When I was pregnant with Sarah Elizabeth I was on bed rest from pretty early on. And it was torture. Hell. Unbearable. I wasn’t allowed to be on my feet for too long. Wasn’t allowed to go for a walk around the neighbourhood. Go for a drive that might be too bumpy. And wasn’t allowed to join my husband at weddings anymore. I wasn’t a fan. I was convinced that I was suffering the worst possible punishment ever : being stuck in a bed for weeks on end. I complained. A lot.
And then one day I ‘met’ Jen Berry. I can’t remember how the first email was exchanged. I think maybe one of us left a comment on the others’ blog. But it was simple. Quick. And brief. As the notes continued we got to know each other and I felt like I really knew her, even though we’d never met in person. Months went on and Sarah Elizabeth was born : I was finally allowed to get out of bed. Between feedings and diapers, I was too busy being a mom to remember what it felt like to be confined to that stupid mattress and went on with my life. Until one day last summer when I was greeted with something I never expected. Steve had cancer. Hodgkins Lymphoma. And my heart sank. For these two people hundreds of miles away from me. Whom I’d never met in person. Never hugged. Never laughed late into the night with over a glass of wine. Yet I felt like Jen had become a friend. A real friend. And I cried thinking about them going through this together. One of Jen’s notes talked about Steve being her best friend and my heart ached for them. I couldn’t imagine having to go through this Ewan, my own best friend. I didn’t know what to say. Couldn’t make it better. And had no idea how to show them that I cared.
Emails continued. A friendship grew even more. And I constantly wondered how Steve was doing being confined to that bed on the Oncology floor. That stupid bed. Not being allowed to get out. I knew it was nothing like the bed rest I had once complained about. As Jen talked about Steve having to sit for hours on end while the chemo coursed through his veins, I felt so dumb for thinking that bed rest during my pregnancy had been bad. So very dumb. I was still able to get up to go the bathroom whenever I wanted. Or roll over without having to worry about a stupid IV pole being in my way. Setting off alarms. Or not having the energy to even get out of bed. Steve really was stuck in bed.
Now Steve is finding himself in another round of chemo and stuck in that bed once again. And that can get boring. B.O.R.I.N.G. Hours on end, just sitting there. A prisoner just laying there waiting to be told he can go. Jen and Steve are asking for some help to make these months of sitting and waiting a little bit easier. Not for them. But for all of the patients on Steve’s Oncology floor who are in the exact same boat. They are trying to raise support to provide DVD players to the floor. DVD’s. Wii consoles. Wii games. Music. CD’s. And batteries. Anything to make the experience not quite so long. Anything to help the patient’s take their minds off the poison being fed into their bodies via IV.
So, here’s what we’re hoping for. We’re asking our readers/brides/grooms/friends/family/strangers/businesses reading this to help. To help Jen and Steve. If you have any DVD’s or CD’s that you’d be willing to share we would love you forever (we already do, but maybe even a little bit more if that’s possible)! Or if you’d like to donate gift certificates to buy movies, music or batteries. Or can help towards the purchase of DVD consoles. We would be forever grateful. We’re going to be collecting these items at our studio for the next 2 weeks – please send me a note or just drop by during our office hours. Every single bit helps. Even $5.00 can buy a previously viewed DVD from Blockbuster. Or even batteries. Every. little. bit. helps. Honest. We would also love if you can help us spread the word. Or just send them some words of support. Facebook. Twitter. Your own blog. Or word of mouth. It’s all powerful.
We are beyond thankful for your help. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
Thank you.
- Brianna and Ewan
p.s. You can visit Jen and Steve’s blogs here if you’d like to get a little glimpse into their world :
by Brianna
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