what a difference a year makes I have been very fortunate to heal as good as I can

[demtenjeep]

Crohn's is a never ending ordeal but last year I had C-Diff and was sick for months. Had to take short term disability and that cut my income a LOT.

So far this year (knock on wood) I have been okay.

I promised myself if I was able to get better and get back to work, I would give to the homeless that live near me.

While getting stocking stuffers for my kids, I noticed that gloves were a really great price and when I walked past them the thought went through my head "to whom much is given-much is expected"

I bought 20 pair and tonight while walking the dog I passed out all 20 pair in the little homeless community set up at the park next door. I live downtown and see the homeless a lot.

One lady knocked a pair that I was trying to give her out of my hand (they were red and that is an issue ) The guy sitting next to her yelled at her to never do that to someone trying to be nice. I said it's okay I have a different color. She started crying and asked if she could hug me and I said sure. She hugged me and started praying and asked for forgiveness. I told her there was nothing to forgive but have a Merry Christmas.

I know it isn't much but it was what I could do.

[Metatron]

1. I think you are awesome, demtenjeep!

[iluvtennis]

10. Ditto

[Wiseman32218]

2. Thank You for Your Act of Kindness!!!!! K & R

[demtenjeep]

3. I am not awesome, I can't make their lives better I just do what I can

I have a really strong burden for the homeless but can't do much about it.

just trying to make a difference in my little corner of the world.

[sharedvalues]

5. You're awesome :)

Keep doing what you can. Much of homelessness has to do with poor treatment of mental illness in the US.

Great story, it warmed my heart.

[Hekate]

4. I am SO glad you are in remission again. And helping others

[Phoenix61]

6. It's everything! If we all did what we could

there would be no more want. Have a very Merry Christmas!

[Irish_Dem]

7. I love this story. Thank you for sharing.

I had a very bad case of c-diff last year and I know what you went through.

[demtenjeep]

19. that was the most painful ever

it took 4 antibiotics to get over it and 4 months of pretty much bed rest.

I was on the verge of losing everything-house, car, job and there were times I wish I had just died.

but the last antibiotic started to work, little by little each new day was better than the last and by March I was 80% better.

Doc thought i would die before the new year.

Now that I have, I made a promise-to all that helped me keep my house and said all the prayers-if I lived, I would focus my giving back to the homeless. We have done several different things. We never want to say look how great we are...we just want to spread kindness to a community that gets crapped on every day!

However, i should have known not to pass out red ones. There really is a turf war and I totally missed it. The lady that was mean at the start ended up increasing my faith. Here she was really messed up (probably drunk) and really rough and was humbled about knocking the red ones out and I just quietly gave her a different color. She apologized several times and when she prayed, she was crying and said over and over to forgive her.


It left an impression on my heartm

[Irish_Dem]

23. I had a similar situation.

The c-diff was bad and lasted about 6 months. Causing all kinds of hardship as you describe. I also had another illness that came after, unrelated to the c-diff, but it knocked me down again

I have a newfound understanding of those without homes or means. And those who are ill.

I had not really thought about it on a conscious level, but since then I have been doing random acts of kindness. If someone falls short in the grocery check out line, I give the cashier the money if I can. Or sometimes I split some of the groceries with a homeless person.

Edited to add: What was the significance of the gloves being red?

[demtenjeep]

30. in our city we have a terrible gang presence

red-bloods

blue - crips

and it is really obvious if you are black it is a huge burden to wear the wrong color

[Irish_Dem]

31. Thank you, I had no idea.... makes sense. Gang colors....

Wearing the wrong color could be a problem.

[mcar]

8. What a lovely story!

Best to you.

[Honeycombe8]

9. You are truly a good person. Karma will repay your kindness.

Who would've thought of gloves, but very useful for the homeless Even if they have a pair, I'm sure they wear out quickly or get messed up or stolen.

I knew someone a few years back with Crohn's. It made her life difficult. Horrible condition. She was such a nice lady, too. She was really pretty, and had married well (as they say). But money won't help you, when you have a medical condition.

[a kennedy]

11. My sister had crohns and melanoma cancer......

because of that damn crohn’s she couldn’t get some promising drugs for her melanoma.......horrible, horrible disease. So happy you are doing better. It’s a terrible disease. So happy you are doing better.

[MustLoveBeagles]

12. I'm glad that you're feeling better

This was inspiring. Thank you for sharing.

[blake13]

13. All thanks to God

good to hear that

[a kennedy]

14. A really??

[marble falls]

24. Welcome to DU. G*d is good in every way.

[Codeine]

32. Well, it was actually thanks to demtenjeep

and her unselfish willingness to spend her limited resources to help others, but you can go ahead and chalk it up to your imaginary sky daddy I suppose.

[oasis]

15. You deserve the best ever Christmas.

[demtenjeep]

16. Thanks. It is definitely much better than last year when I thought I was going to die

even my doctor didn't think I would live out the year.

[mopinko]

17. so glad to hear that you are feeling better.

better enough to give back? awesome!!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

18. I'm so glad you're feeling better......

Well enough to give back?

That's just the icing on the cake!

Blessings on you, my dear demtenjeep!



Merry Christmas and a happier New Year for you and your loved ones!

[demtenjeep]

20. thank you C-Peg

you are awesome. Always have been

[demtenjeep]

21. last week, my students had dental screenings. When finished they were given

toothbrushes, floss, toothepaste and little floss picker things.

Many students wanted to throw them away, Instead I had them put it all in a tub and we gave it to the homeless that night.

It felt good.n

[spanone]

22. K&R...

[UTUSN]

25. Without any personal context, I noticed your posts a couple of years ago as

being sensible and steady and frequent targets of my Recs. Thanks for who you are.

[woodsprite]

26. That was awesome that you were able to do that for them.

We have a group that serves the homeless community in our area called Friendship House. A group of people from our church try to keep them supplied with gloves, hats, scarves, and socks. Their director told us they are the most requested items during this time of year - especially on Code Purple nights.

[Faux pas]

27. Healing vibes for continued

good health and kudos on the good deeds!

[MLAA]

28. Wonderful idea you had about the gloves 🙂. I have a little suggestion for you.

I understand Crohn’s disease is very challenging and painful. I have gone to a workshop that Dr McDougall from Santa Rosa Ca where he shared some results of his work with Crohns patients.

If you are interested a link is below. Best wishes!

https://www.drmcdougall.com/health/education/health-science/stars/stars-video/sondra-berk/

[niyad]

29. ((((((((((dtj)))))))))

it isn't much, but I carry extra pairs of gloves all winter (the local dollar store loves me) and pass them out whenever someone can use them.

[MGKrebs]

33. Well my day is better anyway, thank you.

I'm gonna do that too.
Maybe there could be a "Give a glove day".

[demtenjeep]

37. That is an awesome idea

maybe I could even use it as a service project with my kiddos

Lets target a day and see if we can't get something to happen.

Maybe middle of Jan??

[Blue_true]

34. If everyon did what you did, the world would be a much better place.

One small act at a time is how big progress happens.

[malaise]

35. Really nice

[demtenjeep]

36. I will be going to the store and buying more

and do it again this weekend. It is supposed to get colder.

[demtenjeep]

38. we are going to be doing a service learning project with our students

and they will be collecting things for the homeless

Some suggested items:

Tooth Care
dry shampoo
socks
underwear
feminine hygeine
baby powder
lotion
gloves
gift cards for food, coffee

but I could use some suggestions

they end game will be around March so the weather will be warmer than it is now