This is a letter written by my Coworker Lisa. Lisa and I worked together on an episode of Supernanny with an amazing woman named Antoinette Lewis. The rest of the crew and I were all blessed to have met Antoinette and I continue to be amazed at how strong she continues to be. Please read Lisa's letter, and consider helping this incredible woman.
Josh
Antoinette and her husband, Dwight, applied to Supernanny to get help for their kids on August 13th. Dwight, who was diagnosed with terminal stomach cancer, wanted Supernanny to come help his wife learn to manage the kids without him. The next day, on August 14th, Dwight passed away.
The next week, I began filming the family, which started with his funeral, which was the first time I met Antoinette and her beautiful children, Selah (2 years old) and Christian (only 6 months old). I introduced myself to Antoinette as the producer who would be with her over the next two weeks and offered my condolences. She offered me her entire heart.
This woman is the strongest, bravest woman I know and opened up her home just 2 weeks after burying her husband to the incredibly intensive process of filming Supernanny for the sake of her children. She wanted to know how she was going to tell two year old Selah, who kept asking where Daddy was, that Daddy wasn't coming home. She wanted to know how she was going to raise these kids without their father's love and support. She wanted to know how her kids would ever know the incredible man their father was.
I believe Antoinette got the answers to these questions and more through our time with her and I got, not only a friend for the rest of my life, but another member of my family.
Antoinette's biggest fear right now is how she is going to support her children and keep the house that Dwight picked out for them. Antoinette is a stay-at-home-mom and her and the kids depended very much on Dwight's income. Last year, Dwight canceled his life insurance policy, just for a few months, to save money. He was diagnosed with terminal cancer just three months later.
A website and fund has been set up to help Antoinette and the kids at www. helphernow.com You can easily donate money through the site. I know she would appreciate the smallest of help ... or even a card or letter of support.
If nothing else, please pass the word on and watch tomorrow's show.
With love and thanks,
Lisa
19 comments:
I JUST SAW THIS AND I WEEPED LIKE A NEW BORN BABY...VERY SAD!...GOD IS BLESSING YOU AND YOUR FAMILY AND I KNOW THAT HE WILL CONTINUE!..WHEN YOU THINK YOU DON'T HAVE FRIENDS YOU DO!...PRAYING FOR YOUR TO BE STRONGER...KEEP YOUR FAITH!
i just saw this show and i weeped throughout,it is so sad.God be with you and ur kids and i pray that God will provide for her abundantly and in a miraculos way...
Antoinette is a truly amazing woman and mother. She is such an inspiration. I am a single, stay-at-home-mom myself, and though I feel so discouraged at times, God's mercy and my love for my child keeps me going one day at a time. I cannot imagine the strength it takes for Antoinette to go from day to day but I do know that she will rise above it all. As I watched her story, I cried. But I saw something in her that was bigger than her circumstance. Her children are beautiful. One thing that I have learned in this life is that disappointments are God's way of saying He has a better idea. Trust Him. I wish Antoinette love, peace and happiness. My thoughts and prayers are with her and her family.
May God Bless Them!!
Hi my name is Stephany, I'm watching the episode online and I haven't finished it but this episode is so emotional and she seems like such a great person that I was wondering if I can email her or mail her a letter. I went to the website to donate but I also was to send her a letter, can anyone help.
My email is:
mamiboricua@gmail.com
I JUST THOUGHT ABOUT THIS FAMILY THE OTHER DAY AND TODAY 5/22/2009 A REPEAT EDISODE WAS SHOWN AND I WAS ABLE TO GET HER NAME SO I COULD CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR ANTOINETTE AND HER FAMILY. AS SOON AS THE LORD BLESSES ME WITH THE FINANCES TO HELP I WILL DO THAT AS WELL. I PRAY GOD'S CHOICE BLESSINGS BE YOURS AND YOU NEVER WALK IN LACK IN ANY AREA OF YOUR LIFE. GOD BLESS YOU AND YOU ARE LOVED AND CARED ABOUT BY MANY
Antoinette is a friend of mine from high school who I have not seen since we graduated. I'm so glad to see her and her beautiful family, but my heart is breaking for her because of her loss. I really want to contact her to tell her that her Chicago, Kenwood Academy and eta Creative Arts Foundation family LOVES her and is praying for her!
Today is 7th Jan 2011 and I jus watched this episode and as old as it is I just could not help crying. This is a very strong woman and I know that it has been over 2yrs since the loss but hope that you are doing well. That Selah and Christian are grown up, that you have been coping well and have managed to keep Dwights memory.I will pray for you tonight and just remember that God does not give you a burden that you cannot carry. God bless you and your family. Susan UK
just watched this episode and my heart goes out to antoinette and her family. i know its been almost three yrs but the memories of loved ones never fade away that easily. i hope your children have grown up to be happy children, who have grown to know & understand what happened to their dad. may God continue to bless you & your family.
p/s my condolences.
Tarnia...UK
I have just watched the repeat episode of Supper nanny, and was so very moved and touched by this woman's strength and grace.
what a truly wonderful woman, and mother she is. Antoinette you honour your husband by being the woman that you are.
I felt your anger and the whole unfairness of it all - I didn't stop crying, especially the clip of you in the park with Jo.
The people who are around for you and your children, demonstrate what wonderful people you and your late husband are.
I wish you greatness for your future, and would love to see an updated episode of how you have managed these last 2 plus years.
I hope your pain is not burdening you as a heavy weight. I wish you peace and all of Gods Blessings.
I really do not have much at all, but I will follow the link and make a small Paypal deposit, and when things are more fruitful, I will do so again.
Wha t a beautiful example of a black woman you are. You are an incredible and rich woman. And two plus years later, I really hope you are still in the home you made so many plans with Dwight!!!
My love and warm thoughts are with you - I will not forget you in any type of a hurry...
Wow, what a beautiful family. May God bless you...
Wow whay a wonderful family...may God bless you
I am the managing editor of CHERA Fellowship, a print magazine for widows and widowers. My next issue has the theme of passing on your loved one's legacy.
I saw the Supernanny program which featured Antoinette and was quite touched by it. I'm writing to request Antoinette's permission to print the following in CHERA Fellowship magazine:
Dwight Lewis died on August 14, 2008, leaving his wife Antoinette with a two-year-old and a six-month-old. She said, “I felt like going to bed and pulling the covers over my head and never getting up.”
“Supernanny” came to her home to help her get back in the game. She organized the neighbors to help Antoinette and started a memorial fund for her. Then she did a video legacy for the children. It showed how Dwight and Antoinette met, their wedding, the pregnancies, Dwight playing with the babies. Then she had Dwight’s closest friends record their memories of what Dwight had said about his wife and kids and about how much he loved them.
When Antoinette viewed it she said, “I felt a sense of relief that the kids are going to know about their father.”
How to keep a parent’s legacy going? Tell the stories.
I had just seen the episode of Antoinette and her two beautiful children and I cried so much. It was so touching to see the strength and bravery of such a caring loving wife and mother. Their friends and family were all so loving to support Antoinette and it was such a warm feeling to know she has such sweet and kind people surrounding her. Lots of love all the way from the UK
I just watched this morning 13th September 2011, the sad story of Antoinette, how sad it was, but I was wondering three years on, what the update is, I am hoping you are still in your home and that your son now who must be 3 and half, and your daughter older, that life has eased for you.
God Bless you all.
I just watched this morning 13th September 2011, the sad story of Antoinette, how sad it was, but I was wondering three years on, what the update is, I am hoping you are still in your home and that your son now who must be 3 and half, and your daughter older, that life has eased for you.
God Bless you all. Shirley U.K
Saw this episode this morning. And can I say I cried as if Dwight was my father. It is so sad that their children are going to grow up and not remember much about their father. That makes me even more emotional. Dwight seemed like a very special man. He is in a better place now. He is with the angels. And lets not forget, he is with God. May God Bless Antoinette. I love you all.
Hi I wanted to say sorry to hear about dwite
My number is 07548069342
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