A Very Special Friend

 This sweet lady is a very special friend. Someone that I wasn't expected to ever meet. But due to Branson being snowed in we were able to spend the weekend together. Let me explain how I first heard about lynn and how we have become very very close friends. During the summer while reading the posts of one of my friends Barbara (from Georgia) I noticed a commet left by lynn. I had never heard of her before. She was telling Barbara about her bucket list. Lynn needs a transplant and without one in the next few months, well she wont be here for very long. On her bucket list she said she wanted to meet Jay O who she had loved for 40 years and never met. She also wanted her picture with him. She also wanted to fly to Branson to see him. There were others and she went on to explain her life and what she was dealing with. I had never met her but something touched me. Enough that I not only left her a msg telling her I would pray for her but I also contacted Jay O. Jay was the person 30 years ago that I had met and he indroduced me to his parents and I joined the church and well everyone knows that story. I hadn't been to a show or spoken to him in I think 29 years. I sent him Lynns msg and told him how he might remember me and also told him how her msg had touched me and was there any way possible he could arrange to do a meet and greet in Manchester so she could meet him and get her picture done. Cutting long story short, Jay wanted this to happen as well. While he was in the uk I was able to rely info to his personal asst who passed it onto him about lynn and how she would attend and what she would attend. The brothers scheduled a meet and greet, the only one they did for the whole month tour in, guess what, Manchester:}. During this time Lynn had answered my msg I left to her commet and we had become fast friends tho she didn't know what I was doing of course. Once the meet and greet got scheduled I sent her a msg all excited asking her if she was going. Imgine my shock and dismay when she told me she had no money and couldn't attend. Fast thinking. I left a msg on facebook among lynns friends in the uk asking if anyone wanted to help me collect money and make this work for lynn. A Sarah came forward and put everything together by collecting money from the uk fans. I also had my dad in the uk send Sarah money so I could take part in this too. Lynn was very overwhelmed when she heard what we had all done for her to make one of her bucket wishes come true. I then contacted who I needed to to let them know that Lynn would be at the meet and greet. Of course she loved it and I remember seeing the picture of her and Jay and tears just streaming down my face. I was so happy for her. Forever grateful to jay for helping make that happen. Well the uk fans went one more step and helped her go to another show the week after in southend where she was lucky enough to get another picture with him. Then after the shows were over the uk fans had the idea of helping her get to Branson. I was kinda worried about this due to her health problems, I remembered how hard and scary it was having my Mum do a trip here in her last weeks. But someone gave her the skymiles needed to get from uk to branson and another gave her a timeshare condo for the week and a bunch of people (us inc) gave her the spending money she needed and it happened. Crazy! My friend Barbara arranged with a lady at the show hall for her to meet the brothers yet again:}. Its too bad I wasn't there as I would have loved to have shared that with her but the girls were suppose to leave before I got there. I even looked into leaving earlier and changing my flight so I could spend time with her, she wanted me to stay in condo with her but just couldn't do it and as it turned out it was good I didn't, with Ralph in the hospital. But due to the weather the girls ended up being there for the weekend (see earlier post on all that drama) and I got to spend the weekend with her. I know its a time I will treasure all my life. Its amazing how one small idea I had turned into such an amazing few months for her. I couldn't have done it without everyones help. Im still being sneaky!!! Lynn turns 50 next week on the 8th. I have arranged for around 40-50 people to send cards to her from the usa and uk. Some are also sending pressies (as did l). Shes all alone, her parents are dead as is her brother and I want her flooded with love on her birthday. She really didn't know if she would see her 50 birthday. She caught a chest infection in branson and had to be admitted to a hospital straight from the airport on her return but as far as I know shes doing well now and praying for a bone marrow transplant. I really hope she gets her miracle. Shes an amazing person and im sure she came into my life for a reason. Here are some pictures of her special few months.

 Above is Patti from florida in front of hotel we stayed in. Before the storm hit. lol.

 Lynn has a cute sense of humor and is always posting these on my facebook. lol.

Above pic is a few nights before I got to branson when the brothers met with Lynn, Patti, Barbara and another Debra, so sad I wasn't there to share with her. It was backstage after there show.

 Above is the picture and meeting I tried so hard for in Manchester. Thanks Jay for making it happen. She had him sign it in branson. It says I love you, and then his name.

Above is branson again and below is Manchester again. lol.

 Above is at southend, she was lucky to meet him again as he was going in for show.

 Above is shane who is merrills son. This was the same backstage night.

Above is at lunch when we arrived in branson. So blessed to have met her. And below one of the fans made her a little jay and his drums. lol. Love her so much, please keep her in your prayers for her miracle!