149. Another Bird Story

Listener submission about how hummingbirds are her okay sign from the universe, especially now that her mom is battling cancer for the fifth time. We love our Okay Birds!

Transcripts may not appear in their final version and are subject to change.

INTRO MUSIC

I’m Nora McInerny and it’s going to be okay and you know what you all love? BIRDS!!!! I love them. You love them. This podcast is about to be renamed it’s going to be about birds. This IS a group project, and we get a lot of okay things from you. Like this email from Elizabeth…

 I was just listening to your episode called Rare Bird and had to share another bird story with you. My mom was diagnosed with a rare, aggressive sarcoma in her leg in the 90s when I was only 3 and my sister 6. After an intense surgery to remove most of the muscle in her thigh, she asked to sit outside and get some fresh air. As she was trying to regain some sort of normalcy, a few hummingbirds flew above her head thus beginning her obsession. 

A few years back she and my aunts went to a psychic, and without even mentioning hummingbirds, the psychic looked at my mom and said “I’ve been experiencing a fluttering feeling all day” and that her grandfather sends her pretty hummingbirds and her grandmother the “ugly ones” lol. 

My mom is currently battling cancer for the FIFTH time, which has metastasized from her leg to her lungs. Hummingbirds have become a symbol of hope for my family. Over the past few months we have not only seen them in person, but saw them on two different car license plates parked directly next to each other at Target, on various unrelated product labels, and even a little hummingbird window cling at my local Wawa. The list goes on. 

Today my mom is having another bronc to try and evaluate the progress her recent radiation had on the 13+ tumors (some inoperable) in her only remaining lung. She’s been hospitalized twice over the past six weeks, and so far no chemos that she has tried have been successful. Things have been looking pretty grim, so I’ve been listening to IGTBO to feel somewhat better, even if only for a few minutes. 

I just went for a drive to clear my head, and put on the episode Rare Bird. As I was mindlessly driving around, a white SUV pulled out in front of me, and of course it had a brightly colored hummingbird decal. When I saw this, I took a deep breath and laughed and realized, everything is going to be ok. 

I can’t thank you enough for this podcast. 

Sincerely, 

Elizabeth Jennings 

OUTRO MUSIC

CREDITS