• You helped save my life...
• Posted: 2009-05-26 23:27:40 By Dina Thachet
• I met you this past weekend in Boston at the Child Life Conference--I know you meet a lot of people, but I am the Indian girl who asked you to sign the book 'To Dina and Sue' for my mother and I, and told you that my mother was so envious that I got to see and hear you live. You don't know this but you helped save my life. About 15 years ago, I was diagnosed with Lupus Nephritis and my world flipped upside down. I spent the first few years trying to stay alive and how to live with a medical condition. I was so depressed that I couldn't just be 'normal'. My mother was my caregiver and tried everything she could to cheer me up. One day, we were watching PBS and they introduced you, and as they say, the rest is history. What I was missing was joy and laughter. We taped the show (on our VCR!) and have watched it a squillion times since then. Whenever we need to laugh so hard it hurts (and we almost pee in our pants!), we pop in the tape and it takes us back. Almost 3 years ago, my grandmother passed away and my mother fell into a deep depression. I have slowly helped her, along with your video, and she is doing much better now... We get each other up off of the couch and dance around our living room. We put on colorful wigs (I have about 15 different colors) and funny hats and prance around until the other one laughs out loud. We sing at the top of our lungs. With your help, we both learned how to laugh again--that is a priceless gift for which we are eternally grateful. Keep spreading your humor, your wisdom and your love of life. During your keynote speech at the conference, you said that if only the rest of the world would stop taking life so seriously and would learn to laugh a little and get rid of stress, that it would be a better place. I agree with my entire heart and soul and so does my mother. We thank you, we honor you and we wish you all the best!!! This world is blessed with you in it, and I am blessed to have met you and to have been in your presence.

• Re: You helped save my life...
• Posted: 2009-06-30 11:39:58 By Loretta LaRoche
• I am so glad that you are well and happy Dina. I may have helped you, but you have done the work. No words can make an individual change their lives unless the individual has the courage and tenacity to do so. Give yourself a great big standing ovation and enjoy every precious minute of your life. Please keep in touch.
  
  My best to you and your family,
  Loretta

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