Thank yous, the day after a LBC kinda day...
At Given To Live we don't get big donations or sponsorships. We'd love to and hopefully we will but for now we manage on the generosity of individuals making donations.
A little while ago we had a generous donor contribute specifically for Joshua to see Pearl Jam again. After many conversations between Christina and I the Swansons decided a hometown show was to much for Joshua to miss. Up until that point they were going to skip the show and find a fan to buy their tickets as moving house is hitting them hard financially. But it's going to be a home with all Joshie needs so it's a sacrifice more than worth making for them.
So next thing is how do we get ADA tickets? How do we get Joshua somewhere he can see. He has 2D vision so being close of in a clear line of sight is important. In the end the best option was going in GA and hoping it works out but also knowing this is where Joshua wants to be, with his band, his friend. Then this morning GTL got a message from someone asking if we'd found ADA tix for Joshua yet because if not he could help.
Most of us love a band and have friends, partners, jobs, hobbies. Can go to the movies, to the store to buy a soda. Joshua has Pearl Jam. He can't tell you what's going on so Christina doesn't really know why Joshie listened to Yellow Ledbetter for 15 hours straight a few days ago, specific versions with Little Wing or Star Spangled Banner. But maybe it's because his teacher Miss Carrie has left his school and she'd play YL for him at the end of the day if he'd kept his side of behavioural bargains and he misses her. Or is it to comfort during the upheaval of his home being made ready to sell? Or something else entirely? But he'd go crazy if it wasn't on so it stayed on.
So when I got this message the answer was yes we do need help with ADA. We arranged to speak this afternoon and a beautiful story unfolded. The story of an honest mistake being to big a weight on a conscience. Wishing to remain anonymous this latest friend of Joshua told me this.
Having got on the rail for a show earlier in the year he knew he wanted to do it again. So after being shut out of the Wrigley sale he went on stubhub and saw tickets available in a tiny section in front of the stage and wanting to keep his promise to himself he bought two tickets. Great tickets. Tickets in front of GA. When he read the email confirmation these tickets turned out to be in the disabled section. He had no idea this was what he'd bought. He didn't know what ADA meant until reading the email. Now he was in a bind.
In a bind he could easily have got out of because he's a disabled veteran having served as a Marine. He has every right to be there. But his disability is a mild limp and PTSD and he just didn't feel comfortable taking seats away from someone who might need it for a wheelchair. He felt he had no right to these tickets and also remembering the kindness and generosity of a family fans to him at a show earlier in the year felt inspired to pay it forward and went searching for someone to donate the tickets to.
Now, thanks to this wonderful man's sense of doing the right thing Joshua has a 4th row seat on Mike's side for Wrigley 2. When I skyped Christina to tell her she took a good while to make sense. She was processing and saying oh my god a lot. Saying how incredible a gesture. Not believing but knowing it was true. You see Christina knows Pearl Jam is his life. Joshua will never bring his first girlfriend home to meet mum, never graduate, never pass his driving test. Her biggest fear is he will be too big to care for at home so will need to go into care. So a 4th row seat for her boy isn't just a 4th row seat, it's seeing her son happy, smiling, maybe standing again, maybe dancing with mum's help. It's Joshua being where he's home, happy.
There are two tickets and we somehow want to find to more so the family can be fully together. Christina can't fully manage Joshua on her own as she has her own health issues which legitimately could entitle her to a disabled space in her own right but she doesn't want to take away from Joshie or get attention - sometimes having conditions which aren't immediately visible is far more difficult to be accepted for because some of society expect a disability to come with a wheelchair.
We're not sure how or if it's even possible to get the extra ADA tickets. It's galling to see tickets in the same row on stubhub for $1k each.
Joshua is going to see his friends at Wrigley, the Love Boat Captain will sail again.
Thank you so much to this wonderful Vet who gave up his tickets because he knew it meant more to do the right thing than to see a show up close.
Christina's messaged me to say her husband Josh can't believe it. When I finished the call with Christina she'd gathered her wits after tears of joy for her boy and said something that really struck deeply; Joshua hates Christmas, hates wrapping paper, mum and dad try and find gifts for him and nothing works except Pearl Jam stuff. This is like all his Christmases have come at once for Joshua, the real Christmas which isn't an ordeal. The Christmases of love, wonder, joy, surprise. Joshua's getting his very own Christmas party at Wrigley with the best Santas ever.
A little while ago we had a generous donor contribute specifically for Joshua to see Pearl Jam again. After many conversations between Christina and I the Swansons decided a hometown show was to much for Joshua to miss. Up until that point they were going to skip the show and find a fan to buy their tickets as moving house is hitting them hard financially. But it's going to be a home with all Joshie needs so it's a sacrifice more than worth making for them.
So next thing is how do we get ADA tickets? How do we get Joshua somewhere he can see. He has 2D vision so being close of in a clear line of sight is important. In the end the best option was going in GA and hoping it works out but also knowing this is where Joshua wants to be, with his band, his friend. Then this morning GTL got a message from someone asking if we'd found ADA tix for Joshua yet because if not he could help.
Most of us love a band and have friends, partners, jobs, hobbies. Can go to the movies, to the store to buy a soda. Joshua has Pearl Jam. He can't tell you what's going on so Christina doesn't really know why Joshie listened to Yellow Ledbetter for 15 hours straight a few days ago, specific versions with Little Wing or Star Spangled Banner. But maybe it's because his teacher Miss Carrie has left his school and she'd play YL for him at the end of the day if he'd kept his side of behavioural bargains and he misses her. Or is it to comfort during the upheaval of his home being made ready to sell? Or something else entirely? But he'd go crazy if it wasn't on so it stayed on.
So when I got this message the answer was yes we do need help with ADA. We arranged to speak this afternoon and a beautiful story unfolded. The story of an honest mistake being to big a weight on a conscience. Wishing to remain anonymous this latest friend of Joshua told me this.
Having got on the rail for a show earlier in the year he knew he wanted to do it again. So after being shut out of the Wrigley sale he went on stubhub and saw tickets available in a tiny section in front of the stage and wanting to keep his promise to himself he bought two tickets. Great tickets. Tickets in front of GA. When he read the email confirmation these tickets turned out to be in the disabled section. He had no idea this was what he'd bought. He didn't know what ADA meant until reading the email. Now he was in a bind.
In a bind he could easily have got out of because he's a disabled veteran having served as a Marine. He has every right to be there. But his disability is a mild limp and PTSD and he just didn't feel comfortable taking seats away from someone who might need it for a wheelchair. He felt he had no right to these tickets and also remembering the kindness and generosity of a family fans to him at a show earlier in the year felt inspired to pay it forward and went searching for someone to donate the tickets to.
Now, thanks to this wonderful man's sense of doing the right thing Joshua has a 4th row seat on Mike's side for Wrigley 2. When I skyped Christina to tell her she took a good while to make sense. She was processing and saying oh my god a lot. Saying how incredible a gesture. Not believing but knowing it was true. You see Christina knows Pearl Jam is his life. Joshua will never bring his first girlfriend home to meet mum, never graduate, never pass his driving test. Her biggest fear is he will be too big to care for at home so will need to go into care. So a 4th row seat for her boy isn't just a 4th row seat, it's seeing her son happy, smiling, maybe standing again, maybe dancing with mum's help. It's Joshua being where he's home, happy.
There are two tickets and we somehow want to find to more so the family can be fully together. Christina can't fully manage Joshua on her own as she has her own health issues which legitimately could entitle her to a disabled space in her own right but she doesn't want to take away from Joshie or get attention - sometimes having conditions which aren't immediately visible is far more difficult to be accepted for because some of society expect a disability to come with a wheelchair.
We're not sure how or if it's even possible to get the extra ADA tickets. It's galling to see tickets in the same row on stubhub for $1k each.
Joshua is going to see his friends at Wrigley, the Love Boat Captain will sail again.
Thank you so much to this wonderful Vet who gave up his tickets because he knew it meant more to do the right thing than to see a show up close.
Christina's messaged me to say her husband Josh can't believe it. When I finished the call with Christina she'd gathered her wits after tears of joy for her boy and said something that really struck deeply; Joshua hates Christmas, hates wrapping paper, mum and dad try and find gifts for him and nothing works except Pearl Jam stuff. This is like all his Christmases have come at once for Joshua, the real Christmas which isn't an ordeal. The Christmases of love, wonder, joy, surprise. Joshua's getting his very own Christmas party at Wrigley with the best Santas ever.
Given To Live -
Latest story - Declan at Slipknot is up on the website now at www.giventolive.com along with Kayleigh at Foo Fighters, Tony at Stereophonics and more.
Inspired by Pearl Jam, making live music dreams come true.
Latest story - Declan at Slipknot is up on the website now at www.giventolive.com along with Kayleigh at Foo Fighters, Tony at Stereophonics and more.
Inspired by Pearl Jam, making live music dreams come true.
Post edited by IamTom on
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Comments
As ever Tom, great work
Thank you
Latest story - Declan at Slipknot is up on the website now at www.giventolive.com along with Kayleigh at Foo Fighters, Tony at Stereophonics and more.
Inspired by Pearl Jam, making live music dreams come true.
To Joshua, the LBC....
RED ROCKS 6-19-95
AUGUSTA 9-26-96
MANSFIELD 9-15-98
BOSTON 9-29-04
BOSTON 5-25-06
MANSFIELD 6-30-08
EV SOLO BOSTON 8-01-08
BOSTON 5-17-10
EV SOLO BOSTON 6-16-11
PJ20 9-3-11
PJ20 9-4-11
WRIGLEY 7-19-13
WORCESTER 10-15-13
WORCESTER 10-16-13
HARTFORD 10-25-13
kudos Joshua and to the ever giving Vet may karma come and treat him well
Excellent, Tom!
"When we read stories like this, it is very refreshing to know that all is not lost in the world today. The gesture that this Vet has done is absolutely amazing, to see someone who has sacrificed so much for his/her country and others that he/she does not know and will never know, a person who rightfully so also deserves those tickets, goes on and continues to make selfless gestures like this is truly incredible and something that words will never begin to describe."
Having pieced this story together with a previous post on the "official" facebook group, I think I know who this generous individual is. All I can say is this is not his first anonymous and extremely generous act of kindness in the Pearl Jam community. My sons just helped Noah and the Keeley family run a Pearl Jam-related fundraiser to win tickets to Wrigley Night 1 that raised over $35,000 for the EB Research Partnership. This same individual made an unbelievably generous donation - anonymously. (The only reason I know is because as one of the administrators of the campaign I had access to all names and donors). While I appreciate giving people are not motivated by expecting anything in return for their generosity, I also believe in good karma. I am wishing hopeful thoughts that he gets some good karma at Wrigley.
I applaud and admire what you have done.
Those that can be trusted can change their mind.
And Foxy, great idea. I'm willing to chip in - just not through Paypal!
for her to come home
eyes upon the horizon
in the dark before the
darkness leaves the dawn
Very happy for Josh!
I was at Philly 1 where 'our band' played LBC for Joshua. To see Joshua and his parents blissful and rocking out was such a gift. As the mother of a special needs child myself, to see Joshua embraced by the band and the crowd as a fellow PJammer was heartwarming. As a parent of a special needs child it means the absolute world for your child to be accepted and celebrated because it can be such a rare occurrence outside of the immediate family.
I followed Joshua's story via Facebook prior to Philly, and watched all the videos which provided an insight into some of his challenges but also into his deep love of Pearl Jam. I recognised a kindred spirit in Joshua and I hope he and his family have the hometown Wrigley experience that they deserve and can treasure for a lifetime.
Joshua you are the Love Boat Captain and eternally linked to this song for me and family. Much love to you xo
Those that can be trusted can change their mind.
livefootsteps.org/user/?usr=446
1995- New Orleans, LA : New Orleans, LA
1996- Charleston, SC
1998- Atlanta, GA: Birmingham, AL: Greenville, SC: Knoxville, TN
2000- Atlanta, GA: New Orleans, LA: Memphis, TN: Nashville, TN
2003- Raleigh, NC: Charlotte, NC: Atlanta, GA
2004- Asheville, NC (hometown show)
2006- Cincinnati, OH
2008- Columbia, SC
2009- Chicago, IL x 2 / Ed Vedder- Atlanta, GA x 2
2010- Bristow, VA
2011- Alpine Valley, WI (PJ20) x 2 / Ed Vedder- Chicago, IL
2012- Atlanta, GA
2013- Charlotte, NC
2014- Cincinnati, OH
2015- New York, NY
2016- Greenville, SC: Hampton, VA:: Columbia, SC: Raleigh, NC : Lexington, KY: Philly, PA 2: (Wrigley) Chicago, IL x 2 (holy shit): Temple of the Dog- Philly, PA
2017- ED VED- Louisville, KY
2018- Chicago, IL x2, Boston, MA x2
2020- Nashville, TN
2022- Smashville
2023- Austin, TX x2
Thanks for all you do with GTL.
If I knew where it was I would take you there.
Those that can be trusted can change their mind.