** Founding Story **
MyName is Richard, this is MyStory...
Name: Richard Alarcon
Age: 58
From: Los Angeles, CA, USA
Education: CSUN
Background: Los Angeles City Councilmember Richard Alarcon is a former teacher, community activist, State Senator and State Assemblymember. Most importantly, Richard is a family man and the loving father of Richie.
Age: 58
From: Los Angeles, CA, USA
Education: CSUN
Background: Los Angeles City Councilmember Richard Alarcon is a former teacher, community activist, State Senator and State Assemblymember. Most importantly, Richard is a family man and the loving father of Richie.
"Richie"
My name is Richard
Alarcón and I represent the Northeast San Fernando Valley
on the Los Angeles City Council. On
August 8, 2012, I had the opportunity to welcome Amit Dodani to City Hall so I
could thank him during a Council meeting for sharing inspiration with people
across the country and around the world through this website. As I spoke with Amit and his friends and
family about how they started MyNameMyStory, I was reminded that we all have
stories to share that can inspire others.
So, in the spirit of Amit’s inspiring work, I would like to share my
story in the hope that it can also help offer inspiration and hope to people
faced with challenges in life.
On May 1, 1987, my three-year old son Richie was riding with his great-grandmother when their car was hit by a suicidal man who had decided to end his life by causing a collision. Because there were no hospitals that specialized in providing emergency trauma care to children in the San Fernando Valley, Richie was airlifted to Children’s Hospital in Hollywood. I don’t know exactly how long it took to get Richie to the hospital, but I know it took more than an hour – too long when you are trying to save a child’s life in an emergency. Richie died in my arms the next day.
Every day, I struggle with finding a purpose for my three-year old son’s life. Why did he live? Why did he die? Even though it was a long time ago, losing a child changes your life forever and it changes your perspective forever. My new perspective made something very clear – I needed to give purpose to my son’s life.
Giving Richie’s life meaning became a mission. After I saw that we could re-write laws in California to not only provide funding for pediatric trauma care, but trauma care of all kinds in hospitals throughout the state, it became my passion as a newly-elected State Senator to do just that. It wasn’t just a passion to do something good for society, though, it was passion as a father who wants to fill a void and to know there was a purpose to my son’s life. After many years, we changed the law to provide an additional $45 million a year in funding for trauma care centers in California. Fifteen percent of the funds are dedicated to pediatric trauma care. That fund is named “Richie’s Fund.” In 2008, $2 million from “Richie’s Fund” was dedicated for the creation of a pediatric trauma care center at Northridge Hospital; and in 2010, we opened the first ever pediatric trauma care center in the San Fernando Valley. The center, which saves kid’s lives, is named after my son Richie.
Through the creation of the Richie Pediatric Trauma Care Center at Northridge Hospital, Richie still helps give life to many other children. I feel that through this, Richie’s life had meaning – not just for those who were close to him, but for kids he will never meet.
Not a day goes by that I don’t miss Richie, but I am thankful that his short life was able to have lasting meaning. When tragedy occurs we are drawn to anger and sadness. Those are powerful emotions. I feel fortunate to have turned those powerful emotions into positive action and in doing so, given purpose to Richie’s life. Richie left me so that others would live.
I hope that others who have experienced loss in their lives can draw similar inspiration from tragedy so that they can help give purpose to lives that have been cut short.
On May 1, 1987, my three-year old son Richie was riding with his great-grandmother when their car was hit by a suicidal man who had decided to end his life by causing a collision. Because there were no hospitals that specialized in providing emergency trauma care to children in the San Fernando Valley, Richie was airlifted to Children’s Hospital in Hollywood. I don’t know exactly how long it took to get Richie to the hospital, but I know it took more than an hour – too long when you are trying to save a child’s life in an emergency. Richie died in my arms the next day.
Every day, I struggle with finding a purpose for my three-year old son’s life. Why did he live? Why did he die? Even though it was a long time ago, losing a child changes your life forever and it changes your perspective forever. My new perspective made something very clear – I needed to give purpose to my son’s life.
Giving Richie’s life meaning became a mission. After I saw that we could re-write laws in California to not only provide funding for pediatric trauma care, but trauma care of all kinds in hospitals throughout the state, it became my passion as a newly-elected State Senator to do just that. It wasn’t just a passion to do something good for society, though, it was passion as a father who wants to fill a void and to know there was a purpose to my son’s life. After many years, we changed the law to provide an additional $45 million a year in funding for trauma care centers in California. Fifteen percent of the funds are dedicated to pediatric trauma care. That fund is named “Richie’s Fund.” In 2008, $2 million from “Richie’s Fund” was dedicated for the creation of a pediatric trauma care center at Northridge Hospital; and in 2010, we opened the first ever pediatric trauma care center in the San Fernando Valley. The center, which saves kid’s lives, is named after my son Richie.
Through the creation of the Richie Pediatric Trauma Care Center at Northridge Hospital, Richie still helps give life to many other children. I feel that through this, Richie’s life had meaning – not just for those who were close to him, but for kids he will never meet.
Not a day goes by that I don’t miss Richie, but I am thankful that his short life was able to have lasting meaning. When tragedy occurs we are drawn to anger and sadness. Those are powerful emotions. I feel fortunate to have turned those powerful emotions into positive action and in doing so, given purpose to Richie’s life. Richie left me so that others would live.
I hope that others who have experienced loss in their lives can draw similar inspiration from tragedy so that they can help give purpose to lives that have been cut short.
Richard Alarcon, April 30, 2008: Speaking at a press conference announcing that the center would be built.
Comments:
Priors Comments (these comments made before the use of Facebook Comments Social Plug-in)
2012/08/24 - Anonymous - Thank you for sharing your story! Im sure it wasnt easy to write this but I know it will help soo many others!
2012/08/16 - John M Romero - That is truly an inspiring story. Thank God for giving you the strength and commitment, as well as the position and resources to accomplish such an important and significant achievement that is serving so many others. It would be too easy to say your son, Richie's passing was not in vain or that it had a purpose, but that would diminish the pain and suffering you and your family had to endure all these years. May he rest in peace and may you and your loved ones take some small solace knowing all the pain and suffering you have prevented other mothers, fathers and families from feeling. Thank you so much!
2012/08/24 - Anonymous - Thank you for sharing your story! Im sure it wasnt easy to write this but I know it will help soo many others!
2012/08/16 - John M Romero - That is truly an inspiring story. Thank God for giving you the strength and commitment, as well as the position and resources to accomplish such an important and significant achievement that is serving so many others. It would be too easy to say your son, Richie's passing was not in vain or that it had a purpose, but that would diminish the pain and suffering you and your family had to endure all these years. May he rest in peace and may you and your loved ones take some small solace knowing all the pain and suffering you have prevented other mothers, fathers and families from feeling. Thank you so much!