The Kindness of Strangers Letter Writing Campaign Pt.2

On April 6, 2004 I wrote the email following this note.  

I asked friends and strangers to send letters of support to my father who had been newly diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer.  He underwent a stem cell transplant and had many obstacles, but for the past five years he has been a survivor. A few months ago, after a routine check my father's doctor's informed him that the cancer was back and that there were a few options in treatment.  One treatment didn't work, and now he is on a very strong thalidomide treatment that we hope will take effect sooner than later.  My family continues to fight this horrible disease and be hopeful, but after 5 and a half years of sickness, it's very hard. 

And now i appeal to you in blogland, friends and strangers from near and far.  If this call touches you in some way, please take a moment to put pen to paper and send my parents (both my mom and dad.  It's a rough time for them both..) some words of healing and hope and light.  I know that the first time they received letters that they were touched and amazed.  We received letters from far away as Israel and Japan, and from close by as my next door neighbour.  And that was before Facebook, and Twitter and all that.  

In this difficult time, I am honestly feeling so afraid, and yet there is a calm inside me that i can't quite explain.  In my life experience there has been a two things that have made a huge difference.  Kind people and kind words.  I hope that we can extend this to my parents during this difficult time.  

I will let everyone know the progress of "The Kindness of Strangers Letter Writing Campaign" through this blog. 

Instructions are below, and i hope to hear from you.  If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at lisa@girlcancreate.com

 

Dear Lovely Wonderful People:

I am writing you this note to ask for a big kind favour.  As some of you might know, my father has been diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma which is easier understood as Bone Cancer.  This has been the most difficult time my family have ever faced.  He is

currently undergoing chemotherapy and will have a stem cell transplant in July.  For those of you who know my father, you know that he is a strong man, both in body

and in spirit.  He is the person who taught me how to laugh and to be honest and to follow my dream.  He and my mother have both given me an example of incredible love that i strive for in my own life.  And as you all may know, I am very close to my father. In fact, both of my brothers are as well.  My dad is an amazing father and person.  And right now, as you can imagine, my father needs some help. 

 

So, you might be asking yourself why am i telling you all this?  Good question.  The other day while i was thinking what could i possibly do to provide my father with more strength and inspiration.  So far, i have passed along stories, and books and quotes and art supplies and my time, of course, and then i thought what about the kindness of strangers.  What if my father was to recieve little notes in the mail.  And how could i coordinate this? Well, here i am. 

 

If you have the time or inclination, I am asking that you mail my father or my mother(she needs some support too) lighthearted, inspiring words and images in the

mail.  Quotes, little anecdotes, postcards, collage, whatever strikes your fancy. I suppose whatever you would like to recieve if you were sick and feeling a bit down.  My dad likes to laugh a lot so funny postcards might be a great idea.

 

I know that i might be asking a lot, and if you don't want to do it cool, but if you do, that would make me so happy. 

 

So.

here we go.

 

1.  Write a note to my dad, Jose or my mom, Carmen or both. nice and short or long and lovely, whichever

 

 

2.  Send it to

Jose 

Carmen 

c/o 88 Hallam St

Toronto, Ontario

M6H1W8

 

3. I will collect all of them and then give them to my dad in one big bunch.  If you feel like sending more than one then keep on putting them my way and i will pass them on...

 

4.  hug yourself and know that i am very thankful for you

 

5.  Please share with others who might be interested in writing a letter...

I would like to gather as many letters as i can..

if you have any questions please email me at

lisa@girlcancreate.com

 

and of course, from deep down in my heart, i thank you.

 

lots of love,

Lisa Pijuan-Nomura

 

 

My Wonderful Jungle

It looks a bit like a jungle in this photo, but i can't wait to start gardening again this year.  With my dad being sick i think it will be something that is very calming to my soul.  It was Carmi who reminded me about gardens in her blog post today.  You can check out this amazingly creative woman here!

Carmi posts daily about her work and her dogs, and is such a generous person.  I was lucky to meet here in real time at the One of A Kind Show and Sale!  

It's getting this warmer this week.  What do you want to plant in your garden of dreams?

beauty

this is a beautiful moment. of course it's a set up cause it's TV, but what a beautiful capture of such a stunning spirit. Wonderful.