Turning Tragedy In To Impact: My Serendipitous Connection To The Berg Family

October 28, 2024

Josh and Carly Berg with their beautiful daughter Ellie ♥️

PHOTOS: BE LIKE ELLIE FOUNDATION and PEOPLE MAGAZINE

It began with a phone call from an acquaintance, Sarah...she is the neighbor of my best friend. Sarah wanted to share that her own nephew had just experienced the tragic loss of his best friend, a sweet six-year-old named Ellie. When Sarah called she was seeking advice about supporting her very young nephew's grief and loss. Additionally, she wanted to send him our FeelLinks Ultimate Feelings Bundle, as he was, and will continue to be experiencing countless emotions after losing his best friend.

As the conversation turned to a bit more about Ellie's family and her nephew's family, I came to understand the two families mutual love for music and specifically the band Phish. Both sets of parents were planning to head to Mexico to a Phish concert to be with their Phish Family and listen to some healing music. They all wanted nothing more than to hear Ellie's favorite song, The Mango Song.

- Now for the serendipitous connection -

While I cannot say I know much about the band Phish, I knew who to call. My brother is a super Phish Phan - so of course, I immediately reached out to him. He was able to lead me to the "right people" to get more traction for this very meaningful request. Through word of mouth and the magic of goodness that social media can provide (#MangosForEllie), it seemed that the message got to the band members.

As the Berg's finally left their house in Colorado with their best friends, to be with their loving Phish community, their wish came true. Phish played The Mango Song and dedicated it to beautiful Ellie and the Berg family in her memory 😔🥹.

Since then, I have stayed in touch with the Berg's, particularly Josh. Every day I wear my Be Like Ellie bracelet that he gifted to me and Ellie's photo sits up on our magnetic board right in our kitchen for everyone to see. All of this as constant reminders to our family to live life each and every day with kindness and good intention towards ourselves and others.

Remember that actions speak louder than words. When you choose to practice kindness you will show it in the ways you treat yourself and others, the ways you teach it to your children. For me, I show kindness through my actions, the mission of FeelLinks, and it's woven through my values and character.

Kindness is not difficult - it's a way of being - a commitment to making a better world for us and our children and the generations to come.

I ask you to check out their story, create, wear and share Be Like Ellie bracelets (see mine below), have your children, your students, your groups of kids complete the Be Like Ellie Foundation's Kids Kindness Challenge in Ellie's memory (link below) -

- Simply said, lead a life of kindness -