Shawn and Courtney Roberts - Why I Give
Michael's Fund
Shawn and Courtney’s generosity inspired the creation of a children’s activity center in the M.T. Mustian Center, at Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare (TMH), to comfort children who are awaiting surgery.
What makes this gift meaningful to you?
SHAWN: We want to provide emotional support to children and their families. To impact a child’s life, to distract them for a moment and ease their fears, is the perfect way for our family to give back.
What motivated your gift?
SHAWN: My brother, Michael, died before I was born. He had an inoperable brain tumor. There was a lot of love in our house that revolved around his memory, but there was also pain.
COURTNEY: Michael died when he was 8 years old, and our son, Noah, who’s middle name is Michael, is now 8. It just makes you appreciative and want to help other families who have to go through something so heartbreaking.
How has TMH cared for your family?
SHAWN: Having children was a struggle for us. We lost our first child on Sept. 29, 2009. Dealing with a still birth was very difficult. The staff at the (Tallahassee Memorial Alexander D. Brickler, MD, Women’s Pavilion) were kind and gave us time to cherish that moment with our baby, as brief as it was. That was followed by two emergency C-sections with Noah and Nella Cate, 3. We are still grateful for how TMH cared for all of us.
What advice would you give to other people who want to make a difference?
SHAWN: If there’s something you feel like you need to do, don’t spend another year thinking about it. Get involved. You don’t have to create a $10 million endowment. You can make an impact in many different ways.
What do you want others to remember about your story?
SHAWN: This isn’t a sad story. Although we struggled, we now have two bright, wonderful children, and we’re incredibly blessed. They get to grow up in a community that has great healthcare, and I hope that they’ll figure out how to get involved one day, too.
