Oh Goodness, Today I found out that I would indeed be speaking at the LifeShare Donor appreciation Lucheon on Wednesday...and I will be introducing Don Raborn... I haven't met Don, but I've met his wife, Staci and his sis-in-law "Mo" and they were wonderful at the St. Jude Childrens Marathon...Why am I so nerved up about meeting him? I cant explain in words how much it means to me to meet this family. I have followed up on their son Jake since December of 2004... I checked his website EVERYDAY and I still do now, just to get an update on how they are all doing. For three years, I prayed for them, smiled with them, and in then end...I cried for them at the loss of their precious Jake Owen.
My Cousin Zhohn can testify...Jakes story has sparked a fire in both of us. Just this past December (2007) she and I hopped in her car with neon green window paint that read "Team Jake Rocks," and a "believe" sticker in the back windsheild! We made an eight hour trip to Memphis for the marathon to cheer for Team Jake!! We had Green posters with Pictures of Jake on it... ready to scream at the top of our lungs, "GO TEAM JAKE!" Thinking back on it, I can remember the Adreneline rush.
Zhohn and I made it to the Fedex Forum early and we sat around taking pictures of the runners waiting on the Raborns to show up. I think Zhohn and I were both watching the door just waiting on a familiar face to walk in. I guess we were there about a half hour when Zhohn says, "Casey, thats Mo!" as she points to a woman in a ball cap pushing a little pink bundle around in a stroller. After we surveyed the room, I spotted Staci and everything I ever wanted to say to her left my mind and I was stuck standing there like a blooming idiot.
How does a perfect stranger walk up to someone and say the things that have been held in for 3 years? And really, all I wanted to say was..."I love you guys... I prayed for Jake through all of it right along with you...and I cried as tho he was part of my life when he passed away." It sounds so simple now that I think about it, but at the time all I could get out was, "Staci? I'm Casey, Can I have a hug?" (WHAT AN IDIOT SHE MUST HAVE THOUGHT I WAS!) But she did open her arms a hug me tightly!
I would give anything to go back to that one moment in time, just to say what was on my heart... Oh well...I hereby vow to speak to her and Mo next year like I have sense.
I think meeting Don has me nervous because I dont want a replay of Memphis... That would be my luck... In front of a crowd with my words caught in my throat looking like an idiot.
I really wish Zhohn could be there. She is the one person who introduced me to Jakes CaringBridge page. She called me to tell me that he'd passed away, she is the one who signs the guest book once a day. It's not fair that I can have this experience and she can't.
Zhohn, If you read this...I promise to make you proud of me...and I will try not to make an idiot out of myself. If I do however mess up while giving my speech....I promise not to use your name. Ha!
Anyway... Those are my thoughts this evening... I didnt have a therapy session this week, so I had to vent this way! Thank God for BlogSpot.com!
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2 comments:
Hi Casey...thanks for stopping by and commenting on my blog. No one reads it yet so I was very excited to have comments!! I loved reading your story about meeting the raborns. You are lucky! I also feel like I know them...especially Mo. I've been reading their site forever!
Good Luck Wednesday, you'll do fine!
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