Lynne's daughter has been diagnosed and is in treatment for Leukemia. You can read about all that's been happening at her website.
This little girl and her family will be in my prayers. There is not much worse than watching your child be ill.
There will be NO "Open Gardens" this year, and probably not for a few more seasons.
http://plantlilies.com/
Thanks Echoes for this, of course we'll be sending all the prayers and good thoughts we can to them. Plants are so low on the priority list when something like this happens.
Echoes, thanks from me too for the info! I can't imagine having a child who is that ill, it stress's me to the end when the flu hits. So I'm counting my blessings and saying a prayer for Lynne's family.
Ann
O I am so saddened to hear this.
Hello Echoes. I have just read your post and I visited Lynne's website. Although I am new here and I don't know anyone I was just wondering if a "kitty" could be set up to help Lynne and her family, financially I mean. Perhaps whoever would be interested could send $1.00. With the member base here, even if half of us could come up with a dollar that would certainly help somewhat, don't you think? I get the impression that you are close with Lynne so could you be the "caretaker" of such a fund and then get it over to her and her family? Just a thought.......I cannot even begin to imagine what this poor lady is going through.
Lynne is an old and very dear friend/roommie of mine. Think she would be absolutely mortified if we did this. What we could do is
a) order lilies galore
b) send a flood of cards by snail mail
If she was a DGer that would be a good plan but am sure she would feel really embarrassed if we sent $$.
Am interested in what others feel, in case you collectively think I'm totally out to lunch.
Not meaning to hurt your feelings i58 etc in Port Severn. Thisis my gut feeling.
inanda
Hi inanda,
I did not realize that Lynne was not a member here and I totally respect your feeling on this. You certainly know her far better than I do. As I said, it was just a thought and you did not hurt my feelings in any way whatsoever.
I wouldn't have any problem ordering lilies at all.
I will keep my eye on this thread and follow everyone's lead.
Isn't it amazing that Gardeners always want to help! 1588560 thanks for getting the ball rolling on an action to help. I am happy to follow anyone's ideas and I am willing to order lilies to support Lynne and her family. Ginny can we send cards to her work address for the business?
Ann
I just put in my fall order a couple of days ago and sent her this message: "Thanks Lynnette. Sorry to hear about your troubles. Know that thoughts and prayers are with you and your family from many of your customers". I trust your judgement Ginny about what would be best.
Lynne's address is
Lynnette Westfall
Valley K Nursery
RR1
Edberg, Alberta
T0B 1J0
For those who want to send a card.
Thank you 158 for bringing this topic up. As we know, it is a sensitive issue, but when a child is seriously ill, all that goes out the window. Everyone wants to help, and there are needs that won't be met by the government or other agencies.
I haven't said anything, as I knew it would take Lynnette Westfall a few days to get through her emails and get back to me. I am not a close personal friend of hers, but what I know of her, makes me think of her as a friend. She has certainly been good to me in the past. I must now go asking for answers from site admin. I will be back when I have answers on how to do this and if it can be done here.
edited for a better word.
This message was edited Aug 5, 2009 5:15 PM
This space reserved.
OK, if anyone is interested in helping out or contributing in this project, please Dmail me for my email address.
This message was edited Aug 5, 2009 5:18 PM
God bless the little girl and her family. They're all in my prayers.
Dollie
What sort of 'project' do you have in mind?
I 'echo' inanda's comments! And as somebody who has been thru a session with cancer I can tell you I too would be mortified if I received a gift of $$ from a group of friends no matter how well intentioned.( and whom I did not know for the most part). What I needed ( I live alone except for the animals) was people to stop by and visit, to stay in touch, to come and do things like vacuum or weed or whatever I couldnt do and these things we cant do for Lynn because of the distance.
I just put in a lily order, I recommend her lilys to anybody who wants them. And perhaps a flood of cards for her daughter. Leukemia is not the death sentance it used to be but the treatment is pretty tough on anybody and they will need all the good wishes and prayers you can give them.
carolvan
This message was edited Aug 7, 2009 8:51 AM
Carol, maybe you misunderstood my posting. I have emailed Lynnette, and told her that it was suggested that some of us may want to contribute something for the extra expenses that they will have. She said she would normally say no, but this is different. There are costly comfort medications that aren't covered by the health plan. Traveling expenses are going to add up too. We must go off site to talk about raising any money. That is why I am asking peeps to dmail me for my email address. This is a personal decision for everyone and no pressure intended. I am also looking for ideas.
Of course they need all the other forms of support as well. If you want her daughter's name to put on the cards, dmail me.
OK thanks for the clarification.
Well, I've come over to see what has been suggested after my original post and all ideas are certainly ways to help and show that we all care. I too have had "experiences" in the past but unlike fancyvan, I worried the most about what we were going to do with me off of work and of course, all of that worrying only delayed the recovery (or so I was told by homecare, doctors, counsellors, etc., etc., etc.). Sure, easy for all of them to say - they were working! Thankfully, I recovered nevertheless and life went on but I have never forgotten that feeling and the fear that came with it. Being self-employed, as is my husband, we certainly weren't ready for a trial like that.
Oh, lots of friends and family came by (absolutely exhausting) and some family even insisted on moving in to "help" and all I really wanted was to be alone with my daughter and my husband because I honestly thought that "my time had come". I did not feel like socializing in the least. I just wanted to enjoy the closeness of the 3 of us whenever we could all be together and not worry about work or being a "good hostess" or anything like that.
I'm not quite sure how to explain it properly so it doesn't sound like I was being ungrateful because I WAS grateful and I certainly learned who my friends were but that constant worrying about money (rather, the lack of it) just never went away.
But, we are all different and being different does not make us wrong. Just individual and just human.
So, to not keep blabbering about this.....
In my own case, monetary assistance would have been gratefully appreciated but the gifts of love, meals, flowers and kind words were gratefully accepted.
I came back to reread this thread and since I've learnt that not everything is covered by Alberta Health (some medications are classed as comfort items -like anti-nausea things after chemo, not necessary to save life - ) things that cost hundreds of $$ every week - I've changed my mind totally. I think we should collect money and send to Lynne. We'll have to send privately so it wont be taxed as income. Also travelling back and forth to Edmonton all the time , just some of the expenses.
Am really sorry that I squashed this idea in the beginning. I'll look into how we can set up a fund for the family.
inanda aka Ginny
Ginny when I was having chemo I was given a prescription for an anti-nausea pill
which I took immediately before each chemo. The chemo and all the other treatment I had, surgery, radiation etc was free. The anti nausea pills of which I needed 4 were $100.00 each. Fortunately for me I was still employed and my employee health coverage paid most of that. I doubt Lynn has that sort of assistance. And of course she also as you mentioned has all the travel back and forth. I presume the hospital has accomodation for the parents.
Echoes you will be hearing from me too.
We now have a person in charge of this effort. annabell52 has agreed to hold the purse for any donations that are collected and get them to Lynne in whatever way is best for them. Thank you Ann. This is great, and you are right there close them when they go to Edmonton.
Umm, would anybody like to see some of my Valley K lilies? Where should I post them?
Echoes,
Where can we send any donations? Do we DMail annabell52 for that info?
Yes, please do that.
Ok everyone.
Who ever wants to participate please D mail me and I will give you my email address.
Ann
Hi All
I'm getting ready to send our help. If you still intend to participate please dmail me and I will wait for you.
At this point we will be able to support 12 trips for treatment!! What a difference some gardeners can make.
Ann
