Anissa and I at BlogHer 09
This is a post that I really don’t want to write. But yet, I have to because Anissa Mayhew is a special person in my life and I can’t NOT do this.
If you don’t know already, Anissa suffered a massive stroke on Tuesday, Nov 17. She is in the hospital, in the intensive care unit, and it seems the whole world is waiting for her to wake up. There have been some signs of progress but I will not fully exhale until she does.
Anissa came into my life about a year and a half ago and she literally appeared out of nowhere. She left me a few blog comments and when I saw that she lived in my city, I was halfway psyched and halfway freaked out because hello? IN MY CITY.
Soon after, she hit me up on Twitter and before I knew it, we were making plans via email to drive to the regional BlogHer conference in New Orleans (since I had missed the BlogHer 08 conference in San Francisco due to a broken foot). That conference ended up getting canceled but it didn’t matter. We became fast friends regardless and one road trip to Orlando later, it was like we’d been friends for years.
Anissa always jokes that she stalked me before befriending me and I always say that I’m glad she did. We’ve had this same exchange more times than I can count and my answer will always be the same.
Why? Because Anissa is one of THOSE people. You know…the kind that make everything fun, even when it sucks; the kind that everyone wants to be around; the kind that has never met a stranger and makes everyone feel welcome.
But also? Because she gets me. She understands all my idiosyncrasies and she makes me feel loved in spite of them.
I know I’m not special. We’re very close friends but Anissa makes EVERYONE feel loved and THAT is why there is such an outpouring of support for her. Because every person she comes in contact with is touched by her bright spirit, generous heart and of course her ability to ALWAYS make you laugh. If you read Aiming Low or follow her on Twitter, you already know about Anissa’s trademark gift of humor…
The world is, quite simply, a darker place without Anissa actively being a part of it. She has three amazing kids—Peyton, her youngest, just one year into remission of childhood cancer—and they need her. Her husband? Needs her. Her friends? Need her. We ALL need her.
In addition to all her other sterling qualities, however, Anissa is, hands down, one of the strongest women I know and thus, I have to believe that she will fight her way back to us. Again.
It may take a year. It may take two years. But she WILL BE BACK. And I cannot wait because I miss her SO. DAMN. MUCH.
I know not everyone is into praying. I know some feel like they have to be religious to pray. I’m here to tell you that you don’t. All thoughts are a form of energy and when a large number of people focus that energy on one thing, it DOES make a difference.
So please—pray for Anissa, send positive thoughts to her, dance naked under a full moon for her; light a candle in her name; do whatever positive thing it is that YOU do…for our friend Anissa.
For the most current updates on Anissa’s condition, please check Hope4Peyton. For the PO Box address and other info on how you can help the Mayhews, please visit her Caring Bridge site.
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Help for Anissa Mayhew
November 17, 2009
11/21/09
My most recent post about Anissa can be found here.
11/20/09
For the most current updates on Anissa’s progress, please check her blog, Hope 4 Peyton. Anissa’s husband will be updating as necessary.
•••
As you may have heard, Anissa, our beloved friend and leader here at Aiming Low, suffered a massive stroke on Tuesday afternoon. She is in the hospital right now, in the ICU.
More than anything, Anissa needs your prayers and positive thoughts but to the many people who have offered help to the Mayhew family, here is some info on what you can do:
Things that would be helpful right now are gift cards to restaurants and gift cards to the movies or to Blockbuster (to help keep the kids’ occupied) and gas/hotel gift cards for her extended family. A P.O. Box has been set up to receive any items you wish to send, the address can be found below. Please don’t send anything to the hospital or the Mayhew home. If you have questions, please email helpforanissa@gmail.com
We ask that you please respect the Mayhew family’s privacy by NOT calling the hospital and we thank you all SO MUCH for your outpouring of love and support for Anissa and her family.
With thanks and love,
IzzyMom & the Aiming Low Team
If you would like to send something to Anissa and her family, we have set up a P.O. Box.
The Mayhew Family
860 Johnson Ferry Road 140-184
Atlanta, GA 30342
Posts about Anissa:
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