For Grace; A Journey Toward Healing
Donation protected
They say what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. And though this is a tiring idea, our sweet Grace Theisen is a living, breathing example of one of the strongest people thanks to this truth.
As proud as we have been of this red sea road of hers, we are more than ready to monetarily contribute toward her healing journey because even the strongest fighters deserve to know a season of rest and replenishment.
For those of you who may not know Grace, she is someone who does so much and loves so many, SO consistently. She is a singer and song-writer as well as the co-founder of Songs Against Slavery, an advocate for the hurting, a friend to every stranger, and a warrior of chronic nerve pain for six years and counting.
That's 2,190 days; 52,560 hours; 3,153,600 seconds living, breathing, fighting for others and smiling through pain.
By the age of 25, this girl (beautifully enwrapped in back braces, walking canes, pain meds and all) has gone through two major back surgeries, countless appointments with numerous doctors, hundreds of ideas, and zero answers, has driven through too many states and borders for physical therapy, received x-rays upon x-rays of ridiculous amounts of screws and metals dug into her spine, and has portrayed mercy upon mercy when it comes to believing that there will be a day when freedom can be felt from her own body.
"It feels like this constant demon in your body that's trying to get out but it can't. It's like the worst sensation in the world in your body at all times."
As her community, it has been both terrifying and painful to watch someone so young who contributes so much active good into this world suffer in a way we cannot always see it. This is such the catch with chronic pain... that the fighting inevitably feels like it has to be done alone because so often it is invisible. Grace has been super humble about her needs from those who surround her but it is time to join hearts and let our sister know that we are listening, and we are willing to fight alongside her. We may never fully understand the depth of this seemingly never-ending pain and the tape the devil himself can play through her day about how easy it would be to just give up. But we can certainly show her through tangible actions that we are choosing to believe there IS an answer out there and there IS reason to hope and have purpose for tomorrow together.
It ISN'T foolish to dream about a day where she can run, walk, sleep, breathe, and SING without pain.
On top of managing living expenses while having to take a medical leave of absence from her beloved job, responsibilities, and creative ambitions due to the severity of her condition, she is now looking at unspeakable mountains in medical bills as well as costs from all of the travel, lodging, and the continuous need for physical therapy. We are hoping to help alleviate this process by raising $10,000.00 so that this sweet friend of ours can look forward to a journey toward answers and healing without being emotionally and financially spent on having to feel alone in the process. Oh the joys of being off of our parents' insurance.
I know this is said so often, but truly... truly, every dollar helps. Do not feel small because "all [you] can contribute" seems so minuscule compared to the goal.
That is SUCH a lie.
When we say that a community can gather and move mountains, we believe it. If you have known Grace for any number of hours, let alone years, you know full well what a beacon of hope she is on behalf of others. Let us give this back. Together, this goal is not scary. If we can even get 500 people (that is roughly only 12% of her Instagram followers) to donate $20.00, we will reach our goal. Can you believe that?? That's a movie night and popcorn for one these days! We can so do this! We're telling you -- don't let big numbers with dollar signs scare you! Together we are ABLE. Together we are STRONG.
Let us win this battle together. Let us journey toward healing with Grace. Let us remind a fellow soldier in war that she can look back to see an army of family behind her and an army of angels before her.
As proud as we have been of this red sea road of hers, we are more than ready to monetarily contribute toward her healing journey because even the strongest fighters deserve to know a season of rest and replenishment.
For those of you who may not know Grace, she is someone who does so much and loves so many, SO consistently. She is a singer and song-writer as well as the co-founder of Songs Against Slavery, an advocate for the hurting, a friend to every stranger, and a warrior of chronic nerve pain for six years and counting.
That's 2,190 days; 52,560 hours; 3,153,600 seconds living, breathing, fighting for others and smiling through pain.
By the age of 25, this girl (beautifully enwrapped in back braces, walking canes, pain meds and all) has gone through two major back surgeries, countless appointments with numerous doctors, hundreds of ideas, and zero answers, has driven through too many states and borders for physical therapy, received x-rays upon x-rays of ridiculous amounts of screws and metals dug into her spine, and has portrayed mercy upon mercy when it comes to believing that there will be a day when freedom can be felt from her own body.
"It feels like this constant demon in your body that's trying to get out but it can't. It's like the worst sensation in the world in your body at all times."
As her community, it has been both terrifying and painful to watch someone so young who contributes so much active good into this world suffer in a way we cannot always see it. This is such the catch with chronic pain... that the fighting inevitably feels like it has to be done alone because so often it is invisible. Grace has been super humble about her needs from those who surround her but it is time to join hearts and let our sister know that we are listening, and we are willing to fight alongside her. We may never fully understand the depth of this seemingly never-ending pain and the tape the devil himself can play through her day about how easy it would be to just give up. But we can certainly show her through tangible actions that we are choosing to believe there IS an answer out there and there IS reason to hope and have purpose for tomorrow together.
It ISN'T foolish to dream about a day where she can run, walk, sleep, breathe, and SING without pain.
On top of managing living expenses while having to take a medical leave of absence from her beloved job, responsibilities, and creative ambitions due to the severity of her condition, she is now looking at unspeakable mountains in medical bills as well as costs from all of the travel, lodging, and the continuous need for physical therapy. We are hoping to help alleviate this process by raising $10,000.00 so that this sweet friend of ours can look forward to a journey toward answers and healing without being emotionally and financially spent on having to feel alone in the process. Oh the joys of being off of our parents' insurance.
I know this is said so often, but truly... truly, every dollar helps. Do not feel small because "all [you] can contribute" seems so minuscule compared to the goal.
That is SUCH a lie.
When we say that a community can gather and move mountains, we believe it. If you have known Grace for any number of hours, let alone years, you know full well what a beacon of hope she is on behalf of others. Let us give this back. Together, this goal is not scary. If we can even get 500 people (that is roughly only 12% of her Instagram followers) to donate $20.00, we will reach our goal. Can you believe that?? That's a movie night and popcorn for one these days! We can so do this! We're telling you -- don't let big numbers with dollar signs scare you! Together we are ABLE. Together we are STRONG.
Let us win this battle together. Let us journey toward healing with Grace. Let us remind a fellow soldier in war that she can look back to see an army of family behind her and an army of angels before her.
Organizer
Ji Haverda
Organizer
Nashville, TN