Melissa Ann Goodwin

Melissa Ann Goodwin

Thursday, March 15, 2012

Update!

It's Thursday already, and I haven't been here at my blog all week. I do have updates about my friend, Jenise, who was in the car accident, and about her dog, Laverne, who was also badly hurt. But first, I want to share that my younger sister Jessica's best friend Claudia died Tuesday night from cancer. Claudia was only 53, but she looked 30. She was funny and fun, kind and a great cook. When my dad died, Claudia showed up at Jess' house with platters of beautiful food. I feel so sad about Claudia, and for my sister - who has lost both her parents AND her best friend in the past 3 years.

Jenise has had two surgeries: The first was on her spine, where they attached two steel plates to her L1Vertebra, which had "blown out." The second one was to fix her ribs, which also involved steel plates. The doctors say that everything went well and that "in 90 days she won't even remember the accident." But that's hard to believe after seeing her for literally two seconds yesterday, when she was in so much pain. I think though, that the worst is over and recovery will begin. She's a yoga teacher, so she's fit and strong. She's still in the ICU and I expect she'll be in the hospital for another week.

We've raised more than $7000 for Jenise by selling her handmade jewelry at the yoga studio and from donations. The wonderful thing is that there is no "big check" in that total - I think the biggest check I saw was for $250. So it's many, many people giving. So many people have offered to help her in different ways. An artist has given us her greeting cards to sell, with all proceeds going to Jenise. The interior decorator next door to the studio is donating 10% of all her retail sales through April.

Laverne is getting private physical therapy down in Albuquerque. A promising sign this week is that she tried to stand and put weight on her back legs. The spinal cord trauma takes 10 days to heal they say, and that's when they will know if there is hope for Laverne to walk. We've set up a separate fund to help with expenses for Laverne's care.

Life can be so sad, but there is also such kindness and love out there. Sometimes we don't know how much, until the bad thing happens. Jenise is overwhelmed that so many people want to help her, she said she "didn't think people would help so much." It's gone a great long way to relieve her anxiety about what comes next in her life.

So that's the scoop. RVPainter and I are having a day of errands to clear our heads. We're taking boxes to ship to Elkhart  - stuff we need in the RV when we get there. And then of course to storage to put stuff in and to look for my sneakers. :-) Weather has been like spring, so later we'll take a walk downtown (since we are still personna non grata over at the cemetery) and sit in the Plaza and watch life go by.

44 comments:

  1. Such mixed news. Condolences for your sister's friend, and relief for your friend. You must be exhausted with all the ups and downs that are happening around you at the moment. But you do seem like a huge source of strength and comfort. I'm thinking of you.

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    1. Annalisa, thanks. SOmetimes I wish we didn't always have to have the Yin and the Yang - it would be nice to have a long stretch of uninterrupted fun and lightness! Thanks for the kind words.

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  2. I'm sending, via express delivery, all my healing thoughts for your friend and her dog. As well, I'm wishing you a smooth trip to pick up your RV...which will whisk you off to adventure!!

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    1. Thanks dear friend - much appreciated. And thank you for the good wishes about our travels. I am hopeful for a long stretch of fun and freedom. xoxo

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  4. I'm so sorry to hear about this, Melissa. Sending your friend positive thoughts and healing energy across the miles. And I'm wishing your sister and her friend's family comfort and peace at this difficult time.

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    1. Thanks Laura, you're always so kind and your thoughts are appreciated.

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  5. Dear Melissa,
    Like "alienbody," I'm sending healing white light to surround your friend and her dog. I'm so glad for her and for her family that her prognosis is so good.

    As to your book. I am so enjoying it and each night when I read my three chapters, I marvel anew at your creativity. What an imagination!

    Peace.

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    1. Thanks Dee, so much. I am so pleased you like the book and I love that you are savoring it, at the same time I can't wait for all my surprises to be revealed to you!

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  6. Anonymous3/15/2012

    It's hard to comprehend how such sad, terrible things can exist side by side with sunlight and hope and love but they do...

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    1. I know Delores - it is, isn't it? And yet you are right, that's exactly how it is.

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  7. So sorry to hear about all the hard things in your life right now. You have the right attitude with seeing how much good there is as well. Sending postive thoughts to you and your loved ones. :)

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    1. Katie, thank you so much for those kind words :)

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  8. Very inspiring news Melissa. Your friend is very lucky to have all this love and support around her, and I really think that in the long run, that is what helps. It's wonderful just sitting and watching life pass by sometimes isn't it?

    Megan @ Storybook Love Affair

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    1. Megan, checking out is really healthy! In a way, we will be "checking out" of the normal way of life for a while. I like being rooted, but I look forward to just enjoying the best of what places have to offer, without being attached too. And to spending more time in the healing power of nature, and by that I mean with my toes in the sand and looking at the ocean!! :-)xo

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  9. I am just amazed at what surgeons are able to do nowdays. Just from what you told us about the accident, it'a a miracle that Jenise and Laverne both lived! I will be sending something to you, for both of them! Oh..I bet I don't have your current address, Melissa! Please e-mail it to me, ok? And I'm so very sory to hear of your sister's best friend's death. I haven't had to deal with anything like that yet, and I hope I won't for MANY years.

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    1. I hope you don't have to either, Becky! She was so young and beautiful and nice. Heartbreaking. And yes, Jenise and Laverne were both very lucky, plus you're right, what they can do now is amazing. I'll email you my address. xoxo.

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  10. My prayers and thoughts are with you, your family and friends.

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    1. Thanks so much Kelley, it means a lot :)

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  11. That is good news about Jenise and Laverne. I will continue to keep them in my thoughts. I'm so sorry about your sister's best friend. That must have been very hard for her.

    So when does the great RV journey begin? I bet you're getting excited. I know I would be. =O)

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    1. Hi Michelle, thanks for the kind words. We leave for Elkhart on 4/4 so it is just around the corner now. I'm ready!

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  12. Such a mixture. I am so sorry about your sister's friend, and my heart goes out to your sister.
    The news about Jenise and Laverne and the support they are getting is much better. As a consequence my eyes leaked from the first paragraph to the final paragraph.

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    1. Oh those leaky eyes :-) Thanks my friend.

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  13. How amazing you've all managed to raise such a huge amount. My thoughts go out to your sister and your friend :)

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    1. HI Anna, - yes, we are cookin' with gas! I think we'll raise more than $10,000. Thanks, I feel so sad about Claudia.

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  14. So sorry about your friend and her dog. I agree it's amazing how generous people can be in a true time of need.

    Also sorry about your sister's friend. Your sister will make it through. I lost my mother and both grandmothers several years ago - all within a six-month span. It's tough, but we survive.

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    1. Hi Carol - I know, we do. And I know, she will. I remember when my grandmother and my uncle died within a month of each other. It was my dad's mom, and my uncle was dad's best friend. So he lost his mom and his best friend at the same time. I remember him crying when Uncle Dick died, and I can picture it to this day.

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  15. It's lovely when friends (and acquaintances) pull together like that.

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  16. Hi Melissa - my IE plug in (into Chrome) seems to work and I can comment here again!

    I've been 'watching' the blog posts come and go - and time is approaching for the roll out - so much going on.

    Thanks for the updates - early deaths and unfortunate accidents - always so difficult to deal with .. My thoughts are with the families and friends ... and for Jenise an easy and happy outcome in due course ...

    Cheers to you both .. Hilary

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    1. Yay! You're back! Thanks for the supportive words and thoughts. Jenise will heal in time, but for now it's a rough go. Day by day, and a reminder to live life to the fullest!

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  17. I am so sorry for your friend. Life is sad. I'm stopping by to say hello and wishing you a happy St. Pat's day! sandie

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    1. Thanks so much. Life can be sad, so we have to enjoy the happy times!

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  18. I'm glad your friend is surrounded by such love during her recovery, and my heart goes out to her and to you and to your sister. I'm thinking of you all. And wishing you all a safe healing.

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  19. Hi Melissa, just stopping by to tag you :)

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  20. Oh my goodness!! :-( I am so so so sorry to hear about Jenise and her dog Laverne! Oh dear!
    Glad they are both ok and big hugs to all these wonderful people who donated and for you too Melissa for being such an amazing friend!

    I am also extremely sorry to hear about Claudia. 53 is much too young! Claudia sounds like a most extraordinary person - kind and beautiful. My deepest condolences to her family and loved ones.

    Take care
    x

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    1. Thanks dear, all the kind words help a lot.

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  21. Lots of good people out there.

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  22. Anonymous3/18/2012

    Sorry to hear of your friend. And props to you for raising all that money. This world needs more people like you!

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    1. Thanks Stephen, it's just what I can do - my way of trying to "make it all better"! Wish I could win the lottery!

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  23. It's true, you don't always get to experience the best of people until the worst of times. I'm sorry to hear you and yours have been going through so much lately.

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