#My21for31 Day 12: Yesterday I posted about Gigi’s Playhouse and how we have gained a support system that we call family. In August, right before I was about to start back at school Lori Spector Baker called me because she wanted me to call a new mom that had contacted Gigi’s. This was August 2012. Madylin was only 4 months old! I expressed my hesitation with calling the mom because I was still new to this. I didn’t know what I was doing!! Jaimie Rios, who had called me when I contacted Gigi’s was out of town and Lori had the confidence in me that I could do this. I was terrified and it was a lot of pressure. I agreed to do it because Gigi’s had helped me so much already in Madylin’s short life that I wanted to help someone else. I called Monika Wojtowicz and we talked on the phone for a very long time about her daughter, Annie. Annie had a lot going on with the medical issues. I listened to Monika as she told me about Annie and her fears. When I hung up the phone I was so glad I called her. I felt awful for all that Annie was going through and the fears that Monika had. Annie was too sick to come to Gigi’s or really even go out so Monika and I stayed in touch through Facebook. I met Monika and Annie for the first time at Gigi’s Fest 2012. I wanted to hug Monika and never let her go. I wanted to hold Annie and make her all better. Over time my friendship with Monika grew closer and closer. I prayed for Annie, Monika, and their family every single night. Anyone that has been Facebook friends with me for a while knows who Annie is because I would so frequently post about her. Our Gigi’s family banned together for much of the earlier part of this year to support Annie’s family when Annie was going through her worse. Annie was struggling with an Unbalanced AVSD and Pulmonary Hypertension. Having a child with Down syndrome takes you on a journey that you never expected. There are ups and there are downs. A lot of my ups have had to do with Gigi’s Playhouse and the people I have met there, my Gigi’s Family. What Monika and her family were going through was unimaginable. I never thought that this would be part of the journey. We lost Annie in June of this year. It was tragic and unfair. No one will ever understand why but the impact that Annie had while she was here was absolutely amazing. Annie brought Monika and to me and to other Gigi’s moms. Annie touched so many people from all over the world with her story. People that have never ever met Annie were praying for her. Now in October we are still thinking about Annie. We think about her every day. She is not physically with us anymore but the impression she left will always be in our hearts. Monika will always be part of our family and we will always be behind her. Today was such an awesome day as we honored Annie at the Buddy Walk. #TeamAnnieGoldenHeart. We will forever remember you Annie! We know you are shining down on us, watching over all your friends and family. Monika, I love you and cherish our friendship, you know I think of you as another sister. Annie Golden Heart will be with us every day! While we were honoring Annie today another member of our Gigi’s Family lost their dad to cancer. We have been praying for them and will continue to pray for healing during this time of loss. C- Los Vasquez These moments affect our Gigi’s Family but they also only make us stronger and our connection stronger. I know that our Gigis Family will ban together to help through this loss too. We stick together through it all! We always have each other’s backs. I feel beyond blessed to call these people my family and will do anything for them!
Posted on: Mon, 13 Oct 2014 01:12:04 +0000
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