For Mimi

Hello my name is Dani. I am a mother of 3 beautiful children and the daughter of a truly amazing, beautiful, loving, and inspiring woman. My mama is a fighter and always has been. I will try not to go on and on about what my mother truly means to me and my children but there is so much I have to say so bare with me.....

In the beginning of my life it was just me and my mama. It wasn't until I was almost 2 that she found me the most wonderful papa!!! Mama was always a hard worker. She was raised around horses and on a farm so I was lucky to have that same experience. I came from a family that truly loved horses but sadly horses are expensive. My family always showed horses but mainly on county fair circuits due to the fact we were not super wealthy people in a very wealthy sport. Everyone was happy with our county fair horses and enjoyed every summer but me, seeing all the high class specimens at the world championship horse show, wanted more. My mother worked multiple jobs to get me the best suits we could afford and horses that could at least not look out of place among the $50,000 to $100,000 animals. She would exchange labor at a barn just so I could train with (what I considered) the royalty of the saddlebred world. Driving me to Louisville or Lexington every week after school helping with homework along the way. My junior year of high school, after years and years of blood sweat and tears from my mama, I won the junior exhibitor 5 gaited pony championship!!!! My dreams had came true. I didn't win on a horse that I actually owned but because my mama made sure I was introduced to the right people, made the right connections and trained hard to be the best rider I could be, made a victory pass on those green shavings (the equestrian dream)!!!! When the excitement was over and a crowd of people surrounded me to congratulate my accomplishment I scanned the crowd for the only person I wanted to see at that moment. It wasn't my trainer, my peers, the owners of my beautiful horse companion, or even my friend that had come to cheer me on, it was my mama. Once I saw her she began to run as I also did with us meeting in the middle to embrace one another. WE had did it!!! A moment that was memorialized in an equestrian article I cherish to this day!!! It was years later when I had children of my own did I truly understand what my mother had done for me. I knew that if my daughter had wanted the exact same thing I had wanted, what that would mean for my husband and other 2 children. The time away and the money spent that we truly wouldn't have. I knew the kind of sacrifice my mom had actually made all those years ago!!!!

Unfortunately my mom's focus of fighting and surviving for me was transformed in a fight for her life 15 years ago. She was diagnosed with lupus and soon after lymphoma. Throughout the years she has done treatment after treatment (chemo, radiation, dialysis, biopsies you name it) even finally losing her hair in 2019. After her diagnosis she left her career in credit counseling to help my husband and I raise our first born since we were both working full time. Even on the days I know she just didn't feel well she made sure he went to the library, zoo, jump zone, and park. Along the way she was diagnosed with many more illnesses ( Graves disease and CHF) Because the medical bills just never stopped coming my mama returned to work, even in her frail state, to work at the Kroger deli. My parents just had no choice. Financially they were drowning. You can imagine the fear we all felt during the pandemic for my mother's health working in a public place coming into contact with so many people but I should have known she would survive and she did. Last year she was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis also while being diagnosed with TB this past winter into spring. This was the hardest diagnosis on her because she could not be around my 2 youngest children for 4 months straight. I thought we would truly lose her to depression and a broken heart but she made it through. In May the worst news was told to us. Her pulmonary fibrosis was stage 4 and her prognosis was averaged at only a year. Just recently with another biopsy that prognosis has not changed. I know my mother and I know she is beyond a fighter. She has overcame more than any one person should have to and we put out in the universe everyday that she will outlive this prognosis. I know she is tired though. She has fought for me, my brother, my dad, and my children and that is alot of weight to carry but if anyone could do it it is my mama!!!!

I have asked her for years to please allow me to do a gofundme for her due to the stress finances were causing but she always said no. She was embarrassed. Embarrassed to ask for help, embarrassed of her appearance (even though she is beautiful) and embarrassed that she would more than likely never be able to repay the kindness. All she has asked for is to have a good Christmas this year because we don't know if it is her last (do any of us really know though). For about 7 years she has been unable to purchase Christmas or birthday gifts for her grandchildren because the money just wasn't there. Let me say this though, my children in no way want, ask, or need any presents from my mother. She gives the best present of all and that is her time and memories. No matter how sick she feels she still plays duck duck goose, red light green light, and Simon says with my children. Takes them to parks and the library and on her very rare good days has sleepovers. My children will never remember what present they were given but they will remember those moments. All though I think it is unnecessary, I am sure there are many grandmother's out there that know spoiling your grandchildren is what every grandparent wants. While my brother and I help financially as much as we can, I am a stay at home mama with one income and my brother runs a small business on his own so we don't have alot to give. My hope is that this gofundme will provide money for my mama with her Christmas wish to spoil her grandchildren rotten. She also has asked to attend the festival of lights this year providing we can rent a wheelchair for her. My last hope is that just maybe we could raise enough money for my dad and mom to take a trip to their favorite place in the world Gatlinburg. They use to go every year but have not been able to afford it in ages. Anything left over will go to help my parents pay off as many medical bills as possible because believe me they have them. She currently sees an oncologist, rheumatologist, urologist, cardiologist, pulmonary and infectious disease doctors. With all that she still fights everyday!!!

I truly know times are tough for everyone and we do not want anyone to donate if they are unable to. Please understand that, depending on your belief system, sending positive energy out in the universe or praying for my mama is absolutely just as needed and just as welcomed and special!!!! We appreciate every single one of you and if you can share this gofundme as much as possible that would be so wonderful. If you made it to the end of this thank you for taking the time to read my thoughts and love for my mother.

-Attitude is everything

Love,

Dani