I LOVE TIFFANY

How many years ago was it...Josh was in preschool, and was 3 years old. So 3 years ago. Got it? We're in Farmington, and I am way more familar with the moms of the kids in CJ's class than Josh's. Dallas and I get along right away really well. I miss her. If I could remember her last name..
There was a mom there that was pretty...different. Seemed wild. Had a very tall boyfriend. She wore trench coats and had wild hair. She seemed very lively. She chatted with us, and sometimes had another one of her children with her, a little girl. Turns out she was much older than she looked, but she has a disease. Forgive me for not remembering what it is. I can't BELIEVE I can't remember...
Anyway, Lani, the other mom, eventually opened up and told us about the struggle they were facing. She had 3 kids, and Arrian, her daughter, was very ill. The disease won't allow Arrian to make it to adulthood, and their insurance company wasn't going to pay for an experimental treatment that had potental to save her life. It would use Arrian's own stem cells to try to regenerate healthy ones. they'd kill everything in her, and replace some of the healthy ones, in hopes they'd reproduce more healthy ones. The fact that insurance wouldn't cover it was devastating.
Dallas and I are of like mind and it took us exactly 30 seconds of being horrified, listening, to look at eachother and say "Oh yeah, we got this!"
I've never done a fundraiser before and I can't say that I'd want to do one again- that shit is EXHAUSTING. It's worth it, but it's so much more work than we guessed. 3 of us took it on- 4 if you count Cullen who was our Stuff Getter from companies for the silent auction.
ANYWAYS- it was a the fundraiser that I met Tiffany. She is Arrian's aunt. Sort of. Arrian's older brother is actually her nephew, but she's always treated all of the kids as her own nieces and nephews. She has a presence, Tiffany does. I noticed her immediately, and her mom too. I don't know how to describe it, except that you can FEEL them before you see them almost. BIG presences!
There would have been no reason for us to be connected again after that, except that Arrian went septic one night, and almost died. Lani needed somewhere for Ty to go, her 5 year old. That story is worth telling to- this child had been sexually molested for 3 of his 5years, and I had NO IDEA what the HELL I was getting into by taking him in....but as it was, Tiffany was my main contact while Lani juggled Arrian and getting her hair done. OH, turns out she was pregnant too. Lani=mess. Tiffany and her mom are the clean up crew. There is nothing they haven't done, nothing they won't do for them. Right this minute, Tiff's mom has custody of the oldest child (their blood connection) because Lani tried to kill herself. There are exactly 2 people that I know who make my head dizzy when I think of them because they are such a mess. Lani is one of them. I can't fit my brain around her.
And here are these two absolutely beautiful souls who never ever wash their hands and walk away. And THANK GOD. Those kids need them in ways bigger than me. They are the ONLY source of stability and safety and love that they have. I am honored to know such giving, caring people. I know the burden is enormous on them. It's one of love, but it's heavy and hard to carry anyway.
In your life story, you know how there are some people who are off in the background? You see them only occassionally, speak to them about as often...but they remain there? They aren't the ones who drop away? You feel good after talking to them or seeing them, uplifted and happy? That's my Tiffany. I love her from afar. I love her heart, so very much. And her mom's too. The other day I had an email from her that blew me away, *she* was loving on *me* !!!! It's so funny. OH OH OH! What's the phrase from that song? You never know just how you look in other people's eyes...... guess it's true.
She did a benefit too,as if everything else she does isn't enough. Beautiful life in that girl. I want such good things for her. And YAY ME! I get to see her and her mom, tomorrow night. It'll be a love fest. Can't WAIT!