A Precious Gift

Jungle George from Texas notices I am stopping at every airbrush stand. “Are you going to get your body painted he asks?” Oh No, I exclaim! I've looked at hundreds of samples during Daytona Beach Bike Week, but I’m unable find the perfect butterfly for the back of my leather vest. I can't quite describe what I would like, but my heart is searching for a very special one. Jungle George knows the perfect man for the job and introduces me to Todd. I want this butterfly to cover the back of my vest, my favorite color is purple; the rest I'll leave up to Todd. I don't mention why I want this butterfly.

As I turn away, I noticed the helmets and bikes Todd has at his stand; skulls and crossbones, demons and scary images and I wonder “What have I done?” Oh well, I can always purchase another vest. We head off to listen to a band and await my butterfly. Half an hour later, we return to see what Todd has created. As soon as I see my vest I burst into tears. All the tough bikers around me disappear, and Todd stammers, "I'm sorry…. I didn't bring the right paints for something like this."

“Oh no, these are happy tears!” I felt as though Todd had looked into my soul and painted an artist's rendering of my heart. The reason for my tears was that Todd had added tiny pink hearts and shining stars on the soft purple butterfly he had created. The instant I saw the hearts I thought of the sweet Irish man I met who had received the gift of my daughter Candi's heart when she died at age 13. Todd did not know that pink was Candi's favorite color. The sparkling stars reminded me of a saying I carry in my heart, "Perhaps they are not stars in the sky but rather openings where our loved ones shine down on us."

Todd won't accept any money for painting this beautiful, perfect butterfly. Later in the week he tells me that he and his family of 6 were homeless when they arrived in Daytona, but yesterday someone had come along and given him a place to live. Todd tells me, “It’s because of the butterfly.”

The butterfly symbolizes to me new life for the four people who received Candi’s heart, liver and kidneys and the comfort and healing I feel knowing her short life is still helping others.