Remember This Sister

The following email was sent to me and a few other Alpha Gams on this board by Wendy (thetasigagd and Mu advisor ). I thought it was a great email and I just wanted to share it with some Alpha Gam's who may not have gotten it. There is an address for this sister. It was written on the bottom, but I did not want to include that part so if anyone wants it just PM me. I am sure that Wendy, or any other AGD who got it will be more then willing to share it also.
Wendy-- Thanks for the info about this sister, and I will pass it on to my chapter, its alumnae, and other AGD's. And ha ha, at th4 fact that you sent it to 3 of my email addresses

Dear Alpha Gamma Delta Sisters,

This past week I have been busy making phone calls and sending e-mail to try to secure information about girls who will participate in recruitment at VSU this fall. As I thumb through an alumnae directory and randomly choose names and phone numbers, I am reminded that I need not feel unsure about calling these strangers since they are, after all, my sisters.

With every call I found women who were open, cordial, and anxious to help. Until this morning...the call was different.

The phone rang two or three times and a lady answered and I asked to speak to Catherine Allison. "Catherine doesn't live here anymore; she lives in Atlanta now...This is her mother; may I ask who is calling?"

I told her my name and that I wanted to talk to Catherine about some girls who would be coming to VSU and participating in recruitment. She replied, "Oh, Alpha Gamma Delta meant so much to Catherine...when she was about to graduate from high school I had to convince her to get involved...she was an only child and I told her she would finally have sisters with a sorority."

Then she offered Catherine's phone number in Atlanta...but with a brief hesitation. She said..."I know Catherine would love to help, but she is very ill now. So if she seems too tired, please understand."

I asked if she could tell me what was wrong. She said that Catherine and her father were very close, and that when he died of cancer, it was very hard for Catherine. Within six months after her father's death, when Catherine was 26, she was diagnosed with diabetes. (I said, oh you know that Alpha Gamma Delta Foundation's philanthropy is diabetes. She said, oh yes, Catherine was very proud of that.) Anyway, during the next several years, Catherine's condition became more and more serious. She is now on the National Transplant Waiting list for a kidney because of the damage from the diabetes - she is in kidney failure. She said the kidney is the most urgent of Catherine's problems, but not the only problem. Catherine also needs a pancreas. AND she stepped off a curb and broke her leg and required pins to repair the break. Now she is suffering with a staph infection in the leg and is fearful that she may lose her leg. She began having lupus-like symptoms, and has just learned that she has a pituitary tumor. She will see the doctor about this tomorrow.

Catherine Allison is 44 years old...she has been sick off and on for 18 years. She is our sister and although I have never met her, my heart is heavy for her. I asked her mother how a match would be found for the kidney transplant. She said that anybody who goes to the Red Cross can be evaluated with a blood test. (Catherine's blood type is O positive.) There are three major areas that have to be a perfect match to find a donor. So they just pray.

I asked her if there was anything that WE could do...she said no, just keep her in your prayers. (She never mentioned that we could be tested as donors, but I suppose that is an option too.)

I wanted you to know about Catherine, because any one of us could be in her situation. As a college student, I'm willing to bet that she never imagined what was in store for her. However, she found in Alpha Gamma Delta a "sisterhood" that she had not known before. I guess the reason I'm writing this is because I want Catherine to know that the "sisterhood" goes on, and that we are here, remembering her in our thoughts and prayers. So....I am including Catherine's address in this message. Personally, I intend to write her - just to say hello and hope you're having a good day. Thought you might be interested in doing the same.

Loyally,

Kathy Armstrong