I have to say that tonight I was shocked beyond belief at the outpouring of support by total strangers.
We were the first customers on their doorsteps about two years back and I have always felt a special place in my heart for owner Pariza. She has always been so sweet and caring and attentive. We have always loved a night out at
our neighborhood restaurant and she has always been so great with the boys. We even joke that she is their girlfriend. Fast forward to last summer and being in the hospital several weeks and not eating for so long AMBLI was the first place I went before going home to take a shower. I went in the door and told Pariza about Daniel’s diagnosis and we both cried. She told that exact story tonight when she introduced us at a fashion show she and co-owner Kelli hosted at their restaurant. This was their first annual fashion show in conjunction with awesome store Pink! and Blondie’s hair salon and it was done in an effort to bring the community together to support one of it’s own. Now to me I understand this to mean someone not only in your community or neighborhood but probably someone you know. Like when our friends and family put together a bone marrow drive for Daniel. It had a great turnout (in the several hundreds) and within one maybe two degrees of separation we were either related to (thanks to Rob’s side of the family) or knew every person who showed up. But not tonight. It was a small affair of maybe 50 or 60 people that bought tickets through the restaurant to show support for Daniel and my family as people in their community. Earlier in the afternoon Pariza asked me to come early and have a speech ready to tell Daniel’s story. I am terrible at public speaking and was already nervous. I tried to prepare something and although I could talk forever about Daniel how would I summarize it for perfect strangers who were coming specifically to hear about him. Well I guess this is what I have been doing in this blog for the past year so I quickly wrote down a few notes and got ready to go.
When I arrived I was a bit early but was greeted by Kelli and Pariza, always warm and welcoming. I saw two people I knew (but not well) parents of a good friend who were there to support Daniel, but no one else. Instantly uncomfortable and now consumed with thinking of speaking I am starting to panic and Rob is still an hour from being here for my support. Daniel didn’t come because there were going to be to many people we wouldn’t know ( and that was certainly true, not a one) and also because he had another eye procedure this morning and his eyes were still sore. Lucky bastard, saved from social awkwardness. I go back to nursing my half a glass of sparkling wine, trying not to get drunk off of it before I have to speak. (honestly, half a glass is enough to make me tipsy). Pariza introduces a few people to me as they mosey in but so far it is a luke warm atmosphere. Then it starts getting crowded and not a single familiar face, until finally Rob shows up. Thank goodness. He sits down at the head of the runway where we have been given the seat of honor just in time for the show to start. I am now glad I wore a sleeveless jumpsuit because I am nervous as all get out to speak.
Pariza starts with the story of our first meeting and then of me sharing my news of Daniel…ugh. She took the beginning of my speech. Crap, think, think, think. Punt. Well we have been doing that all year right s here we go. I am now already tearing up from our introduction so who the hell cares now. And then the room disappears and even though I read my speech that I wrote roughly an hour before I find it so simple to talk about Daniel and all he has achieved this year. I don’t know how my speech was but I do know that everyone clapped when I said that this year Daniel beat cancer and this year he finished his freshman year of school with honors and I recall finishing it without crying. I am getting better and better at that.
After my speech and a few others there was a fabulous fashion show with the most adorable, freshest amateur models you have ever seen. I am certain both Matthew and Daniel are sorry they missed that part. Not so much my speech, but certainly the girls. Immediately after the fashion show Rob and I were approached by several people. Everyone giving prayers and support and encouragement and pure love. Total and complete strangers that came specifically because they have heard our story. One lady came to tell me her brother was a donor and he met his young recipient and they have a great relationship and run a fundraiser together. Another woman just wanted to say she is thinking of us. Another is woman came to introduce herself from NY and tell us her story and say she understood because she was here with her daughter who is 19 and had been diagnosed at 4 years old had problems againat 6 and had a transplant and is a beautiful thriving college student now. Every time I looked at her during the night she smiled at me and I teared up. Her grandmother spoke to me soon after and spoke from the heart from the grandmother’s perspective and I lost it. I thnk Rob did as well. There are so many levels to this disease. Someone Rob used to bowl with came up to us much later in the night and told us he made a nice donation just knowing it was a kid in need having no idea it was Rob’s kid. The theme was the same the whole night through strangers wanting to help and feeling something for this special kid. In my speech I said what Daniel was hoping to designate his money towards. Seeing as though he is so determined and so focused seemed to make these strangers more familiar and more generous somehow. I do not know what they will give Daniel and I don’t think it really matters. It was not about the money. It was that complete and total strangers came together to give of their thoughts and their tears and their wishes for an unknown child that asked for nothing and certainly asked for none of what he got this past year. He will use his donations well and for something that he deserves and for something that will better him. It was intended for something purely fun for him this summer and I plan to not interfere with that one little bit.
We were the first customers on their doorsteps about two years back and I have always felt a special place in my heart for owner Pariza. She has always been so sweet and caring and attentive. We have always loved a night out at
our neighborhood restaurant and she has always been so great with the boys. We even joke that she is their girlfriend. Fast forward to last summer and being in the hospital several weeks and not eating for so long AMBLI was the first place I went before going home to take a shower. I went in the door and told Pariza about Daniel’s diagnosis and we both cried. She told that exact story tonight when she introduced us at a fashion show she and co-owner Kelli hosted at their restaurant. This was their first annual fashion show in conjunction with awesome store Pink! and Blondie’s hair salon and it was done in an effort to bring the community together to support one of it’s own. Now to me I understand this to mean someone not only in your community or neighborhood but probably someone you know. Like when our friends and family put together a bone marrow drive for Daniel. It had a great turnout (in the several hundreds) and within one maybe two degrees of separation we were either related to (thanks to Rob’s side of the family) or knew every person who showed up. But not tonight. It was a small affair of maybe 50 or 60 people that bought tickets through the restaurant to show support for Daniel and my family as people in their community. Earlier in the afternoon Pariza asked me to come early and have a speech ready to tell Daniel’s story. I am terrible at public speaking and was already nervous. I tried to prepare something and although I could talk forever about Daniel how would I summarize it for perfect strangers who were coming specifically to hear about him. Well I guess this is what I have been doing in this blog for the past year so I quickly wrote down a few notes and got ready to go.
When I arrived I was a bit early but was greeted by Kelli and Pariza, always warm and welcoming. I saw two people I knew (but not well) parents of a good friend who were there to support Daniel, but no one else. Instantly uncomfortable and now consumed with thinking of speaking I am starting to panic and Rob is still an hour from being here for my support. Daniel didn’t come because there were going to be to many people we wouldn’t know ( and that was certainly true, not a one) and also because he had another eye procedure this morning and his eyes were still sore. Lucky bastard, saved from social awkwardness. I go back to nursing my half a glass of sparkling wine, trying not to get drunk off of it before I have to speak. (honestly, half a glass is enough to make me tipsy). Pariza introduces a few people to me as they mosey in but so far it is a luke warm atmosphere. Then it starts getting crowded and not a single familiar face, until finally Rob shows up. Thank goodness. He sits down at the head of the runway where we have been given the seat of honor just in time for the show to start. I am now glad I wore a sleeveless jumpsuit because I am nervous as all get out to speak.
Pariza starts with the story of our first meeting and then of me sharing my news of Daniel…ugh. She took the beginning of my speech. Crap, think, think, think. Punt. Well we have been doing that all year right s here we go. I am now already tearing up from our introduction so who the hell cares now. And then the room disappears and even though I read my speech that I wrote roughly an hour before I find it so simple to talk about Daniel and all he has achieved this year. I don’t know how my speech was but I do know that everyone clapped when I said that this year Daniel beat cancer and this year he finished his freshman year of school with honors and I recall finishing it without crying. I am getting better and better at that.
After my speech and a few others there was a fabulous fashion show with the most adorable, freshest amateur models you have ever seen. I am certain both Matthew and Daniel are sorry they missed that part. Not so much my speech, but certainly the girls. Immediately after the fashion show Rob and I were approached by several people. Everyone giving prayers and support and encouragement and pure love. Total and complete strangers that came specifically because they have heard our story. One lady came to tell me her brother was a donor and he met his young recipient and they have a great relationship and run a fundraiser together. Another woman just wanted to say she is thinking of us. Another is woman came to introduce herself from NY and tell us her story and say she understood because she was here with her daughter who is 19 and had been diagnosed at 4 years old had problems againat 6 and had a transplant and is a beautiful thriving college student now. Every time I looked at her during the night she smiled at me and I teared up. Her grandmother spoke to me soon after and spoke from the heart from the grandmother’s perspective and I lost it. I thnk Rob did as well. There are so many levels to this disease. Someone Rob used to bowl with came up to us much later in the night and told us he made a nice donation just knowing it was a kid in need having no idea it was Rob’s kid. The theme was the same the whole night through strangers wanting to help and feeling something for this special kid. In my speech I said what Daniel was hoping to designate his money towards. Seeing as though he is so determined and so focused seemed to make these strangers more familiar and more generous somehow. I do not know what they will give Daniel and I don’t think it really matters. It was not about the money. It was that complete and total strangers came together to give of their thoughts and their tears and their wishes for an unknown child that asked for nothing and certainly asked for none of what he got this past year. He will use his donations well and for something that he deserves and for something that will better him. It was intended for something purely fun for him this summer and I plan to not interfere with that one little bit.