As you are aware, on Monday I shared the sad news that Jackie Dick, the mother of the family who lives in the apartment above me, died of ovarian cancer at the age of 44. If you missed the story leading up to this, you can get to it via the links at the bottom of this post. It all started when their dog bit into my upper thigh while I was carrying a coffee table to the dumpster.
Anyway, on Monday I asked if at least a few thousand of you would be willing to donate a couple bucks to help this family pay for the funeral (and be able to keep the original funds we raised for them), and you stepped up to the plate. Together, we raised (last count I got) $7,977.38. That’s amazing.
Thank you. All of you. For those of you who donated. And for those of you who shared the link and asked others to donate. I’m sure any additional donations would be greatly appreciated.
Tonight I just wanted to share a few photos of Jackie that Martin shared with me. In his words, they were his favorite pictures of her. Also, if you want to visit her obituary, you can do that here.
It’s a sad end to a battle that we all only recently became aware, but to which we all quickly became attached. I don’t believe there was a person among us who wasn’t hoping for a miracle for Jackie.
Rest in Peace. School teacher. Mother. Neighbor.
Dan Pearce, Single Dad Laughing
PS. Several people who came in at the end of this story have asked me to post all the blog posts about it in order so that you could more easily come up to speed. Here they are:
The Dog Bite & the Family Above Me
The People, the Dog, and the Ass
Why I LOVE People
Decision Time
Why I LOVE People
The $10,000 Knock on the Door
Meet The Family Above Me
A Letter from the Daughter Who Lives Above Me
Tragedy Sideswipes the Family Above Me
I'm a new reader to your blog and facebook page. I read all of your stories about this family and had tears of happiness and then tears of sadness for them and for you, too. I can't find the words to express how this touched my heart. What you and your readers have done for them. Just amazing. I'm not a religious person but I believe in the power of love and what it can do. Thanks for sharing this with us. And thanks for the laughs I have also found on your blog/fb. I know I will enjoy many more. Talk about Beautiful You. Just wonderful <3
My heart aches for this family. I pray the family can find peace.
I am so glad I found your blog. Your ability to bring people together virtually, but in a tangible way, is amazing. Even though I have come to this story at the end, the Dick family will sit in my heart for the next few days. I hope that their story will remind me of several things: how many blessings I have in my life, how often I take those blessings for granted, how good people can be, and that i can be a force to help people just as you have done. Thank you for being the kind of person you are. I think that you being you is going to help make me a better person in the long run. I feel deeply for the loss of a mother and wife for the Dick family, but with that, I feel great hope in the human race. You are a very special person, Dan.
Wow! It just shows how much we can do if we pitch together. I hope this family can take a trip. Maybe even get an iPad for the child with special needs. They are brilliant for communication. If you haven't read anything on it. Worth a read.
Keep up the great blog.
Sad to read this, and my thoughts and prayers go out to the family. I wish them all the best!
My heart goes out to the family, so very sad to hear this. Praying they find peace.
Rest in peace. I lost my grandfather to a gateway illness brought on by cancer nearly two years ago. All of my wishes to the family.
44... Wow, so young..
My heart goes out to the family, and I'm sure we were all hoping for a miracle to happen and that the family could enjoy some stress free time together. But also maybe that money that was donated to them helped her feel that she could leave her family and know they were taken care of. I work with people who are dying and sometimes once they know everything is gonna be okay with their family that stress is lifted and their able to let go. So even though it is extremely sad, this could have given her a much more peaceful passing. Silver lining to everything that happens.
Thank you for introducing us to Jackie. I cried while reading her obituary and while looking at the pictures her husband shared and as I did so, it occurred to me that mourning a person I never knew made me feel more human than I have in a long time. What a precious gift she gave all of us.
<3
Thank you, Dan, for letting us help. I am so sorry for their loss. I hope the donations help ease some of their burden.
3
Oh, no....so sad. Prayers to the family.
My fiancee lost his mother to a heart attack when he was just 16, and his step mother to cancer when he was about 20. My heart breaks for these kids. God bless them! They will be in my prayers.
that's just so damn sad. :(
Thanks
I missed Monday's too. :( So sad.
Sorry. Ovarian cancer is bad, bad stuff.
So sorry for your and the family above you's loss.
I missed Monday's update. This made me cry ... both the tragedy and the outpouring of love from strangers... There is still hope for humanity.
This took my breath away.
You have the most beautiful soul. RIP Jackie.
Please tell Jackie's husband thank you for sharing his precious photos of the woman who holds his heart. Many prayers for this family
My thoughts and prayers are with her entire family. My husband died of cancer several years ago. He died from cancer, but he certainly didn't loose the battle. He won. Just not the way I would've liked. Jackie may have moved on but from everything you have written about her, I doubt she lost her battle either. She just didn't win the way we would've all liked. Much love is being sent out to them.
*tears*
My thoughts and prayers go out to the family.
Bless you for chosing love over anger. You made what must be a truly dark time for this family a little bit easier.
Cancer is terrible. I lost my 59 year old husband to lung cancer in December. :(
Yes Dan, bless you- you are a keeper
God bless... My condolences
:(
such a sad story. and what a great thing you are doing and have done for them.
So sorry! Very sad! So nice you "bumped" into them when you did. They certainly needed a friendly smile and helping hand!
So sad :(
So sorry for your loss and the loss of this family. I can't imagine losing a mother at only 44. I can't even imagine where this family would be right now had they not met you.
I'm not sure if you have mentioned an address that we could send cards to the family. But I'm sure lots of people would love to send a note to the family just to show love and support.
thank you for everything you have done for the family & sharing them with us. I hope they feel the love we all are sending them during this difficult time.
RIP Ms. Jackie. I hope your family will be able to find peace knowing that you are no longer suffering. ((hugs))
So very sorry for their loss and the loss of your neighbor.
So very sad, she will be remembered by many good people.
Thank you for introducing us to this family, Dan.
I love that you posted such lovely photos of her- as the woman she was before the disease. I really wish this would get national attention. What you and your generous readers have done here is amazing. I truly hope the family is able to find some peace. =(
Oh wow....sorry to hear that...I just lost two Uncles to Cancer within a month of each other...Hate Cancer....
you are a good guy, Dan.
Thank you for sharing their story. Thoughts are with her family
Prayers for you and her family.
so so sorry I cant say enough how much I hate cancer!!! Destroys so many lives!!!
Lots of prayers for peace in their family.
So sorry.