Kimberly O'Connor

Merry Christmas!

As I wrote about last year, I am a board member for a nonprofit called Jade Kids. Jade Kids is a 501c3 nonprofit run by one of the most important healers in my life, Judi Terrill. I first saw Judi, an acupuncturist, on April 29, 2014, the very same day my husband was in Oklahoma witnessing the insanely horrific, botched execution of his longtime client. (If you don’t know about this episode in our lives, you can read about it here in the Atlantic and here and here in two early versions of poems I wrote about it.) I don’t think it was coincidence that I met Judi on that day. Her medicine came in to help me survive and grow through a tough period of my life.

Over the last decade, Judi’s medicine has helped me tons. I see Judi in her private clinic, but in her nonprofit, she and a handful of other wonderful practitioners treat children and teens experiencing medical, mental or trauma-related symptoms, regardless of their family’s ability to pay. You can read about some of these children and teens here.

Maybe you’re reading this on a cozy Christmas afternoon and in the mood to give a little. If you have enough to give, I’m popping in to ask you to donate in any amount to Jade Kids. Your donation will help kids and teens experiencing complex mental or physical health issues find healing and alignment.

And of course, if you give, I have a gift for you! This year, I’m keeping it simple: if you donate to Jade Kids here in any amount by December 31, 2025, I’ll write you a poem on demand any time in 2026. Just email me (kimoco704 @ gmail.com) at least two weeks in advance with the poem’s subject and any additional requests (like, you want it to contain a unicorn, or the word “xiphoid,” or the image of the moon on a winter evening, or whatever), and I’ll deliver.

One way to give, even if you don’t have extra cash on hand after the holidays, is to connect your King Soopers or City Market card to Jade Kids. Then, Jade Kids gets a donation every time you shop. You can set up that process here–and let me know if you do and you want a poem!

Thank you for considering supporting this amazing, healing resource for kids in need in the Denver area.

(AI generated this image–and sure, AI could write you a unicorn/winter night/moon poem, or a xiphoid poem, but I promise mine will be better!)