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ENSPIRE MAGAZINE S19
Dina Hawthorne is the true embodiment of a phoenix rising from the ashes . The Brooklyn-raised singer has faced an onslaught of challenges after the devastating loss of her 3-yearold son , Elijah-Alavi , in 2017 and the immense toll it had on her family and herself . After a long road of emotional trial , Hawthorne has tackled her grief with grit , using her experiences with losing a child to engage in advocacy and the music industry to spread her powerful message .
Hawthorne has been extremely candid about her struggles with mental health since the traumatic incident . She describes spending many months after feeling lost in varying states of depression and anxiety , and also asserts that there were more unexpected repercussions from the loss , including swelling in her throat and constricted breathing that put her passion for singing on hold . Even more difficult was the emotional toll Elijah-Alavi ’ s death had on his 6-year-old brother Sebastin , who heavily retracted into himself after losing his best friend .
Hawthorne pinpoints music as the force that unified her family after their grief . On her road to recovery , she began writing songs that motivated herself and her son on an interpersonal level . She asserts that “ the Spirit of God gave me the courage to write a motivational song ... my song “ Get Up ” inspired the routine the Spirit of God put in me .” In this single , Hawthorne channels her raw emotions into a form of empowerment , urging listeners to “ fight for your life in you ” and “ no matter what they say ... get up , youare not alone .” She has since released a number of other songs that further capture her feelings through upbeat rhythms and lyrical profoundness . from her family as the driving forces behind her journey to wellness . Unifying these passions under the acronym G . A . M . E . ( God , Art , Music , and Education ), Hawthorne has turned to even broader audiences to enact altruistic change .
Elijah-Alavi died from anaphylactic shock after being fed cheese by a Daycare provider , despite his known dairy allergy . As an advocate for children and infants , Hawthorne worked with Governor Cuomo to pass a New York State bill in 2019 called Elijah ’ s Law , which requires school workers to become fully educated on food allergy guidelines in hopes of addressing allergy severities with their students and preventing anaphylaxis . “ The Law ’ s actuality and its impact have absolutely allowed me to focus more on the positive outcomes as I heal from the trauma ,” said Hawthorne . “ There is something in place to protect other children - no parent should have to wait for the demise of their child to be heard or their child ( ren ) protected .”
Hawthorne ’ s road to recovery is spurred by helping others through theirs . Her selflessness shows its colors not only in her music and advocacy , but also in her fearlessness in tackling mental health and being a guiding hand to others through their own difficult journeys .
For more information about Dina Hawthorne and her work , visit www . iammae . com .
Hawthorne credits the creative expression of singing , her relationship with God , and the motivation
Phoenix
WRITTEN BY : ELIZABETH DUCHAN
Risen
AFTER AN UNTHINKABLE TRAGEDY , MUSICIAN AND ACTIVIST DINA HAWTHORNE HAS USED HER TALENT TO BRING ATTENTION TO OFT IGNORED ISSUES - WRITTEN BY ELIZABETH DUCHAN