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A Little Pick-Me Up

8/16/2011

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A couple of weeks ago, I promised the followers of His Middle Name that I would share an email that was sent to me. I feel so blessed to have been on the receiving end of that email, that I held it near and dear to my heart and only read it to a very close few. Every person I shared it with had the same reaction I did: pure awe. With the dog days of summer almost behind us, the autumn always seems to usher in new responsibilities. Whether it's going back to school, starting a new job or simply just trying to make ends meet, the fall seems to jump start a new type of daily grind. I have been feeling that anticipation - a rumble of energy if you will - for weeks now. It was slow at first, but now has picked up and I can feel it rushing towards me. Maybe there's a new beginning for me and my family right around the corner? I don't know. All I know is that in the midst of all the hustle and bustle, I just felt we all needed a little pick me up. I hope it's a little reminder to keep the faith and to keep focused on what truly matters to you.

Here's the email which was sent to me via one of my sisters. The name of the individual who sent it has been removed to protect privacy:

Dear Lauren,

I wanted to share this with you after I read the story that your sister wrote. I have thought of her every day since I read it. You know that I am not usually at a loss for words, but it truly touched my heart and I found myself a blubbering mess. You know what I mean....the "ugly cry."

I am not an overly religious person. I was raised Catholic. I observe the holidays and know all of my Saints. I owe that to my Mom because she was a Saint follower. There is a saint for everything in the Catholic religion.

Back in Connecticut there is a Church called St. Anthony's. It was the church that my mother and her five siblings went to when they were younger. This church is special in the regards that some pretty special things have happened there...almost miracles, although no one wants to come right out and say that. The priest that was there for years and years was Father Moffo, and he was good friends with my mother. He was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer and the whole congregation prayed for him and he was cured completely and lived a long, long time after that. I was recently in contact with him about a friend’s baby who was seriously ill. Father Moffo carried around a little pad that he would write down the names of people that needed special prayers and he would pray for them as well as the congregation. That baby is now healthy and living a normal, fulfilling life.

In the Catholic religion there are these little things called scapulars. They have different meanings. There is one scapular that is for healing. When both my mom and my dad were sick, they each had one that was blessed by St. Anthony's Church and Father Moffo. The scapular always has to be on your person or in your line of vision always. After my mom passed away I looked high and low for hers and I couldn't find it anywhere!!! I was a bit upset that somehow it got lost, but I still had my dad's and that gave me comfort.

Now fast forward to the story about your nephew. I read that story and asked both my mom and my dad to bless him and to keep him safe. I then went into my closet to get my clothes ready for the next day and something in the corner under a storage bin caught my eye. It was my mom's scapluar. I couldn't believe it! And on top of that I found it on the anniversary of her passing which was 7 years ago. I kind of took that as a sign that her scapular is meant for your nephew Sutton.

I don't believe in coincidences. I think that things happen for a reason. My mother loved children and lived her life for her kids and her grand kids, so I think she meant for me to find it now after reading Sutton’s story. I only was missing it for 7 years!!!

If you don't think your sister would object, I would like for your nephew Sutton to have it. I don't think it really matters what religion you are, as long as the prayers are going to help. I am going home to Connecticut in just about a week and I always go to St. Anthony's and light candles for my mom and my dad. I am going to light one for Sutton too.

Let me know if you think it will be okay with your sister. I will bring it to you to mail to her.



This is what was sent to Sutton following the email:


"Immaculate Heart of Mary Pray for Us Now and at the Hour of Our Death"

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Spreading the Word

8/6/2011

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Top of the morning to you! I just wanted to let all of you blog stalkers know that I haven't forgotten about you, but it’s been a crazy busy summer. Those of you who have written emails, letters and sent gifts, you are in my heart and prayers. I plan on keeping all of the inspiring and uplifting emails and letters in a scrapbook for Sutton, so as he grows up, he can see how his story pulled on the heart strings of so many. In the coming days I will also be featuring a special blog post about a particular email that was sent to me, and the wonderful gift that followed. A part of me wanted to keep that email sacred, but then I reminded myself that I made a promise to always display candor to the followers of His Middle Name, and to share every aspect of this journey. I have since decided that it is just too beautiful not to share, so I will be posting that email within the coming days. I would also like to encourage all of you to stay tuned as there are many exciting changes coming to His Middle Name (and a new logo thanks to the talents of McCarrol Williams Designs in Little Rock, Arkansas), and I’m just hoping to get them all done by the end of summer!  
With that said, let me share with you why I have been so busy as of late. Because I feel so strongly about advocating education and spreading the word about fibroids and prematurity, I recently attended an education seminar about gynecological health and cancers of the female reproductive system. It was actually my second time attending a national event, but the first since I had Sutton, so it really hit home for me. I was a sponge all weekend: thirsty for knowledge and learning to not only share what I know, but to listen as well. I learned so much that I have been able to advance myself to a higher place of understanding, and am so thankful to have met and mingled with all of the incredibly brilliant people out there making a difference. Walking away from that weekend, I am hoping to offer that to you. Not only will I continue to post education initiatives of interest to the His Middle Name cause, but I hope His Middle Name will grow and eventually expand into a Non-For Profit (although I’m sure that’s a bit of the way off). In the meantime, please share the His Middle Name cause with other parents who have had preemies, who have had an infant with a special health care need or who have had a loss. Tell perinatologists, pediatricians, neonatologists, OB/GYNs, nurses, social workers, psychologists, counselors, and any other health care professional who might interact with parents of preemies. Encourage them to get involved and lend His Middle Name as a resource in NICUs and women’s healthcare clinics. I think that’s a good way of spreading the word and inspiring others. Thank you all for your continued support, and enjoy the last of the midsummer nights!


2 Comments

    I’m a southern gal to the core who lives for my family, has a serious weakness for chocolate, a penchant for anything that can be monogrammed and loves to craft and sew. Thank you for your interest and welcome to His Middle Name!

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