Stories of Sisterhood

[ladygreek]

These are truly heartwarming stories.

Many years ago, I was a young, unemployed, single parent. I was living off of food stamps and unemployment from my previous job. I never really talked about my situation to my alumnae chapter sorors, but they new. I went to chapter meeting one day and they surprised me with bags of canned foods, frozen meat, vegetables, and a gift certificate to a department store to get new clothes for my child.

That was overwhelming and really reinforced why I pledged my sorority.

[sageofages]

In May 2005, following being downsized in mid afternoon, Mr Sageofages suffered a heart attack during the night and as a result experienced something "the drs had never seen before" both high pressure and low pressure acute respiratory failure. Bottom line his lungs filled completely with fluid and he spent 10 days on COMPLETE life support. Ventilator, heart pump assistance everything. The drs told me he was going to die..not *might die*..."going to die, it was between God and Mr Sageofages". I never left his side for all those days (to say he is my world would be not enough). I was terrified to leave. (My parents were with the children)

During those darkest hours, my Phi Mu sisters (on an email list I run) organized a 24hour around the clock prayer vigil where 2 sisters were praying each hour for his well being and recovery, it ended up that they were able to cover 48 hours with the number of sisters who volunteered. (He turned the corner during those 48 hours...still gravely ill but the "will die" became "I think he might make it")

He received more cards and letters and a record number of egreetings through the hospital website (the volunteers brought them up with great curiosity who this person would be).

I was sitting in the lobby on the phone with a dear dear friend (who was also an attorney asking for advice about how to handle things if the worst happened ...we had a severance agreement that had not been signed.. ) when a local chapter president got off the elevator with a care package for me. (I hadn't told any local sisters, who could think?). Apparently another sister on the list living in Columbus OH had called her and alerted my local chapter of what we were living through. I was so surprised to see her, I just burst into tears. She just hugged me while I cried.

Mr Sageofages has pulled through (he remembers nothing OF COURSE..and I suffer some PTSD from the ordeal..dealing with ok). During his recovery, we received gifts of gas cards (remember he was freshly unemployed and I was freelancing which equals little income) to take him to his cardiac rehab, and gifts of delicious home bistro meals so I could not stress and the cards poured in.

To this day, I believe he would not be here without the prayers of those sisters (and greekchat friends..and family) who cared for us. I know I would have not made it through still reasonably sane without them.

[ladygreek]

Originally Posted by sageofages

In May 2005, following being downsized in mid afternoon, Mr Sageofages suffered a heart attack during the night and as a result experienced something "the drs had never seen before" both high pressure and low pressure acute respiratory failure. Bottom line his lungs filled completely with fluid and he spent 10 days on COMPLETE life support. Ventilator, heart pump assistance everything. The drs told me he was going to die..not *might die*..."going to die, it was between God and Mr Sageofages". I never left his side for all those days (to say he is my world would be not enough). I was terrified to leave. (My parents were with the children)

During those darkest hours, my Phi Mu sisters (on an email list I run) organized a 24hour around the clock prayer vigil where 2 sisters were praying each hour for his well being and recovery, it ended up that they were able to cover 48 hours with the number of sisters who volunteered. (He turned the corner during those 48 hours...still gravely ill but the "will die" became "I think he might make it")

He received more cards and letters and a record number of egreetings through the hospital website (the volunteers brought them up with great curiosity who this person would be).

I was sitting in the lobby on the phone with a dear dear friend (who was also an attorney asking for advice about how to handle things if the worst happened ...we had a severance agreement that had not been signed.. ) when a local chapter president got off the elevator with a care package for me. (I hadn't told any local sisters, who could think?). Apparently another sister on the list living in Columbus OH had called her and alerted my local chapter of what we were living through. I was so surprised to see her, I just burst into tears. She just hugged me while I cried.

Mr Sageofages has pulled through (he remembers nothing OF COURSE..and I suffer some PTSD from the ordeal..dealing with ok). During his recovery, we received gifts of gas cards (remember he was freshly unemployed and I was freelancing which equals little income) to take him to his cardiac rehab, and gifts of delicious home bistro meals so I could not stress and the cards poured in.

To this day, I believe he would not be here without the prayers of those sisters (and greekchat friends..and family) who cared for us. I know I would have not made it through still reasonably sane without them.

Ahhhh Pam, I remember when he had the heart attack. And i remember feeling so relieved when he pulled through eventhough I had just started reading non-NPHC threads and didn't e-know any of you. This story just adds to that.

[AlethiaSi]

Originally Posted by sageofages

In May 2005, following being downsized in mid afternoon, Mr Sageofages suffered a heart attack during the night and as a result experienced something "the drs had never seen before" both high pressure and low pressure acute respiratory failure. Bottom line his lungs filled completely with fluid and he spent 10 days on COMPLETE life support. Ventilator, heart pump assistance everything. The drs told me he was going to die..not *might die*..."going to die, it was between God and Mr Sageofages". I never left his side for all those days (to say he is my world would be not enough). I was terrified to leave. (My parents were with the children)

During those darkest hours, my Phi Mu sisters (on an email list I run) organized a 24hour around the clock prayer vigil where 2 sisters were praying each hour for his well being and recovery, it ended up that they were able to cover 48 hours with the number of sisters who volunteered. (He turned the corner during those 48 hours...still gravely ill but the "will die" became "I think he might make it")

He received more cards and letters and a record number of egreetings through the hospital website (the volunteers brought them up with great curiosity who this person would be).

I was sitting in the lobby on the phone with a dear dear friend (who was also an attorney asking for advice about how to handle things if the worst happened ...we had a severance agreement that had not been signed.. ) when a local chapter president got off the elevator with a care package for me. (I hadn't told any local sisters, who could think?). Apparently another sister on the list living in Columbus OH had called her and alerted my local chapter of what we were living through. I was so surprised to see her, I just burst into tears. She just hugged me while I cried.

Mr Sageofages has pulled through (he remembers nothing OF COURSE..and I suffer some PTSD from the ordeal..dealing with ok). During his recovery, we received gifts of gas cards (remember he was freshly unemployed and I was freelancing which equals little income) to take him to his cardiac rehab, and gifts of delicious home bistro meals so I could not stress and the cards poured in.

To this day, I believe he would not be here without the prayers of those sisters (and greekchat friends..and family) who cared for us. I know I would have not made it through still reasonably sane without them.

I am writing this as tears hit the keyboard, this story is (and all of the stories are ) so .... amazing.... These stories reinforce everything that we're all already known, that sisterhood is a powerful source of strength, love and support.


I am so glad that everything worked out, and that he is alright.

[phisigduchesscv]

My sisters have been there through so many different things for me as I have been there when needed.

One that sticks out in my mind is when we drove up from Los Angeles to Bakersfield for our Division Conference. A few of us stayed overnight and when we arrived we were hungry so we stopped at a gas station convenience store to grab a snack.

The next morning we head over to the conference and met up with the rest of our chapter and all the other chapters. Just as the conference was starting I got violently ill, no warning whatsoever and I couldn't seem to stop for long. A couple stayed with me in the restroom and called around to see if my HMO had urgent care that weekend close by (Thank goodness they did). These were sisters I didn't even know who stayed with me even with me gettig sick constantly.

My Sapphire Sister (big/lil), Ana, took my car keys and drove me to the hospital. While there, sisters I didn't even know were leaving the conference to come by and check on me. After some strong meds to stop me from getting sick and a diagnosis of Food Poisioning (never eaten fast food from a convenience store since) I was ready to go home. The problem was there was no way I could drive myself and it would have taken my parents over 4 hours to come get me. Then I had the problem of my car.

Ana volunteered to drive me home even though it meant she ended up missing the whole division conference, her last one before graduating, plus having me in the car periodically asking her to pull over while I fought off getting sick.

When we got home for a week or so afterwards I had sisters from all over Caliornia and Oregon calling and emailing to check up on me. Some even sent me get well cards.

It really meant a lot to me that people I didn't know cared enough to check up on me.

Carolyn

[AOIIalum]

Originally Posted by ladygreek

Many years ago, I was a young, unemployed, single parent. I was living off of food stamps and unemployment from my previous job. I never really talked about my situation to my alumnae chapter sorors, but they new. I went to chapter meeting one day and they surprised me with bags of canned foods, frozen meat, vegetables, and a gift certificate to a department store to get new clothes for my child.

Now, this is beautiful and oh so powerful. Thank you for sharing such a personal story, ladygreek.