FEMMES NATALES RUNABOUT

This weekend our community once again

saw the outpouring of love and support of

the organization called FEMMES NATALES.

Yes, on Saturday morning many met at Peltier Park

all in the name of Gina B. my dear friend who has

Lou Gehrig's disease.

Although I didn't make the race itself,

my school of TES reached out and campaigned to

make sure this years race was the very best.

The organization gives 100% of their earnings to

the family who has been picked for the year.

I do not know what the total raising was but

I hear it was one of the best years yet.

Why? Probably because Gina B. has meant so much

to so many. This quiet, kind teacher has reached so many lives

that everyone wanted to do their part to help her.

This is one way that she could be helped.

Early in Gina B's journey, before we knew where this road

was going to take her, we prayed for a remission of sorts.

Where the "devil disease" would go into a remission and

slow it's progression. We just knew she would be that one

that had a good 10 years before she had to think of

needing daily help.

It was clear earlyon, that this devil was not going to give her that.

Still, Gina B. at first was having trouble accepting help

from others. She and I spoke about how she didn't feel at the

time that she needed any help from outside, from the

community. I laid it on the table for her and she cried.

I said, " Gina B. this is not fair to us who want to help.

I know that if anyone else in your large circle of friends

had gotten this diagnosis rather than you, you would be

the first to be figuring out what could be done for the person.

You would be using any free minute to help this person yet,

here you are being the one who needs the help and you

are denying us in helping. You are stopping others from

doing God's work, you are stopping us from being the

disciple that God demands from us."

She cried, my Gina B. because sometimes I am a little rough

with my honesty. I believe she cried though because she

knew what I was speaking was the truth.

I am not sure if this conversation had anything to do with

her change of heart but not long after this our Gina B.

admitted to many "I HAVE ALS, LOU GEHRIG'S"

and help poured from every crack and crevice of our

community. Femmes Natales was only one of the

miracles that have transpired.

If you are asking "What can I do?"

Well, you can pray, pray for my dear friend Gina B.

who most days has a new struggle to face yet

always, always has a smile on her face.

Is always teaching us how to face a day the way

God is asking us to do.

If you are in a position to donate even one trip

to the McDonald's drive up,

there is an account at every Capitol One Bank.

Simply go there and give her name"

Gina Hebert Bonvillain Blanchard

and donate.

Also, when Gina B. was first diagnosed I started a letter

campaign for all to flood the mail carriers with

cards of well-wishes to our Gina B.

she loves getting these cards and saves each and every one.

Drop a card to Gina B. even if you don't know her personally.

Keep the mail system in business since I hear they are facing cuts

GINA BLANCHARD

306 BAYOU RESERVE

THIBODAUX, LOUISIANA 70301

Have your children do art work and send it to her.

She saves each and every one of them.

Most important of all spoken of?

Well, Gina B. says that would be prayers....

pray for God's will, for one of those miracle we read

about in the Bible, for acceptance for whatever may come.

Thanks for all you may do to help my friend,

Gina B.