What you can do to help Anissa
Dec 8, 2009 What's Going On
I was just catching up on the blog that Anissa Mayhew’s husband has been keeping about Anissa’s recovery from the massive stroke she had a few weeks ago. I’ve never met him and know nothing about him except his blog posts (I think his name is Peter but I’m not even 100% sure about that), but I think I’m a little bit in love with him. He’s amazing. Anissa, here’s your motivation to get better: if you don’t, somebody’s going to try to steal your husband. His love for you pours off of the page, and who wouldn’t want that?
One of the latest entries linked to a page where you can buy a “Team Anissa” shirt. All of the proceeds go to her family. Her husband mentioned in one post that his job is being great about all of this, but I’m sure that won’t last forever and all of this has got to be taking a huge toll on their finances. Three kids and normal life is expensive enough. Throw in a massive stroke and I imagine the financial impact is devastating. So if you’re feeling helpless, feeling like you want to do something but don’t know what, that’s something concrete that you can do. Buy a shirt.
A ton has been written about Anissa by people who knew her way better than I did. I only met her twice. But her impact was huge and her zest for life was obvious. Every time I start to complain about anything lately I try to remind myself that Anissa would love to be able to get out of that hospital bed and do any of the hundreds of mundane things I complain about. For those few moments I try to be a better person, for her. Of course it doesn’t last long because that’s just human nature, and I’m human. But I’d like to think that over the past few weeks, Anissa’s made an impact on me, made me appreciate what I have a little more.
On the practical side it’s made me realize how completely screwed my husband would be if anything happened to me. And I don’t mean in a “What will my life be without Amy?” kind of way, I mean in a “Where the hell does she keep the blank checks” kind of way. Tomato soup, batteries, deodorant and toothpaste would keep showing up via UPS and he would have no idea how to make it stop. He doesn’t know where I keep the little felt pads that keep the chairs from scratching the floors. I’m not 100% positive he knows how to use our washing machine. He’d muddle through, of course, but the number of small annoying things that would be getting in his way would really add up.
In one of the first blog entries Peter talked about sitting down to pay some bills and trying to figure out Anissa’s special filing system. My husband wouldn’t even have a chance. I need to do something about that. I think many of us show our best sides when up against something horribly difficult. But there are things we could all do to make it a little easier for those around us should something bad happen. I’m sorry I had to eavesdrop on Anissa’s family to really get that. If something should happen to me, and my husband wrote a blog about it (not bloody likely) I’d like it to be filled with love for me, like Peter’s posts. Not about what a mess I left things in for him!
Originally posted on Selfish Mom. All opinions expressed on this website come straight from Amy unless otherwise noted. Please visit Amy’s Full Disclosure page for more information.
Tags: Anissa Mayhew
Bad dreams
Nov 19, 2009 Amy in the Morning
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Originally posted on Selfish Mom. All opinions expressed on this website come straight from Amy unless otherwise noted. This post has a Compensation Level of 1. Please visit Amy’s Full Disclosure page for more information.
Tags: Anissa Mayhew, dreams, September 11th
