My gardens are my source of strength, inspiration. I called them "Where HOPEISM Blooms" because indeed, when I am outside taking pictures of various things in my back yard - I find such HOPEISM. Such healing.
July 3rd I was outside seeking that HOPEISM.
One of my very best friends died suddenly and quite unexpectedly July 2, 2016.
I'm sure if you listened hard enough, you would have heard a collective gasping for air as an entire community tried to catch its breath from the sudden sucker punch regarding the death of their warrior sister.
To honor her memory - family has asked that in lieu of flowers you donate to this fund set up for the family: GoFundMe Memorial Fund for Lesa Leahy Walsh
While I was outside mourning, this dragonfly came right beside where I was standing. Allowed me the time to go get my camera and come back and stand there inching closer and closer to get the best picture I could.
I named it Lesa.
It reminds me of her vibrant blue eyes.
I stood there beside it and smiled at how that is truly a Lesa thing to do. Being there when someone needed her...
And I thought about Dave, and her children, and her family and Dave's family. And wondered if they truly knew the Lesa we did. If they even have any clue just what her influence was in so many things, to so many people.
I have to think not.
So I wanted this to be for them.
From all of us - her warrior brothers and sisters in autism.
~ ~ ~
Dear Dave Walsh -
Kyle & Kiera
We cannot know the heartache you are feeling. The staggering loss in a wife and mother. But please know this, - we are lifting each of you in prayer, in thought, in peace that passes understanding.
All I will attempt to do is share from our perspective in what we have lost as a friend, a mentor, a warrior, and above all - an inspiration.
As you are honoring her memory on Saturday, July 16th at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Jacksonville, FL --- please look around the church and know that while there may be many of Lesa's friends -- if all of us warrior friends in the autism community who wanted to come were able to -- we would not fit in the church. Any church. There are simply too many mothers and fathers in "Life with Autism" that Lesa has touched in small ways, in large ways, in profound ways. But alas, because of the very autism we live with as Lesa did -- we cannot travel. We are all so very different in how autism has affected our lives, but few things remain constant in all of us... the fact that there is never enough money for autism, nor enough help with autism for us to get away. Even to honor such a cherished friend.
So know that as you are in that church honoring her, we are too. We are private messaging each other still in disbelief. Sharing about how Lesa would be telling us to not mourn, laughing at our memories of her, or cursing with us at the unfairness of it all. We will be posting our memories to all in our community, e-mailing each other, and perhaps many of us calling each other for that extra touch of comfort. I laugh out loud at the fact that Lesa knew I hated the phone, but for her, and Carol, I would answer it when I could. I can share this now, but half the time when talking with Lesa I never understood a word she said. Between her Irish accent and her New York speed talking - I couldn't keep up!
But I digress...
As I try to attempt to share a collective community's thoughts on Lesa - I smile in thinking about how for so many, she was our community. Our lifeline of HOPEISM in that her Kyle was what we wanted our Brandon's to be. She blazed the trails where there were none for so many. She was the HOPEISM that you could recover your child enough to be healthy, go to college, graduate. She could give the HOPEISM we so longed for because in so many ways she experienced it.
It was so very heartwarming to read on Facebook so many posts about her. Many from parents who did not know her, but knew her name from seeing it so often in helping others! That is the kind of impact Lesa had on this community here in America - and overseas! All hours of the day and night when she could spare a second or two, she would be laughing with us, crying with us, sharing sarcasm with us.
But most of all doing all she could to help us, pray for us, battle with us.
Carol Fruscella has given me permission to share this list of all the groups/projects she was a part of:(I'm sure there are more, if so please contact me, MichelleMGuppy@yahoo.com, and I will add them!)
New York delegation for DC... 'Hear their Silence'... April 8, 2000
Member of ARK
Member of Unlocking Autism
Part of too many NY and FL groups to mention
DAILY advocate and personal ONE ON ONE care provider to parents all over the United States
Designed and implemented the "One in 88 can not Wait" for the 2012 Presidential Election
Active member in multiple private groups and prayer groups
Retired OR Nurse...because being a floor nurse was not enough
Parent Mentor and Parent Teacher for an Autism Class at LaSalle University
Co-Author of a book yet to be released on Puberty and Autism
Marched and Rallied and Called and Wrote all over the United States for answers.
She was all that and so much more.
I have tried to write this for a week now and still cannot come up with how to convey to you how much she meant to us. How even though we never met you, Dave, we know you by the love she had for you. Each picture she shared whether goofy or sweet, we could see the love for you in her eyes. When she would share an Anniversary post or picture of you coming home from being away at work, we could read the love in her words. As with all of us, the husbands seem to get lost in the shuffle. But they are never lost in our hearts. And you certainly were not lost in hers. We are like family in our own way and we all feel like Kyle & Kiera are our children as well. You were her love, they were her world and we so loved having a front seat in being a part of theirs through Lesa. You could sense the pride she had for them in everything they have accomplished. The love for them in each goofy-face post we so loved! And will so miss! We know what price that came at, we all struggle with putting ourselves last at the detriment of our own well-being. It was one of the many things we would share about late at night while saving the world from autism. But Lesa would have it no other way. I don't think there's a mother as dedicated and selfless as Lesa was. She gave her all in everything she did. She would share about a typical day and honestly I needed a nap after reading about it!
She was a warrior, a friend, a mentor and a support system to so many! She was an advocate like no other. As busy as she always was, she always had time to have Kyle draw a picture for a campaign, to print a poster for a rally, to write a letter to a politician or to sign and pass around a petition.
I don't think I could say it enough how many people she touched.
And with tears streaming down my face, I share how she touched me the most because it was her begging and pleading her doctor friend to help save my Brandon - that truly did save my Brandon. For months, weeks, she would share with me all she could, cry with me and curse with me at how I was getting no where with my son. She felt Kyle's doctor could help Brandon and it was because of Lesa -- that I did get a consult with that doctor. And that doctor did save Brandon's life.
That was the kind of person to me, to our community Lesa was.
She would stop at nothing to help.
One of my favorite motto's is "NDCQ". Lesa embodied that and all it meant.
Not Dead Can't Quit --- it means to keep dreaming, keep daring, keep doing.
Lesa did all that and so very much more.
And I doubt very seriously that even death will stop her.
As much as I want to be there with you at her memorial service, I cannot be. But with a smile on my face and wearing my very best "Camo & Combat Boots" - I will be home continuing the mission she had -- we all have -- in kicking down brick walls of autism advocacy and vaccine tyranny. Just as Lesa would want all of us to do. Except perhaps now in her honor, with just a little bit more force in those kicks!
Look around the church on Saturday and feel the force of our collective love and mourning for Lesa. Know that we are with you. We will never forget Lesa and we will have your backs for as long as you need us to.
We are family.
And family is forever.
In her honor we will continue to dream, dare, and do for your kids, our kids, everyone's kids.
NDCQ
We love you Lesa -
