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Yet More Evidence That People Are Awesome.

By on July 15, 2010 in Life

Gracie 10 days after the tumor was removed

What I have experienced in the last 15 days since my daughter was diagnosed with a brain tumor has proven yet again how blessed I am to be friends with the most generous, smart, caring, and supportive people on this planet.

Thank you to Allison, Ori, Ken, Carla, Sarah, Alison, Scott, and Dave for being in my inner circle, people to whom I could send the most shocking text ever (“gracie has a brain tumor”) in those first few dark hours, people who all immediately found the best ways they could support me – via f2f, texts, phone calls, messages, tweets, blog posts, taking stuff over, and everything else you all did that I don’t even know about. You are all amazing.

Thank you to Allison Nazarian for being the first person I told, who called me immediately as I was still sitting in shock in the doctor’s office, who talked to me on the phone for the one hour drive up to the UCSF children’s hospital. Thank you for being on constant text alert, checking on me, crying when I couldn’t, reminding me to drink water, worrying for me, and every other way you support me every day.

Thank you to Alison Kramer for dropping her life (with 3 kids & her own business) to fly from Toronto to be with me, face to face, in San Francisco for a week. When she texted me the day after the diagnosis asking if it was okay if she came, it was so hard for me to say yes, I felt so uncomfortable accepting such a generous gift of time and support … but I really did need her. Not only did Alison bring Starbucks & breakfast for me every day, and regular snacks for me and Gracie … Alison also brought peace. Alison was a playmate for Gracie, and a friend for me who was 100% on my side. Alison listened to the hospital talk, and also made sure I got out & had fun conversations about anything *but* the hospital. You were an angel for me, Alison.

Thank you to Ken Moorhead for the calls and texts, for immediately taking over my business without asking me (since he knows I would have said no) and for quickly writing a blog post to let everyone know the short version of why I was MIA, even before I could think. Thanks to Ken and Carla Young for doing the heavy lifting of taking over my blog, email, facebook and twitter until I was able to handle it again. Thanks to Carla for being practical and doing research and doing thinking when I couldn’t and for sending an hilarious present to the hospital. Thank you to Ken, Carla, Allison Nazarian, Sarah Robinson, and Johnny B. Truant for volunteering to write guest blog posts to keep ElizabethPW.com online & the traffic flowing. You all made it easy for me to drop everything to just take care of me & Gracie.

Thank you to Ori Bengal for always being available for a phone call, whether to just talk, to listen to my insanity or to distract me with tales of his. Thanks to Scott Stratten for lending me Alison for the week :) , for keeping tabs on what was going on with Gracie, for the video and the texts & tweets & posts on FB. Thanks to Sarah Robinson for keeping tabs on me & supporting me & worrying for me, even as her own life is crazy/awesome. Thank you to Dave for checking on me, grounding me, always getting me, and reminding me that I’m more than a mom with a kid in a hospital. Thank you to Britt for bringing me desperately needed Starbucks, snacks & toiletries & distractions, and tons of toys and craft stuff for Gracie.

And … thank you to all of you.

Thank you for your emails, texts, tweets, @ replies, DMs, phone calls, facebook posts, facebook comments & likes, blog posts, and blog comments. Thank you for your thoughts, prayers, wishes, energy work, and rituals.

I really don’t know what I have done to deserve having all of you in my life.

I hope someday that I am able to return some of the generosity, caring, and support that you all have unconditionally shown to me and Gracie.

Thank you, and I love you.

#thatisall

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  • http://www.danegan.com Dan Egan

    The support you received *has* to be a reflection of the people you are. So glad things are looking up. This out pouring of love and support for you and your family has literally restored my faith in humanity. There really are great, great, great people out there.

    • http://www.CashAndJoy.com Catherine Caine

      Yes! You invite awesome caring people, so that’s who comes to you. And lo! they are awesome and caring when Bad Things happen.

      Love to you all…

    • http://peggiearvidson.com Peggie

      ditto

  • JackiYo

    “I really don’t know what I have done to deserve having all of you in my life.”

    You’ve been you, and you let us in. #thatisall

  • Elizabeth

    Not all just yet, EPW … the love keeps coming and swirling around! This momma and grandma knows! :)

  • http://www.flirtygrrl.com Lori Paquette

    “I really don’t know what I have done to deserve having all of you in my life.” <– You are YOU, you share yourself with us and we love you.

    "I hope someday that I am able to return some of the generosity, caring, and support that you all have unconditionally shown to me and Gracie" <— You already do, every day you show up and share your brilliance (and Gracie's) with us. You have no idea what you've done for me … I've grown so much since you invited me to write a guest post.

    I wish I could have done more. I'm thrilled that you and Gracie are home and this is behind you. You have amazing friends.

    xoxo, Lori

  • http://fatlossfilm.com Lily

    How blessed you are to have beautiful, smart little Gracie and your gorgeous friends, Elizabeth.

    My thoughts and prayers are with you both.

    Lily

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  • meganmatthieson

    E- I can imagine how hard that was to say yes to Allison. Next to impossible to fall into someone’s arms. As much as it was a gift to you- I’m willing to be it was just as big a gift to her as well. I need. And need to be needed too. So glad you are both home.

  • JoyFull_deb

    You receive what YOU give out on a continual basis to ALL of us, dear heart. Soooo happy to see the pic of Gracie w/ her Starbucks….She is awesometastic just like her MOM.
    (((HUGS))) for both of YOU….

  • jrozedc

    Wow, you have been through a lot the last 2 weeks, crazy journey being a mommy. I will keep you and Gracie in prayer. What is coming to you is a reflection of how YOU show up in the world and what you give to others.

  • brittmichaelian

    Elizabeth, you are an amazing mom and an amazing person and the fact that everyone supported you the way they did speaks volumes about the person you are. We are all here for you and we always will be, sweetie. No matter what you are facing – good, bad, ugly, whatever – we are here. You have been through so much over the past few weeks and you are such an inspiration to all of us. To say that you and Gracie are AWESOMETASTIC in this instance feels like somewhat of an understatement.

    “The human spirit is stronger than anything that can happen to it.” ~C.C. Scott

    You are loved, mama. xoxo.

  • http://CouchSurfingOri.com/ Couchsurfing Ori

    ’cause distracting lame people who aren’t as awesometastic as you isn’t fun :) That’s what true friends are for- I don’t question for 1 second that if I actually broke my own rule of being indestructible, you’d be there in a heartbeat. Heck, we’ve both been there for each other through heaps of stuff…. what’s one more major event?

  • http://www.5minutesformom.com/ Susan (5 Minutes For Mom)

    I am so happy to hear you have such amazing and wonderful friends… and as everyone says it’s because you are such a good person and your relationships reflect that.

  • http://www.danegan.com Dan Egan

    The support you received *has* to be a reflection of the people you are. So glad things are looking up. This out pouring of love and support for you and your family has literally restored my faith in humanity. There really are great, great, great people out there.

  • JackiYo

    “I really don’t know what I have done to deserve having all of you in my life.”

    You've been you, and you let us in. #thatisall

  • Elizabeth

    Not all just yet, EPW … the love keeps coming and swirling around! This momma and grandma knows! :)

  • lipdesign

    “I really don’t know what I have done to deserve having all of you in my life.” <– You are YOU, you share yourself with us and we love you.

    “I hope someday that I am able to return some of the generosity, caring, and support that you all have unconditionally shown to me and Gracie” <— You already do, every day you show up and share your brilliance (and Gracie's) with us. You have no idea what you've done for me … I've grown so much since you invited me to write a guest post.

    I wish I could have done more. I'm thrilled that you and Gracie are home and this is behind you. You have amazing friends.

    xoxo, Lori

  • http://fatlossfilm.com Lily

    How blessed you are to have beautiful, smart little Gracie and your gorgeous friends, Elizabeth.

    My thoughts and prayers are with you both.

    Lily

  • meganmatthieson

    E- I can imagine how hard that was to say yes to Allison. Next to impossible to fall into someone's arms. As much as it was a gift to you- I'm willing to be it was just as big a gift to her as well. I need. And need to be needed too. So glad you are both home.

  • JoyFull_deb

    You receive what YOU give out on a continual basis to ALL of us, dear heart. Soooo happy to see the pic of Gracie w/ her Starbucks….She is awesometastic just like her MOM.
    (((HUGS))) for both of YOU….

  • http://www.facebook.com/san.jose.chiropractor Jennifer Rozenhart Dc

    Wow, you have been through a lot the last 2 weeks, crazy journey being a mommy. I will keep you and Gracie in prayer. What is coming to you is a reflection of how YOU show up in the world and what you give to others.

  • brittmichaelian

    Elizabeth, you are an amazing mom and an amazing person and the fact that everyone supported you the way they did speaks volumes about the person you are. We are all here for you and we always will be, sweetie. No matter what you are facing – good, bad, ugly, whatever – we are here. You have been through so much over the past few weeks and you are such an inspiration to all of us. To say that you and Gracie are AWESOMETASTIC in this instance feels like somewhat of an understatement.

    “The human spirit is stronger than anything that can happen to it.” ~C.C. Scott

    You are loved, mama. xoxo.

  • http://www.BeAwesomeOnline.com Catherine Caine

    Yes! You invite awesome caring people, so that's who comes to you. And lo! they are awesome and caring when Bad Things happen.

    Love to you all…

  • http://CouchSurfingOri.com/ Couchsurfing Ori

    'cause distracting lame people who aren't as awesometastic as you isn't fun :) That's what true friends are for- I don't question for 1 second that if I actually broke my own rule of being indestructible, you'd be there in a heartbeat. Heck, we've both been there for each other through heaps of stuff…. what's one more major event?

  • http://www.5minutesformom.com/ Susan (5 Minutes For Mom)

    I am so happy to hear you have such amazing and wonderful friends… and as everyone says it's because you are such a good person and your relationships reflect that.

  • http://twitter.com/bspargo Bobbi Spargo

    I love hearing the heartwarming stories of people loving people! There are people out there that will stand by your side when they know there is a need. Thanks for sharing your difficult journey through this. You hit a nerve for me when you said Allison cried when you couldn’t. I too, am thankful for those who have done that for me. It is such an intimate, unselfish act of love when someone exposes their heart to that degree.

  • lorilatimer

    You are such a warm and generous person, so it’s no wonder that you received the love, support and prayers that you did. People really do receive back what they give, and we all see you give each and every days. You’ve allowed all of us to have a glimpse into your life with your precious daughter for quite a while, and she is simply adorable.

    You are a shining example of what this whole crazy online community is supposed to be about – relationships and trust. Through you, many of us have formed that same thing with many people we otherwise would never have met. That’s simply awesome.

    Lots of love to you and Gracie!!

    xoxo

  • Michele M Tremblay

    Dear Elizabeth,
    You and your daughter have so touched all of us. Thank you for your openness and sharing. Thank you both for your courage and fortitude. Thank you for including all of us.
    Thank you for showing all of us how to be a parent and a protector. Gracie, thank you for showing all of us how to be brave.
    Continue on!!!!!!
    God Bless you!

  • http://lisa-unmasked.com Lisa MB

    All of us have the capacity to let love IN. Thank you E & Gracie for showing us how.

  • http://loveyourmessbook.com Allison Nazarian

    Friends are the new family. As as the-other-awesome-Alison-who-isn’t-me said, “I am just myself, and not one of you have ever asked for any different.” That’s the “trick,” I do believe. #loveyou #drinkwater #nowdrinksomemore

    • http://loveyourmessbook.com Allison Nazarian

      P.S. I remember your text and I remember calling you and I remember being on the phone for a long time, most of it I think neither of us was talking to e/o and I don’t remember an actual word that we did say.

  • Ava Diamond (@feistywoman)

    This is such a wonderful case of when hearts connect, amazing things happen. You’ve opened your heart to your community, and they’ve opened theirs to you and Grace big time. She’s an incredible kid, and I’m so glad she’s doing well!

  • Lily

    Don’t worry about repaying anything. When something happens to somebody else, they know you’ll be there! Good for you for being able to accept help from others. Some people can’t, no matter how serious the crisis.

    Have a great weekend,

    Lily

  • http://LisaAngelettieBlog.com Lisa Angelettie

    I haven’t been by your site in awhile Elizabeth so I was shocked & saddened to read about Gracie’s surgery. I’m glad to see that the surgery went well and that she appears to have bounced back so wonderfully as children do. So great to hear how folks stepped up and just got what needed to be handled done for you. I wish you and your family the best.

  • http://twitter.com/bspargo Bobbi Spargo

    I love hearing the heartwarming stories of people loving people! There are people out there that will stand by your side when they know there is a need. Thanks for sharing your difficult journey through this. You hit a nerve for me when you said Allison cried when you couldn't. I too, am thankful for those who have done that for me. It is such an intimate, unselfish act of love when someone exposes their heart to that degree.

  • lorilatimer

    You are such a warm and generous person, so it's no wonder that you received the love, support and prayers that you did. People really do receive back what they give, and we all see you give each and every days. You've allowed all of us to have a glimpse into your life with your precious daughter for quite a while, and she is simply adorable.

    You are a shining example of what this whole crazy online community is supposed to be about – relationships and trust. Through you, many of us have formed that same thing with many people we otherwise would never have met. That's simply awesome.

    Lots of love to you and Gracie!!

    xoxo

  • Michele M Tremblay

    Dear Elizabeth,
    You and your daughter have so touched all of us. Thank you for your openness and sharing. Thank you both for your courage and fortitude. Thank you for including all of us.
    Thank you for showing all of us how to be a parent and a protector. Gracie, thank you for showing all of us how to be brave.
    Continue on!!!!!!
    God Bless you!

  • http://awakenyoursoul.wordpress.com/ Peggie

    ditto

  • lisamilesbrady

    All of us have the capacity to let love IN. Thank you E & Gracie for showing us how.

  • http://allisonnazarian.com/ Allison Nazarian

    Friends are the new family. As as the-other-awesome-Alison-who-isn't-me said, “I am just myself, and not one of you have ever asked for any different.” That's the “trick,” I do believe. #loveyou #drinkwater #nowdrinksomemore

  • http://allisonnazarian.com/ Allison Nazarian

    P.S. I remember your text and I remember calling you and I remember being on the phone for a long time, most of it I think neither of us was talking to e/o and I don't remember an actual word that we did say.

  • Ava Diamond (@feistywoman)

    This is such a wonderful case of when hearts connect, amazing things happen. You've opened your heart to your community, and they've opened theirs to you and Grace big time. She's an incredible kid, and I'm so glad she's doing well!

  • Lily

    Don't worry about repaying anything. When something happens to somebody else, they know you'll be there! Good for you for being able to accept help from others. Some people can't, no matter how serious the crisis.

    Have a great weekend,

    Lily

  • lisaangelettie

    I haven't been by your site in awhile Elizabeth so I was shocked & saddened to read about Gracie's surgery. I'm glad to see that the surgery went well and that she appears to have bounced back so wonderfully as children do. So great to hear how folks stepped up and just got what needed to be handled done for you. I wish you and your family the best.

  • Stacey

    Hi Elizabeth!

    I just found out about you from Jade’s lovely list of Netsetters! And to come here and see what you have gone through with the diagnosis of your daughter’s brain tumor, surgery and recovery moved me to tears.

    I have a 5 year-old son and I can’t imagine what it was like for you to go through this (tears spill just *trying* to contemplate it!), but I’m humbled, inspired and delighted as I read your posts.

    Thank you so much for sharing. Again, I’m so glad Jade put you at the top of her list so I could find you. Take wonderful care, Stacey

  • Stacey

    Hi Elizabeth!

    I just found out about you from Jade's lovely list of Netsetters! And to come here and see what you have gone through with the diagnosis of your daughter's brain tumor, surgery and recovery moved me to tears.

    I have a 5 year-old son and I can't imagine what it was like for you to go through this (tears spill just *trying* to contemplate it!), but I'm humbled, inspired and delighted as I read your posts.

    Thank you so much for sharing. Again, I'm so glad Jade put you at the top of her list so I could find you. Take wonderful care, Stacey

  • http://www.micaminar.com/en blancastella

    Wow. Very touching to see the power of community in such a frightful moment. Glad everything is getting better for you and Gracie.

  • http://www.resurrectyourhero.com blancastella

    Wow. Very touching to see the power of community in such a frightful moment. Glad everything is getting better for you and Gracie.

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