Trish has no idea that we are doing this for her.  For those of us who come to love her, our hearts are heavy for her.  If we could all pitch in just a little, we could lighten her load. 

"I'm so very touched and appreciative of the kindness, compassion & generosity. You people are so very dear to me.

Losing all vision in one eye, a detached retina in the other and multiple surgeries, multiple back fractures, bone spurs, impaired neck movement, one medical issue after another... all a piece of cake. I held on to my optimism and good humor - and continued to do what I could to try to make a difference in the world.

When your entire world blows up, you do your best to deal with the fallout - and squint to see the light at the end of the tunnel. When someone you loved and supported unconditionally for over a quarter of your life first announces that he's been in love with someone else for years and wants an immediate divorce, you suck it up and trust that he will honor commitments that will enable you to survive and move forward. But, when spousal support is slashed 3 times during the 3 months since you separated, things get really dicey.

Ophthalmic specialists tell you your eye must be removed, followed-up closely and a prosthetic eye implanted, so you ignore your fear and look forward to the day when your "bad eye" no longer interferes with the "good eye" and you can again see well enough to earn an income with your art.

When your estranged husband announces that he's taking another European vacation (2nd in 6 months) to spend time with his lover, will be living out of state when he returns, will slash your support AGAIN and also leave you without health insurance two weeks after surgery, you try to tell yourself that you'll somehow find a way to deal with it. You're faced with choosing between homelessness or being able to eat and pay for health care and prescriptions. When your husband not only says "not my responsibility, not my problem", but warns you to keep your mouth shut or he'll just flee to Europe permanently and leave you entirely destitute with no legal recourse - you call upon every bit of optimism you have.

When your car is totaled, your husband announces that YOU owe HIM money because the insurance payout is more than his car is worth. You buy an "old, but reliable Honda" that blows up and requires a new engine before you've driven it 100 miles and you don't have a means to replace the engine or the car.

The only place available when you were forced to move very quickly 3 months prior is far away from everything - and you know no one within 70 miles because medical issues kept you socially isolated throughout the 2 years since you moved to the area. At this point, you really start to lose it.

When your estranged husband informs you that 50% of the tax refunds you were expecting to partially tide you over have been seized by the IRS AGAIN due to penalties and interest as a result of his ongoing failure to file timely tax returns and comply with payment arrangements he agreed to, what seemed to be your endless well of optimism is drained dry.

The only way you've managed thus far was due to the kindness of friends, but, you can't rely on them forever - nor even until you're able to bring in some income with your art.

You've never needed help before, have absolutely no experience with assistance programs, but you research anything and everything and find that there are huge holes in the "social safety net" and you're one of the people who falls through all of them for one reason or another.

When it seems there's absolutely no hope, wonderful, caring, generous friends come together on your behalf and you're just overwhelmed with love and appreciation. heart emoticon

Wish I had a piece of artwork on hand that would express how I feel about all of you - but, I don't. So, my drawing of laughing Ariana will have to do.

Now, I'm going to go have a good, cathartic cry. I love you all more than words can say."