JB

I found out yesterday that someone I used to work with passed away. She had just celebrated her 56th birthday in Vegas with her family. She wasn't suffering from a long term illness. She planned her trip to Vegas and started feeling sick either just before her trip or during her trip. She went to hospital, was admitted and then moved to ICU in just days. Just 23 days later, she passed away after 3 weeks in a coma. The cause of death is still unknown. All we know is that she had trouble breathing and that's why she went to the hospital. It escalated from there to a collapsed lung and then one by one her organs started shutting down. My heart goes out to her family and friends. It's such a shock and we here at DAS are all reeling.

Hug your people close, be grateful for every day, be brave, pursue your dreams, pass it on.

Blaze your own fiery trail.

Friends

People often ask me how I was able to stand being in the hospital for 2 months on bedrest.
Answer: friends. Friends who visited me, brought me news, books, gossip, lotion. Friends who rubbed my feet, kept me company, made me laugh.

Friends came through for us after the boys were born, too. They donated blood for Jack and Dean. They helped Tom demo and rebuild the bathroom. They pooled their money and paid for someone to finish the tile work.

I was overwhelmed - with the generosity of our friends, the roller coaster emotions of having two preemie babies, the upside down schedule (or lack thereof), the medications, the monitors.

I'm not sure I ever properly thanked everyone. In fact, I'm pretty sure I didn't.

I can't go back in time and thank them now. Instead, I'm paying it forward.

My sister-in-law wrote on her blog today about a friend of hers whose child is fighting leukemia. You won't find a better cause to give your charity dollars to than the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Here is her friend's donation page.

If you can't afford a donation right now, then please keep her in your thoughts.