So just before Netroots, I get a surprise Kosmail from Sara R. Someone had suggested me for a quilt because of multiple health issues. I was stunned, and touched, and really excited!!!
Then on Saturday I ended up in the ER because my lungs decided they wanted to shut down. It had been coming for a while, each day I was breathing worse and worse and having to take more and more nebulizer treatments to keep going. Eventually the nebulizer treatment stopped working, and then I go to the hospital for more intense treatment. They let me come home (usually they keep me, but I got lucky this time), and my Quilt was here waiting for me!!!
Sophie was VERY glad to see me as well, and decided to come up and cuddle as I was checking out the quilt!!
I wanted to say thank you to all of you here. This community is unlike any other I've ever been a part of!! It's such a caring, loving community willing to reach out in word, with money when you can, with gifts, sharing and taking care of each other. The messages on the quilt are soo touching and uplifting and mean a lot to me! I had to try and avoid tears because that makes it harder to breathe, but it wasn't at all easy!!!
Reading the messages of love.
You all also sent a pootie pad for Sophie! We managed to get a pic of it before she piled all her toys on top, so you can see how beautiful it is!! If Freya lays on it, Sophie gets mad and tries to push her off. Considering that Freya weighs 40 pounds and Sophie about 8, that in itself can get quite amusing.
So I've been spending a lot of time wrapped up in my quilt, soaking up the love and healing vibrations as I recover from this COPD exacerbation, and the steroid withdrawal symptoms as I wean down off the rather large dose I was given in the ER. I read the messages every day, and they give me a huge boost. I don't get out too much. I have few friends in the real world, because it's just too hard to get out and get around. And because, having raised an autistic child I didn't have a lot of time to socialize as he could not tolerate a lot of it himself. Most of my friends are online, and live a long way away. Having this tangible quilt filled with love and warmth and as a reminder that I am loved means so much more to me than I could ever get across to you all with words. I never knew I'd touched so many people on DKos.
People who are not on DKos that I've shown the quilt to can't believe that I've received such a gift from people, most of whom I've never physically met. I've gotten remarks like "That's very beautiful!! I can't believe they did that!!" and "Wow, and I didn't think there was that much kindness in the world any more!!" So you've managed not only to raise my spirits and given your healing love to me, but you are helping others as well. People who had grown cynical and depressed with this world we live in and given them hope that communities and caring people still exist. That there is still a reason to fight for what is right and true in this country.
I have a friend I know on Mirc on one of my RPG's who is from Germany. I showed him a picture of the quilt, and explained where I got it. He'd heard of DKos but didn't really know what it was, and he was absolutely amazed with your generosity and love. He's also very very pissed off at the Healthcare system in the US and that his friends here are going through what we are.
So I wanted to say thank you! I don't have words to express how much this means to me, and my family, and my friends who didn't even know about this community or understood what it is. You have gifted me and others with hope and love, and support in the dark places. You are shining a light that glows and spreads and encourages others to do the same. So the next time we are bickering, and our discussions get a bit too heated, remember this: we are a big family. We are going to have our differences, but we can work together to spread hope and joy and love and make a real change in the world and in the lives of others. This community and everything we do here is worth it in so many ways. I love you all.
Every single message means so much to me, I can't quote or post all of them here. So I chose one that conveys my message back to you all in better words than I could ever find.
To quote my good friend Mortifyd:
"Never forget - tides change, waters rise and fall, but a steady boat and steadfast friends will get you through anything. You are always welcome on mine."
Thank you all so much for this wonderful gift. I means the world to me and it's something I will never forget and I will wrap myself in to get through the dark times and back into the light.