greenpepperpressblog

sock central….(edited)

Written by

grnpepblog

in

it has been reported that the socks have arrived and will be presented this afternoon.  stay tuned…

Winkoftenlsmall 

EDIT:  rather than make a new post, I am editing this one because I want you to be able to click on "comments" and read the message left by Angie, one of our favorite nurses from 7B.   So yesterday afternoon I got to be a fly-on-the-wall (by way of a speaker phone) while Marietta, the nurse manager on 7B gathered two shifts of nurses and aides, therapists (OT and RT) and some other special people, including Shannon's doctor.  On the table were only *65* pairs of socks.  Marietta read the letter I had composed (see below).  Very cool to hear my words come through someone else's mouth.  At the key moment, the remaining 600-and-something socks were brought in as Marietta continued to explain the project.  Wonderful to hear that Angie was there, as well as other favorite caregivers.   For a few minutes yesterday there were people having thoughts about my sister.  For a few minutes, before the hustle and bustle of starting a shift (or leaving one), there were people who got the group wink, the thanks, the validation that the call they have answered is of great value, and that they matter. 

Did you feel it?  Did you feel that goosebump moment?  Wow!  We really did it.  *high five*  XOXO

Winkdraft1

MW thankyou  

Comments

32 responses to “sock central….(edited)”

  1. michelleinfantino Avatar
    michelleinfantino

    i can’t wait to check back! that’s a LOT of socks.

    Reply
  2. Becky New Avatar
    Becky New

    Oooooo!!! I wish I could be a fly on the wall….. 🙂 You must be SO excited!

    Reply
  3. Judy N Avatar
    Judy N

    Hey Michelle –
    Can you stand it!?!?!
    I would love to see their faces when they open the boxes and see all the socks. Surely Shannon is looking down and smiling today!
    I know it has put a smile on my face!!
    Until later,
    Judy N

    Reply
  4. Angie Oujiri Avatar
    Angie Oujiri

    dear michelle and all of you,
    my name is angie and i am a nurse on 7b. i am completely overwhelmed. we were told to be in the report room at 3 o’clock and to not be late. when i saw the pink socks, i knew it was shannon. you see, i was honored and priviledged enough to be with shannon and andy and michelle and maryann and john and brother john during shannon’s last days and even her last breaths. shannon was special to us all and it broke our hearts to know her journey was coming to an end. what warmed our hearts then and leaves us speechless today, is the overwhelming, awe-inspiring love that surrounded her. who would have thought some pink socks could mean so much!! i wore my pink socks during her last days, i made sure shannon had her pink socks on, and i will always think of her and you ALL when i wear my new ones. i chose some black socks that had pink roses on them. i told myself that they were for the 65 roses and then i realized later you already had that thought. i also chose the ones from donna in spring hill, fl because i grew up in florida and my grandfather lived there, so thank you, donna! what happened here is a testament to the power of love, the power of sisters, and the power of pink! on the way home from work today i closed my eyes and said a prayer of thanks that i am lucky enough to be in a profession where i can do all the wonderful things you talked about in this blog. its so nice to know that we make a difference. i will wear my pink socks with pride and love and i will wink whenever possible;-)
    much love and appreciation,
    angie

    Reply
  5. michelle ward Avatar
    michelle ward

    angie – i am thrilled to hear from YOU. YOU who found the extra bed for Shannon’s room so we could stay overnight with her in comfort instead of the chair…YOU who located the red popsicle she requested on a day she had an appetite…YOU who always had a bright smile and warm eyes….YOU who walked with a wink in your step….YOU who was there the second-to-last day and calmly handled things and patiently explained things…YOU who was there the last day…..thank YOU. *blowing kisses*

    Reply
  6. megan pickwell Avatar
    megan pickwell

    Michelle – what you have achieved is truly amazing, inspiring and magical. You have honoured and celebrated Shannons life, and in doing so touched the lives of so many others. You are one an amazing woman, who has created an amazing community that have proven that we can create change when we all work together. Thankyou. Mxox

    Reply
  7. inge Bekaert Avatar
    inge Bekaert

    Now i’m crying again !…
    What a beautiful post of Angie…
    hugs
    Inge

    Reply
  8. Janine Avatar
    Janine

    Just reading these posts has made me tingle! This has been an exceptional journey for us all… I can imagine what a majical moment it was when the pink socks were revealed to those wonderful souls on ward 7B. Angie, the work you and all nurses do is amazing, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart! When I lost my dad I was amazed by the love and kindness shown by the nurses. Michelle, what can I say that hasn’t already been said, you are a treasure, you are always thinking of others and I am honoured to have you as a friend….. xoxo

    Reply
  9. Molly Aker Avatar
    Molly Aker

    Michelle = Magic
    I know this week marked the 2 month aniversary of Shannon’s passing. How amazing that the socks landed at the hospital this same week. You are an amazing person who keeps quietly working and impacting peoples lives.
    Angie, I am one of Shannon’s cousins. Although we couldn’t come for visits due to the nature of her illness, we heard about you in the family. Please pass on to the rest of the staff how much we all (extended family) appreciated what you did for Shannon.
    Molly Aker

    Reply
  10. stephanie Avatar
    stephanie

    Angie’s words made me cry! What a gesture you have made come to life Michelle!!
    The pink keeps spreading!!!
    x…x
    steph

    Reply
  11. Ellen-Mary Avatar
    Ellen-Mary

    Wow! I really don’t have any words for this. just Wow!

    Reply
  12. cindi Avatar
    cindi

    michelle ~ you are such an inspiration to so many…you are truly amazing. thank you for being you! = D
    hugs,
    cindi <3

    Reply
  13. Chris Avatar
    Chris

    Wow, Michelle.

    Reply
  14. Danee Kaplan Avatar
    Danee Kaplan

    Michelle, I am a nurse and my love is caring for children with cancer and bone marrow transplants. It has been some times since I worked inpatient as I am now a stay-at-home mom but I long to be back at the beside. Like Angie, I too became very close to my patients and families only to lose those dear kids to their disease. A few of the relationships I formed when I was a “new grad” at Children’s Memorial in Chicago are still intact even though it has been almost 14 years since I left there. I applaud you for such a terrific way to remember your sister. I know that staff is thrilled to be “hugged” in such a way and to have something to remember your sister by. Some patients and families are just special and it appears that your family was very special indeed.

    Reply
  15. Janine Avatar
    Janine

    Definitely a goosebump moment! HCIT? Thank you so much for sharing the note and letting us know what happened when the socks arrived! What an honour to have been on the phone when the *pink wink* was revealed! The pink roses are gorgeous! What a glorious shade of pink! xo

    Reply
  16. Linda Warlyn Avatar
    Linda Warlyn

    What a GREAT finale to this phase of this wonderful project! Your letter is brilliant and beautiful, Michelle. I have no doubt there were hundreds of angels, earthly and otherwise, wearing pink socks on this special day. Angie’s comment was just lovely and it’s so touching to think of all those fine folks walking and winking pink in Shannon’s name. xoxo

    Reply
  17. Carrie Avatar
    Carrie

    This is fantastic. I just don’t know what to say.

    Reply
  18. inge Bekaert Avatar
    inge Bekaert

    moved to tears…again…the whole project is so emotional and unbelievable, but it IS reality !
    As long as there are people like you, like Angie, like the staff… there is hope for humanity..
    I doubt that Shannon could have imagined the ripples and waves her death would
    cause, but I’m sure she would be moved to tears too…tears from emotion ànd happiness…
    xoxo
    Inge

    Reply
  19. Judy Wilkenfeld Avatar
    Judy Wilkenfeld

    I am covered in goosebumps.What a woman and humanitarian you are Michelle. I curtsie to you.
    xo

    Reply
  20. Pat Avatar
    Pat

    Michelle, I started reading your blog about the time you first mentioned Shannon and have been following your blog ever since. Your dedication to your sister and family is heart warming. As a nurse, your insight and understanding of what nurses, RT, PT/OT, housekeeping etc do in the course of caring for their patients, touched a place in me. I actually started wearing pink socks in honor of Shannon and as a reminder to keep on winking and make every day count and that every encounter with a patient is an opportunity to make a difference for them and their families. THANH YOU 😉

    Reply
  21. Marble Blue Avatar
    Marble Blue

    Thank you for allowing us to be a part of your personal thank you to the nurses at 7B.
    It has been wonderful to hear how the project has progressed from a call and hope for 65 socks to the 700 that arrived. Thank you for sharing your deeply personal letter that accompanied all the socks. It has been a beautiful way to remember your sister Shannon and to say thank you to 7B. But it has also allowed all of your blog friends from around the world to “hug” you and let you know we care.
    Sending bear hugs and big kisses to you, your family and the staff at 7B.
    Lots of Love – MB

    Reply
  22. Nerissa Avatar
    Nerissa

    Michelle
    Thank you for allowing us to be a part of this wonderful project. I feel the love 🙂 Although I have never met you, I know you are a spectacular person. I continue to send you & your family warm thoughts
    Take care
    Nerissa

    Reply
  23. Julie Prichard Avatar
    Julie Prichard

    I have tears in my eyes. I can’t say anything…really… just MAGNIFICENT Michelle…super job. 🙂

    Reply
  24. Robin Orewiler Avatar
    Robin Orewiler

    Oh, I’m crying too. Michelle – thanks for sharing the “reveal”. How cool!!! What a wonderful testimony to the caregiver’s from a loving sister (and her friends).

    Reply
  25. Maj Carita Avatar
    Maj Carita

    Hi Michelle! I was very moved by Shannons story and I want to thank you for enabling us to DO something, how ever small. It felt good to help make other people feel appreciated!

    Reply
  26. Kathryn-collagediva Avatar
    Kathryn-collagediva

    Michelle, I worked in health care for 8 years and I know how important it is to appreciate our caregivers. This was such a wonderful tribute to them. You are an amazing woman! xoxo k

    Reply
  27. Elizabeth Avatar
    Elizabeth

    Can you feel Shannon smiling and saying”there she is , that’s my big sis!” Do you realize how many hundreds of people that you have lifted up thru this project?????? We must continue to work everyday to work together to lift each other up! You have given us such a wonderful model to follow and the Pink Wink will continue to ripple ever wider!
    thank you so very much for letting us share this amazing event with you Michelle!
    Hugs!
    Elizabeth

    Reply
  28. Monica Magness Avatar
    Monica Magness

    Reading your post and the comments left have made me SMILE!
    I can’t wait to return here to witness the changes in lives this PINK WINK project has made to the staff!
    WONDERFUL.

    Reply
  29. suze Avatar
    suze

    That is very COOL! Now please pass me the tissues.

    Reply
  30. Katie Avatar
    Katie

    Michelle,
    I have started printing yout blog pages at Grandma’s request and sending them to her. She told me that she never really missed being into all this internet stuff (at 93!) until she started wanting to read your blog. She was really excited when I said I would mail her the pages.
    Thank you for letting all of us-including Grandma be a part of this process!
    Love, Katie

    Reply
  31. JeriAnn Avatar
    JeriAnn

    There are times in life when the facade of separation drops and we see how we are all connected. This is one of those moments, when the chaff blows away and love is revealed in all its pink glory.
    Thank you, Michelle and Shannon, for connecting us with your love and those pretty pink socks. Now people who live on opposite sides of the world and the country are supporters of 7B and Shannon’s angels. What a great privilege — to uplift those who uplift others and keep Shannon’s memory alive.
    Thank you for letting us be a part of it.

    Reply
  32. Gina Avatar
    Gina

    I have such a knot in my throat right now. This was a beautiful and inspiring tale and it is so wonderful to know that you made such a difference for the staff and caregivers who made a difference for Shannon and you. Hugs from Sweden!

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

More posts