Yesterday, I was sitting waiting for my daughter while she was in her gymnastics class.  I was catching up on blog posts when I  read that some guy who had put up a grand total of 75 tweets, had received a book and TV deal.  Immediately, my heart sank and I began planning my pity party.  I was putting up the decorations, expecting a pretty nice size crowd, I had even hired a DJ and a special chair where I could sit in the center of everyone while they looked at me with eyes that said, “Poor you. You really have it bad.”.

Then I logged onto Twitter and no sooner had I started to plan the party then it was immediately cancelled as I read that Anissa, a fellow blogger and mother, had had a stroke.  This young woman, in the prime of her life, was suddenly lying in the ICU with a prognosis that was unclear.  As I read, tweet after tweet of women and men all over the country asking everyone to send out a prayer, mobilizing people in her area to help her husband and her children, I felt like I’d been slapped across the face.  I was Nicolas Cage and God was Cher.  If you don’t get the reference, please stop reading and go rent the movie “Moonstruck.” and in case I forget to say it later:  “You’re welcome. I knew you’d like it.”

My mother has said to me a thousand times, if you don’t have your health you have nothing and about 998 times, I would say to her, “Okay, I’m healthy but if that is all I have then what is the point?”

Well, when I learned about Anissa’s condition, I realized once again, quite abruptly, that the point is that I am around to be a mother to my child. That I can drive her places, cheer her on, play with her and worry about her instead of the other way around.  I can swim, I can eat a delicious meal, cry at a movie and laugh with my friends. I can volunteer and help make others feel better when they are frightened, get on plane and go see the world or just stay home and read a good book.

I don’t know Anissa very well but I do know this. She has been through hell and back and still keeps a smile on her face. She will take the time out of her busy day to help someone she doesn’t know very well (that would be me) to give encouragement and advice.  She is a fighter, a writer and a hell of a friend as one can see by all the people that are there praying and willing to help in any way they can.

AND

she is an inspiration to us all.

Get better Anissa. The world needs you.

xo

Jessica