Decades ago, a wise mentor taught me a phrase that has helped me in every facet of my life: “Don’t punish progress.”

Late night TV Host Jimmy Kimmel has been mercilessly cruel to and about our vaccine injured children.  We've been a caricature to him.  And I have responded in less-than-kind. But this is the Christmas season, and the Hanukkah season. The season of miracles, softened hearts, generosity of spirit and rebirth. Joshua Coleman and Melissa Floyd each met Kimmel at his book signing last weekend. Joshua Coleman and Jessica Floyd have vaccine injured children. Neither Joshua nor Melissa attacked Jimmy, or assaulted him with their words. They taught him with gentle tones and facts about their vaccine injured children. Melissa shared how his callous disregard (shout out to Dr. Wakefield there, that's also the title of his book) made her feel. I once read something that said, "People might forget what you DO. But they do not forget how you made them FEEL."

Kimmel had no idea that the father and book buyer standing in front of him was the man behind the V is for Vaccine movement that peacefully interrupted his show last week, and who was expelled from the studio. Coleman could have gone up to Kimmel guns ablazing. He did not. He took a wise and mature approach. He spoke to him without ever letting on who he is. He posted a video on Facebook of the meeting - watch if you can.

Sometimes I talk about my martial arts training. We have a set of seven commandments. And the first one is, "As my strength increases, I shall cultivate a gentle heart."   I congratulate Josh and Melissa for their gentle hearts, despite being broken by vaccine injured and stomped upon by Kimmel and so many before him. I hope Kimmel's heart softens too, toward all of us, and that he starts to learn for himself that we are not a threat, nor lunatics, nor simply angry.

Ooooooooooooooooooooooo ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh Fah who foraze! Dah who doraze!
Welcome Christmas, come this way!
Fah who foraze! Dah who doraze!
Welcome Jimmy Kimmel  Today!

We will welcome him to knowledge, compassion and to help help fight against mandates. We do not want to welcome him to the family of the vaccine injured. May his family stay safe.

In the words of Melissa Floyd, Mom to Serenity.

The day I met Jimmy Kimmel and told him about my daughter Serenity....

I knew I wouldn’t have much time. I knew this issue was contentious. I knew there was security and staff standing close by already on high alert. But I also knew I HAD to have a heart-to-heart with him, no matter how brief, and tell him a little of my child’s story. I wanted him to see my sincerity, understand there was suffering, and recognize the humanity of “the other side”. I went in it with an open heart and an open mind. The most important thing was #INTENTION.

***What is your intention when we talk with others about this issue? What is your desired outcome? What do you hope to accomplish at the end of the conversation? You have to know that first BEFORE going in. Intention is everything!***

🙏 This was MY intention: I wanted Jimmy to know children like mine exist, they were innocent victims, and they don’t deserve ridicule or discrimination. That’s it! I just wanted him to know. What he chose to do with that information was up to him and his conscience.
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The first thing I did when I walked to the table was ask him to sign my daughter’s name. I wanted him to know her name.

Serenity exists and Serenity was hurt. 😢

I told him briefly of the seizures and neurological damage when she was just 2 months old. I told him how “she took one for the team.” I reminded him she doesn’t deserve to be ridiculed and doesn’t deserve discrimination because she didn’t ask for this...and we didn’t ask to be in this situation.

He stopped signing the book, you could tell he was a little uncomfortable. He intently looked me in the eyes. He paused. And he told me:

“I’m gonna try to be more sensitive on this issue.”

I hadn’t asked him for anything specifically, but more #compassion was EXACTLY what I was placing my intention on. Wanting more compassion is why I joined the silent protest earlier in the week at his TV show wearing a “My Daughter Was Injured By Vaccines” shirt. Compassion and understanding allow the walls to come down and the connection to happen. And he had offered that to me voluntarily. I was honestly a bit surprised.

I also made sure to thank him for being willing to have an #honorable exchange with the advocate in front of me — an uncharacteristically long conversation, with sympathy and respect, that was powerful to witness. There was some difference of opinion there too...something we have all experienced when one is a strong believer in the “official narrative” on this issue. But with that, there was also listening, acknowledgment, and some humanity.

As i was wrapping up I told him I would read the book with my daughter while we talk about the concept of #forgiveness. He heard me and then he quickly closed with something about the good work of CHOC hospital, the recipient of the book’s profits. I nodded politely and left the table.

I felt #brave. Overcoming nerves isn’t the easiest thing to do. Especially with a well-known public figure, large security guards, and a line full of people. It would have been easy to just change my mind about doing it. But I stood in line thinking about my daughter and how I needed to be brave for her. I needed my advocacy for her to be bigger than my fears.

The big question is this. What are our intentions? And how impactful do you want your conversations to be? How do you get through to someone whose defense mechanisms are fully raised? The goal is not to change anyone’s mind or get them to believe what you believe. The goal is to help them see why you’re here and why you’re fighting. The rest will come. It is such a powerful understanding and a very important lesson.

We have to make a real difference. And we have to be open-hearted. Will Jimmy Kimmel make some grand gesture supporting medical freedom and apologizing to the hundreds of thousands he indirectly offended with his public comments about “anti-vaxxers”? Nope. Not likely. In fact, he has been a vocal proponent in the past for tighter laws restricting exemptions. BUT, kudos to Jimmy for choosing to respond like a human being — the most we can ask for from anyone until they experience a shift first-hand. I gained a little bit of respect for him yesterday. One down, lots more to go. 🙏