Here's one way you can take advantage of typepad pages: revisit posts relating to a single project, but this time post them in the order they appeared - easier to follow, don't you think? I was going to put the posts into a photo album but this is way easier. So here goes....
I will be posting the text and graphics from each blog entry on the *pink wink* but will edit out unrelated portions. To read comments on the original post you will have to follow the links embedded in the blog entry titles.
Tuesday, July 29th, 2008
Back in April I asked for your help. In the post {are you with me} I made a request for your good wishes for my sister who was in the hospital. You came through for me. To many of you it may have been the introduction to Shannon. For many it was my introduction to you as you left a comment for the first time. It was a wonderful few days to see all the kind words pour in and to hear Shannon's reaction after being put in the spotlight. What I'm realizing now is that because I shared her with you here, you are all invested in her. YOU know that she mattered to me. You are offering your kind words to me this time. You get it.
In the last 13 days of her life I was privileged to spend every possible minute with her. I witnessed grace. I witnessed strength. I witnessed faith. I witnessed love. I witnessed power - power of God, power of medicine, and power of spirit. I watched nurses who knew by experience that the end was near yet continued to give Shannon respect and dignity and control. I will never forget some of the gestures they made to her husband Andy, and to our family, to make us more comfortable as we held vigil. I will never forget that many of them wore PINK - pink shirts or pink socks, as though there was a Shannon Street Team. She was dressed in pink so we got her groovy pink socks to change into everyday. The socks got comments from anyone who had to come into the room - visitors or staff. Pink is her color.
I have this idea. I want to acknowledge the staff on 7B of the U of M Hospital where my sister spent the last 4 months of her life. I especially want to recognize those who I got to know - the professionals who cared for her and cared about her. I think it would be a very powerful thing to see a box of PINK socks show up on the 7th floor. With the box will come a note that will explain the gesture and the message.
I will tell the story of my sister who courageously battled cystic fibrosis. I will share the story of how I watched nurses and aides and therapists and doctors let Shannon be in control. They offered her respect, dignity, privacy, and honesty. I will share how we were all wearing PINK the last few days of her life - family and staff. I will share how important their role is - not only in the care as described on the charts, but in what they offer that is off the charts. Off the charts.
I want there to be hoards of pink socks that spill out on the counter of the nursing station. I want the staff on 7B to feel thanked, to feel appreciated, to feel validated. I want them to know I was paying attention. I want them to know I saw what they did....I was listening and watching and recognized the angel within them. I want each person (man or woman) to get a pair of pink socks and to put them on the next day and think about the shift they are about to begin. How they conduct themselves may have a huge impact on someone that day. {Shouldn't we all think that way everyday?} Someone is healing, someone is hurting, someone is lonely, someone is dying. Someone may be dying. How a nurse treats the patient really makes a difference. How each of us walk the halls can make a difference. Holding someone's hand as they die doesn't get you a bonus or a gold star on your paycheck if you are a nurse. But it might get you a pair of Pink Socks that are an offering of gratitude and validation to be worn with pride as the practice of making a difference continues.
I want there to be an a-ha moment on 7B that radiates to 7A and the rest of the 7th floor....and the 6th floor, and the 5th floor, and the coffee shop, and the pharmacy, and the clinic where the Cystic Fibrosis patients go each month,....and the nearby hospitals, and - well you get it. I want THINK PINK to be more than Breast Cancer awareness....I want THINK PINK to be more than Shannon and Cystic Fibrosis awareness. I want it to be more than being about Pink Socks. In fact, forget THINK PINK and make that PINK WINK. I want each of us to begin every day with the awareness that what we do and how we behave may directly affect someone....As you put on your socks, or your shoes, say a little prayer or give a little thought to how you will use this day, every day. We can all wear a wink.
So here is the mission: send me a pair of pink socks. That's it. Men's or women's, long or short. A little or a lot of pink, any shade - dark or light. I will gather until mid August. And I will send in one humungo box to the University of Minnesota Hospital, floor 7B, where they take care of patients with Cystic Fibrosis. It's one of the ways I want to honor the memory of my sister. It's one of the ideas I had for offering thanks to the caregivers. When I asked for your good wishes I told you the nickname for CF is Sixty-Five Roses. So you guessed it....
Send to P.O. Box 73, Piscataway, NJ 08855. Let's call the due date August 15. Many thanks. I close my eyes and think of the dozens of you who have reached out to me at this time and I am so moved. Truly. EDIT: PROJECT IS COMPLETE, THANKS!
Tuesday August 5th, 2008
and wider and wider and wider....
When I was twelve or so my friend Peggy and I, and a handful of neighborhood friends, staged a backyard carnival to raise money for Cystic Fibrosis. Remember those kits you could send away for back in the 70s? The Muscular Dystrophy Association and Jerry Lewis enlisted children to help make a difference. We borrowed one of those kits and put our own spin on it and made it happen. I clearly remember riding our bikes to the local businesses soliciting for freebies to offer as prizes. We got keychains and pens from the bank, a ball and bat and glove from Ben Franklin, some bags of penny candy from the grocery store....I believe we raised something like $27 from the nickel and dime donations we collected for the games and fortune telling and face paintings. We mailed all the loose change in an envelope to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. A few weeks later we were sent a thank you letter and a dozen CF collar pins. I WAS SURE THEY WOULD SOON FIND A CURE AFTER RECEIVING OUR ENORMOUS CONTRIBUTION.
Looking back now I think that event gave each participant a different perspective of HOPE. My parents must have been touched that we thought about taking on the disease with the belief we could help. My sister must have known we really loved her. We carnival-throwing-kids were confident that our $$$ could be used for research for a cure. But imagine what it must have been like at the CF Foundation office that morning when the mail arrived with a letter written by a 12 year old offering $27 in coins to present to the lab in hopes that a cure would be identified. Imagine that. There HAD to be a ripple effect don't you think? And while a cure wasn't discovered in Shannon's lifetime there were alot of breakthroughs including the invention of the "vest" which not only allowed a CF patient to be independent in their daily bronchial drainage therapies, but it was developed by my sister's doctor, and she was a recipient of a prototype model.
All I can say is I never expected this. I never anticipated that the sock request would get such an incredible response and I never saw it coming that there would be spin-off things occuring - like the sharing of stories. Stories of loss, stories of health, stories of inspiration, motivation, encouragement. The ripple effect is amazing. The people I have heard from are amazing. This whole thing is utterly amazing. There are some things I will share with you but some things will just have to stay in my head and my heart.
THANK YOU for winking at me. THANK YOU for sharing your stories. To begin...in my home mailbox were these, from a neighbor friend who I didn't know read my blog....
And then these from the post office box...........
And I'm off to pick up the mail at the post office today....then tune in on the Street Team blog where I'll be posting the next challenge later today. It's only been two days of mail at my post office and we have already passed the 65 pairs goal. And I can already feel the goodness that is being spread through the ripple effect that started last week. There are still ten more days to go. Wow!!!
xoxo
Sunday August 10th, 2008
This message, found on the envelope from my friend Sarah in England, was an A-HA moment for me. It was so touching to see and to know that she, like many of you, are still with me. It has never been more obvious than in the pinkness arriving daily to my home and my post office box. But what I didn't realize until I saw that message, was that by launching this project, Shannon is still with me. She's still with me.
The mail staff must get a kick out of all the packages. We are enjoying every minute of it.
I tend to buy two of everything. Good thing I got two of these pink bins because this one is full! THANK YOU to all who have sent in pink socks. This totally ROCKS!! We passed the goal of *65* days ago!
I've been rolling up each pair and labeling with the name and location of each donation on a pink tag so each recipient will GET that this project is a global hug. You can imagine I spazzed when Judy sent me these AND the stencils to make more.
I am humbled and honored to be the hostess of something that has rippled wider than I could ever have imagined. xoxo
Tuesday August 12th, 2008
.r.i.p.p.l.e....r.i.p.p.l.e.....
Can you believe this? It's just incredible! I had no idea. None. Here's the thing....I would say at least 75% of the packages that have arrived are from new-to-me people. HCIT? How about that cute message on the envelope from Bonnie? And those rosey messages from Inge, pinned through the socks for the nurses. You all keep me going. I am so feeling the love.
It has been a delight to read your notes and to get your messages both written and unwritten. I'm stealing this line from my friend Linda....it blows my socks off. Truly. Thank you again. I know I said August 15th for the due date but it will be at least another week after that until I send the boxes off so for those of you who have written - not to worry. xoxo
Thursday August 14th, 2008
I roll, tie, and label the socks every night while watching the Olympics. I watch gymnastics and it gets me a little sad as my sister was a gymnast and she always enjoyed watching the event. Then I see all the pinkness I am surrounded by, knowing it has all arrived from around the globe, and I am filled with a huge sense of PEACE. Who knew that pink socks would make one feel so loved? I am giddy thinking about what it will be like to see their arrival on 7B. Thank you, Team Pink.
Monday August 18th, 2008
A huge pink scrap album (to chronicle the pink story!) arrived from JW in OZ with her pinks socks and the cutest story about being a girl dressed in black shopping for pink. I'm with ya girl, pink is so not my thing either....but it has it's own meaning with this and I appreciate EVERYONE who has made the effort to shop for and send pink socks. These arrived from Carrie on Friday but somehow missed the photo since they were propped up next to my computer as I checked the website for these clever things.
The third pink bin is nearly full. I'm off to Target for another as I have had messages from many of you that more socks are still en route. I.AM.BLOWN.AWAY.and.humbled.and thrilled.THANK.YOU.
*i borrowed the post title sox in the city from my friend lisa. isn't she clever?
Wow - they are still coming in and since I have word that more are on the way I will wager that we will reach 650 which means you have sent in TEN TIMES what I hoped to get. If you haven't been keeping up you can scroll down through the recent posts or go here to see where this started. Today's packages included piles of pink from two groups that collected the donations - HCIT? I wish you could see my big-eyed-open-mouthed expression every time I pick up from the post office. And then I wish you could see me get all misty-eyed-yet-grinning as I read all your sweet notes, and when I realize that some of the return addresses are not familiar to me. Thank you for the sweet pink love. You make grief endurable.
Wednesday August 27th, 2008
...shocking....hot....blush.....
shell, coral, salmon, rose, cerise, fuchsia, flamingo, magenta, bubble gum, cotton candy, pepto....
Who knew there were this many shades of pink? Who knew there were this many kinds of socks out there? From Alaska to Florida and from Germany and New Zealand. From good friends and from we-have-never-met-before friends. Cozy, fuzzy, soft, long, short, thick, slick, subtle, sharp, loud, polka dots, stripes, flowers, sea horses, stars, hearts, words, paisley, argyle, and plain. Here are the latest:
It's bittersweet to listen to but I'll save you the google: click HERE to listen on youtube, and HERE is the backstory of the lyrics....scroll way down.
I cannot wait to send these pink bins off to the U of M hospital. I had to spill the secret to two people in order to have someone *on the inside* who could guide me through how to make this sock arrival happen. You know I will keep you all posted. My plan is to ship on September 3rd - the kids will go back to school that day so it is offically *launch date*. I can't believe I am saying this but: you can stop sending me socks. If you have some and are ready to post then hurry!! Luckily I have kept up with labeling them as they arrive. Andrew was a darling and wrote offering to help as he thought I was buried in pink and therefore couldn't blog.
I had to really pack them in and squish down so the covers would fit - 690 pairs! *high fives* all around. To my friends, to my neighbors, to my online buddies and acquaintances from near and far, and to those of I've never even exchanged a word with - written or spoken, THANK YOU. I am finishing up the letter that will accompany each bin, then they are hitting the road. The last few that came in....
The gathering of these socks has been such an experience. There is a pink glow where there was once a dark hole. I will continue to write about the winks and all the ripple effects....but now it's time to launch....to spread the love.
Saturday September 6th, 2008
The final pink arrivals which include a pair knitted just for me:
Dear friends,
Who knew that my request, on July 29th, for collecting 65 pairs of pink socks would end with 700? It isn't the end, it's only the beginning. Several angels are at work on the other end as they are in on the surprise and are planning to make a celebration for the Pink Wink arrival. You know I will keep you posted! One of the last emails I got from my sister was in May when she wrote to me about the blog comments you left for her, sending your positive vibes. She enjoyed all the well wishes and said they were definite day brighteners. Imagine what she would say to this - 700 socks sent in her honor.
I am without words to describe what this has meant to me. I recognize that it was a loving effort to participate in this. You shopped for socks, came home and packaged them, then went back out to post them. Many envelopes were winks themselves - decorated with pink paint or ink and roses and x's & o's and hearts and flourishes and messages. Some were filled with pink wrappings and ribbons. Some came with beautiful cards or lovely gift offerings. Others came in a plain envelope with a quick note and some were simply anonymous - no return address at all. There were boxes containing more than a dozen pairs, and envelopes filled with a single pair. Some socks were dropped off at my home and others were delivered from overseas. No matter how the socks arrived I felt the love energy tucked inside. I get it that by sending me socks you are offering your support and sympathy. I get it that by sending socks you help me honor the memory of Shannon. I get it that you can't imagine loss, or have experienced a loss of your own. I get it that you love your sister, or your sibling, or your best-friend-who-is-practically-a-sister. I get it that you may know someone with Cystic Fibrosis. I get it that you are a caregiver, or know a caregiver, or believe that acknowledging caregivers is important. I get it that it just feels good to join in something that is about sharing gratitude. I get it that the impulse to be with me on this may have no specific definition. I feel the love, and as I said before: you make grief endurable.
There is more to tell, more to share, and more to celebrate as the story continues to unfold. For now, let me offer my humble thanks. Posting the boxes felt good, although a little sad as it's been a daily task for me to attend to this project. It began as an idea to pay-it-forward to my sister's caregivers and then it became bigger but offered a distraction to keep my mind occupied. I reflect on the whole thing now and see that it was so comforting to share my grief. By dividing it, it slowly diminishes.
I know you are with me. SHE is with me. You have helped me say that she mattered. I will never forget this. NEVER. Thank you. THANK YOU.
xoxo, Michelle
Thursday September 11th, 2008
it has been reported that the socks have arrived and will be presented this afternoon. stay tuned...
EDIT: rather than make a new post, I am editing this one because I want you to be able to click on "comments" and read the message left by Angie, one of our favorite nurses from 7B. So yesterday afternoon I got to be a fly-on-the-wall (by way of a speaker phone) while Marietta, the nurse manager on 7B gathered two shifts of nurses and aides, therapists (OT and RT) and some other special people, including Shannon's doctor. On the table were only *65* pairs of socks. Marietta read the letter I had composed (see below). Very cool to hear my words come through someone else's mouth. At the key moment, the remaining 600-and-something socks were brought in as Marietta continued to explain the project. Wonderful to hear that Angie was there, as well as other favorite caregivers. For a few minutes yesterday there were people having thoughts about my sister. For a few minutes, before the hustle and bustle of starting a shift (or leaving one), there were people who got the group wink, the thanks, the validation that the call they have answered is of great value, and that they matter.
Did you feel it? Did you feel that goosebump moment? Wow! We really did it. *high five* XOXO
This has been a re-visit to the posts on the *pink wink* project. The comments left by readers and participants are a huge part of what made this special and can be read by clicking on each post title.
Friday, September 19, 2008
in the news
Marietta sent me a copy of the e-newsletter from the U of M Hospital!!! And she forwarded these photos too. *high five* to everyone!
And a reminder if you are new to the *pink wink* story you can read it in chronological order by clicking on the link, see right.
*700* for 7B, squeeee!
Dearest Michelle
I wore my pink socks (ladybugs from Connecticut) to work yesterday and remembered our beautiful Shannon.
Today, all the beautiful art and goodness on your blog also brings me much joy.
Thinking of you and your family
-Meg (Social Worker, Minnesota CF Center)
Posted by: Meg | Saturday, February 14, 2009 at 12:08 PM
I just finished reading all of these entries and tears have been rolling down my face during the majority of them. Your capacity for love and for reaching out to persistently help others is inspirational. I am overwhelmed with compassion by your dedication to brng joy and caring to others.
Posted by: Kate Jobe | Tuesday, March 31, 2009 at 01:39 PM
Oh my gosh I have just re-read all tthis and there are tears rolling down my cheeks. IAs I *missed* the original call, I had hoped to get a little something off to you in time for Shannon's first anniversary, but thanks to wrok I have missed that too :-(
Anyway something should be jetting your way this week.
Take care dear talented Michelle...
Posted by: Greta Young | Saturday, July 11, 2009 at 07:58 PM
Dear Michelle, As so many of the others as I've read all this, the tears are streamaing down my face. I feel so close to all of you. How wonderful that you were able to be with your sister to the end. This is first I knew of this or I would have participated in PinkWink project. Grieving is such a personal and delicate condition, sometimes it's hard to know how to comfort people that have lost a loved one.
Our grandson had stage 4 testicular cancer 2 yrs ago at age 14. It was discovered just before his 14th. b/d. We're still very lucky to have him around. Was a close call. He also had tumors in his abdomen and neck. He endured a 12 hour surgery on his abdomen, two surgeries on his neck and of course the initial surgery to remove his testical. He is now playing football. I worry about that but he's so happy to be able to do what he loves. I always remind myself that we might have lost him. What a miracle he's still with us. They named him Sunshine as he always had such a positive attitude. The only way his cancer and subsequent treatments have affected his life is to stop his growing. His parents put him on Caring Bridges and he too received encouragement and love from all over the world. The internet is nothing if not a wonderful transmitter of love.
I am so sorry about your sister and hope you're able to grieve and continue on with your creating. I've heard about your creativity for years since I started getting Somerset Studio magazine. So talented. So glad you had the love and encouragement from so many people. Sure gives a person back their faith in human nature if it was flagging. Keep on Keeping on Michelle
Posted by: JaneEllen Jones | Monday, November 02, 2009 at 04:17 PM