save your sanity for later.

The response to my post meant that I had the funding I needed for the emergency shit (that had to be paid within the next 4 days) within the first 4 hours of my plea. I see this as such a manifestation of love that I feel truly overwhelmed.

Even now I'm completely tongue-tied and I can only pray that this doesn't offend anyone, but the only way I can describe how I felt was to tell you what happen when Josh saw my paypal account history and he wanted to know what that was.

I said I'd asked my friends on dreamwidth (and lj) for donations that they could reasonably spare. He looked at the transaction history of more than 20 people and amounts ranging from 3 dollars to more than 50 times that... and said:

"Look, I want you to look at that."

And I couldn't, because my eyes were blurred and my glasses fogged from sudden precipitation, but he knelt down and whispered in my ear.

"Erika, sweetheart, you give until it hurts because you're scared that people will reject you if you need something. But this is what happens when you need something: we love you back.

"Look at how much love there is. Look at how many notes you've received that say nothing but "Pay it forward" or "Best wishes", baby. Look at how many people are so generous with their hard won funds, that they send you the amount they can, even though you know times are so hard right now. Imagine how many other people would have done it if they could have, who are holding you in their thoughts right now."

I love you so much, he said. I just wish you could see how worthy you are of all good things.

And, god help me, for a minute there, I really did connect with how universally we all deserve to be loved, myself just as much. And when I came back to myself, I was clinging to Josh and crying, and he'd taken my glasses off and was kissing my forehead.

---

If any of the people who made a donation would like to get in touch with me further, I would like to thank you personally, but of course it's not necessary. You can PM me on dreamwidth or livejournal, anonymous commenting is turned on and screened if you prefer to remain anonymous, and you can always email me at erika@dreamwidth.org as well.

Should you prefer to remain anonymous to the extent possible, which is more than okay, I won't contact you further. I just wanted to let you know simply know that all the donations I received I treasure and will pay forward, and both of us (and probably the dogs too) appreciate down to the very soul the concrete manifestations of good wishes from my friends and from strangers.

The dogs thank you because Mommy being less freaked out = more time for snuggling.

( images of me as I was this morning )

So, we (my father and I) took the cat that pretty much single handedly made my childhood livable to the vet.

I had to take my dad for two reasons: a) I can't pay for this, unfortunately and b) I didn't want to drive to the ass-end of Iowa City alone in the snow.

Anyway, you may wish to skip this next part if you're in a delicate condition.

( Read more... )

Thank god, the vet comes back and says that he is making new red blood cells. Thank god. Thank GOD. They'd like to keep him overnight. My dad declines because he's a penny pinching ________. I start considering donating plasma as a viable work opportunity.

Long story very very short, after scaring the shit out of me and causing me to cry more in two hours than I have in the past 6 months, it turns out he's one tough motherfucker, who will, most likely, be fine. And my parents will have to give him 2 liquids and 1 pill daily, and wash him 3 times a day. SO THERE. HA.

I made a new icon in honor of the occasion.