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Joshua, the LBC, will sail again...(updated in comments)
Given To Live has some news that we're excited to share here in the Porch amongst so many friends and supporters of Joshua, Christina and Josh.
Thanks to a very generous donation to be used specifically to take the Swansons to another show the Loveboat Captain will sail to another show with Given To Live. Where and when is yet to be decided.
Before anyone asks the donor is not on these boards, in fact they're not a PJ fan. They're someone who wishes to remain utterly anonymous asking only that we take Joshie to a show again having seen his story and what it gave him. Over separate conversations the nature of GTL was fully explained and how, because we rely totally on donations, we have a one show only policy. The solution was for this person to donate specifically for Joshua.
I skyped with Christina earlier this week to tell her and amongst the excitement I was lucky enough to also chat with Josh, their four year old daughter Maddy (she gets regular deliveries of GTL stickers which she loves but parents who are trying to sell a house...not so much) and Joshua. The change from when I first spoke with Joshua is incredible. I saw it happening over the shows in Philly and to see its lasting effect and further progress is something very special.
Talking with Christina all these months later and hearing what the experience gave them all reinforces what GTL aims to do, to give. In so many ways the shows are the vehicle to more. For Joshua to be accepted as simply another Pearl Jam fan rather than a kid in a wheelchair means the world to Josh and Christina. I know friends have been made which is so precious to Christina who often feels isolated as she is the primary care giver as Josh works at the firehouse. Joshua is adorable, funny, wonderful and it's also hard work looking after him. And can be very lonely so these new friendships are just as important as Joshie having the time of his life in Philly, as all of them being accepted simply as people with the one in the wheelchair a crazy PJ fan with favourite songs, favourite boots.
So when I Skype and Joshie asks me to sing YL with him, to clap that's beautiful. When mum says she's made friends, felt accepted, that people wanted to say hello and not stare that's just as beautiful.
As for the timing of this it seemed perfect as the Swansons are in the process of moving house because as Joshua grows the house won't fit a bigger chair, he needs more adapted bathing facilities. So up to their ears in moving to hear they're going with Joshie again was music to their ears. Not Yellow Ledbetter music because it's Joshua's current go to song which will mean often twenty plus times a day.
Thanks to a very generous donation to be used specifically to take the Swansons to another show the Loveboat Captain will sail to another show with Given To Live. Where and when is yet to be decided.
Before anyone asks the donor is not on these boards, in fact they're not a PJ fan. They're someone who wishes to remain utterly anonymous asking only that we take Joshie to a show again having seen his story and what it gave him. Over separate conversations the nature of GTL was fully explained and how, because we rely totally on donations, we have a one show only policy. The solution was for this person to donate specifically for Joshua.
I skyped with Christina earlier this week to tell her and amongst the excitement I was lucky enough to also chat with Josh, their four year old daughter Maddy (she gets regular deliveries of GTL stickers which she loves but parents who are trying to sell a house...not so much) and Joshua. The change from when I first spoke with Joshua is incredible. I saw it happening over the shows in Philly and to see its lasting effect and further progress is something very special.
Talking with Christina all these months later and hearing what the experience gave them all reinforces what GTL aims to do, to give. In so many ways the shows are the vehicle to more. For Joshua to be accepted as simply another Pearl Jam fan rather than a kid in a wheelchair means the world to Josh and Christina. I know friends have been made which is so precious to Christina who often feels isolated as she is the primary care giver as Josh works at the firehouse. Joshua is adorable, funny, wonderful and it's also hard work looking after him. And can be very lonely so these new friendships are just as important as Joshie having the time of his life in Philly, as all of them being accepted simply as people with the one in the wheelchair a crazy PJ fan with favourite songs, favourite boots.
So when I Skype and Joshie asks me to sing YL with him, to clap that's beautiful. When mum says she's made friends, felt accepted, that people wanted to say hello and not stare that's just as beautiful.
As for the timing of this it seemed perfect as the Swansons are in the process of moving house because as Joshua grows the house won't fit a bigger chair, he needs more adapted bathing facilities. So up to their ears in moving to hear they're going with Joshie again was music to their ears. Not Yellow Ledbetter music because it's Joshua's current go to song which will mean often twenty plus times a day.
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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Those that can be trusted can change their mind.
www.cluthelee.com
www.cluthe.com
My goodness, what people do for and give to each other.
I hope they get another amazing show!
(I'll also say that anonymous giving rocks...and also reminds me of that Curb episode with "the wing")
8/28/98- Camden, NJ
10/31/09- Philly
5/21/10- NYC
9/2/12- Philly, PA
7/19/13- Wrigley
10/19/13- Brooklyn, NY
10/21/13- Philly, PA
10/22/13- Philly, PA
10/27/13- Baltimore, MD
Tres Mts.- 3/23/11- Philly
Eddie Vedder- 6/25/11- Philly
Anonymous donor!! Holy shit, jaw dropping amazing. We're all so grateful for every piece of this experience. It's hard to even put into words, the deep emotion and gratefulness we feel from this.
I said to someone earlier, I feel like since Philly our life has kinda been on fast forward. We are in the process of building a home to accommodate Joshua into his adult years.
So, in between all of the chaos we have here right now... I feel a little behind here on the forum. So, if I've missed any messages or replies I'm sorry!
Getting a house ready to sell with a 4 year old and Joshua has not been fun. Haha It seems that walls are much more appealing to color on after they've been freshly painted. Sigh. Lol
With that being said, Josh (Dad) and I are looking forward to Wrigley and some "mom and dad" PJ time (involving beer). And we're looking forward to meeting as many of you as we can. I literally want to hug you all. Hahaha
So here's to hoping 2017 brings some shows for Joshua (and all of us) to attend!
Can't wait to meet you as well!! We will be in the city by 11am on night 1. So plenty of time to find each other. Yay!!!
Best of thoughts to your family.
And congrats to the Swansons!!!
Enjoy Wrigley!!
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
love it
If I knew where it was I would take you there.
Now, I've had some messages asking me two question that essentially boil down to -
Does this mean Joshua will be going to Wrigley?
In short, after struggling with the question because of the logistics Christina and Josh, Joshie wasn't going to a show this time. In the end Christina and Josh decided they would sell their Monday tix because they're moving house and need to save money. Now there's a situation that GTL can take care of and they'd love Joshie to go however it's a little late in the day for ADA tix (although there are plenty being scalped on stubhub!). So, we're talking and talking some more to see what we can figure out.
(I was always making this trip and the lottery was kind to me. And as a baseball fan I'm intending to catch a ballgame or two while I'm over, to me a trip with baseball and PJ is as good as it gets. Possibly being able to GTL makes it better, I digress.)
The second question is from people who don't know much about GTL asking what we do. We make live music possible for the vulnerable, disadvantaged, excluded and disabled. We take care of everything, escort and do our best to make each person feel valued regardless of their situation.
We've taken people to see Queen, Foo Fighters, Slipknot (twice), Fleshgod Apocalyse, Whitesnake, Bryan Adams, AC/DC and more with Dragonforce, Selena Gomez, Bring Me The Horizon amongst others lined up.
We've taken or are taking people with physical disabilities, learning difficulties, mental health issues (including paranoid schizophrenia, PTSD, chronic depression, self harming) to shows. A number of these trips have included meeting the band/artist.
I hope that answers the questions, feel free to carry on messaging me if you have more
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.