Celebrating Love of a Mother & Daughter
Donation protected
Dear Reader,
I’m reaching out and asking for your financial assistance for two loves in my life: Brenda Smoak, to whom I was once married and Jenna Morgan Fanning, our dear and beloved daughter who, through the grace of God, we brought into the world together.
For the last eighteen months or so, Brenda has been battling ovarian cancer. The initial treatment regimen and surgery were thought to be effective, but another strain of the cancer is now resurgent with a vengeance.
Brenda is alive and well in mind and spirit, but her body and physical strength are waning. Though now totally bedridden, Brenda continues to work from home as much as possible, and is thankful to be employed by a company whose leadership has been supportive of her condition and challenges to date.
A visual artist with a long history of community building and collaboration, artist representation and marketing, Brenda started out as a decorative painter working for Smallbone of Devises as their West Coast painter. After moving to DC, she worked with interior designers and architects in many public and private venues. Later, her fair trade art gallery, Alchemy, became a popular venue that featured over 140 local artisans in Silver Spring, MD. When the gallery closed, due to impending construction in the area, it was clear that artists needed a way to get their story out to the public. In response, Brenda created a weekly internationally-read blog, Artists Tell Their Stories, featuring stories written by artists of all disciplines and abilities.
For the last five weeks or so, Jenna has been living with Brenda and taking care of her around the clock. Jenna has used the last of her paid leave and has filed for continuous leave under Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA). While FMLA guarantees job security for a period of time, it does so without income.
There are many blessings in this ordeal. The bond between Brenda and Jenna has become more beautiful, stronger and deeper since the onset of Brenda's illness and especially these last six weeks. I know the two of them will continue to find strength in each other and for one another.
Jenna says it’s a privilege to be with her mother and to spend as much time together as possible. Both are thankful that God has allowed them this time together, as they revel in each moment, appreciate the beauty around them and the love of the people and family who make up their village! Both are in awe of the support that continues to envelope and warmly embrace them.
While Jenna is grateful for the financial support that she’s received from family and friends, there is now a more urgent need to widen her circle of financial support.
Hence this GoFundMe campaign.
There are two primary goals for this campaign. First, to provide financial security to both Brenda and Jenna by helping both meet their medical and living expenses and offset lost income while on FMLA; and second, to do so in a way that is life affirming, where each donation is a personal expression of gratitude for something that Brenda or Jenna have done, or a tribute to their work or their being in the world.
One of the richest blessings out of this ordeal is that the three of us have begun working through this challenge as a re-unified family.
Facing death and dying has a way of sanctifying life. It provides a new perspective and compels urgency about what really matters. To use Brenda’s analogy: “the past is in my big back yard; we’re all on the front porch now and looking ahead."
Though times have never been more challenging, we're all feeling blessed to be on Brenda's front porch sharing the love that obtains and inheres in the precious largesse of every moment.
Thanks all for your consideration of financial support. Please know that your donation of any amount is greatly appreciated. Thanks too for your affirmations and tributes, for your expressions of gratitude and support for Brenda and Jenna.
With Gratitude,
Mitch Fanning
P.S. - We will keep you updated of Brenda's status from here and at CaringBridge. The best way to stay in touch and to check in is through CaringBridge. Jenna will read every message and reply to let you know if and when Brenda has energy and strength enough for a visit.
https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/brendasupdates2
A Favorite Poem from Jenna
The love between
a mother and daughter
is a bond of the strongest kind.
It is a love of the present,
interwoven with memories of the past
and dreams of the future.
It is wanting only the best
for each other and wanting to help
anytime there is need.
It is making time to be together
and knowing just what to do and say.
It is an unconditional,
forever kind of love.
by Barbara Cage
The Love Between A Mother and Daughter is Forever
BlueMountain Arts
I’m reaching out and asking for your financial assistance for two loves in my life: Brenda Smoak, to whom I was once married and Jenna Morgan Fanning, our dear and beloved daughter who, through the grace of God, we brought into the world together.
For the last eighteen months or so, Brenda has been battling ovarian cancer. The initial treatment regimen and surgery were thought to be effective, but another strain of the cancer is now resurgent with a vengeance.
Brenda is alive and well in mind and spirit, but her body and physical strength are waning. Though now totally bedridden, Brenda continues to work from home as much as possible, and is thankful to be employed by a company whose leadership has been supportive of her condition and challenges to date.
A visual artist with a long history of community building and collaboration, artist representation and marketing, Brenda started out as a decorative painter working for Smallbone of Devises as their West Coast painter. After moving to DC, she worked with interior designers and architects in many public and private venues. Later, her fair trade art gallery, Alchemy, became a popular venue that featured over 140 local artisans in Silver Spring, MD. When the gallery closed, due to impending construction in the area, it was clear that artists needed a way to get their story out to the public. In response, Brenda created a weekly internationally-read blog, Artists Tell Their Stories, featuring stories written by artists of all disciplines and abilities.
For the last five weeks or so, Jenna has been living with Brenda and taking care of her around the clock. Jenna has used the last of her paid leave and has filed for continuous leave under Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA). While FMLA guarantees job security for a period of time, it does so without income.
There are many blessings in this ordeal. The bond between Brenda and Jenna has become more beautiful, stronger and deeper since the onset of Brenda's illness and especially these last six weeks. I know the two of them will continue to find strength in each other and for one another.
Jenna says it’s a privilege to be with her mother and to spend as much time together as possible. Both are thankful that God has allowed them this time together, as they revel in each moment, appreciate the beauty around them and the love of the people and family who make up their village! Both are in awe of the support that continues to envelope and warmly embrace them.
While Jenna is grateful for the financial support that she’s received from family and friends, there is now a more urgent need to widen her circle of financial support.
Hence this GoFundMe campaign.
There are two primary goals for this campaign. First, to provide financial security to both Brenda and Jenna by helping both meet their medical and living expenses and offset lost income while on FMLA; and second, to do so in a way that is life affirming, where each donation is a personal expression of gratitude for something that Brenda or Jenna have done, or a tribute to their work or their being in the world.
One of the richest blessings out of this ordeal is that the three of us have begun working through this challenge as a re-unified family.
Facing death and dying has a way of sanctifying life. It provides a new perspective and compels urgency about what really matters. To use Brenda’s analogy: “the past is in my big back yard; we’re all on the front porch now and looking ahead."
Though times have never been more challenging, we're all feeling blessed to be on Brenda's front porch sharing the love that obtains and inheres in the precious largesse of every moment.
Thanks all for your consideration of financial support. Please know that your donation of any amount is greatly appreciated. Thanks too for your affirmations and tributes, for your expressions of gratitude and support for Brenda and Jenna.
With Gratitude,
Mitch Fanning
P.S. - We will keep you updated of Brenda's status from here and at CaringBridge. The best way to stay in touch and to check in is through CaringBridge. Jenna will read every message and reply to let you know if and when Brenda has energy and strength enough for a visit.
https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/brendasupdates2
A Favorite Poem from Jenna
The love between
a mother and daughter
is a bond of the strongest kind.
It is a love of the present,
interwoven with memories of the past
and dreams of the future.
It is wanting only the best
for each other and wanting to help
anytime there is need.
It is making time to be together
and knowing just what to do and say.
It is an unconditional,
forever kind of love.
by Barbara Cage
The Love Between A Mother and Daughter is Forever
BlueMountain Arts
Organizer and beneficiary
Mitch Fanning
Organizer
Silver Spring, MD
Jenna Fanning
Beneficiary
