Last night I was pretty tired so I hit the hay at an early time.
Of course, I awoke this morning to an email about Anissa.
Anissa suffered a massive stroke yesterday afternoon.
I met Anissa in April under the worst circumstances ever… Maddie’s Funeral.
That’s never a way you want to meet someone for the first time.
I spent a good portion of the day with her, and she told me a bit about herself. Anissa said that the reason she started blogging was because of her daughter Peyton. Peyton was in remission from Lukemia, and she found strength in blogging.
She became a sort of super hero in my eyes at that very moment.
I started reading her blog shortly thereafter.
The woman can write.
She wrote the most amazing post the other week about loving her body despite all of her hang- ups, for her daughters sake…
It made me cry…
Anissa and I hung out at Blogher:
and then again last month at the AimingLow HP Party in NYC.
Apparently, I may have even tried to choke her.
About a month or two ago, Anissa professed her adoration for Ralph Macchio. I was the lucky one to inform her that Ralph has a twitter account. But of course, in true Anissa fashion she couldn’t just “follow” him on twitter- she had to STALK him.
She stalked him so much, that Ralph actually responded to her!!!
I told her that she better buy me a drink because I was the one that made it happen (of course, her persistance did- but she still owes me a drink)
Last night, he sent her a tweet again…
@AnissaMayhew thoughts & wishes 4 ur quick recovery. Do get well soon. Ur fans r steadfast and dedicated. 
Just last week she wrote on my wall “I love you, for your incredible heart and love and I wish this wasn’t the reason I met you (Maddie’s passing), but I’m DAMN glad I did. XOXOXOXO” -
I felt the same way about her too….
That was just last week…
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My father-in-law had a stroke 5 years ago, at the age of 51.
He was a healthy man, who just suddenly one afternoon, started not quite making sense when he spoke.
He was rushed to the hospital and we found out he was having a stroke.
Today, he is fine (after months of physical therapy)- but his speech has been effected slightly. He sometimes calls my husband by his brother’s name (even though he knows its wrong) and still can’t pronounce our daughters names.
He has also not been able to work at all since the incident.
This was a man who was the life of the party, always making people laugh. When his speech was effected and he couldn’t make people laugh with his words anymore, it bothered him to the core. He then started poking fun at his disability so that everyone would feel comfortable with him. I adore this man like no other.
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I just know that Anissa will be OK.
She has to be.
She is the life of the party.
She is the mother to Rachael, Nathaniel ,and Peyton.
She is their strength.
Anissa, please get better. We all love you.
You still owe me a drink.
Molly said
I am pretty sure I took those photos. That was the first night I met Anissa. and she pretty much tackle hugged me, and then all my nerves were gone. I was worried about fitting in. She squashed those fears with her awesome boobies.
Damnit Anissa, you WILL get better. and then the three of us will get drinks and talk about how cute Ralph Macchio is.
We can real life stalk him. just PLEASE BE OK!
rachel said
I have never seen anything like what Twitter/CaringBridge has done today…well, 11/11. People can say what they want about the interwebs, about bloggers, and the like…but this is pretty freakin incredible.
edenland said
Life is f*cking unbelievable. Feeling pretty useless down here, but she has been in my thoughts all day. XOX
Tricia said
I have been praying for Anissa and her family all day long.