The Power of a Hug

Post date: Nov 28, 2013 9:25:28 PM

Kyrie and Brielle Jackson were born prematurely on October 17, 1995 at the Massachusetts Memorial Hospital. Each of the twins weighed only 2 pounds. After a few days, Kyrie started to gain a bit of weight and grew stronger, but her twin sister Brielle cried often and her condition deteriorated.

When Brielle was gasping for air and turning blue, an intensive care nurse named Gayle tried everything she could to calm her. She held her. She had her dad hold her. She wrapped her in a blanket. She suctioned her nose, but nothing worked.

Gayle remembered a procedure done in Europe and put Brielle in the incubator with her sister Kyrie. Almost immediately Brielle snuggled up to Kyrie and soon she stopped crying. Her blood-oxygen level which had been frightening low, soared. Brielle began to breathe more easily, and a normal pinkish color returned. Brielle was rescued by a hug.

I am so grateful to be a member of the Toastmasters Family. A team of passionate people who give sacrificially of their time and energy to support one another and help one another achieve their goals and the goals of their club, area, division and district.

As we celebrate the holidays, let us pause often to express our appreciation to one another. Take time to give thanks and take time to embrace those whom we love. Remember our greatest emotional need is to feel appreciated and loved.

Harry Yan, DTM

Founder's District Governor

The twin sisters are teenagers now and their dramatic story is retold in a YouTube video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MrZXolduzY