Several years ago, a wonderful film popularized a book by Catherine Ryan Hyde called “Pay It Forward.” In the movie (and the book), Trevor, played by Haley Joel Osment, is given an assignment by his social studies teacher; to think of an idea that will change the world for the better, and to put the idea into action. Trevor suggested if someone had done you a favor — a big one, that you could not repay by yourself — that you could, instead, “pay it forward” to three new people.  And if they “paid it forward” as well, the favor would multiply many times over to create immense goodness in the world.

 
 

At Hospital Day last June we had the opportunity to meet Dietz Meyer, from Dubuque, Iowa. Dietz was one of several Shriners’ patients who volunteered to perform at our 80th Anniversary celebration by playing his guitar. Now, this offer was remarkable for two reasons: first, Dietz is missing most of one arm; and second, at that time Dietz was quite shy about performing in public. But Shriners had given him a prosthesis which he used to play the guitar; and another Shriners’ patient, experienced in public performance, told Dietz he would attend and be there for support.

As he entertained us at Shriners that day, Dietz paid us back in just the way we always hope our patients will. He was a successful, confident, and engaged young person. His performance was terrific.
 
Another surprise came soon after.  Dietz also intended to “pay the favors forward.”  Several months later, he brought in a donation of $100 to help the hospital care for more children. Impressed by the example of his sponsor, the “Pop Tab Man” Norm Kirch of Dubuque, Dietz had convinced his classmates at Resurrection School in Dubuque to collect pop tabs and donate the proceeds to our Hospital.
 

Dietz is front and center in his class, teaching them the value of “paying it forward.”

Through his accomplishments as a musician Dietz exemplifies the courage of our patients and by “paying it forward,” he is a great model for all of us.