Ugliness, the kindness of strangers, blessings, and a giveaway

21 April 2014
Last week was almost surreal. Maybe it seems that way because I'm still medicated, but maybe it really was as amazing as I think it was. I'm going with the amazing thing. Either way, it was a blessed week.

As those close to me know, my teeth are in truly terrible shape and have been for awhile now. It's so weird to go from never having a cavity until I was 21 to all of my teeth breaking and shattering by 35. Not only do they look so terrible that they make me have awful social anxiety, but they've started to make me pretty ill. At first it was just painful, what I assumed was normal for exposed nerve. But, then the infections starting coming along with high fever, swelling, and pain like I can't explain. The past year or so with them has been nightmarish and excruciating. With a low paying job and no dental insurance, it takes saving for months to make a dental appointment. 

On Monday night this all came to a head in a way I never saw coming. I was curled up in bed, tears flowing from yet one more excruciating abscess. My gum looked like it had a marble shoved under it, there was swelling, and nothing I took even made a dent in the pain. My son had apparently had enough. He took some pictures that had been taken a few weeks before, my intent was to send to local dentist seeing if I could get in with someone on a payment plan. Anyway, he took these pictures and did something so kind and thoughtful it took my breath away. Check it out here. The site took down the pics, basically calling them gruesome. Gruesome? They are in my mouth. Anyhow, my son was so concerned about my health, he put together this fundraiser thing. I was incredibly moved.




That on it's own would be a sweet story, but it gets better. People I had not seen in years donated to my cause. Strangers chipped in. Before I knew it there was over $200 put together, enough to at least get me into a dentist for xrays and a consultation. I was stoked! Tuesday rolled around and the abscess burst at work. I spent hours in the ER, getting antibiotics and pain meds for a massive infection. It seemed my son had put the fundraiser together just in time, my teeth had reached a critical level. The nurse at the hospital warned me multiple times that dental infections could get out of hand quite quickly and to be mindful. 

Some more donations have been made, making me hopeful for the first time in a long time. I am incredibly blessed by the generosity of others. The timing of it all, some have called it coincidence. Myself, I say God is good, so incredibly good. Really the kindness shown to me by so many has just left me in awe. Even $5 can help change a life and it means so much that people care so much. I'm still running fever, feeling that run down awful feeling you get with a fever, and am trying to rest a lot. But, my heart is overflowing with gratitude. 

So, a few friends blessed me with gift card this week. One to my favorite place to get shakes since I can barely eat sometimes, which I was thrilled with. Another was to Starbucks, a thank you for "pushing through and having a sweet spirit even when you are hurting" says the card. It did my heart good. All these blessings and kindness have me wanting to spread the love and kindness. This week is going to be all about random acts of kindness and paying it forward for me. It starts here and now, sort of. One of my winners will win this $20 Starbucks gift card. Sound good? Just use the Rafflecopter entry form below. 
a Rafflecopter giveaway

32 comments:

lynette355 said...

oh you know how lucky i have been. blessing for you i pray.

Unknown said...

About a month ago, a customer came into the dollar store and bought a bunch of cleaning supplies. He was older, retired, and finally getting his own apartment. When he ended up a few dollars short for his total, I took his cash and ran my card for the remaining balance without a second thought.

Mysharona said...

Last year we picked a family we knew was having financial troubles and played secret santa, dropping off toys, gift cards, money at their door step.

McKim said...

My mother had been ill for some time, and we were about to share what we knew would be her last Christmas with us. Some dear family friends told me they would take care of meals for Christmas, so we could just relax and spend the day with family. They showed up with delicious homemade sweet rolls for breakfast. Then later that day showed up with a complete turkey dinner as well as dessert. They set the table, then came back and cleaned up afterwards. What a blessing it was for us!

mickeyfan said...

Ok, the acts of kindness may not have been random, but when my mother died, we were so blessed by friends and family members. One that was especially touching was the members of a group my mom belonged to took turns bringing my dad supper each Wed for 3 months. They brought so much each week that he had multiple meals out of it. We were deeply touched.

kyl neusch said...

pay for groceries

SB said...

I've paid for a homeless persons dinner

bbrittbrat1398 said...

My car broke down one day and a stranger stopped and helped me. He was a life saver.
Brittney House BBrittBrat1398@yahoo.com

Tamar said...

wow I worry my teeth will be the same. No I haven't...

mullin77 said...

A girl I work with has two little
boys and she could not get them much for Christmas so I purchased some toys and stuffed animals and
got her a gift bag of items. I never told her where they came from

Unknown said...

I have not. But man I hope I never have teeth problems

smilekisses said...

My husband and I will randomly buy someones diner at a restaurant. Just recently we paid for a poor young man's dinner at a restaurant. He did not know who did it so he stood up and thanked the entire restaurant. The waitress was so moved by this that she told us that she will be treating him to dessert.
dolniaks at consolidated dot net

Barbara Montag said...

I like to pay it forward with parts of blog wins I can't use!
Today I gave a Rio2 Blu Ray DVD to a family & the kids are thrilled!
thank you

guettel78 said...

Just recently, someone in our apartment building (who remained anonymous) baked cookies and left very nicely wrapped boxes of them in front of each tenant's unit. That was such a lovely and unexpected surprise and really made everyone's day!

Geoff K
gkaufmanss at yahoo dot com

JenMcP said...

I have paid the difference in people's groceries in the past. I have also paid for coffee and lunches for others.

Denise S. said...

I received a random act of kindness when my husband and I's car broke down and a stranger brought us a bunch of sods while we waited to be picked up.

msrodeobrat said...

We try to do things when we can to help people, but one year there were a particular family that wasn't going to have any Christmas for their children. A couple of families got together and purchased their kids essentials like clothes, food for Christmas dinner and a play station.. so the kids had one big item they wanted. We left it anonymously at their house. They never figured out who did it, but that specific situation has always been special to me.
addictedtorodeo at gmail dot com

clynsg said...

Never really thought about it that way, but I suppose the fact that I lowered the rent and never bothered to collect any that he was unable to pay because of unexpected higher utility bills, etc., for a disabled vet who was renting from me would qualify as a
'random act of kindness'. He was a sweet man (at least to me--had heard some other stories about him!), and unfortunately did die last year.

danijebo said...

We make stockings every Christmas for the men's shelter and fill it with toiletries, mittens, hats, goodies ect

Anonymous said...

Lee mckoen, I was very blessed with help from others while taking care of my with alzheimers for 8 years,now I pay it forward when I can

Tammie Venne said...

I have been lucky enough to pay it forward and also to recieve from others generosity when I was in need

susan1215 said...

My car had a flat tire one day and a stranger stopped and helped me. He was a life saver

Erica C. said...

Not a recent random act of kindness...but I pay it forward often.

yellowlabs said...

When I had a c-section after having my baby girl, many people from church stopped over and prepared entire meals for my family to enjoy so that I didn't have to cook. It was so kind of them all. I like to pay it forward as well when I get the opportunity!

Becca Ann said...

A older gentlemen paid for my families lunch one day while we were out because my 3 kids were so well behaved.. i have had my order paid for in the dunkin donuts drive thru.. I Paid for the people behind me

sue14625 said...

i have been in the past not recently i pay it forward when i can

Anonymous said...

Someone paid for my family's meal at a local diner and wrote us a note to tell us we were great parents. I don't know if it is entirely accurate (especially some days) but it made me feel wonderful!

Karrie said...

I think it is wonderful what your son did. I have my own teeth issues and found out they have a place in my county that does work on your mouth based on your income. Currently I have two teeth infections that did not clear up with antibiotics and I am scared it will get septic until I save up enough to go see the dentist. almost all my back teeth are gone already. It just really stinks it cost so much to see a denist and I feel for you hun. My angels are my aunts..they have done so much for us. The hugest was that our roof was really bad, almost to the point of holes rotting. they paid for a whole new roof to be put on our house!! that was such a blessing and I am blessed to have them just as you are blesssed to have those people help you

laurasloves said...

One Christmas it looked like there would be no gifts or tree that year as money was almost nil. We did not say anything to anyone but somehow our neighbors found out. On Christmas Eve there was a knock on the door. We opened it and nobody was there but instead there was a fulled decorated tree, bags of food and wrapped presents. I was so touched and decided that we would do the same someday. Now each year we find a family and do the same thing for them that was done for us.
Laurie Emerson
lauraemerson17 at yahoo dot com

tina reynolds said...

I try and help others pay it forward when I can usually something small but it helps

Unknown said...

I do not think that I have been a recipient of a random act of kindness but I do enjoy paying it forward.

slehan said...

I donate what I win to silent auctions for my favorite causes. Not exactly random, but it helps.
Thanks for the contest.

slehan at juno dot com