It's our turn: support Kathleen Crinnin!
SHORT VERSION:
This is a fundraiser in support of Kathleen Crinnin's healing process . Kath was injured about six weeks ago. She has already had surgery and is home recovering while Jim provides the required daily care. She is doing very well, but the depth of this injury has surprised and challenged her to the core. I asked her if I could do this GoFundMe. Though it is a vulnerable thing to do, she bravely said yes. There are many reasons to donate to this campaign. The Syracuse Community Choir is leading this with me because Kathleen has been an invaluable support and collaborator as a consultant and volunteer. She was working for the Choir when the injury occurred.
Because:
+ She is the most generous community leader we know.
+ She is the one who would be doing a GoFundMe for any us!
+ It's a good thing Kath valued family, community, creativity and physical well-being as an art form. We have all benefitted from her commitment and excellence. Those things were an investment that has paid off and supported her community in more ways than we can imagine.
+ Now it's our turn to support her as best we can. This page is a request for donations, but that's not meant to ignore all of the ways that people are stepping up to help.
+ No one has done more for her than Jim. It's a good thing he's been home and can provide daily care. Kath could literally not have made it through these six weeks without him. This care is an investment in Kathleen's well-being.
+ Kath is not going to be able to earn any money as a teacher, artist, or contractor for several months.
+ Having money will help Kathleen and Jim to focus on the reality they find themselves in - they need to work together so that Kath fully recovers from this injury. She wants to get back to working and teaching and painting and so on, but she cannot do that for a while. Relaxing and breathing would mean the world to them both right now.
+ Last but not least, if YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE A TEAM MEMBER, please contact me and I will add you - plus anything you want to say on this page!
All of the gifts, energy and love that we can send to Kathleen will be a profound part of her healing process. Please feel free to share this page with the broader community who have experienced Kathleen and her role in this world!Let's love her up right now.
We will have a party to celebrate her wellness when she feels the time is right. And you know there will be dancing.
Thank you all for the gorgeous and generous community we are honored to be a part of.
Much love, Sandy Cioffi and the Syracuse Community Choir
Kath and I during a visit to Seattle this year
Community Choir quilt hung by Kath and Jim and Terri and Lisa every year for winter solstice.
LONGER VERSION:
Kathleen Crinnin is the most generous community-centered person I have had the honor to know. On top of that, I am lucky enough to have been friends with her for over 33 years. In that time, I have experienced her enormous gifts over and over. She has been there for me at the most profound levels during the most dire, dark and lonely moments of my life. And we have shared some of the most expansive levels of joy, creativity, laughter and living large. And I know as I type these words, that dozens of you who read this will be able to say exactly the same thing!
Kath in her fully standing glory
Kathleen is hurting. She took a really rough fall and cracked, slammed, and scraped away into a challenging healing process. We all know that she is so strong and capable that we trust, along with her that she will get through this. And of course, she will. But I know from personal experience that when you crack your body, it's powerful and surprising how much trauma pours out of that crack. 
Kath getting her staples removed after surgery
Trauma is trauma and pain is pain and you can find yourself in a pea soup of it. Somehow the physical injury means so much more in that way that a rehabilitation process can require an emotional and spiritual process as well. I am sending this with Kathleen's permission, but want you all to know it was at my insistence that this ask move forward. Of course many of you may want to sign on as well, I simply want to take responsibility for the idea as I know it can feel very vulnerable for the recipient.
Here are a few photos of the recovery process - from a new handle on the back door, to the bed in the downstairs studio and the wheelchair - it all tells a story. Kath is getting outside when she can and doing as much physical therapy as she is currently allowed and able to do.
Back in the days of NIA training, which Kathleen looks forward to being able to do again!
Kathleen will focus on rehab and her health. She will get back to NIA as soon as she can. Let's help her with the money while she does the rest!