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Our story and the power of a hand written note. You aren’t struggling alone. MAY 5, 2014 / SARAH PRUETT / 
How it all began. When I met my husband, Scott, I was in grad school. He came to talk to my class about "life after a spinal cord injury" and I thought he was the cutest thing. So honest, genuine, and a personality that makes you want to laugh and hang out for hours. He was using a wheelchair when we met because he injured his neck and spinal cord in a skiing accident in 1999 when he was a freshman in college.  We dated a few years and were married in 2009 and he whisked me off to places I'd never thought I'd go - living in different states and experiencing new adventures! He amazed me at his independence. Life would be different for us, just because he uses a wheelchair full time, but that didn't stop us from going and doing what any normal, newly married couple would do. I went to work and he drove off to grad school. We were just getting started in our marriage and thinking toward the future. A family. A new business. Reality sets in. In 2012 he discovered some degeneration in the vertebrae in his back. So much so they went in an did a major back surgery putting lots of metal and screws into his spine. We thought all was well - getting back into life, but then less than 18 months later (February 2014) he had to go though another major back surgery to replace the hardware that didn't hold in 2012. In total three major surgeries and three different spinal cord injuries since breaking his neck 15 years ago. We felt as though life kept throwing us speed bumps both physically and financially. The ups and downs. These past two surgeries left us uneasy. After all, they were unexpected - just as any event in life. Yet, the help from friends and family came quickly, and in abundance in the beginning. We were cared for simply, in ways we could not have asked or imagined. They knew our needs before we did, and even stepped up in areas we were afraid, or to prideful to ask for help. That's how it is. It's hard to be open and honest and to ask for things you feel we shouldn't need help with. Meals. Oh the wonderful hot meals that arrived to our door on the day we came home from the hospital and the leftovers we could pull out of the freezer and eat from our stockpile of frozen dinners. People wanted to help and walk with us in this valley of recovery. Food is easy and oh so needed with the extra things we were dealing with during our day. When meals couldn't be delivered to us, we were blessed by sweet notes in the mail with a check, or a gift card for a take out dinner. Those notes meant so much. We were hearing from people we hadn't talked to in years or those we met in our travels in some of the first years of our marriage. People were still thinking about us and praying for Scott's continued recovery. An idea was born. So, as I was sifting through all the mail in our mailbox and getting weighed down by everyday expenses and medical bills, I realized I was longing for those simple unexpected notes from friends and family. Much more welcoming than the bills! Even if they didn't contain money or a gift card - it was nice to know we still weren't going through this alone. Since we needed some extra income and there's just something special about receiving a note in the mail, I decided to take a creative outlet and turn it into a way to pay for some of our expenses. A few years ago I started taking pictures of letters. Letters that you'd see in architecture, nature, or home goods. I'd put the letters together to make names and started giving them out as wedding presents or baby shower gifts.  So my Letterography was born. I've created a line of stationery, wall art, and iPhone cases. It was a way for me to help with our finances, but also provide a unique way for others to send along special wishes to those they care about - for any occasion happy or sad. Often times when words are hard to communicate, a simple card or gift says it all. We press on. While life continues to be bumpy for us as Scott recovers, we couldn't get through the tough days without our friends and family. We still love those notes in the mail. Think about how you can brighten someone's day with an actual handwritten letter! Even if you don't know what to say, from experience both giving and receiving, it's a nice diversion from the challenges that fill our minds in the day to day. Reader Discount. Since many of you come to this site and blog for ideas on how to help others, I wanted to offer a discount on my stationery! Just go to my Letterography store and enter in TAKEMEAL10 at checkout to get 10% off any notecard pack you choose! Thanks for your support and I hope you are able to lift others up with the simple note on their journey! - Sarah  |
Welcome! We're thrilled you stopped by. Our own joys and sorrows have taught us that a well-timed meal delivered by a friend is one of the best gifts imaginable. In this space, we share our favorite recipes to take to friends, meal-taking tips, and other ways to care for those who are dear to you. Helpful Posts
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