Monday, September 8, 2008

giving thanks...


hello blogworld! daniela here...for this first monday entry, i first wish to thank a large handful of people who made this whole journey for the past 18 months a possibility, and a successful one, at that. it has taken the help of so many people to make this path a feasable one...i will apologize in advance if i have forgotten anyone...this journey is the sum of the efforts of many,many beings...some visible, some i'm certain of the spirit world, and others belonging to the realm of the Divine...with the lines between all three realms being fuzzy, as many of you we saw on a weekly basis clearly have hidden wings...

fran & my dad: for your limitless love, kindness, empathy & support. you have been at cause for the greatly reduced stress on all of us, especially for the kiddos. the additional miracles bestowed upon us by many others would not have had the space to show up in, had it not been for your ability to deeply empathize with us & to then step into action... because our income went from "ok" to a few dollars above "zilch", we were able to stay in our home. may your profound generosity be returned to you both in infinite ways...

bert's mom & step-dad: for faith in a tough path...for weekly journeys to b-dale..for financially making the benefit-miracle happen, even with the risk of the miracle possibly not happening...(even though it did!!!)...for your caring, sweetness...for your help with carrots, greens, washing, drying, rolling...(is it coming back to you now???xoxox)...for your infinite love, your care, and help...for a dishwasher!!!! for a food processor!!!! you made our lives easier...for the airy fairy swing, which provided beau fun while i made more juices!!! you are loved & deeply appreciated...

little peanut: for rolling with a whole heck-of-a-lot, with smiles, hugs, and sweetness. i love you sooooo much...

viv & kevin: for making it possible to have live in help when we needed it, right after bert returned from mexico. for your words of encouragement, for your late night talks with bert when he was the mad-insomniac (i could always tell when he'd talked to you because his spirits were uplifted), and for all the hassle & inconvenience that goes along with schlepping yourselves all across the country to come see us, multiple times...thankl you for getting 'in our world' on so many occasions, and really making a difference...xoxo

kiff: for all that goes along with making trips out here happen...for being the most amazing brother he could ever have...you are so loved...

buck & juliana: for your faith, support, and help...you are both 2 amazing people, and we are so blessed by having you in our lives...

sheila: for limitless motherly love, support, and sweetness...

david mcilroy: for help when we desperately needed it...thank you to you & julie...for your support even though this path seemed nuts!!

ingrid & erich hess: for your assistance when we needed it, and your deep love and prayers.

manfred odendahl: for your love & gifts which made a difference

steve & adrienne hopkins: for all of your positive support, encouragement, and generosity

chris stadlemair: for being an extraordinary human being. going to mexico and helping to save my sweeties life. thank you will never quite cut it...

jackie gartenmann: for tons of laughter at times when it felt like the boat was sinkin', fast!!! for one juice after another...for living with us & still liking us afterwards!!

kate lunde: for being nothing short of a bona fide angel...you got us through one of the hardest months during this whole journey. forever grateful to you...

maryam: for your earnest efforts and huge heart

meghan vanloon: for pulling bert through some tremendously painful moments. you were a lifesaver.

neil weinberg: for donating your lunchtime to come out to B-dale & help bert with pain management

sally ramirez-warren: for your Divine love & generosity...for your angelic voice....your radiant smile...bless you, sally

tim smith: for being a beacon of light when we came upon several crossroads...immense gratitude to you...for recommending paul bruntion's, the wisdom of the overself...for helping to make sense of it all...blessings to you...

michelle newhart: wow...hard to figure out where to begin...first, for being the cause for the success our benefit...you made that all happen...for your tremendous generosity of time every monday & thursday night, coming out here to make juices, prep veggies, and clean...for your love, friendship, and inner radiance. you are simply one of the most amazing people i have ever had the honor of knowing...thank you, michelle.

sue cosentini: for your wit, humor, love & generosity...for driving out here at 2am to keep the generator going...for being an amazing friend...for an awesome garage sale!!!! you are one unstoppable woman!!!

anke wessels: for your enthusiastic support, generosity, and authentic tears of joy when we met our goal at the benefit.

tess lawlor: for being the genuine calm in the middle of a category 5 hurricane, those first days bert came home from mexico. i'll never forget looking you in the eyes, and all you saw was my sheer terror at trying to figure out how to turn our home into a gerson factory. you joyfully and calmly created a miracle in our home...for creating the most delicious alkaline carrot cake...food of the gods. for your bags of alkaline cookies...for your all out deliciousness!!!! xoxo

john suter: for shopping every saturday for us. for donating valuable chunks of every time every weekend. for managing huge produce orders, and always having a smile at delivery time, and encouraging words. for your generous 'discounts' at reimbursement time....you were such a huge contribution...

patty & jerry; for your dependability and many, many hours of time spent here at the house washing carrots, greens and playing with beau. you are an angel...for helping plan this next benefit!! jerry, for all your driving to & from sayre...and for all your good "VIBES"...xoxoxo you are both huge heros to us.

sparx & jen: for support, love, and friendship. your talks with bert really pulled him thru some tough, dark moments. for your generous contributions...for our kitchen table...for bert's recliner....multiple rides to sayre, coming from auburn...visits...you are both just amazing...

ann harch: for generosity, support, supplements, and love...for hour long talks about health, reiki, macro, and oodles of laughter. you are such a kind spirit....a blessing to be friends with you.

carol crossley: for your belief in our path, for your generosity, and love, which could be felt very strongly here, despite an ocean between us!!! for EFT!!!!!!!!!! we love you...

don blazely: for such thoughtfulness regarding our family, and the CCR tribute show. i'll never forget the day you called outta nowhere...you were truly an answer to my prayers. we are deeply grateful to you.

emily hunter & the sweet land farm in t-burg: for long drives from tburg to bdale with oodles of the most gorgeous produce EVER, you were lifesavers, and truly generous...thank you so much...

dustin & michelle stuhr: for being such a dear soul to bert...for the americana jubiliee...for caring so lovingly for leo...thank you thank you thank you

jen bubel: for a new friendship that i know will be forever...for your love of our family, and your sweetness...for your generosity...for putting huge smiles on our children's faces...we love you deeply.

cuqui: for being my anam cara

ion birch: for patiently, and generously helping me on a 'greens' day... xoxo

carl, our neighbor & mailman: for snow shoveling many times before i was up at 5:30...many, many thanks!!!

the kingsleys: for your generous skill & contribution to the benefit!!!

kristin campagnola & jodi peters: for all your assistance, after i left IMS....for hosting the benefit...for never ending support and kindness...

andrea riddle: for deep insight, empathy & compassion...thank you...

tony pain: for making something unobtainable become a workable possibility...thank you...

marne & ben: for limitless smiles, check-ins, and being our compost godsends!!! for picking up 5 gallons of compost every day for over a year.....bless you both!!

marne & ira: for being a champion for bert...for bringing avi & michael into our lives...for your faith, trust, and love, we are forever grateful

mitch bobrow: for your wisdom & grace...thank you...

marli stahler: for being Divine sunshine on days that, at times, felt as if no rays could possibly penetrate thru thick clouds...

adrienne mcnair: for practically living with us at one point, when we needed so much help. for your beautiful smile, cheerfulness, and kindness. your multiple rides to sayre...you were a lifesaver. thank you....

sigrid kulkowitz: for your fantastic music cd's for bert! for just showing up when we needed it the most. for giving us the opportunity to really get to know & love you! we miss you!!!

jenna robarge: an answer to our prayers...showing up daily, even at 6:30 am to wash chard & beet greens...scrub carrots...learn to make juices, all at a time when you were getting ready to move across the country!!! we will never forget such extraordinary generosity....we miss you, jenna....

deborah simms & george: for being angels who also showed up at a time when extra help was needed!!! thank you for loving beau so sweetly. thank you for driving out to the hospital when i broke my toe!! thank you for cleaning out the shed!!! bless you both....

chad novelli & jonathan panzer: your generosity & kindness via the many trips to and from sayre...

kati andressen: for your great sense of humor!! for your angelic voice that hypnotized beau...for washing oodles of greens & carrots...for helping us thru the "broken toe days"...we love you!

mary anderssen: for being a real-deal angel...for helping with maxi-poo....for opening your home to our little guy...you are all a second family to him. we are in deep gratitude to you & rich. namaste...

ally burch: for your grounded energy, that was contagious. for all your love, and belief in what we were doing...xoxoxo

adrian lucas: for having such peaceful, calming energy...for drawing bert's blood monthly, and schlepping it over to the lab for analysis

christian prysgaki: for helping bert with massage, especially when he was in terrible pain.

kevin kinsella: for being nothing short of true 'family' to bert...

rob & kelli: also for being true family to bert, and for kelli's delicious dal, and for being extraordinary friends

mr & mrs verity: for finding a fantastic sandbox for beau to play in, which gave him hours of enjoyment!! thank you...

lindy cummings: for your sweetness, grace, and peacefulness in our home

marion deats (rain): for being front & center of the cheering team!! for your empathy, thoughtfulness and kindness...we thank you so much...xoxo

catherine martinez: for your wisdom, humor, and genuine friendship...i love you

jane schantz: for your peaceful centeredness, your knowledge of homeopathy, your support in sayre, and friendship, i love you! thank you...

karen schantz: for just showing up when help was sooo needed,and for giving beau fun, love & smiles!

avi baumgold: for all your sweetness with beau...you were a miracle at a much needed time...

michael margolin: for your shopping, your generosity, and enthusiasm...thank you so much...

sim redmond band, pasa fino, hank roberts: thank you for contributing your time, and artistic gifts at our benefit. you helped make that massive miracle possible...

john ryan : for taking on the huge task of getting a stage to the scene of our benefit...thank you so much!

wegmans: for bagging up our groceries (5 bags worth!!) , in advance, on wednesdays...for being so helpful thru very tough times...thank you

greenstar: providing us with a juicer while we awaited the arrival of the Norwalk juicer...for getting granny smiths when no one else could!!!

charlotte gerson & dr cervantez: for carrying on a legacy...for saving robert's life...may you be blessed...

dr cagir, dr allerton & nan walsh: for your dedication, care, and skill...for saving robert's life...may you all be blessed...

the following people i thank because you all helped with contributions at a time when it was looking terribly grim...you helped without hesitation, and very generously...may kindness return to you as well...

susan scott
mario cerame

karen maslinak

laurie smith

larry ulfik

ed smith

phil fergueson

pat & julie walsh

rick emmanuel:
for support, empathy, and thingking of our kiddos...xoxox

linda stout: generous & supportive reporting...namaste...


...it's amazing that having cancer does not have to mean "going down a road alone" . we were, and still are, blessed beyond my wildest dreams to be supported by this whole global community...ask and ye shall receive...in abundance.

in deep gratitude,
daniela


4 comments:

  1. Daniela,
    Thank you for your love letter in the blog.
    When I got to Charlotte, I burst into tears. She did indeed save Rob's life. Dr. Cagir finished the job.
    I'm still crying... the first time in a year in a half.
    I love you for it was YOU who saved his life by finding Charlotte.
    Pam

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  2. Danila, oh my!
    God (and all his/her manifestations and expressions, Bless You Two.
    You don't realize how much you have given us; Daniela: through the inspiration and potential you provide through your unending Love and Dedication; Bert: for one thing, for providing the readers of this Blog a window on your world (and the world of dealing with cancer). The Blog itself is a huge gift; in addition you will always be a trail leader for others.
    L
    Rain

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  3. Wow...so this is the first time I've really cried in a long time over this blog. There is something in the vastness of your list, Daniela, that is so unbelievable and inspiring! I love how at the end of your post, there is a big pic of Bertie in the next one - like the power of your gratitude is going "ba-BAM! He's ALIVE and he SURVIVED!" lol...it's quite perfect actually.

    I want to reiterate how grateful Chris and I are to have been included in this journey with your family. It's incredible how one man's time of need can extend, almost limitlessly it seems, into a path of growth for all of those who surround him. So thank you...blessinsg abound!

    So much love,
    Jackie

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  4. d'la,

    jackie hit the nail on the head. the vastness of this list is overwhelming and moving. the specificity, too. it's clear that you put an enormous amount of thought into each and every acknowledgment, and that is a huge gift to all who were lucky enough to be able to contribute to you guys.

    oh, and thank you for making my mom cry. ; )

    xoxovivi

    ReplyDelete