Dear Eddie's Fund Supporters:
A few days ago I told you about a boy named Danny, who used his birthday to raise money for Eddie's Fund. His mom emailed me with the story, and I'd like to share it with you. Here's what she wrote:
When we learned of Eddie's struggles over the years and the financial impact it's had on his family, we wanted to help out Eddie, his mom and little brother in some small way. Danny's 8th birthday party gave us the perfect idea... he simply asked his friends in the spirit of Thanksgiving instead of birthday gifts would they consider giving a small monetary donation to Eddie's fund instead. I have to tell you I am totally blown away by the generosity of Danny's friends' families. Upon hearing Eddie's story and about you two amazing moms [here she's speaking of Melissa and the original person who told her about Eddie's Fund, who Melissa met through online Down syndrome networks and whose own son is undergoing cancer treatments] looking to help them out, calls immediately started coming in, people asking if they could donate meals and truly rallying around Eddie, contributing much more than I had anticipated. Danny was absolutely beaming that night as he counted up the donations for Eddie ... and we were reminded how lucky we are to be surrounded by such thoughtful, supportive friends here in Hingham. As they say "it takes a village" ... I'm so glad my little village here wanted to help out Eddie's village.
Amazing. And all this from a family we've never met, a family who has never met Eddie.
Thanks for building Eddie's "village" larger and larger. We appreciate you all!
Blessings,
Melissa
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Friday, November 23, 2012
it's gift-giving time
Dear Eddie's Fund Supporters,
Happy Black Friday to you all! I don't know about your family, but ours did all we could to avoid the onslaught of shoppers this morning. In fact, we found ourselves the lone family at a tree farm this morning; we figured most everyone else was probably at the mall (and, in full disclosure here, if you were, I'm rather jealous your holiday shopping is already underway as my list-making has just begun).
And speaking of list-making: There are always people on our holiday lists that stump us, aren't there? The boss at work. The colleague. The in-law. The something-conscious person you're pretty sure you would offend by buying not-local-enough, or not-organic-enough, or...
I've found myself, year after year, turning more and more to donations for people on my list. Donating in someone's name is a really beautiful way for me to express to someone that they were not forgotten at holiday time, and that their kindness to me is being "paid forward" in some way in the world.
This holiday season, I hope you'll consider donating in someone's name to Eddie's Fund.
And if you do, we'll be happy to send you our "happy holidays" gift card via email. You can print it out and slip it into a card for that special (or confounding) someone.
If you'd like to see our gift card, you can view it online at: http://bit.ly/10HK2dd
A donation of $30 or more from now through the end of December will give you a printable, PDF copy of the gift card for you to print and give away.
Thank you for considering Eddie's Fund in your gift-giving planning this year.
Happy holidays from Eddie's family, and ours,
Melissa
Thursday, November 22, 2012
just one boy with a big, big heart
I have an amazing story to share with you.
Over the last week and half or so Eddie's Fund began receiving donations from people I didn't know. They had one thing in common: They all live in Hingham, MA.
Here's the thing: I only know one person who lives in Hingham who knows of Eddie's Fund. Maybe two months ago a woman I hadn't even met (but to whom I'm connected through our Down syndrome networks) saw Eddie and Kori in Jimmy Fund (her own son is going through chemo), recognized them from my Facebook posts about Eddie, contacted me for their address, and did something really kind for them.
Amazing. Especially because her family is going through their own cancer awfulness.
Apparently, this person (I tell Kori it's her personal angel, as Kori still to this day has not met her) told her friends about Eddie's fund and about our little website here. And apparently (if someone wants to fill me in on this story, I'd love to hear it) one of those friends has a son. And the son had a birthday (I think it may even be today), and was turning 10 (I think?), and asked all his friends NOT to give him gifts.
Instead, he asked, would they donate to this boy Eddie he had heard about?
And so, for about 2 weeks, Eddie's Fund has been receiving donations from about a dozen families or so. And they have given as they could. And they have been so very generous.
In fact, as of today, this boy's birthday idea has raised $925 for Eddie's Fund.
Managing Eddie's Fund is a tricky thing. On the one hand, I really want to pay the family car off as soon as we can. On the other, if we send in extra money for the car, but then have a month when there's not enough in the Fund to make the usual payment, we put Eddie's family in a really hard spot.
So mostly, we've been making the usual car payments lately.
But I want to tell our new Hingham friends, and our new friend Danny, that ALL of the money you guys have raised is going to the principal of that car. Through you, we are going to cut MONTHS and MONTHS off of that car loan. You are literally making it possible for Kori to do what she does as a single mom--to be with Eddie in Boston and to go back and forth each day to be with her other son at home, too. Thank you, thank you for that.
And to our new friend--and Eddie's Fund Hero--Danny: May you have the best birthday ever. You have a huge heart for a not-so-old guy. Happy birthday to a boy we think personifies all the kindness and goodness Eddie's Fund hopes to represent in this world. Happy birthday, and thank you.
Over the last week and half or so Eddie's Fund began receiving donations from people I didn't know. They had one thing in common: They all live in Hingham, MA.
Here's the thing: I only know one person who lives in Hingham who knows of Eddie's Fund. Maybe two months ago a woman I hadn't even met (but to whom I'm connected through our Down syndrome networks) saw Eddie and Kori in Jimmy Fund (her own son is going through chemo), recognized them from my Facebook posts about Eddie, contacted me for their address, and did something really kind for them.
Amazing. Especially because her family is going through their own cancer awfulness.
Apparently, this person (I tell Kori it's her personal angel, as Kori still to this day has not met her) told her friends about Eddie's fund and about our little website here. And apparently (if someone wants to fill me in on this story, I'd love to hear it) one of those friends has a son. And the son had a birthday (I think it may even be today), and was turning 10 (I think?), and asked all his friends NOT to give him gifts.
Instead, he asked, would they donate to this boy Eddie he had heard about?
And so, for about 2 weeks, Eddie's Fund has been receiving donations from about a dozen families or so. And they have given as they could. And they have been so very generous.
In fact, as of today, this boy's birthday idea has raised $925 for Eddie's Fund.
Managing Eddie's Fund is a tricky thing. On the one hand, I really want to pay the family car off as soon as we can. On the other, if we send in extra money for the car, but then have a month when there's not enough in the Fund to make the usual payment, we put Eddie's family in a really hard spot.
So mostly, we've been making the usual car payments lately.
But I want to tell our new Hingham friends, and our new friend Danny, that ALL of the money you guys have raised is going to the principal of that car. Through you, we are going to cut MONTHS and MONTHS off of that car loan. You are literally making it possible for Kori to do what she does as a single mom--to be with Eddie in Boston and to go back and forth each day to be with her other son at home, too. Thank you, thank you for that.
And to our new friend--and Eddie's Fund Hero--Danny: May you have the best birthday ever. You have a huge heart for a not-so-old guy. Happy birthday to a boy we think personifies all the kindness and goodness Eddie's Fund hopes to represent in this world. Happy birthday, and thank you.
on gratitude
Happy Thanksgiving, Eddie's Fund friends.
The large sign on Eddie's door this morning read: "When do I go home?" Another, again in his handwriting, hangs in his room: "You try living here for a month." The picture he's drawn shows a boy in a jail cell.
This is how my Thanksgiving began today; Eddie in his own words confronting me--and all who come to doctor him in the ICU--with the reality of his situation. The suffering. The heartache. The pain. The awful waiting for a life that does not yet come.
After reading that first sign, I had to collect myself before knocking on the sliding glass door of his room; I know that Kori is absolute that people do not cry in front of Eddie. I stood for a moment, willing the tears to go away. She's right. Eddie deserves joy. The energy I bring with me into that place should be positive, and hopeful, and life-giving. So I waited for the grief to pass, and knocked.
We visited together, the three of us, for nearly 2 hours. The mood there was upbeat, and bright, and light. Eddie is, as you can see here, in rough shape. He's unable to speak. But for all the suffering (Kori told me of the awful day they had yesterday, as doctors poked Eddie over and over in vain attempts to find his port), there was palpable Love in that room. And I could see--as I sat with Kori and Eddie--that the Love was breathing life into them, even as the ventilator clicks away. Kori suctioned his tracheotomy so many times I lost count; she was constantly at his side, scratching his itchy skin, adjusting leads, suctioning, pushing buttons, administering medications. I helped when I could--surely one of the benefits of being so often in the hospital is this, that I am not intimidated by the beeps and the machines and the wires, and know my way around them a bit. But mostly I watched, and talked with them, and cheered them on in any way I could, with words, and a book to read, and hugs, and cards, and high-fives. And a picture Moriah had colored that I brought for Eddie. That got a smile.
What do you do when the suffering is so large, so awful, that it threatens to destroy us all, leaving us scrambling for meaning, and some semblance of control, and even a reason to live?
If I were to ask Kori this question, I know what she would tell me. Gratitude. She is, honestly, one of the most grateful people I've ever met in my life. If Eddie's not breathing well, she's likely to say she's grateful for the vent. If Eddie's itchy, she's likely to be grateful for the nurse who brings Benadryl. If she has to wait in line to take a shower in a whole other part of the hospital (which she does), she talks about how grateful it makes her for her very own shower at home. If they are in the hospital on yet another holiday (as they are today), she's grateful that someone is bringing a turkey dinner to her house. She is absolutely resolute in her gratitude.
I used to think this sort of gratitude was pithy. I mean, really?! How can a person faced with so much awfulness be so positive? But then you reach a new low, and you realize: It's what you have. It's the only choice you have. Life is not going to necessarily go the way you want. The future is really, really unclear. What can you do today about it? Give thanks anyway. Choose kindness. Summon God's energy and live in a room in the ICU with peace and joy.
Kori was effusive in her thanks today--for my visit, sure, but for all of you. For all you've done. For the funds you've raised and donated. For the meals feeding Marshall, meals she's often bringing as leftovers to the hospital. For gift cards you've sent, letters you've mailed. As she puts it, she doesn't know what she would do without Eddie's Fund. She told me that again today.
But here's what I want to say to Kori, who will surely read these words soon: We don't know what we'd do without you. You are lighting a path for all of us. And today, even with all the burdens we each carry, all the forms of craziness with which we all contend, we learn from you, and we choose to give thanks. You are teaching us that. You are a light showing us the way to Love.
Happy Thanksgiving to one of my favorite families, ever. I love you guys more than I can possibly say and am so grateful for time with you both this morning.
Melissa
The large sign on Eddie's door this morning read: "When do I go home?" Another, again in his handwriting, hangs in his room: "You try living here for a month." The picture he's drawn shows a boy in a jail cell.
This is how my Thanksgiving began today; Eddie in his own words confronting me--and all who come to doctor him in the ICU--with the reality of his situation. The suffering. The heartache. The pain. The awful waiting for a life that does not yet come.
After reading that first sign, I had to collect myself before knocking on the sliding glass door of his room; I know that Kori is absolute that people do not cry in front of Eddie. I stood for a moment, willing the tears to go away. She's right. Eddie deserves joy. The energy I bring with me into that place should be positive, and hopeful, and life-giving. So I waited for the grief to pass, and knocked.
We visited together, the three of us, for nearly 2 hours. The mood there was upbeat, and bright, and light. Eddie is, as you can see here, in rough shape. He's unable to speak. But for all the suffering (Kori told me of the awful day they had yesterday, as doctors poked Eddie over and over in vain attempts to find his port), there was palpable Love in that room. And I could see--as I sat with Kori and Eddie--that the Love was breathing life into them, even as the ventilator clicks away. Kori suctioned his tracheotomy so many times I lost count; she was constantly at his side, scratching his itchy skin, adjusting leads, suctioning, pushing buttons, administering medications. I helped when I could--surely one of the benefits of being so often in the hospital is this, that I am not intimidated by the beeps and the machines and the wires, and know my way around them a bit. But mostly I watched, and talked with them, and cheered them on in any way I could, with words, and a book to read, and hugs, and cards, and high-fives. And a picture Moriah had colored that I brought for Eddie. That got a smile.
What do you do when the suffering is so large, so awful, that it threatens to destroy us all, leaving us scrambling for meaning, and some semblance of control, and even a reason to live?
If I were to ask Kori this question, I know what she would tell me. Gratitude. She is, honestly, one of the most grateful people I've ever met in my life. If Eddie's not breathing well, she's likely to say she's grateful for the vent. If Eddie's itchy, she's likely to be grateful for the nurse who brings Benadryl. If she has to wait in line to take a shower in a whole other part of the hospital (which she does), she talks about how grateful it makes her for her very own shower at home. If they are in the hospital on yet another holiday (as they are today), she's grateful that someone is bringing a turkey dinner to her house. She is absolutely resolute in her gratitude.
I used to think this sort of gratitude was pithy. I mean, really?! How can a person faced with so much awfulness be so positive? But then you reach a new low, and you realize: It's what you have. It's the only choice you have. Life is not going to necessarily go the way you want. The future is really, really unclear. What can you do today about it? Give thanks anyway. Choose kindness. Summon God's energy and live in a room in the ICU with peace and joy.
Kori was effusive in her thanks today--for my visit, sure, but for all of you. For all you've done. For the funds you've raised and donated. For the meals feeding Marshall, meals she's often bringing as leftovers to the hospital. For gift cards you've sent, letters you've mailed. As she puts it, she doesn't know what she would do without Eddie's Fund. She told me that again today.
But here's what I want to say to Kori, who will surely read these words soon: We don't know what we'd do without you. You are lighting a path for all of us. And today, even with all the burdens we each carry, all the forms of craziness with which we all contend, we learn from you, and we choose to give thanks. You are teaching us that. You are a light showing us the way to Love.
Happy Thanksgiving to one of my favorite families, ever. I love you guys more than I can possibly say and am so grateful for time with you both this morning.
Melissa
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
THANK YOU!!!!!
For all of you that don't know me, I'm Eddie's mom! I'm glad I've finally got the time and opportunity to personally thank everyone for all your prayers, donations, and well wishes. I would like to express how touched I am by the outpouring of support and generosity of so many. Thank you to those who have donated directly to Eddie's Fund and have sent meals to our home.
Your donations have certainly helped ease the costs associated with Eddie's many lengthy hospitalization stays in many ways (car payments, utility bills, rent, ect) and the meals have been wonderful and a huge help especially where I have been commuting back and forth between home and the hospital so that I can spend time with both of my boys. Having not to worry about meals and bills has allowed me to spend more time with each of them. Again, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your ongoing support, it means so much to me and my family.
Please continue to pray that we receive a Christmas miracle for Eddie and receive new lungs. We are currently at the top of the list waiting to receive a double lung transplant. During this holiday season we could certainly use the donations to Eddie's fund. 100% of the funds go directly to help our family! May everyone have a happy and healthy holiday season.
Love to all
Kori (Eddie's mom)
Your donations have certainly helped ease the costs associated with Eddie's many lengthy hospitalization stays in many ways (car payments, utility bills, rent, ect) and the meals have been wonderful and a huge help especially where I have been commuting back and forth between home and the hospital so that I can spend time with both of my boys. Having not to worry about meals and bills has allowed me to spend more time with each of them. Again, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your ongoing support, it means so much to me and my family.
Please continue to pray that we receive a Christmas miracle for Eddie and receive new lungs. We are currently at the top of the list waiting to receive a double lung transplant. During this holiday season we could certainly use the donations to Eddie's fund. 100% of the funds go directly to help our family! May everyone have a happy and healthy holiday season.
Love to all
Kori (Eddie's mom)
Saturday, November 10, 2012
pizza-gifts
Dear Friends,
Since we began our online Help Calendar, Eddie's family have had meals delivered to their home every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. You all really are amazing!
This past Wednesday, Mandee's Pizza was at the door with a pizza Eddie's grandfather had not ordered. At first, he didn't understand that the pizza really was for them; when he realized another one of you good souls had sent it their way, Eddie's brother Marshall said: "See, Papa, I told you! I told you!" When Kori shared this story with me, it struck me how Marshall's experience in these last two weeks is to EXPECT goodies to appear at his door. You have created this sense of expectation, and I'm not sure there is anything more beautiful than that--to teach a child surrounded by so much suffering to expect good people to care, to count on grace, to be confident that Love will nourish.
(And check out how adorable he is, above; Eddie's grandpa took this photo and asked Kori to text it to me as a thank you to us all).
Thank you, friends! Your goodness goes on and on. When folks suffer, we who stand by have opportunity to shower grace and blessing into their lives, to bear witness to the pain, and to light the way to hope, provision, and love. You have done that and I'm so very grateful.
(If you'd like to sign up to bring a meal, or have a meal delivered, please visit our Help Calendar at https://www.lotsahelpinghands.com/c/664128/ and click on "Join This Community").
Thanking God today for all your goodness in the midst of so much heartache.
Much love,
Melissa
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
meals for Eddie's family--no matter where you live
Eddie's mom, Kori, has been so grateful for the meals we've delivered so far to her dad and her other son. I'm especially grateful to you; Kori is wearing herself out going back and forth each day from Eddie's side to her son in Salem, trying to spread herself out between her two boys as much as she can. So I'm so thankful for the ways you've stepped in to bring practical, needed help three days a week to their home.
If you are not in Salem but would like to be a part of our meal-delivery efforts, I've had a brainstorm: What about if you called a local establishment on a particular night (you can sign up for this evening on our online calendar by using the link below) and have it delivered to them? If you do this, please do tell the food delivery folks to leave the food if no one answers (it can be left at the front door). And, don't forget to pay the tip ahead of time when you place your order. Local sub shops in Salem and Lynn are ideal.
Use this link if you'd like to join us: https://www.lotsahelpinghands.com/c/664128/
Once you're there, click the "Join this Community" link and fill out the request form. Because this is a private community, please be sure to let me and my friend Rebekah (who is helping me manage the site) know how we know you, so that we can ensure that Eddie's home information is shared only among friends. Once you're approved, you'll receive an email with your approval notification and an invite to sign in to the community.
Once you're in, please use our Help Calendar to choose a date for bringing or delivering a meal to Salem. And if you can, tell us what you're bringing/having delivered so we can all do our best to give them some variety along the way. Kori's dad and son are easy--they eat everything and have no dietary restrictions.
For now, we've added meal opportunities for Monday, Wednesday, and Friday evenings. If we can fill these, we can add others. Thank you, friends, for loving on Eddie and his family with us. We appreciate you more than we can say.
If you are not in Salem but would like to be a part of our meal-delivery efforts, I've had a brainstorm: What about if you called a local establishment on a particular night (you can sign up for this evening on our online calendar by using the link below) and have it delivered to them? If you do this, please do tell the food delivery folks to leave the food if no one answers (it can be left at the front door). And, don't forget to pay the tip ahead of time when you place your order. Local sub shops in Salem and Lynn are ideal.
Use this link if you'd like to join us: https://www.lotsahelpinghands.com/c/664128/
Once you're there, click the "Join this Community" link and fill out the request form. Because this is a private community, please be sure to let me and my friend Rebekah (who is helping me manage the site) know how we know you, so that we can ensure that Eddie's home information is shared only among friends. Once you're approved, you'll receive an email with your approval notification and an invite to sign in to the community.
Once you're in, please use our Help Calendar to choose a date for bringing or delivering a meal to Salem. And if you can, tell us what you're bringing/having delivered so we can all do our best to give them some variety along the way. Kori's dad and son are easy--they eat everything and have no dietary restrictions.
For now, we've added meal opportunities for Monday, Wednesday, and Friday evenings. If we can fill these, we can add others. Thank you, friends, for loving on Eddie and his family with us. We appreciate you more than we can say.
Thursday, November 1, 2012
a hard week
Dear Friends,
Thank you so much for your continued prayers for Eddie. He's had a very rough week; yesterday he had a tracheostomy to aid him with his breathing. As you can imagine, this step has taken quite a toll on Eddie's body and is weighing heavily on his family.
For the next week or so, Eddie will be sedated to give the trach time to heal. He then has a long road ahead as he re-learns to talk, and waits and hopes for a double lung transplant.
I've been so touched by the support so many of you are offering. Practically, Eddie's grandpa could use our help. He's watching Eddie's younger brother and they could use a few home-cooked meals delivered to their house each week. We've set up an online website for this purpose. If you are interested in bringing a meal to Eddie's family in the coming month, please visit this website.
Use this link: https://www.lotsahelpinghands.com/c/664128/
Once you've there, click the "Join this Community" link and fill out the request form. Because this is a private community, please be sure to let me know how I know you (or how you know Eddie), so that we can ensure that Eddie's home information is shared only among friends. Once you're approved, you'll be receive an email with your approval notification and inviting you to sign in to the community.
Once you're in, please use our Help Calendar to choose a date for bringing a meal to Salem. And if you can, tell us what you're bringing so we can all do our best to give them some variety along the way. They're easy--they eat everything and have no dietary restrictions.
For now, we've added meal opportunities for Monday, Wednesday, and Friday evenings. If we can fill these, we can add others. Thank you, friends! I dropped off a meal there yesterday and was just so happy to "do" something in what has been such a hard week for them all.
Thank you for bringing hope and help to Eddie with us!
Love,
Melissa
Thank you so much for your continued prayers for Eddie. He's had a very rough week; yesterday he had a tracheostomy to aid him with his breathing. As you can imagine, this step has taken quite a toll on Eddie's body and is weighing heavily on his family.
For the next week or so, Eddie will be sedated to give the trach time to heal. He then has a long road ahead as he re-learns to talk, and waits and hopes for a double lung transplant.
I've been so touched by the support so many of you are offering. Practically, Eddie's grandpa could use our help. He's watching Eddie's younger brother and they could use a few home-cooked meals delivered to their house each week. We've set up an online website for this purpose. If you are interested in bringing a meal to Eddie's family in the coming month, please visit this website.
Use this link: https://www.lotsahelpinghands.com/c/664128/
Once you've there, click the "Join this Community" link and fill out the request form. Because this is a private community, please be sure to let me know how I know you (or how you know Eddie), so that we can ensure that Eddie's home information is shared only among friends. Once you're approved, you'll be receive an email with your approval notification and inviting you to sign in to the community.
Once you're in, please use our Help Calendar to choose a date for bringing a meal to Salem. And if you can, tell us what you're bringing so we can all do our best to give them some variety along the way. They're easy--they eat everything and have no dietary restrictions.
For now, we've added meal opportunities for Monday, Wednesday, and Friday evenings. If we can fill these, we can add others. Thank you, friends! I dropped off a meal there yesterday and was just so happy to "do" something in what has been such a hard week for them all.
Thank you for bringing hope and help to Eddie with us!
Love,
Melissa
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