Of Starfish and Mudpuppies and Miracles
There have been many instances in the last three years that the Mudflats Forum community has risen to the call to help a fellow Mudpup in need. I want to share one such story with you as it came from Mudpuppy Bubbles.
Her account brought to mind a parable of sorts that I’d heard a long time ago.
An old man and a boy were walking on the beach. There were starfish on the beach as far as the eye could see, and they were about to be stranded in the hot sun by a very low tide. The man and the boy knew that many of the starfish would die. The boy began picking up starfish and throwing them as far out into the water as he could. The old man said, “Boy, there are thousands upon thousands of starfish. Look down the beach. There are starfish from one end to the other. There are too many. You will never make a difference.” And the boy looked at the old man, and threw a starfish out into the waves. “I made a difference to that one,” he said.
I want to say a few words about Marine Michael Steffy, a lovely human being who touched the hearts of all who responded to his plea for a few cards from Mudflatters as he had nothing to look at in his bare and sterile room in ICU at the Veteran’s Hospital in San Diego.
Snoskred instructed the moderators to handle his request as we saw fit. the moderators found that this pup had joined Mudflats in 2008. we spoke to the charge nurse who verified that Michael would indeed be able to receive gifts and cards from outside. We were leery about sending anything harmful because he was gravely ill with lung disease. We were told he could have no flowers or plants, and so our odyssey began.
The first thing we would need to do was to contract a pup living near San Diego, and senior moderator Alex found the perfect Mudpup named Seagull Junker Palin who immediately went into action. Seagull become our eyes and ears, and a comfort to Michael. She began to visit Michael nearly every day. She told us what a wonderful person he was, and how his eyes would light up when she walked into his room. Zyxomma’s card got there first and his nurse put it up so he could see it. Soon more cards came, and posters too – also candy and Pringles, which he adored. Seagull would bring him mustard and ketchup packets so he could liven up the hospital food (poor baby).
Moderator Forty Watt and dear hubby had a business in San Diego and because Michaels’ birthday was near, we decided to make a Mudstock/Birthday party! Moderator Boodog sent a party box and Forty Watt took a marvelous, delicious looking chocolate cake.
We asked Michael to download Skype and the day before his birthday, he and I practiced Skype calling. When Michael saw me for the first time, he smiled and threw me a kiss because suddenly his whole world opened up. Now he could talk and SEE us and his family who were far away. It was a sweet moment. The day of the ‘birthday’ dawned and Michael was on pins and needles. He was so afraid that he would not be at his best. He had, like all of us, some ‘good’ days and some ‘bad’. But no worries, he was in good shape when when Alex and Forty and Dear Hubby walked in. My friend Suzy from downstairs was visiting me when Michael Skyped called me. I had purchased a slice of German chocolate cake in which i had put a candle. We sang Happy Birthday, and I blew out the candle, and we ate our cake – Michael grinning all the while.
Michael Steffy was a Marine. he had served his country, and now he was dying of a lung disease. There was no way Mudflats would not respond. We would be there for him until he received his lung transplant, or until the end. The end came. I will not cry. I won’t, because Michael told me not to.
To all you Pups who stood up for my beloved Marine, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Way out West, Shadows Heart, Slip, Scout. there are too many to to count, but you all know who you are and whatever you did, whatever you sent, Michael loved it appreciated your thoughtfulness.I told Michael that I believe in miracles and the miracle happened. When Michael took his last breath, he was surrounded by tokens of our esteem. he had friends who he would never meet and a virtual family he would never be able to hold in his arms, but that didn’t matter. What truly matters in this life is to know you are loved. Michael came into my life, I believe, to teach me something about death and about life. He was a good teacher. Go rest now Michael, and thank you. Thank you for your service. Thank you for being you.
For those who would like to see a bit of our journey with Michael please see the forum link HERE.
To light a virtual candle in Michael’s candle room and join the many already there, click the link HERE.
Thank you to all who came together to help a beautiful starfish. You made a difference to that one. And thank you to Michael for his service, and for being a good teacher. You are a good teacher too, Bubbles. We all need to remember that being loved is the most important gift any of us can receive, and is a true miracle. Rest in peace, Michael.
Bubbles and friends of Michael: a touching and lovely story. This is quite a bunch!
He asked us for help and we responded. There were no ulterior motives…..he was lonely and scared.
I happen to think we eased his last weeks.
Goodnight Michael. I will never forget you.
That’s true, @Irishgirl, and when the time came, it was all of you who cared that gave me the courage to move on. Thank you for seeing to the safety and care of my 3 kids, who meant the world to me. I’m free now, much better, and I’m sure I’ll be back again in another form, to make the world a better place – I’m a MudPup, after all. Peace.
Micheal Steffy
aka “JarJar”
06.19.58-07.19.11
yes. you. are! Mudpup forever. we will see you someday on the other side of the rainbow bridge.
thank you Doll for saying Michael’ s words. you are now Mudpuppy Dollbaby and are welcome to stop by anytime.
I’m feeling incredibly guilty for not participating in this amazing event, and incredibly grateful that I get to associate with all of you amazing people, and incredibly thankful that AKM and ALL of you have made this site available to all of us who came along later. Thank you thank you thank you THANK YOU!!!!! I love you all, and am continually amazed that I accidentally tripped into the ‘flats and all that is here. Thank you everyone!!! And god bless you Michael, in your journey forward – I am thankful for your release and for your gift of connecting all of us here.
I am once again “wow’ed” by the mudflats. something truly special has blossomed here.
“just one person”
ttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLnyK7DG0CA
Not being a forum pup, I didn’t meet Michael until last evening; from all I’ve learned, what a grand fellow he was! And from the accounts of how so many pups came together to share joy and self with him, it affirms for me my strong suspicion that mudflatters are the best!
The story from Michael reminds me that if a situation is not ideal, if there are –for whatever reason– bits and pieces missing, that does *not* mean something truly fantastic cannot happen anyway! It’s obvious Michael was facing a situation far less than ideal…but ‘flatters with compassion, care, and fun, put their selfs into ‘his picture’ and, oh!, the all-around wonderful that came about! Whoa! – what sweet beauty!
Hmmm…on second thought: Scratch that; there’s no suspicion left — mudflatters *are* the best; absolutely no doubt about it. beth.
I have always said that I can think of no better way to go than in the arms of the people you love and who love you. I learned this lesson on the day that I had to help my beloved, furry girl Isis end her suffering.
I quietly followed the journey of Michael on the forum and sent him a card from Brian the Moose. I didn’t see it in any of the pictures on the wall but hope that it got there for him. I didn’t have a lot of time to partake in the birthday celebrations so thanks to those of you who did.
This community is a very special place. We do what we can, when we can and the ripples go out into the universe to make even the small corners a better place.
Know that you will be missed Michael and godspeed on your new journey.
Lovemd, i am sure he got it. the card you sent may have been received after he been moved back to ICU. he loved his cards and gifts.
he did a lot of crocheting. i remember thinking that he needed a couple more hands what with playing facebook games, playing cards, reading, writing, opening cards and presents, talking to Brian his moose, texting, skyping. the man had so many people like you LoveMD who helped to provide the steady stream of support. hugs.
Ah, Micheal,
dancing among the stars with the dolphin and the jolly mon, you are.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8DXhoIJ8cU
*smiling through the tears*
{{{{{mudflats family}}}}}
I wrote a long reply and it was sucked into cyberspace, Will try again tomorrow.
Sorry…..I wept.
Michael was my swapee in one of the Forum swaps (the purple one I think); I hope he’d had a chance to make his ottoman cover with the purple fabric I sent him, before he got to ill to sew.
AKM thank you. this is truly a lovely memorial.
thank you to everyone. love you pups. you are the finest kind of folks to be found anywhere.
Thank you for this story. Touched my heart—
Micheal touched the lives of many and his light shines bright.
It is hard to read this and NOT cry a tear.
Saying goodbye, just really sucks. 🙁
RIP Micheal, you earned it the hard way bud.
RIP, Michael.
Thanks to everyone who helped brighten Michael’s final days and hours. Thanks to Bubbles for teaching him how to skype. Thanks to AKM for creating The Mudflats, and to all the moderators for their tireless work. I’m proud to count myself among the members of this brilliant community. Most of all, thanks to Michael for reaching out to us, and may he rest in peace.
Thank you again, my friends.
I would like to add one thing. On May 29 of last year Micheal wrote this on the Forum:
“as a Gay man who served 6 years in the Marine Corps, (would have done 20 had i not been outed and discharged) i have been rooting for the repeal of DADT since it was implimented. ”
He lived to see the repeal of DADT. And to read this headline this week has special meaning: Official: Pentagon set to certify repeal of ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’
http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/07/21/military.dadt/
Semper Fidelis indeed.
No man’s or woman’s service to their country should be tainted, diminished or involuntarily cut short because of who they love when not in uniform.
I am so glad that Michael got to witness this historic change and I am proud of our President, his administration and our military leaders for finally making this happen.
Amazing
I was just a bystander. I sent postcards so he would have pictures of flowers in his sterile ICU room and commented in MichaelLand, his thread on the forum. And called the pet shelter where his furry family waited for his return to make sure they were safe. But the impact is still strong and deeply felt. The world can be cold and cruel, but these bright spots, the human touch – even through the ‘tubes – create opportunities that make it all worthwhile. I am very glad to have met Michael. He reminds me that there are people all around us who would appreciate a moment of our time, a kind word or a helping hand, and who will give back more than we can imagine.
You were no bystander. Bystanders don’t send pretty postcards. My first card to Michael was a sunflower; we were likeminded in our card purchases.
he didn’t tell me not to cry….you all are the best. RIP Michael.
Beautiful on all levels.
I knew nothing of this and Bubbles’ tribute along with AKM’s metaphor brought me to tears. Peace to Michael and to all who helped him in the end.
Made me cry, again.
Thanks for this bubbles. And thanks to everyone who helped to make Michael feel a little less alone in that hospital.
Thank you, Michael for touching us all and reminding us that we should never take life for granted, nor let a single day go by without appreciating everything we have.
Semper Fi, “Always Faithful”.
Boo 🙂
Wishing I could squeeze the hands of those who reached out. I am so proud of you guys.
I wish I could say it as well as you, WFM. Peace, Michael.
You all are amazing. Godspeed, Michael. Peace, everyone.
Hugs to all the mudpups who were a part of Michael’s life.
To Michael, gratitude for your service and the peace and tranquility you deserve.
((Bubbbles))
Rest in Peace Michael. Thank you for your service to our country. May your wings be large enough to carry you to that better place.
I can’t add anything more to this wonderful tribute.
Indeed. I wept when I read it the first time. Choking again. Mudpups are the best.
me too. Thanks Bubs. I love you.
I’m weeping too; RIP Michael, Hugs to Bubbles and the rest of you wonderful kind souls.
RIP, Michael. Thank you for your service. Semper Fi.