One of my previous posts spoke of Sandra DeChant efforts in helping her "mentee, SiuLan" who “survived throat cancer, an abusive marriage, the loss of her sister to breast cancer and the loss of her career as an IT Project Manager." I received an update this morning about Sandra and SiuLin. I think it's a perfect beginning to the holiday season and one which can overcome the brute commercialism of December.

According to Sandra, "SiuLan did secure an apartment, she was able to move in on December 1st - she is now warm and dry. We are beginning to take the next step to prepare her for a new career, SiuLan is very excited about her prospects."

Through "the kind and generous offer of AIRS , the efforts of the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation ", SiuLan can now see the possibilities in her life rather than the woe. Sandra relates that has "had some positive conversations with some companies who are interested in bringing SiuLan on board as an internet sourcer when she completes her internship and AIRS training."

I enjoyed Sandra's editorializing about the positive elements of her association with SiuLan :

You know -- we have seen so many companies - Jump on the easy boat of the "buy-pink" bandwagon but we really don't know these people or where this money really goes! With SiuLan - I see the results of someone who is truly trying to help herself gain her independence again. To me - that's what really matters in the end. Otherwise - it's just hype.

I'll let Sandra's words do a far better job of explaining how this all came to pass and how she feels about her work with SiuLan:

She wrote me today and said that she is very excited about her prospects, she is more optimistic than she's been for a long time.

You see, I was introduced to SiuLan when I came across her resume sometime ago as she was seeking to get a job - I was sourcing for an IT Project Manager. She was very upfront in her email coversations with me about her disability - I admit, I shyed away from her because I knew that I couldn't find an employer in the IT Profession who would hire her - her work history was a mess due to the illness and she couldn't speak verbally. 

But as much as I thought it would be easy, I really couldn't forget how she tried so hard to get me to meet her, how much she wanted to work again - she really persisted. That's what stuck out in my mind - and even though I had lost track of her resume - I found myself going through extreme measure to try to find her. I thought - this is the kind of stuff that makes a good recruiter, that gutsiness that we need to get past all the "no's" . So, after several phone calls, emails and calling in a few favors - I was able to locate her through DVR and we did meet. It was something about her willingness and courage to ask me to just meet her..  And now you know the rest of the story.

So my friends, what are you going to do to make someone's life better?