There is a young mother of three in our community that is battling cancer. Her favorite color is orange. She is one of those women everyone likes and respects, who is kind to everyone, has a loving, supportive husband, and should be enjoying the prime of her life. However, she is undergoing one invasive and scary treatment after another.
One of her friends had the idea that she'd get a bunch of orange vinyl ribbon, cut it into strips and put it in a tub outside of the school for anyone wanting to take one, tie it around their street tree, and show support on a particularly grueling day. I went by the school at 8:40 AM, twelve hours after the mass e-mail went out and less than an hour after the ribbons were put out, and I got the very last one.
The demand was so great they did a second run. Now you cannot drive through our neighborhood without seeing tree after tree after tree wrapped in a bright orange bow. On the street where this woman lives every house for a solid mile is decked out. Some people have tied them to posts on their house, one of the teachers at the school tied one to her bicycle, they are showing up everywhere.
The outpouring of love, prayers, support and help is enough to bring me to tears just looking out the window, and forget about it when I walk or drive through the neighborhood, it's an ugly cry every time. It's a concrete reminder that we do not walk alone. We are all tied together by invisible ribbons, weaving our stories together into One.
Amen.
16 comments:
I love your neighborhood! Can you guys adopt ours?
Oh, Carrie...this is too too. I am going to link to this for Love Thursday.
Love.
What heartwarming support from the community. Beautiful.
And I loved this..."We are all tied together by invisible ribbons, weaving our stories together into One."
This makes me cry, too, -- and want to tie an orange ribbon to my tree as well. What a beautiful expression of community. I will say a prayer for this woman and one of thanksgiving for all of you.
What a powerful story of hope and love and connection.
People are good.
Love.
Sounds like a lovely neighborhood.
I love your hood! There is a town here in New York called Fairport, and recently 5 recent high school graduates died (all girls) in a car accident. The ENTIRE town--every tree, every post, was covered in pink ribbon similar to your orange ribbons. I could not drive through that town without sobbing! The support your local mom has is amazing! Great post!
Things like this shine with the spirit of God in all of us.
love it.
:)
tomorrow I will tie an orange ribbon too.
an no doubt, cry an ugly snotty red blotch swollen eye cry too.
Thanks Carrie for such a thoughtful and eloquent post. Sarah & I continue to be humbled beyond words at how this community is lifting us up and through this difficult time.
~Peter (Sarah, the orange ribbon gal's Husband)
As the mom of Peter, mom in law of Sarah and grandmama of Elliot, Ave, and Simon - there are no words to express my gratitude to all who love and support my dear ones. My tears are constant and my heart is full....
M/R/G
You captured Aunt Sarah perfectly. She is one of the most beautiful, kind, strong, loving and radiant women i have known. I couldn't be more proud to call her family. Thank you to every one in that neighborhood who show her support on a daily basis, it gives those of us farther away piece of mind knowing that she has such a presence of support with in her community. PSEAS deserves every ounce of support they can get, they truly are amazing.
Wow, your neighborhood sounds amazing.
We're Milwaukie but we too have our orange ribbon adorning our light post as you drive up to the house! All our thoughts and payers are with you & your family!
Love, "The Fitzgerld's"
As Sarah's parents, we are deeply saddened to report that she is rapidly losing her battle with cancer. Thank you for your comments, wishes and prayers in behalf of Sarah, Peter and their children.
God bless you.
Al and Mary Schor (Springfield, OR)
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