The Ripple Effect

Ripple effect – noun: a spreading, pervasive, and usually unintentional effect or influence. A ripple effect occurs when a small, initial disturbance to a system propagates outward to disturb an increasingly larger portion of the system.

Have you ever tossed a stone into a lake when the water was completely calm? Although the pebble is small, the effect is large. From that initial “plop”, ripples begin to spread out in all directions. A tiny pebble, no bigger than a thumbnail, can affect an area thousands of times its size.

The same holds true with our daily interactions, whether in person or online. Each time we share a bit of our experience, it’s like tossing a tiny pebble into the still water of our audience. Although we can’t be certain how far the ripples will extend, the possibilities are endless.

An example of this powerful phenomenon happened recently in our community.

Years ago, Kathleen, the Program Coordinator of GiGi’s Playhouse Detroit, married Mike. Mike’s college roommate was Bryan. Bryan married Ashley. Ashley follows Kathleen on social media. Kathleen posts about GiGi’s from time to time. Ashley works at Ven Johnson Law Firm. Ven Johnson is Eri Guajardo Johnson’s father. Eri and her partner, Stephan, just had a beautiful baby girl named Billie. Billie was born with Down syndrome. Ven announces the birth of his remarkable new granddaughter to all staff at his law firm. Ashley shares with Ven what she knows about GiGi’s, thanks to Kathleen. Ven tells Eri about our programs, and lo and behold – we welcomed Eri, Stephan, and sweet baby Billie to our Playhouse last summer.

Because of intertwining circles, overtime, in person, on social media, casually, and professionally, two brand new parents to a sweet baby with Down syndrome were given the vital resource of GiGi’s Playhouse Detroit right away.

Unfortunately, this little family has had a rough go since Billie’s birth. They have spent more time in the hospital than at home. With extensive “bells and whistles”, such as breathing treatments, an ostomy bag, g-tube feedings, multiple surgeries and more, Eri and Stephan have bravely navigated the world of caring for a medically complex infant.

We are so grateful to witness this family’s powerful journey, and provide support through genuine friendship, community resources, and purposeful programs. Good news is, although Billie is still being closely monitored and receiving specialized care, they anticipate she will soon “recover vibrantly and start living that epic baby life”.

Much to our surprise, Kathleen’s ripple continued to spread even further… Ven Johnson Law Firm recently hosted their annual holiday party, at which Eri gave a moving speech to a room of over 200 people. She shared how strong, capable, and incredible individuals with Down syndrome are, and all the ways GiGi’s Playhouse supports them. Thus, all attendees at the event received information about our services, and this knowledge will likely extend into each individuals’ community, as it is needed.

We were beyond humbled to find out, Ven Johnson chose GiGi’s Playhouse Detroit as the recipient of their annual holiday giving campaign. Thanks to the immense generosity of those who contributed, Eri personally presented a donation of over $30,000 to our Playhouse after their party!

So, what began as a tiny pebble of knowledge about GiGi’s Playhouse Detroit, tossed into the vast sea of social media, rippled out to the masses and reached the hearts of a brand new family, at a difficult time, when they needed connection and resources most. 

And most unexpectedly, that family and their larger network chose to give back to GiGi’s Playhouse Detroit in support of the programs we provide to hundreds of families across southeast Michigan.

All this to say, there are infinite ways to advocate for individuals with Down syndrome, and social media is one of them. You never know when you like, comment, or share a post, whose life will be impacted down the road.

Will a ripple effect happen? We don’t know. Could it happen? ABSOLUTELY.

Keep in mind, this is just one possible scenario of the effect of one person’s social media page, on one person who happened to see it, and the impact it had on one family. If you factor in the other posts, the other viewers, the other families… the mind boggles with infinite possibilities!

In the words of Mother Teresa, “I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the water and create many ripples.”

If you haven’t yet, now is a great time to follow GiGi’s Playhouse Detroit on facebook and Instagram. While you’re there, introduce yourself on one of our posts! You can also follow Eri, Stephan, and Billie’s journey on these two accounts: BirthBruja and HighRezDesigns.