- A powerful testimonial about the impact of Students of AMF

 Below is a testimonial from a Georgetown University student about what Students of AMF has meant to her:

When my family and I came to Georgetown for Freshman Orientation in late August of 2005, we attended Freshman Convocation, where David was the student speaker.  I remember that I was struck by the sad story of his mother's death, but I did not yet know that my dad was sick so I didn't really dwell on it.  When my parents told me that my dad had ALS in October of 2005, my mom recommended that I get in contact with David because she remembered his speech and thought he could help me.

After I found out about my dad, I felt completely isolated.  I had only been at Georgetown for a couple of months and, though I'd made some friends, I felt like no one else could understand what I was going through.  Everyone just wanted to have fun, and we rarely talked about our families.  When I went to my first AMF support group meeting, I felt like a huge weight had been lifted.  I wasn't alone.  In fact, I became close friends with a girl who had lost her father in the spring of 2005.  I was the only freshman in the group that year and I felt so lucky to have found older students who could offer me support and guidance, and could give me a chance to talk about my family.

During my sophomore year, my role in AMF changed.  I became the treasurer and worked closely with David in order to increase membership.  That October, AMF attended the Walk to D'Feet ALS in DC.  I felt like I could actually do something besides feel sad and helpless about my dad's illness. We raised money for the walk and many of my friends and other members of AMF joined me, for which I was extremely grateful.  I was also in charge of the Angels Program, which pairs support group members with faculty mentors.  My Angels, Anne and Wendy, are so kind to me and make me feel like I have someone to turn to even though my family is in Pittsburgh.

This year, I am the President of the Georgetown chapter of AMF, and that has been so rewarding for me.  Not only do I continue to receive support from the other group members, but I also get to help students who are new to AMF.  Each time another student finds our support group, I feel so happy that they are able to get help.  This year, we have about 15 students in the support group (9 of whom are regulars) and a number of students in the service group, including the entire football team, many of whom knew David
and continue to support AMF.

In short, AMF has helped me more than I can say.  I honestly believe that it's the main reason I was able to stay at Georgetown (which is what my dad wants) rather than moving home.  It has made me feel more connected to the Georgetown community and being a part of it continually reconfirms that I am at the right school.  It has offered me a place to talk about the sorts of things that don't come up over pizza in the common room or by a keg in someone's backyard.  It showed me I was not alone in feeling torn between being at school and being at home.  This is such a unique time, when my friends and I are becoming independent and beginning to envision our own lives, and yet for those of us dealing with the sickness or death of a parent, we feel a continual pull toward home and our responsibilities and concerns for our family are generally greater than the average student.  I used to feel that this was unfair, and perhaps to a certain extent I still do, but I no longer feel like I'm the only one in this position.  The greatest support I receive from AMF comes from the members who've already lost parents, whose example shows me that life does continue after the death
of a parent.  They personify the most powerful aspect of AMF's contribution to the Georgetown community, and especially to me: hope.