SNAP OUT OF IT!
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
24 Responses “SNAP OUT OF IT!”
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[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Kelly Brewer, bernthis. bernthis said: Anissa: this is for you: http://bernthis.com/wordpress/?p=429 [...]
This scares the heck out of me.
My worst nightmare…and I just hope and pray that everything turns out okay.
I’m always amazed by how the internet gets together and helps out a fellow blogger. Best wishes and prayers go out to Anissa and her family.
Strokes scare the hell out of me. My grandma had one last year and our family has definitely changed. She’s part of the reason why I’ve started taking better care of my health. Like you said in your post I want to be able to be there for my family when I get older.
Also, I like this wordpress gig. I couldn’t follow you on blogger but I’m now able to leave comments on my phone.
She’s in my thoughts and prayers. God speed.
My mother has had a stroke and it’s just no fun… Thanks for letting me know about Anissa – I’ll be sending her good wishes tonight.
Wishing her well.
We’re all guilty of taking so much for granted every day.
I love this post. My thoughts and prayers are with Anissa.
Dude. This is an awesome post. And I have been thinking this kind of stuff ever since I heard the news.
It’s simply shocking and overwhelming and yes, health is everything. It really really is.
Well said Jessica. Just read about Anissa today and praying for her and her family.
Um, we pretty much wrote the same blog post. This whole thing has me appreciated everything I have right now.
A good reminder.
I’m a little late to the party, but I have a suggestion: You can store your dress at your mother’s house in the hopes that it would one day be worn by a daughter or daughter-in-law and then your mother can accidentally burn the house to the ground. Just a thought – this worked for me.
Will keep her in my prayers. Thank you for reminding us of the important stuff.
I didn’t know about her story until I saw my twitter stream light up yesterday…my thoughts and prayers go out to her and her family.
Amen, lady. You are so right. And funny, too. It should also remind us to spend time with people we like…let’s “do” lunch, my friend. And prayers for Anissa.
Beautifully said, Jessica. Love you girl.
My heart and prayers go out to Anissa and her family. Excellent post!
I read about Anissa on another blog. I hope she recovers!
Yes, we bloggers try to be funny 24/7 because no one wants to read anything that is sad on the Internet. But so much is NOT funny. Good you acknowledge it, Jessica. We forget how vulnerable we are till a shot grazes by us. I know another young women dying of cancer. None of us has to look far to realize how blessed we are in this moment. Sending prayers for Anissa. Nice to let the blogasphere be used for something more important than one-liners.
Thanks for the post on Anissa. I only know her through twitter but have been deeply moved by her story — prior to her stroke and, of course, even more now. Glad you reminded me about the “point” of it all. Gonna go kiss my snoozing kids.
Funny how life puts things in perspective for you, huh?
Can’t get her out of my head. I just saw her a couple of weeks ago. How can this be?
Sh*t. I didn’t know her, but am crushed regardless. My heart goes out to her family. Your post is true and should maybe pop up on my screen weekly to remind me to stop complaining and keep appreciating what I have. Too bad its always tragedy that reminds us, huh. Still, thank you for your post.
I didn’t know her prior to this, but I do pray for her and her family.