I met Crystal Goss about 3 months after Eli's passing at a UAMS medical conference that I spoke at. Crystal, a momma of 2 little boys, both preemie NICU babies, also was there to tell her story. As we were sitting and listening to the conference, Crystal leaned over and asked "So what's your story". Well.....I took a breath and let it all out, leaving this beautiful brunette in a look of stunned. Maybe even more of a deer in headlight look gazed back at me. Then I began to question whether or not I was ready to talk about 'our story'. I think it was actually the first time I had let it all out to a complete stranger. Crystal just happened to be the one who asked first. And about that time, she was introduced by the speaker and she walked up to the podium and I never got a chance to ask her about her own story but began hearing it as the audience heard it themselves. Crystal's NICU stories of her two little men where stories of strength that I just could not imagine. They both spent numerous weeks in the NICU. And from there, she became an advocate for the March of Dimes.
Speed ahead a year and she offered to take our photos for the Project E.L.I. premiere. To this day, I don't know that she truly knows how much this meant to us. I love these pictures. We had a hard cover book made of them so that we could give it to Walker one day. To us, the Project E.L.I. Documentary Premiere was kind of like Eli's funeral/celebration of life. The day we buried him seems to be a blur. I could barely walk from the swelling. It was atleast 105 degrees outside. And exhaustion had overtaken our bodies. We don't remember much from that day. And we don't want to. But one year later nearly to the day, we celebrated. And we have beautiful pictures to give us that much more hope that his life had profound purpose. Speed ahead to earlier this year- Julie Mayberry and I met with Crystal during lunch one day at my house. I knew if Crystal wanted to meet with us, it was big. And sure enough, it was. Crystal began to tell us her vision of a bag line in memory of little lives that inspire. Without ruining the surprise, I will stop there. But I do want to help introduce to you Ness: Every Life Inspires. Please click on the link below to check out Crystal's dream. She has 3 different bags that a portion of their proceeds will go to their organizations: Mamie's Poppy Plates, March of Dimes, and of course, Project E.L.I. Documentary fund.
It is an honor to be a part of this. Our journey with Eli & Walker gave us many new opportunities and many new friends. I love seeing Eli's spirit live on.
1 comments:
This is amazing, Jodie! I know you are proud :)
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