community is a verb.

August 8, 2012 in General

So, so many beautiful messages of support as we start this journey. I cannot begin to express what this community means to me.

As we navigate the health care system, there are moments of fear and then love. And laughter. Emma created this cartoon of Kid Ney and his Spot (“Heal, Spot, Heal!”) to help visualize the intention we have of a healed kidney free of cancer. You can find some of the journey on the 3x3x365 blog I write with two amazing friends.

Friends like The Rock Fairy have created magical love–selling her amazing rocks to help us with medical costs.

And Amy McCracken has spent days putting together a site for donations that made both me and John weep. If you can help by giving or sharing the link with your networks, our thanks.

Community is a verb. A beautiful, beautiful verb.

xoxo

About Patti Digh

Patti Digh is an author, speaker, and educator who builds learning communities and gets to the heart of difficult topics. Her work over the last three decades has focused on diversity, inclusion, social justice, and living and working mindfully. She has developed diversity strategies and educational programming for major nonprofit and corporate organizations and has been a featured speaker at many national and international conferences.

8 comments to " community is a verb. "


Gail Livingston

August 8, 2012 AT 11:03AM

Patti, my heart is so with you and your family. I just posted a request for health care issues, esp. women’s, but all health care “navigations.” I am writing a letter to the editor. Please share anything you might experience that might help others realize — know you don’t have time, but if you feel like it, you can post to my wall or here or to our VerbTribe page. or my private email. Blessings are about relationships — not just the receiver or the giver. Those who are blessed will bless the world. I will definitely visit the site to see how I can help

Verb Tribe graduate June 2012 with many blessings,
Livi

Kimberly Shepherd

August 8, 2012 AT 11:08AM

Just shared with my community on Facebook and will continue to do so and to hold you and your family close in thoughts and prayers of healing.

Mary Gordon

August 8, 2012 AT 11:22AM

Patti I can’t think of anything bright intelligent or comforting to say except that along way away someone is thinking of you and Mr Brilliant

Angelndeskies1

August 8, 2012 AT 12:58PM

Patti,
I just navigated the healthcare system w/ my sister, Carolyn, who is also uninsured. She has had a collapsed lung on three different occasions from weak places in her lungs from years of smoking. The last time she was hospitalized she met an angel in the form of David Ellertson who performed a video assisted thorascopy pleurodesis (an operation that forms scar tissue to help the lungs attach to the chest wall so they cannot collapse). We also dealt with uncaring supposedly professionals who had no compassion at all that gave you the feeling that you were being warehoused. It is up to us to speak our truth as we navigate these systems and to not allow professionals to treat us in a manner that is not aligned with our best interests. This is how change comes about……..one person can affect change that shines out like a beacon to change a whole system. Change in that system affects another system and that another. Pretty soon the whole world is a better place because of the actions of one person or a small group of people. We are all interconnected! This is how a COMMUNITY is built.

Kerry Murray

August 8, 2012 AT 2:03PM

Found you via Pam Slim :) Wishing you all the best on this journey. I have been down the cancer road with more than one loved one. Sending you much strength.

Kid Ney and his Spot is brilliant. Love it on every level. Put it on a shirt, especially a youth shirt or a onesie, and I’ll buy one, actually two as I have twin baby nieces (in addition to contributing to the donation site.)

Reposting your link on FB.

All the best, Kerry

Maureen

August 8, 2012 AT 3:11PM

These are such wonderful initiatives on John’s behalf. I’ve made a donation to the fund. No one with any illness such as cancer should have to be concerned about money to receive treatment. As I found when my brother was dying from cancer, there is a community willing to step forward to offer support, information, errand-running, or just to sit in the quiet with you. John and Patti, know that we are all here to walk with you. My cancer group holds you in their circle of prayers and blessings.

mj

August 8, 2012 AT 5:19PM

Emma, you are brilliant! A bit of sparkle in the darkness of the unknown.

“heal, spot, heal” Surely, as we in your community, collectively repeat this, that damn spot will obey, how can it not?!

Something Good « A Thousand Shades of Gray

August 13, 2012 AT 5:31PM

[…] John F. Ptak Relief Fund. Read Patti’s post, “Community is a Verb,” or visit the Team Brilliant Facebook page. If I or anyone I love finds themselves in this […]