Thank you to the amazing women of BDW

[cougs]

Many of you know that my father has recently been diagnosed with Glioblastoma Multiforme, or GBM, which is an incurable primary brain tumor. Despite the surgery he's had and the chemo and radiation treatments he is currently undergoing, prognosis is still only 18 months. This is the same very aggressive type of malignant brain tumor that recently took the life of Senator Ted Kennedy.

 

I stumbled upon the Race for Hope (Philadelphia), which is a 5K run/walk benefiting the National Brain Tumor Society (see siggy for link), and knew I had to be a part of it ... to help raise money for this cause. What I never expected was the caring, support, and generosity displayed by the women (and men) of this forum. Donations from BDW forum members alone (primarily the shout box ladies) total $565!!! Words will never be enough to express the gratefulness I have for these women whom I've never met in real life. These are women who *should be* too wrapped up in their own lives and wedding planning to think of offering their support (and much-needed funds) to a virtual stranger ... but they weren't. The women of BDW are nothing short of inspiring and amazing.

 

I've already told those who donated, but it's worth saying to the entire forum, so I will repeat it here:

 

I believe that all things happen for a reason, and that fate was in play when I decided to have a destination wedding ... that decision not only made it possible to have my father with me on my wedding day (since we moved the wedding up 5 months, unaware of what we'd be facing this fall), but also resulted in my making the acquaintance of so many wonderful women on this forum. True serendipity.

 

You've all become my most cherished and relied on support system. Even now, well beyond my wedding day, you are the friends I *always* go to FIRST whenever I need to share, to vent, to laugh, to cry, or even just get a virtual hug. I cannot imagine how much more difficult it would be to get through this without the strength (and the laughs) you ladies give me daily.

 

Many people tend to downplay or mock the idea of "internet friends" ... until they experience the kind of friendships--the second family--that a forum like BDW offers, they'll never understand.

 

Thank you again to the ladies of the shout box, the women (and men) of BDW, and to Tammy for creating an environment where such amazing friendships can be forged.

[Amarillis]

 

Very heartfelt.

 

We are all real people, with real lives, and although our worlds collided through the happenstance of having a DW. We are all compassionate women, wedding planning may have brought us here, but it is the friendships and comradery that keep us coming back.

 

Good Luck on your run!

[cougs]

oh amy ... there will be no *running* on my part, lol! i'll be walking!

 

"wedding planning may have brought us here, but it is the friendships and comradery that keep us coming back" ... so very well said.

[~*Kathy*~]

Lisa!!! Awww, way to make me cry all over again! lol

 

Love you so much and I am thrilled/honored/proud (and many other awesome words I can't think of right now) to be involved in such a great cause to help your dad, you, and your family and many other people who also find themselves in such situations right now.

 

I truly believe that with enough hope, love, and perseverence that people can overcome any obstacle (good or bad)! I keep you, your dad, and all of your loved ones in my thoughts constantly and I think that the BDW "family" is the best family I could think of. There are so many amazing and caring women (and a few men hehe) on this site and I am so proud to be included among such individuals.

[*HOLLY*]

Awww Cougs you brough tears to my eyes. This is what we are here for not just wedding planning but building realationships that will last. I wish you and your family the best of luck while your dad fights this cancer.

[Jess]

Lisa - we are all here for you and we love you. You are too sweet

[stacey]

Anything for you Lisa! i wish I lived closer to you to help you through this challenging time. Love you!!!

[*Nadine*]

Stop making me cry at work damn it!!!

 

My mother taught me, as early as I can remember, to live by the golden rule 'Do unto others as you wish others do unto you'. I have never forgotten it and being on this forum has showed me that there are many wonderful women out there who live by the same rule. I am so happy there are so many people supporting and caring for you through this difficult time. It's the least we can do when we are scattered all across the world and can't be there in a physical sense.

 

love love.

[cougs]

sorry nadine, but the rest of BDW needed to know how wonderful my shoutbox girls are! maybe if you all stopped being so sweet i could stop crying at work too, lol!

 

one day we WILL manage a get-together and it's going to be madness!

[vlynnw]

Lisa, you made me cry all over again!! I'm just so happy that I was able to help out. My friend lost his father to the same thing (i'm not sure if I told you about that or not). It's true we may have all come together due to a DW, but we've reached beyond that and found that we not only have wonderful compassionate women to reach out to about our wedding vents and details, but also those trying times in our lives when having a strong support group becomes extremely important. I'm keeping you and your family in my thoughts and prayers.