I am reaching out to ask for your help in supporting my dear beloved Auntie and mentor Georgette Jowdy. She has been struggling with ongoing COVID-related complications since she first contracted the virus in March. She has been dealing with multiple disabling issues, including damage to her lungs and other organs, fatigue, and serious problems with her eyesight.

 Due to her compromised health, Georgette has only been able to return to work in a very limited way and is struggling to financially make ends meet. Some of her work was done in clients’ homes (pet care, house cleaning, etc.) and is now not a safe option during the pandemic. In addition, she has farm animals who need care and attention beyond her physical and financial capacity.

Georgette is one of the most unique and heart-centered individuals I have ever known. She is a rare person who lives a life guided by service, love, and generosity without expectation in return. After all these years of giving, it is time for her to receive the support of others.

 To provide you with some background, Georgette, with her husband Edgar, lived a full and simple life together as caretakers of the dairy herd at Eastleigh Dairy Farm in Framingham, MA. They cared for the herd with as much nurturance and respect as they would for their own family.  Then, eight years ago, Edgar suddenly and unexpectedly passed away in his sleep. Shortly after his passing she lost her home at Eastleigh. The farm was in danger of going under, and knowing that many of the herd would be sold off into unknown and possibly sad conditions, she raised the funds to keep 4 of her dearest cows, Summer, Little Beauty, Mac and Mason. Her friendship and bond with these animals was deep. She had raised them from infancy and nursed them through life threatening illness. It was these friendships that carried her through her time of intense grief and loss.

 Soon after the loss of Edgar and her home, Georgette picked up and trailered her little herd and three dogs across the country to the Pacific Northwest WA. Here she resettled on her brother’s lavender farm where she set up a modest sanctuary for the animals. As an animal empath,  caring for her small herd and drawing from their playfulness and sense of humor, has helped Georgette move through her grief and kept her rooted in her life.. 

 In addition to caring for animals, Georgette has also served as a powerful spiritual counselor, supporting many people over the years from issues as diverse as depression and anxiety to devastating life circumstances. As someone who has benefitted from her counsel countless times, I can honestly say that without Georgette’s grace and loving guidance, I don’t believe I would have made it through the very toughest experiences in my life. She offered me such a wise and deeply connected perspective that I couldn’t access on my own in order to cultivate the patience and compassion I needed to preserve my marriage. I always finished our talks feeling that there was no part of myself that was outside of her love. And she never once asked for anything in return. Her love is that big!

As with Georgette, so many are experiencing this pandemic to be a very financially stressful time. And when we add to these burdens the loss of our in-person friendships, family, and community connections that are often the places we turn for support in challenging times, it can all feel like just too much to bear. For Georgette, the past eight months have been the loneliest time in her life. Several of the people in her life are uncertain and fearful that, even after many months have past from her COVID diagnosis in March, it may still not be safe to be around her. She’s had to face the most debilitating and scary illness she’s ever experienced on her own, compounded by the stark reality that she has not had enough funds to make ends meet during this time of ongoing health struggles and limited work capacity. In addition, Georgette cannot currently afford the proper medical care needed to assure the best recovery possible and to fully return to work and care for her animals.

 So while we may not be able to be by Georgette’s side in-person, I call on anyone moved by Georgette’s story to join me in supporting her by making a financial contribution so that she can regain her health, strength, and self-sufficiency to care for animals and people as she has done over all her years. Georgette’s life has been dedicated to the many people and animals she has served. I pray she will be well again and able to move forward on her heart-centered journey of service and love.