has the responsibility to share and preserve the life stories of others– friend, family member and stranger alike. All of us have had the experience of hearing an inner "small voice," urging us to do something seemingly outlandish: pen a note to the family of a recently deceased teacher who touched your life decades before; call the parent, whom you've never met, of your child's classmate, simply to say you are inspired by the way their son or daughter handles a disability; take on a new advocacy project; step out and attempt to solve an "impossible" situation. Most often, we hush the voice and keep on our daily routine, for fear of making fools of ourselves. That fear nearly ground The Memory Keep to a halt early on: the thought of having to actually contact this young man's family, make a cold call to strangers to ask permission to go ahead with the project was daunting, and I danced around the phone for a week. If I hadn't had the support and guidance of Lucy Cantrell of Hanover Arc and Ray McAllister of the Richmond Times-Dispatch, I doubt I'd have followed through. Both advised me to carry on.

It was only when the manuscript was nearly finished that I got the full, amazing story of Elvis Jimenez's life. How he overcame tremendous obstacles, including homelessness and severe Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) , to become a kind and sharing young man. Fleshed out with the new information, The Memory Keep is now ready for young readers, complete with the beautiful illustrations Elvis penned for his students. It has been heartening for me to know that this one young man's tragic death, at least, has not been in vain. His life story will be passed down and good works continue through the scholarship.

"Who makes these things happen?" Andy, the main character in "Keep," cries out in his grief over losing his beloved aide. The question could fill any number of scenarios: why a child is born with a disability, why young people die in tragic accidents, why unforeseen circumstances can radically change the ability of agencies to provide much-needed programs. I don't have an answer to that question, but I have another to pose:

When an opportunity arises to share the stories of others' inspiring lives,
to take up a challenge in their names, won't you step on out,
use what abilities you have, and listen to that inner "voice"?

In doing so, you will become part of a greater "Memory Keep."

Thank you Pam Cathcart

In her typical selfless way, Pam Cathcart has chosen to shine the spotlight on someone for the benefit of others. Pam is designating her proceeds from the sale of The Memory Keep to the establishment of the Elvis Jimenez Memorial Scholarship Fund by Hanover Arc so that youth with disabilities will have opportunities to develop their gifts and skills. Pam has given a valuable gift so that lives can be enriched.

Hanover Arc extends deep appreciation to Pam Cathcart.

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