Jane was here....

This was posted on my message board...as a mom, if I lost my child, this would be one of the most touching, defining moments of my life...Please take 2 seconds to do this, seriously, I used a roll-a-dex card...




Dear family, friends, friends of friends....


I'm writing to anyone with a gentle heart. For those of you who don't know, one of my dearest friends here in Vermont, Tia, had a baby girl, Jane, born 3 months too early. Her whole ride has been very personal for me not just because she is such an incredible friend and her daughter Sarah is my Maggie's best friend, but we also got pregnant with our second around the same time. At some point our shared pregnancies took a turn in opposite directions: she first on bedrest then an emergency C section 3 months early, me going to term with a healthy delivery. While I tickled toes, she commuted to hospitals, first Dartmouth, then Boston Children's. For the last 6 months Tia has written a blog sharing Jane's story with us:



http://www.ourgirljane.blogspot.com/
 

(If you want to know what I've learned from Jane during this time you can see my comment (posted as Shim) under her post titled Vigil.)


So the point of this email? Jane died today. Tia has asked one favor from those of us who care-




"Before I go, I would ask one last favor. If Jane became a part of your life, if her life held meaning for you, I ask that you send a card with just the words "Jane was here" on it. I don't want sympathy cards or condolences, I just want to know that she was HERE, and THERE, wherever you are. It will help to remind me that her brief time was filled with the love of friends and family, the visible and the invisible. That her life was part of your life. That she truly was Our Girl Jane."


My friend is hurting. I want to make her feel better in any way I can and all I can think to do is ask everyone I know to send her a card to flood her with mail and let her know that her baby's life mattered. Please, if you can spare a few minutes and write "Jane was here" on any nearby paper (Tia is not concerned with fanfare!) and send it off to:


Tia McCarthy

5 Winter Street

Montpelier, VT 0560



And if you know anyone who is a softie who might add to my imagined pile of letters at her door, please forward this on to those lovely souls! I'm shooting for that scene in Miracle on 34th street at the end, you know the one!

My deepest thanks!

Love and gratitude


Allison