I know there are those here who recall, both from the Festivals and other USA DS events , as well as posts she made to this board, now over a year ago, Anna, the wheelchair-bound "cousin from England."
If you were at this year's Festival, then you know that she was clearly quite deteriorated since 2002, yet somehow, made it across "the Pond" alone, as she has so many times. She had lost much weight, had an unhealthy color, and wandered in her mind.
Although, unlike then, I did not spend as much time with her (for once, others took some responsibility, and she even met a nice fellow who befriended and spent a lot of time with her), I did talk to her. When she was lucid, she seemed resigned, even peaceful about whatever was to come. Moreover, she now had visits from her daughter and grand-daughter, which consoled her.
Well, recently, the feeling had been growing upon me that I needed to know how she was. But there seemed to be obstacles. She was always having internet problems, and I wasn't sure the PO address she once gave me was still OK. Plus, a message there would take at least a week to get there, and who was handling her mail?
But I took a chance with the last e-addy she used, and yesterday, I received a message from her stepfather that Anna is now very seriously ill, and is not expected to recover. While not surprised, as the concept sunk in, you know how it is, "She survived so much" and it is difficult to accept that it is extremely unlikely that she will be there in the future.
In spite of troubles that went beyond her physical handicaps, and despite the difficulties some of us encountered in caring for her in the past, she has been one of the dearest people I have ever met at these events. It took a lot of courage to travel alone in her condition, and "depending on the kindness of strangers". Most of the time, she received it, and deservedly so.
I have long maintained that the affirmation and fellowship of these "friviolous, trivial, silly" events kept such ailing actors as Louis Edmonds and Dennis Patrick alive longer than they otherwise would have, and I believe it has been so for Anna, as well.
So let those of us who pray, say a prayer for her, or at least, think kind, positive thoughts of her. I am not at liberty to give out the e-addy or home address, but if anyone would like to address messages directly to her and her family, send them to my e-mail which IS listed on my profile, and I will forward them. (I hope to get an actual card out there ASAP as well.)
Thanks,
Lorraine