Creating A Gift Of A 'Living' Legacy For Loved Ones

NEW YORK, Jan. 13, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- When faced with a life-threatening illness, what messages would one want to leave for future generations to share and remember them by?  How would one begin to construct these messages and present them in a way that would be viewed as a source of comfort, love and guidance for surviving family members, as well as for future generations?   

Thru My Eyes is a non-profit organization offering free "living" legacies for the families and loved ones of people with life-threatening illnesses.  Professional videographers and trained counselors are made available at no cost to help guide those who are chronically ill through what might be a very challenging task in presenting a gift of lasting messages to their children and other family members.  The organization was founded with the sole purpose of empowering those with life-threatening diseases with the peace and knowledge in knowing that they will be remembered by those whom they loved the most. It is a coping mechanism that helps people who are chronically ill know that they have said all that needs to be said, and therefore, may be remembered and heard for generations to come. Basically what Thru My Eyes provides is the gift of a lasting memory to share in perpetuity.

The process is simple, and once Thru My Eyes is contacted, a counselor will conduct the initial intake and clinically-guided questions will be prepared to help navigate the communication process.  A videotaping session with a professional videographer and the counselor will be scheduled and usually takes place in the comfort of one's own home. The session will last between 1-½ to 2 hours and is based on the pre-determined goals of the individual with a customized list of questions.  Within a month the videotape will be completely edited, finalized and delivered on a DVD.

According to Thru My Eyes Co-Founder and President Carri Rubinstein, "We make the videotaping process as simple as possible for the individual and family members, sometimes basing the questions around conversations that may be held at the kitchen table. For a parent of very young children, we suggest videotaping basic everyday tasks such as meal times, story readings and bath times, to leave the child with a sense of what the relationship was like with his or her parent."

Thru My Eyes was founded in honor of Deirdre "Dede" Dorsy Frontera, who passed away in May 2010. When faced with the news that her breast cancer had metastasized throughout her body, Dede, at age 40, felt that she had many things to say to her young daughter. She wanted to offer motherly advice and provide memories that were appropriate for her then 8-year old daughter.  

"The challenge is in getting each person to feel completely comfortable throughout the videotaping process and that is why we provide clinically-guided messages with the help of a professional therapist," adds Debby Ziering, Thru My Eyes Vice President. "It provides the comfort in knowing that they will be heard when the time is right by those they love the most."

Thru My Eyes operates in the Northeast corridor of the U.S.  However, through technology, videotaping may be conducted virtually anywhere.  In addition, bi-lingual counselors are available for Spanish speaking families. For more information pertaining to creating a living legacy, contact Thru My Eyes by calling 914-725-1836, emailing [email protected], or logging on to www.thrumyeyes.org.  All information obtained is held in the strictest confidence.

SOURCE Thru My Eyes