Uplifting Story of Support: How My Upline Cared for Me During a Difficult Time

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Discussion Overview

This thread centers around a participant's personal experience of loss and the support received from their upline and the broader Pampered Chef community during a difficult time. The participant shares how the company's culture and the actions of individuals within it provided comfort and assistance during a challenging period in their life.

Discussion Character

  • Anecdotal
  • Opinion-based

Main Points Raised

  • One participant, identifying as a consultant, shared a deeply personal story about the loss of their son and the support received from their team and upline during this time.
  • Several participants expressed admiration for the strength shown by the original poster in continuing to work and share their story despite their loss.
  • Some users noted the kindness of the Pampered Chef community, highlighting the handwritten condolences sent by various members, including higher-ups in the company.
  • Another participant mentioned how the company allows flexibility to care for family during difficult times, which contributed to their decision to remain with Pampered Chef.
  • Multiple users acknowledged the therapeutic aspect of sharing personal stories and how it can help in the healing process.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

There appears to be a general agreement among participants regarding the supportive nature of the Pampered Chef community, with many expressing similar sentiments about the company's culture and the importance of personal connections during tough times.

Contextual Notes

The discussion reflects personal experiences and emotional responses to loss, emphasizing the role of community support in coping with grief. Participants share their views based on individual experiences within the Pampered Chef organization.

Who May Find This Useful

This thread may resonate with consultants looking for community support during personal challenges or those interested in the experiences of others within the Pampered Chef organization.

OhmyDLM
Silver Member
Messages
374
I've been following along with theese threads about Paige in hopes of an update. Regarding a post I saw about the home office possibly not caring due to lack of mention at conference, I would like to share my story.

About a year ago I gave birth to my first son. He had a rare heart condition that affects only 1 in 250,000 children (It's called VACTERL Association). We only knew he had a heart condition before birth which they found in a 5 month ultrasound, the rest of his "surprises" came shortly after delivery. My water broke at 33 weeks and I was rushed by ambulence to a hospital in Boston, which was the only hospital close to me that was capable of taking care of him (I live in Maine and that's 4 1/2 hours away from my home).

To make a long story a tiny bit shorter. My husband and I lived in the hospital with my son for two weeks were he had the first of many major surgeries. After two weeks, we were transfered to a hospital in Maine (still over two hours away from home) and my husband and I lived at the Ronald McDonald house. There my son had his first open heart surgery. He started getting better and things were looking up, we and the doctor's both thought we we're going to be able to take him home for the first time in maybe a month of so. Because he was doing so well, the staff decided to remove his "jumper cables" (a heart saving device used on infants as opposed to the paddles used on adults) When doing so, it accidentally ripped a hole in my son's fragile heart. They rushed him into the OR and we sat and waited. 10 minutes later our son's nurse came to tell us the news. After 27 days of fighting for his life, our son had lost his battle.

That is hands down the hardest thing I have ever had to deal with, and I continue to deal with it daily. I chose not to take a leave of absence from my Directorship and stayed strong for myself, my family, and team. I was blessed enough to have a team and an upline that cared so strongly about me that they all stepped up to the plate, even visiting us and meeting our son in the hospital.

Following, at the funeral, the all showed up to help and support me. I was so impressed and it meant so much that people who were "technically" only co-workers would do that for me. Then, I open the mail and my love for this company only increased when I read what I had. (the whole reason for this post). With thousands upon thousands of consultants and all of the personal turmoil we all deal with, I recieved three separate cards, all hand written and address to myself and my husband offerring their condolences and prayers. They knew my son's name and his entire situation. The first card was from my regional sales manager and everyone who worked in her office signed it. The second was from Marla and the third was from Doris herself. All hand written and signed with a personal note. It meant alot that they would have the time or make the time to send me something so personal.

Now you can't tell me that's a company with people who don't care. I'm so proud to be a part of this organization and infact, I'm not sure where I would be in life without it. I hope my long long story sheds some light for those who may still be doubting.
 
Thank you for sharing your story. Sadden to read of your dear loss. You and your husband must have great strength.

How wonderful that HO took the time to send you notes like that.
 
Wow, Darcy, my heart breaks to hear your story. I can't even imagine the pain you've gone through with your son and probably still do to this day. I think it's so neat that you shared your story because it confirms what most of us know about this incredible company. That must have felt amazing to have the support of your cluster members, but also the thoughts and prayers from the big wigs in the company.

Thanks so much for sharing your story.:)
 
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Darcy, I am so sorry for your loss. Thank you for sharing your story so that others may see how wonderful PC really is!
 
God bless you for opening your heart to all of us! What a model you along with your up and downlines are in how to care for one another as well as how HO showed their connection to you! Thanks for sharing
 
BlessingsWOW what a heart warming story with a bitter sweet end, I am soo sorry for your loss, You have your husband have incridable strength. We do work for a wonderful company and it is amazing how we come together as a whole in times of need! Thanks for sharing your story with us :)
 
Darcy,
You are a beautiful person to stay so sweet and caring after this tough life blow. I admire your willingness to keep a good heart free of bitterness. I also admire your strong work ethic, so many times any little set back in life and people want to freeze time and dwell in misery. I do not know how you kept working and active but I really admire it. I'll be praying for you and your family so everyday your healing will be deeper. Thank you for sharing your story.
Marisol Gehman
 
Wow...your an extremely strong person. I am not so sure I could even function after that. I am so sorry.
 
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Thank you all for your very kind words. I tell my story at all of my shows because number one, the more I talk about him the less people will forget he existed, and number two, it's healing and theraputic for me.

I tell people that I never intended Pampered Chef to play such a huge roll in my life, infact it wasn't even something I thought I would stick with. Little did I know, that a year and a half after starting my business, it would end up saving my life. Throughout our ordeal with my son in the hospital, Pampered Chef was my outlet. I ended up collecting over $2500 in sales the month we we're there just from making phone calls and working from his bedside. My team even grouped together and did a catelog show for me collecting orders from their OWN customers and submitted it in my name. Thanks to Pampered Chef, I was able to spend all 27 days with my son (my husband too) and we didn't have to worry how our bills were going to get paid, who was covering my job back home, was I going to be replaced, etc., etc., like other people who are in this situation have to think about. We we're completely taken care of and we never missed a moment with Taylan. I'm so thankful for that and I will ALWAYS be grateful for that opportunity.

Pampered Chef is continuing to save me by giving me an outlet. An outlet to tell people about my son and an outlet for my energy. I'm not sitting at home dwelling on the past and wishing things were different. I'm still sad and I cry alot but I get to go out 2 times a weeks and share his story. I also get to go out and socialize with other people and get my "outlet" from the real world.

This job makes me happy and I couldn't imagine doing anything else. Despite life's circumstances, I'm a lucky lucky girl. I have 27 days with my son, some people don't even get that. And for that, I'm blessed.
 
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Darcy, Thank you for sharing your story. My heart goes out to you. I truly admire your strength and courage to continue with your business after such a tragedy. God bless you!
 
Darcy,

I have to say.. what other company lets us take care of our families when we need to??? The Pampered Chef sure does.. that is one of the major reasons that I have stuck with it!!!
 
Thank you Darcy. Your story brought me to tears. Your son will always be close to your heart.

You and your family are in my prayers. I had heard that Doris does that kind of thing and your testimony proves it.
 
Darcy, thanks for sharing your story. I'm sitting here crying for you & your loss. I'm sure your story will be inspirational to many, including me.
 
I am sorry for your loss and thanks for sharing it with us. It makes me feel good to be part of PC knowing that they really do care.
 
Darcy, thank you so much for being brave enough to share your story. I hurt just reading it; I cannot fathom how living must have felt. But thank you for the confirmation of what a truly one of a kind company we represent!!
 
Oh Darcy, I am so sorry for your loss. I can't even imagine the pain. You are a very strong woman. ((((((((((((((((((((Darcy))))))))))))))))
 
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When it all boils down to it, we really do have an amazing support system backing us up. I may not always agree with all the decisions or the route they decide to go with (ie: letting go of Nancy's) but I know that I work for a company that cares about me and my well being. Pampered Chef gives me a new drive for life and a feeling of self-acomplishment. Darnit, I'm good at what I do and I know that my son is smiling down on my and is proud of his mamma and the way she's helping to support her family. My husband works hard and because of my business he's able to play hard too! In our quest to have more children, I'm relieved at the fact I know I will still be able to bring home that much needed money to support us while still being able to stay home and help raise my babies. It's doesn't get any better than that :)

I've attached a picture so you all can see my miracle baby.
 

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Now that is what I call a mom Darcy.. those are the sweetest phots I have seen all day long!!! ((((HUGS))))
 
Darcy that is the sweetest story! Thank you so much for sharing it and reminding us what life is all about.
 
Thank you Darcy! I knew I loved PC - and you have given me even more reason to know without a doubt that there is no other DS Company as great as this one!

As a mom, my heart hurts with yours. I can only imagine your grief - but will pray that God will continue to comfort you and give you peace. You ARE an amazing woman and a very special Mom.
 
Thanks, Darcy, for sharing your story. I can only imagine the pain you carry with you, but I am truly in awe of your gracefulness. Blessings to you and your family.
 
Your story is very touching. Thanks for sharing with us.
 
OhmyDLM said:
I've been following along with theese threads about Paige in hopes of an update. Regarding a post I saw about the home office possibly not caring due to lack of mention at conference, I would like to share my story.

What an amazing story. I'm glad you had him for the time he was here. I was recently speculating about why HO didn't say anything and I think there are a couple of reasons. First, General Session would be the place as to get the info out all at once per wave. Where would they put it? At the beginning and keep people from being excited about the announcements with Paige in the back (or front) of their minds? At the end so all the excitement gets taken away? In the middle wouldn't be much better, either. Also, so many people sacrifice a lot to be there and it is such a condensed time period that taking focus off PC is not fair to them. I know just by wearing the ribbons and by Paige's cluster wearing their "Have you seen Paige?" picture cards got the info out. I even talked with some of the McCormic Center people and got them interested. Anyhoo, that being said, I wish they had said something in Weekly Bites or sent out a special email.
 
OhmyDLM said:
That is hands down the hardest thing I have ever had to deal with, and I continue to deal with it daily.

Losing a child is the hardest thing any mother will have to go through. My brother died when he was 17 and I knew how hard it was for my mother but never truly understood until I had a baby of my own. I couldn't imagine having to go through losing him.
My mom belongs to a group-here in Maine (and she seems to think it's statewide) called Compassionate Friends for parents who have lost children. I can get you the contact information if you are interested. If anything your son's name can be added to the newsletter "in memory of." Please let me know if you want more information.
~Kacey
P.S. were you at the Kimberly Medlock Training in Bangor in January?
 
We lost our youngest son on April 27 of this year. He was three years old and was our miracle baby in that he lived to leave the hospital and give us three almost 4 (his b-day was July 9th...first day of conference...a bittersweet day) wonderful years. I was very surprised to receive two handwritten letters from both Doris and Marla. I have to tell you that I broke down and cried when I recieved those two cards. To have two people who I have never met send cards because I was a consultant for their business moved me almost more then any other card we received.

I am sure that they are aware of Paige's situation and have done something, we may just not know what it is. I am sure that they have their reasons not to publicly announce anything about Paige and we all need to respect that.

On another note for those of you that attended Shan Eisler's banquet I was the one that was visibly upset by Terri Haitt's story. To hear her talk about all she overcame with her husband and then to hear that she too heard the same words that I heard about only having a short time with her daughter brought back so many memories. I admire her courage and her strength and she had made me realize that though God sends challenges they are nothing that he knows you can not and will not overcome!
 
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Thank you so much for sharing that with us. I cant even begin to imagine the pain of losing a child. My dad got very ill a couple weeks after I signed up with PC (and died 3 months later). PC is what kept me going - it kept me busy - and I was able to take a leave of absence from teaching to be with my mom and supplement our income with PC. I remember doing a show in a fog 3 days after the funeral. It gave me something else to think about and to focus on. You are so brave. God Bless You!
 
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kaceyleigh2 said:
Losing a child is the hardest thing any mother will have to go through. My brother died when he was 17 and I knew how hard it was for my mother but never truly understood until I had a baby of my own. I couldn't imagine having to go through losing him.
My mom belongs to a group-here in Maine (and she seems to think it's statewide) called Compassionate Friends for parents who have lost children. I can get you the contact information if you are interested. If anything your son's name can be added to the newsletter "in memory of." Please let me know if you want more information.
~Kacey
P.S. were you at the Kimberly Medlock Training in Bangor in January?

Thankyou and I would love that information.

Yes I was at that training, I am part of that particular local Director group that put that on (Monica Paterson a Director from Brewer headed it all up I beleive). My upline Director is Colleen Blanchette. You must know of them :) I'm sure I probably met you there! Who is your Director, she may be a part of my sister Director group?
 
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Molly Jo said:
We lost our youngest son on April 27 of this year. He was three years old and was our miracle baby in that he lived to leave the hospital and give us three almost 4 (his b-day was July 9th...first day of conference...a bittersweet day) wonderful years. I was very surprised to receive two handwritten letters from both Doris and Marla. I have to tell you that I broke down and cried when I recieved those two cards. To have two people who I have never met send cards because I was a consultant for their business moved me almost more then any other card we received. QUOTE]

I'm so sorry to hear of your loss and I completely agree and understand how emotional it was to receive those cards. His birthday must have been hard for you, especially at conference. Taylan's first birthday would have been April 17th of this year. I threw him a party anyways with his close family and friends with a memorial gathering. Every April 17th will be a special day of remembing for my family now and I will be thinking about you on the 27th. No matter how much time passes by, we'll always remember...
 
Darcy and Molly thank you for sharing your stories I cant even begin to imagine what you are going through. It was hard enough losing a nephew.
Darcy alos thanks for sharing those precious photos
 
This is a poem that I came across when I also lost a baby - it is "The Stillborn Child" by Francine M. O'Connor - for me this happened more than 15 years ago, hopefully the poem brings you some comfort as it did/and still does for me.

A soul within my very own soul,
from human love was conceived
Pride of possession consummed me then,
"This child is mine," I believed.
Oh, I knew he was yours from the very start,
that you had every right to his soul.
But I forgot for a little while, Lord,
that the future was yours to control.
I felt him within me and loved him so,
and I had so very much planned.
But you had plans that were greater still
when you held his life in your hands.
I knew not his life, yet I mourn his death,
I have lost what was never mine.
Please help me, Lord, to understand
and to accept your will divine.
As as time goes on and dulls the pain,
may the lesson I've learned shine through.
That every child I hold close to my heart
is a soul that belongs to you.


My thoughts are with you both - Annette
I have been lurking for quite a while, but felt compelled to share.
 

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