After having her ‘life as she knew it’ taken away from her by a drunk driver, in November of 1967; my oldest sister Dolly no longer had to live in her brain damaged, partially paralyzed body; passing in her nursing home at the AGE of 67 on NOVEMBER 6, 2014.
Dolly graduated from Bishop McDevitt with Honors (1965), took a job in Washington D.C. at the State Department, as an Executive Secretarial Office assistant. She was the oldest of 7 kids, the last which was born in April of 1965. Dolly returned home to ENHAUT PA (above Steelton PA), in early 1967, to attend Harrisburg Area Community College, in hopes of becoming a foreign correspondent. She had the dream taken from her, as well as her LIFE AS SHE KNEW IT, in mid-November 1967 – when a drunk driver flew through a stop sign – causing her permanent, front lobe brain damage.
Amazingly, she SURVIVED! After 2 months in a coma, and a year later in that same hospital, she stomped her left foot down and said the word HOME! as her next youngest sister wheeled her chair in the hall. Another year in a rehab hospital, got her to RE-LEARN how to SPEAK as well as WALK with her partially paralyzed right side. No longer able to work, drive nor attend school – she lived her life on Social Security. She eventually married a mentally challenged man, Walter, whom she met in Mental Health. She noted he had KIND EYES! Dolly EXEMPLIFIED KINDNESS by taking Walter under her wing, making sure he was clothed, fed; got to doctor’s appointments, etc. They had fun watching and going to movies. Walter has a FALSETTO voice, so Dolly would encourage him to SING, spiritual and folk tunes as she taped him on casette tapes.
Dolly loved sending sweet, uplifting and silly story, joke cards. I received quite a few as rays of sunshine in my mailbox. I let her know they BRIGHTENED MY DAY and were VERY VALUABLE TO ME. This made her happy. She attended one of my laughter wellness sessions at her rent-controlled housing, years back. She and Walter felt it was valuable and had a fun time participating.
I attended a Business to Business Event at the Farm Show building, this morning. I HONORED MY SISTER DOLORES MARIE SZOLLOSY-KING by SHARING HER STORY with many representatives; especially those in SERVICE to the COMMUNITY. One of them is known as: UNITING TO HEAL – a MOBILE CLINIC that helps low income souls in the city with medical, dental and vision care. I let them know the difficulties Dolly had with getting good doctor care, due to her low income.
Another outreach I talked to is called: S.T.E.M. SUMMIT FOR JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT – These folks help parents talk to troubled teens or teens with drug use challenges. I shared what I do, and my PASSION for HELPING OTHERS TO HEAL – being INSPIRED by Dolly – her brain damage; learning about the brain – being aware of ADDICTIONS and feeling and healing through depression and abuse.
I was thrilled when the representative mentioned they might have me come in and share a talk, stories or inspiration with them. I let him know I talk all about RESPECT for LIFE, PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL, and PERSONAL space. I let him know this was/IS KEY for me in presenting to audiences. I let him know I love to share – in the even anything I share will help another soul to heal.
I then came across two women resting on a bench at the event. I was handing my ‘*SMILE! YOU’RE GREAT!’ … if you ever lose your smile; look in the mirror on the stick to see if you can find your smile to folks at the event. I let these women know it’s a powerful tool and reminder to have an OUTLOOK SHIFT about a life situation, to help one shift their focus and see options and opportunities. The older woman let me know SHE REALLY NEEDED THAT AT THE MOMENT! She share her male neighbor had FALLEN OFF HIS ROOF, AND HAD MASSIVE BRAIN TRAUMA. HE WAS EXPECTED TO LIVE, BUT BE PERMANENTLY IMPACTED. I shared my sister DOLLY’s story of her AMAZING, SUPER, TOUGH SPIRIT! I let the woman know that I’m sure my sister Dolly heard me talking to her (from Heaven); and was sending her strength and support. The woman was WONDERFULLY TOUGH, having been supporting her neighbor EMOTIONALLY and sending POSITIVE THOUGHTS and PRAYERS his way. I let her know to go to see him and share music with him, to help him awake his mind.
When I left the event, I encountered a grandmother and her granddaughter entering a place where I had stopped for lunch. I handed the grandmother one of the ‘IF YOU EVER LOSE YOUR SMILE, TRY TO FIND IT IN THE MIRROR’ tools. The grandmother took it. I let her know it was her option to share it with the granddaughter. The granddaughter then asked: WHEN DO YOU LOSE YOUR SMILE? The grandmother responded: ‘YOU KNOW, LIKE WHEN YOU TOLD ME ABOUT THE GIRL ON THE SCHOOL BUS THAT WOULDN’T LET YOU LOOK OUT THE WINDOW.’ WOW! WHAT A PROFOUND MOMENT I WITNESSED! The little girl learning how someone could seem like a BULLY – do something CRUEL, and how you can SEE IT DIFFERENTLY – that the MEAN GIRL may have ‘STUFF’ going on in her life, causing her to be cruel to others – but – that the LITTLE GIRL DIDN’T HAVE TO ALLOW THE OTHER GIRL TO STEAL HER HAPPINESS.
IN HONOR OF DOLORES (DOLLY) SZOLLOSY-KING, and her SUPER-WOMAN-SUPER-SOUL POWER TO LIVE, SURVIVE AND STILL BE KIND!
FLY FREE DOLLY! FLY FREE! THANK YOU FOR YOUR KINDNESS! I HONOR YOUR SPIRIT!
Your younger sister, HELEN.
