Amazing
The response to the donation button has been overwhelming - humbling - and amazing. Thank you to all who have donated, who are thinking of donating, or who are sending good thoughts our way.
Gerry and I were discussing the other day that - like just about every family - we have been in some bad financial straits before. But we've never had such a frightening and life altering cloud looming on the horizon. During my illness 4 years ago we racked up a bunch of credit card debt - but it was with the knowledge that we'd have two reasonably healthy adults working together to pull us out of it eventually.
This time I feel like I'm leaping off of a cliff, and my parachute - my Gerry - may not be there to help me sail out of it. Your good thoughts, prayers and wishes for us give me the strength I need to face this, and give Gerry a sense that he's wandered into the most amazing community one could find. It's a terrible way to find this out, but it's a beautiful thing to know.
I feel compelled to mention - in light of the fact that many of you are helping us with the costs associated with this illness - that we are very frugal people, we are incredibly careful with our money (vacation house next week aside...) and we will make sure that any amount you have entrusted to us will be spent as intelligently and cost effectively as possible. Thank you for your love and your trust. Please know how appreciated it is, and how overwhelmed we are.
Thank you.
Annie, Gerry, Hannah & Max
Gerry and I were discussing the other day that - like just about every family - we have been in some bad financial straits before. But we've never had such a frightening and life altering cloud looming on the horizon. During my illness 4 years ago we racked up a bunch of credit card debt - but it was with the knowledge that we'd have two reasonably healthy adults working together to pull us out of it eventually.
This time I feel like I'm leaping off of a cliff, and my parachute - my Gerry - may not be there to help me sail out of it. Your good thoughts, prayers and wishes for us give me the strength I need to face this, and give Gerry a sense that he's wandered into the most amazing community one could find. It's a terrible way to find this out, but it's a beautiful thing to know.
I feel compelled to mention - in light of the fact that many of you are helping us with the costs associated with this illness - that we are very frugal people, we are incredibly careful with our money (vacation house next week aside...) and we will make sure that any amount you have entrusted to us will be spent as intelligently and cost effectively as possible. Thank you for your love and your trust. Please know how appreciated it is, and how overwhelmed we are.
Thank you.
Annie, Gerry, Hannah & Max
22 Comments:
Hi Annie:
I was so pleased to be able to donate and I am not worried how the money will be spent. Knowing that it may help give your family peace of mind is enough for me! At first I was thinking that I would never be able to make this pattern, but I have my son's Bar Mitzvah next November and maybe I will make this (if I do I will send along a photo) knowing that I would be the most glamorous in the room! Thanks for a great pattern and keep moving forward! Many cyber hugs are flowing your way.
It's not really about the pattern...although of course it is stunning! When I was a teenager, I lived on a kibbutz. The mottos I heard were "give what you can, take what you need" and "if you want to eat, you want to work..and vice versa." I still try to live according to those ideals, and you are so giving. Please take what you need!
Enjoy your vacation to the fullest and don't worry about how you spend the donation money! Have some ice cream and a long walk with Atticus and hug your family. You deserve it--and a vacation, too!
As far as I'm concerned, you can spend my donation on a hundred pounds of styrofoam.
Sometimes in trying days, you need to do something not responsible and grown-up... something that just combs out the kinks in your psyche.
Whatever you need most, do it.
XOXO
Ditto for me. You spend that money any way you need or want. We just want to help make things easier and better any way we can.
I may not have anywhere in particular to wear the pattern. (I'm going to make it corset length.) But I shall wear it anyway when I am out and look fabulous and know that it represents so much more than just a top. Who says you can't dress up to go to the grocery store?
Once upon a time, a lady wrote a letter to our local newspaper complaining that she was behind someone at the local grocery who was paying for a CAKE with food stamps and such. Well, this being the local paper, which every one reads, the lady wrote back the next week. Seems the cake was for her kid, who had cancer, and she was out of work because she was caring for said kid, and if she wanted to buy a birthday cake with the money and eat beans the rest of the month, that was her business and no one else's.
Eat cake, hon.
Annie, don't you worry about accounting to us for the way you spend the money, and don't you hesitate to let us know again any time we can help.
Donna in Georgia, whose husband has just received the news that his prostate cancer has recurred
A donation to you should be spent the way you want. A relaxing vacation with the family...that is the way to spend it. Making memories. It's only money. You are a famous knitwear designer, you'll make more. Speaking of making more..can you schedule a visit to Mosaic in Blacksburg when you go to the Stanton Va store in the fall? Hundreds of women will show up to see you and learn fro you. We would be so thrilled to have you visit. Hugs.
Thank you for reaching out to all of us who feel like we know you all very well! I wished I lived close by to help out physically.
Enjoy your vacation and we'll all be there with you in spirit!
Nancy
What about your generosity? Hmmm? I can say I've learned so much from you and we've never met! I've gained so much just from what you make available through your blog and website. I'm purchasing your pattern on payday.
I could make suggestions for the do-re-mi. Like chocolate. Or bubbles for your vacation. Do what you will. As my sort are like to say - love is the law, love under will.
Annie-Hope my donation helps a little! I wish I had more to send. Have a wonderful, peaceful vacation! I am sending good thoughts your way. By the way, I agree with the previous comment...EAT CAKE!!
Annie,
It is a blessing in our lives to read your blog everyday. We feel lucky to have you let us in to your life and want to say thank you in any way we can!
God Bless you in the days to come dear!
Marly
knitthing.blogspot.com
Annie,
I agree with all the above sentiments. You give so much of yourself, and this allows us to give back. This is the time you need now to be with your family. You needn't feel like you have to be accountable for any of it. Thank you for the gorgeous design.
Peace.
Annie,
I have not written before because I felt so badly for you, I didn't know what to say. In the face of adversity, we find out how strong we are, and who are friends are. I am a part of a great knitting community and we circle around our own.
Use the money any way you want too because only you know what you and your family need.
We are all praying for you.
Thank you, thank you for allowing us to help you. It's an honor and a blessing to help another, especially one so dear as you are to the knitting community. As I've lurked on your blog and read about your family for such a long time they, too, have become to so very dear to me (and the knitting community), too!
It's so wonderful to read that ya'll will have such a wonderful vacation spot and were able to work it out for everyone to go! I know you all will have a glorious time!
God Bless and big cyber hugs!
Becka
May you all be witness to a miracle. They can happen, and I hope with all my heart one will come your way. It's not my business how you would spend anything, but it is my business to share what I can and care very much what happens to you all.
{{Hugs and Well wishes}}
Ya know, I haven't always agreed with you, and some of your patterns just aren't in the style I enjoy. BUT NONE OF THAT MATTERS when you're facing a situation like you are. I don't have much cash to spare these days, but right now I have a little, and I send it along with my very best wishes to you and Gerry.
I'm so glad I can help in even a small way. I've posted a link to your donation on my blog, too. Not that I have anything like your readership, but there may be a few more people reached that way.
I agree, you don't need to tell me how you're spending it!
Love and Light to you and yours.
As if you would make up this story just to get money from people who admire and respect you. Puhlease! Use the money as you see fit and make no apologies..EVER!
Annie, I've been away from computerland for about ten days, and have just caught up on your recent posts. This might sound weird, but I wanted to thank you for posting so honestly about what you and your family are going through now, ups and downs and library meltdowns and all. I've been through the terminal illness thing with my own mom (when I was only a smidgen older than your kids) and now, alas, with two dear friends who are mothers to great kids. I know there are a tons of self-help books and dedicated websites for people suffering from or caring for those suffering from terminal illness, but to see you putting your experiences out there as part of your Real Life moves me deeply. People get sick; families suffer, cope, rejoice, and mourn. Pretending it doesn't happen, talking about it only in whispers--or not at all--doesn't help anyone. Your generosity in talking to all of us about this does help. Enormously.
Others have said it, but I want to put my 2 cents in too. This is not a time to be frugal. Seize the day! Go for ice cream. Do the things that give your family joy, because the moments of joy will give you all strength for the journey ahead, and memories for the rest fo your lives. Don' skimp on the things that can do that for you. NOW is really all any of us have, and we need to delight in the now.
Best wishes, many prayers for you.
Ditto, ditto, ditto!
If people choose to give freely ('cuz I didn't notice the YOU ARE FORCED TO GIVE TO ME sign) you do what you need to do. This world is a mess because there are too many conditions and too little compassion. Fuck the cake Annie...eat caviar!
I wish there was more I could do - I know that we all wish that. There isn't anything I can say that will make this journey any easier for any of you. I hope that you know that there is a huge community of knitters who love you and I hope that knowing that will bring you all some measure of peace when it is needed.
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