It’s Market Day at So Close!

WARNING WARNING!!! NON-TERTIA POST TO FOLLOW!!

Don’t read further if you hate free stuff and winning!!

(you know I am just teasing you, right? This extended post thing is my way of making sure those who don’t want to read the off topic stuff don’t have to. Only click ‘read more’ if you want to support other readers in their entrepreneurial efforts and stand a chance of winning something.)

Firstly, congrats to Punky Mama from Philadelphia who won the gift from LITTLE SHOWOFFS! Well done, hope you enjoy your prize. Thanks to everyone else who entered.

Then, on to this week's featured entrepreneur. Jane and I met about four years ago, on an infertility support forum. We both got pregnant at the same time, both with quads. She decided to take the risks in keeping all four, I decided to take the risk in reducing to twins. Her quads Anna, Emma, John, and James were born 14 weeks prematurely on 9/24/03. Her one son, James, died after 5 days.

Anna (who has down syndrome), Emma (pulmonary hypertension) and John (legally blind) grew and thrived and blossomed into adorable toddlers. Emma was diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension in July of 2005 at the age of 22 months. She needed special medicine that was given 24 hours a day through a broviac line (central i.v.) in her chest. This medicine had to be mixed every day in a sterile environment and could never stop flowing. Through all of this she grew and became quite a remarkable young girl. She could read and spell at the age of 2 1/2 and just loved animals and spiders and bumblebees. Although little, Emma was quite outspoken and often got her way!

Even though Emma's illness kept her from walking, she got around well and loved to play with Anna and John. She was thought to be doing as well as expected with this incurable disease but then this past January, Jane went into Emma's room in the morning to give her some of her medicines and discovered (unexpectedly) that Emma had passed away during the night. As quickly as she entered our world, she departed. And now a void is left and can never be filled.

Jane and Emma's caregiver, Jenell, had started painting shoes for Emma (and Anna) with Zebras, monkeys and bumblebees and had thought of selling them with an online business. But with Emma's untimely passing they were unsure they were ready and able to continue with their plans. But soon they realized that by painting the shoes they could keep Emma's memory alive and be able to tell her story while also helping fight the disease she suffered from.

Jane has since started her business selling snanimals, infant and toddler sneakers adorned with all of the animals, insects and spiders Emma loved. 5% of her online sales goes to the pulmonary hypertension association in Emma's memory to help find a cure.

Please have a look at her site and support her efforts. http://www.snanimals.com

Jane has kindly offered to give away a pair of sneakers (readers choice) to one lucky blog reader.

Please email me on [email protected] with ‘snanimals give away’ in the subject line and I will pick a winner next weekend.

Thanks to all of you for supporting each other and good luck!

Jane's babiesonline page here

Emma's care page can be found here

(The user would have to sign in first but then could read Emma's full journey from July of 05 when she was diagnosed to now, living without her.)

Comments

[margalit]

Oh, those are too adorable. But alas, my children are way too old and big for such a cute pair of sneaks, so I'll let someone else win!

[Jazz]

They are lovely! I have a brood of God-children and always on the lookout to find new and original gifts! Many thanks for doing this! I like it. It is a great alternative outlet for all your creative friends!

[pink]

Oh, gosh, those are darling. I just ordered a pair of kitty ones for Miss Pink and can't wait to get them. I'm just sick at heart for Jane and her family and wish them well.

[kay]

I got the Anna Banana monkey shoes - for my little monkey (Anna)

Also - the butterfly basket.

[angel]

what a sad story- tertia, you truly are one special lady!

[Claudia]

Yes, I am familiar with little Emma as I used to read her care page. I'm glad Jane is doing this to keep Emma's memory alive and help other people that suffer from the same disease.