::Save Lori's House::

Sometimes, just when things seem to be more or less on an even keel, something will happen that forces you to stop everything and Do Something About It.

I had hoped that, tonight, I'd be in bed earlier, but I happened to check my bloglines one last time, and caught the most recent entry to my new favorite kiddie craft blog, The Crafty Crow.

But instead of another fun activity, there was a graphic, and a short paragraph, about a woman who was at risk of foreclosure on her home. This, of course, is the sad reality for many people in our country right now. The difference here is that she's a single mom of a 7-year old son, and she's bedridden, and on a respirator, because she has ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease).

My father had ALS. It is a merciless disease, and one without much hope, and I cannot imagine laying in a bed, knowing I didn't have very much longer to live, and struggling to come to terms with not being there for my child as he grew up. It was hard enough watching my father struggle with his emotions, as he gave voice to his grief and anguish over knowing he'd never be able to play catch or go fishing with his grandson. Even now, the memory of that day is so viscerally painful, with the sadness of the loss - for all of us - as (or maybe more) searing now as it was nine years ago.

I donated, but I also felt that I needed to share Lori Hall Steele's story. If you feel compelled to help in some way, then so much the better.

Save Lori's House (information and paypal donation link)

The Lori Hall Steele Fundraising Blog

A poignant essay written by Lori Hall Steele, about her then-4yo son's fear of losing his mom

Yesterday's Babycenter blog entry about Lori's situation