Stories of Sisterhood

[Football Fan]

Years ago on Father's Day our small son died in a tragic accident. I cannot express to you the enormous shock and loss this was to both of our families. We were devastated.

I belonged to the Tri-Delta alumnae group in the area at the time. After the funeral members would call, drop by and check on me while my husband was at work. One day some of the DDDs came by with a sweet pansy vase and bouquet as a remembrance. Eventually, his room had to be cleaned out and the little clothes packed away. My husband and I were emotionally unable to do this. My dear Tri-Delta neighbor came over and helped me complete this task in a loving and supportive way. I know I could not have survived that terrible time without the emotional support of my sisters. Both our families were so filled with anguish themselves they could not be the help we needed at the time.
Many of these ladies hardly knew me except as a new alumnae member. I remember and am grateful still for the support they gave me during this extremely difficult period.

[PM_Mama00]

These stories are all so great. I have a few sisters that I've become close with that I know I could count on for things like this, but it really makes me jealous that I don't have any stories like these.

[AGDee]

Originally Posted by PM_Mama00

These stories are all so great. I have a few sisters that I've become close with that I know I could count on for things like this, but it really makes me jealous that I don't have any stories like these.

Stay involved. Quite honestly, most of my experiences have been as an alumna.

[UGAalum94]

Originally Posted by Football Fan

Years ago on Father's Day our small son died in a tragic accident. I cannot express to you the enormous shock and loss this was to both of our families. We were devastated.

I belonged to the Tri-Delta alumnae group in the area at the time. After the funeral members would call, drop by and check on me while my husband was at work. One day some of the DDDs came by with a sweet pansy vase and bouquet as a remembrance. Eventually, his room had to be cleaned out and the little clothes packed away. My husband and I were emotionally unable to do this. My dear Tri-Delta neighbor came over and helped me complete this task in a loving and supportive way. I know I could not have survived that terrible time without the emotional support of my sisters. Both our families were so filled with anguish themselves they could not be the help we needed at the time.
Many of these ladies hardly knew me except as a new alumnae member. I remember and am grateful still for the support they gave me during this extremely difficult period.

I'm sorry for your loss, and I'm glad your sisters were there for you.

[GeekyPenguin]

When I was 19 I had just moved home for the summer after taking alumnae status because I was transferring schools. My parents were out of the state on a vacation and I got a call that my boyfriend had died the night before in his sleep. Within 2 hours I had chapter sisters at my house and my best friend left her boyfriend in a new city he had just moved to with no car so that she could come stay with me. My roommate from the house was in the middle of planning her wedding and she drove up from Iowa and stayed with me for two weeks. I will never forget how many women put their entire lives aside to stay with me and take care of me - from picking my parents up from the airport to coordinating flowers and taking turns calling me, they were absolutely amazing. I've never been prouder to be a Gamma Phi Beta.

This year an undergraduate member of my chapter took her own life and the same support system instantly rallied around her family and boyfriend. My sisters are amazing.

[SWTXBelle]

Oh, GeekyPenguin, I am so sorry for both of your losses - but so glad our sisters were there for you. True and constant friends . . .

[KSUViolet06]

Another story that sticks out in my mind:

One time, while we were away at Retreat (at a camp on a lake), a sister's boyfriend (of 4 years) called and broke up with her. She was devastated. We were out in the lounge of the cabin and we heard her in the back room sobbing.

We all went back and she was curled up in a ball on the bed sobbing "I can't believe ____ broke up with me." We didn't know the whole story, we just wanted to make her feel better.

A couple of girls drove into the nearest town and got some snacks and ice cream. Some girls had already brought movies so we put one in. We moved all of our sleeping bags into the back room with her and had a slumber party.

It didn't solve the problem but at least it made her feel better to know that she wasn't alone.

[susan314]

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

One time, while we were away at Retreat (at a camp on a lake), a sister's boyfriend (of 4 years) called and broke up with her. She was devastated.

/hijack

What kind of putz calls his girlfriend of 4 years while she's away on a weekend retreat to dump her? He could have at least had the decency to wait until she returned and sat down with her in person. I'd say 4 years requires a face-to-face breakup!

/end hijack

[susan314]

Its hard to isolate one specific instance to share - there have been so many for me over the years!

My chapter had the unfortunate experience of having a sister die in a car accident on her way back to school after a weekend visit home. She was living in the chapter house at the time also. Seeing the way that everyone bonded together to honor her memory and help each other cope was a very powerful thing.

[bslo18]

Every year, my chapter participates in the Relay for Life at our school in New Jersey. This year's Relay had several meanings, each bringing us together even closer.

In November-December, my aunt who I am extremely close to was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. We didnt know how serious it was but the idea of cancer scared the shit out of me. I couldn't concentrate on anything and until her results came in, I was a wreck. My roommate who was also my Pearl and one of my close friends was my rock cause she knew what I was going through. She had lost her dad to cancer a few years back. Luckily, we got the good news that it wasnt as bad as we originally thought and she would just have to go through chemo for 6 months.

About two months prior to relay, our chapter/faculty advisor was diagnosed with breast cancer and had to go through extensive chemo. She continued to teach and continued to be our advisor and we loved her for everything. She was always there for our chapter and still is, even though less than 2 weeks prior to Relay she got news that her cancer had worsened and she would have to step up her chemo. At Relay, we lit a candle for her that was place on the track.

During the luminaria lap, when the lights are turned off, my chapter stood arm in arm and walked around. I couldnt help myself and started to cry cause I kept thinking about my aunt and one of my sisters was by my side in a minute. This same sister started crying half way through the lap as well. She herself was a cancer survivor.

The minute we were coming up to our chapter advisors luminaria candle, we stopped as a chapter and continued to hold hands. Eventually we stopped in her honor and did a group hug. It was one of the moments that I knew that each of these 20 girls were there for me cause they held me up during that lap. Our advisor still needs our prayers and we hope her health will continue to get better.

[LoveKU28]

Great Thread! Very touching and sweet.

[AlwaysSAI]

Okay, so this may not seem like much to you guys, but it meant the world to me.

I have CP. A very mild case, but it's still there and it still affects my life in ways I am too stubborn to admit. I'm the clutz of the century and sometimes walk with a noticable limp. Suffice it to say that I can't do much heavy lifting by myself because I don't have to eye-hand coordination or the balance.

I am a book junkie. I love to read books, but renting them from the library isn't enough for me, I like to own them. So, I have this enormous book collection and no where to put it once I moved into my new apartment. A few Saturdays ago I went to Re-store to see if I could find myself a bookshelf. Of course, I found myself a very tall, very lovely bookshelf and I immediately bought it. (It was only $20!) I was told that I had a week to come back and pick it up, but I drive a very tiny Saturn.

I immediately start calling people. Everyone I knew-Phi Sig bros, coworkers, friends, anyone that could help me move this bookshelf from the store and into my apartment. At around 12p I called Liane, one of the SAIs I'm closest with. She has to be to work at 4p, but says that she would be more than willing to help me move the bookshelf. I took my groceries home, picked her up at about 1p and off to the store we go. We spent some time shopping and once the time came, she helped load the bookshelf into my tiny car, tied it down tightly to the trunk and off we went.

We got to my apartment with just enough time to carry the bookshelf inside and then she had to leave for work. It really meant a lot to me that she was willing to give up her Saturday afternoon to help me. It gave me that true feeling of sisterhood because I hadn't talked to her much since summer started. I mean, I had seen her in the lab and talked to her, but we never really hung out because I was always working and she was in class. It just really touched my heart that she sacrificed her Saturday afternoon to help me move a bookshelf-a sister that I hadn't been able to spend much time with.

But, I guess, when it comes down to it, that's what real sisterhood is, huh. Helping out a sister, no matter who she is or how often you get to see her, but when she needs you, you are there.

[LegallyBrunette]

When I was a collegian, one of the pledge sisters few classes after mine had Cystic Fibrosis. Initially, she hadn't told anyone about and the only sisters aware of it were those involved with Risk Management. Unfortunately, a few days before Initiation she was hospitalized for complications surrounding CF. Needless to say, the word got out about her illness and she was unable to attend Initiation with the rest of her class. She was very upset. At that time we didn't know how long she would be hospitalized for and we knew how much she was looking forward to Initiation. Thinking it would lift her spirits, we made arrangements to conduct her Initiation in the hospital. After several lengthy phone conversations with the nurses on her floor (re if it would be safe for thirty girls to descend on her hospital room) and her parents, we were cleared. It was the week of fall semester finals and the entire chapter carpooled through rush hour traffic in downtown Boston with all of our ritual equipment and surprised her by Initiating her. What it lacked in atmosphere (surrounded by hospital beds and various other pieces of medical equipment), it more than made up for in emotion.

Several years later, after having seen the Installation of a new chapter and many other Initiations and events, that Initiation is by far the most special and moving experience I have had a sister of Theta Phi Alpha.

[AlwaysSAI]

Originally Posted by LegallyBrunette

When I was a collegian, one of the pledge sisters few classes after mine had Cystic Fibrosis. Initially, she hadn't told anyone about and the only sisters aware of it were those involved with Risk Management. Unfortunately, a few days before Initiation she was hospitalized for complications surrounding CF. Needless to say, the word got out about her illness and she was unable to attend Initiation with the rest of her class. She was very upset. At that time we didn't know how long she would be hospitalized for and we knew how much she was looking forward to Initiation. Thinking it would lift her spirits, we made arrangements to conduct her Initiation in the hospital. After several lengthy phone conversations with the nurses on her floor (re if it would be safe for thirty girls to descend on her hospital room) and her parents, we were cleared. It was the week of fall semester finals and the entire chapter carpooled through rush hour traffic in downtown Boston with all of our ritual equipment and surprised her by Initiating her. What it lacked in atmosphere (surrounded by hospital beds and various other pieces of medical equipment), it more than made up for in emotion.

Several years later, after having seen the Installation of a new chapter and many other Initiations and events, that Initiation is by far the most special and moving experience I have had a sister of Theta Phi Alpha.

That is an amazing story! What a sisterhood!!

[Buttonz]

When my aunt past away very suddenly earlier this year (well later 2006) I was in a state of shock. I was home taking off time from school recovering from multiple surgeries.

I text messaged two of my sisters, not wanting to wake them up at 4 AM. When they saw it, after calling me they called every sister and my phone was non-stop with calls from sisters, some that I haven't seen or spoke to in months, if not a year or two. One of them was at the funeral (held the same day) the other one was planning on taking off of work but I couldn't get her a ride. They were all at my house that night, and many of them came back throughout the week (in a Jewish family, there is a week of remembering the dead) and even after that week, they were there anytime I needed it, all of them.

My birthday was three weeks later and I was planning on sitting home alone but they dragged me out reminding me it was what she would have wanted..and I know they were right.