Jodi Ford a Life to Remember

 

 

 

Fighting With Love

 

Her picture in the news paper

I couldn’t pass up

Two children beside her

Smiling and loved

 

She is only 30

And scared of her fate

So is her daughter Andromeda, 6

And her son Tristen who’s 8

 

She has Adenocarcinoma cancer

It’s in stage four

What’s going to happen next

They cannot be sure

 

They need our help

And I will be there

I will do whatever I can

This I will swear

 

I do not know them

But still I care

I have a big voice

And I’m willing to share

 

Together we can fight

Because love is on our side

We won’t back down

And we will not hide

 

She will make it

If you do what is right

Her getting better

Is a goal close in sight

 

God bless you Jodi

And your mother and kids

And don’t worry sweetie

You will make it through this

 

 

Dedicated to Jodi and her Family

By: Carol Chandler

 

 

Jodi’s Fundraiser July 19^th 2009

Today I went to the Jodi Ford fundraiser dinner. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but there was a great turn out. There was a line to get in and only standing room. Jodi wasn’t there but her whole family was. They had prizes you could win in raffles and a 50 50 drawing. There was even a singer Kimberly Fairchild there who heard about the dinner in the newspaper and asked if she could help.

            Most of the people there had a green or purple T-shirt on that said Jodi’s Fight. What caught my eye about them though was they all had a butterfly on the front. Butterflies represent change and let me say after tonight I think there will be a lot of that. With all the prayers, the love that I saw tonight I know that a difference was made. No matter what the outcome is if you ask…yes it did make a difference…even to me.

            I didn’t plan on talking to the family tonight or telling them that I was the one that wrote the poem for Jodi but they found out who I was and their words touched my heart. Jodi’s father and my mother were just making small talk and my mom told him that I had seen Jodi in the newspaper. He asked me if I was the girl who had wrote the poem and I told him yes. He came over to me. I didn’t know if he wanted to shake my hand or hug me, so I just hugged him. He introduced me to another woman and told her I was the one who had written the poem. She said that it was beautiful and that she cried for two hours after reading it. it made me want to cry.

            When I wrote the poem I didn’t think it would ever get to the family but somehow it did. Jodi’s mother read it to her. I posted it and other information about her here on WC, on both of my MySpace’s, on MyYearbook, and in a mass e-mail to over 200 people. I don’t know how much it helped but I think it made some sort of difference and for that I am glad. I don’t have much but I did what I could.

            Her friends and family were so close. Everyone was hugging, laughing about the good times, and some crying afraid of what the future may hold. When her father got up and thanked everyone for coming he started to cry as well. I have never seen a man cry before, and with his tears others began to cry. I fought the tears back myself but I can’t say that it worked.

            Her children are beautiful…they look so much like her. The thought that they could lose their mother when they are so young scares me. No child should have to go through that. I can tell they are staying as strong as they can for their mother though. I know they love her. Everyone that was there loves her and they just want her to make it through this.

            At the end when they were raffling things off, I won a basket with a journal in it. Ironic isn’t it? I think I will write something else for Jodi. She may never get to read it like the first one but it will be there so everyone knows the strong woman who inspired it. I hope that everyone who reads it will say a prayer for her and her family. Every word to God helps.

            When my mother and I got home I looked up into the sky and I saw a rainbow. I have never seen one before. Some people may say its light reflecting off water or some kind of science mumbo-jumbo but maybe just maybe it meant something more. There are miracles everywhere I truly believe it and hopefully that rainbow was the sign I needed. Her dad told us that she is holding on and I hope that she can continue to do so. Though I don’t know Jodi I will continue to believe that she will make it because I don’t believe in giving up on anything or anyone and I refuse  to give up on her.

            I will probably never meet Jodi and I very well may never see any of the amazing people I met today again, but their faces are forever engraved in my mind and heart. They all have inspired me and I could never forget them. They are heroes each and every one; Jodi herself and all those standing beside her. My prayers are with them and I promise to keep spreading her story.

 

 

 

 

An Angel

 

Angels are singing

Heavens bells are ringing

Rainbows surround her

Loves all around her

She walks with her maker now

 

She will spend eternity

In everlasting light

With the wings of a dove

And all knowing site

 

She now lives free from pain

She will know no more fear

She went to be with Jesus

But left a part of her here

 

We remain saddened

But her we have not lost

Soon we will be home with her

Sadly time is the cost

 

We will never forget her

And you know it is true

For Jodi’s memory lives on

It’s in me, it’s in you

 

Rest now dear child

And know that we care

Heaven is always kind

Where the earth is not fair

 

And though this is hard

And we must cry

We promise not to forget

That it’s never goodbye

 

In loving memory of Jodi Shawn Ford

4/6/1979 to 7/23/2009

donations can be made out to Donald G. Ford Trust and mailed to :

 

Education First Credit Union

14170 Pennsylvania Road

Southgate, Michigan 48195

 

734.284.9410

or at jodiford.org

To learn more  visit www.jodiford.org or contact Carrie Ross at 1-734-672-7169 or [email protected]. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you to Lizanne Green and The Rock & Roll Cowboy for donating!

Reviews

[Lizanne]

A very sad situation and yes if others do not help, it is like receiving an invitation to anothers death. Many are ill and it is hard to give to everyone. But would we have this same thought if it were us with the illness?Do you know this lady personally? Avery kind and thoughtful thing you did in posting this writing. The pictures do speak a thousand words.

[Jason]

This is such a beautiful display of your soul towards such a sad situation. So many people have to suffer along with their families due to illness and death...but It is things like this that this world needs. People to go out of their way to help. If we don't help there may be nobody there to help us later in life when we may need it. This has touched my heart this morning. Thank you, I will do what I can to help.

[closed account]

I can't believe I missed this?? this was another example of your
pure divine heart!! something special young lady,, yes you are!!
very touching and inspiring.. selfless love you have for
mankind.. love you miss Carol.. :-)

[Barbara Walker]

This is so touching and you doing this for her shows what a big heart you have. My good friend is battling lung and liver cancer and it breaks my heart. Her main concern is her kids and grandkids. Your poem is good, too. barbara eyepoetress

[The Rock And Roll Cowbo..]

This is really a grand gesture you are doing for this lady... your pure heart has really touched me... the pics are wonderful cause it shows her as a person not just another statistic.

[QuietPoet]

This is heartbreaking. You have such a beautiful heart. I will pray for her. Thanks for sharing this.

[Michael X]

This is heartbreakingly beautiful and I believe its an encouraging tribute to the good cause,
your words resonate through and through, my heart and thoughts go out to Jody and her family,
and I believe that every bit of effort will help, thank you for sharing this benifit, Michael

[An owl on the moon]

What a passionate, beautiful plea for help for a dear loving woman... Stunned by the courage she and her family must show over these next few weeks and months... This is a true celebration of her life, what she is facing, and what she will overcome as everyone gathers with her in this fight...

[C. Porter]

Oh, so sad. D o you know her? I f not I admire you even more.

[LisetteCanWrite!]

Oh such a sad story.. so many may be able to relate to this.. I have many around me struggling with different illnesses and this is so hard on family. I loved the message you send in support for this mother and her children.. my thoughts and prayers go out the her and her family.. as well as anyone else out there that is struggling with so many things similar to this in life. Such a beautiful soul you have to write something like this for her and her family. Thank you very much for sharing.. =)