Monkeys from Heaven

This morning was a special day for the mommies in my playgroup and I. Today we donated over 150 stuffed monkeys to the children being cared for at North Florida Regional Medical Center (NFRMC) in honor of our Angel Odessa. Odessa Virginia Webster was born at NFRMC on February 24, 2003, and landed back at the same hospital on March 25, 2004 for care after a fatal head injury. At thirteen months old, Odessa was stolen from her parents Matt and Anita, her loving family, and our already tight playgroup family. It was devastating for all of us, and out of our grief came an intense drive to honor our "Angel O".

To back up a bit, our playgroup began when our infants met at a "new mommy" luncheon hosted at NFRMC when they were two weeks old. Well, the infants didn't exactly meet each other, but us moms did ... and we decided then and there that we wanted to stick together. That made ten families dealing with the insanity of newborns and leaning on each other for friendship, advice, stress relief, and fun. We literally have been getting together for "playgroup" every Tuesday since, and our children are all addicted to each other; the best of friends. At the start, we would have never imagined what would come for us, for her, the following year. I just remember checking my email one day and opening one from Anita with "Odessa Virginia Webster" as the title. I expected to see a new photo from a portrait studio. A portrait was included, but it went along with a letter written by Anita informing us that her daughter was gone. "Please don't call now. I'm not ready to talk" she wrote. I simply can't describe the agony that followed for all of us.

Odessa's parents are also indescribable. They are brave, graceful and also willing to just grieve when they need to. I look up to them more than almost anyone else in the world and I'd love to request your help in promoting their/our cause. To honor Odessa and keep her memory alive, we have sought out "monkey donations". The monkeys we receive are decorated by a ribbon with Odessa's name on it and donated to local hospitals. The monkeys are then passed on to sick, injured or scared children in need of a little extra love and comfort. I'd like you to read the letter that follows, which Anita wrote to go along with the donated monkeys. She tells it better than I. If you are compelled to contribute, we're accepting new monkey donations.

Monkeys from Heaven(click thumbnails to view gallery)

The following was written by Odessa's mother, Anita Webster. It is the printed message given to parents of children receiving an Angel Odessa Monkey.

The Angel Odessa Monkey

"Mama's little monkey." I said this a hundred times in the course of the single year of our daughter's life. I said these words with a laugh in my throat and a kiss on my lips for the petite blond child who wiggled in my arms, who never slowed down enough to sleep, who spent every moment fervently exploring --- as if each day might be that last day, the one which came on March 25, 2004, just 13 months after her birth.

Odessa Virginia Webster, born February 24, 2003, died from a head injury. Her lovey, Monk Monk, a red-haired plush monkey who went everywhere with her in life, has become her official representative in death.

Monkeys have become Odessa's totem. We, Odessa's friends and family, seem to find them in some form or another in our daily lives like "pennies from heaven," little messages of love and hope to those she left behind.

In honor of "our little monkey" and her tenacious love of life, Odessa's friends and family would like to share a monkey's special light and love with your precious child.

Each Angel Odessa Monkey is sent with dual purpose: to watch over the child who receives it and to honor that child for the light he or she gives our world. We hope each child finds the same delight and comfort in his or her furry companion as our daughter did in hers.

With sincerity and appreciation for all our children,

Anita Webster, Family, and Friends of Odessa

Donations of new monkeys (or even other stuffed animals) can be sent to:

Angel Odessa Monkey

C/O Davis & Monk

4010 N.W. 25 Place

Gainesville, FL 32606

If you'd like to donate money to purchase monkeys, please make checks out to: Anita Webster

**Monkeys need to be NEW, as they'll be headed to sick or injured children with possibly compromised immune systems.

With my sincerest gratitude,

Your Trainer, Fitz