Out of sight…Out of mind…

By On · 29 Comments · In blog

I just hopped of Face Book, in attempt to do a whirl wind catch up with what is going on, in the lives of my many gorgeous friends around the globe and quite literally there have been births, marriages, canyon climbs, Sophie Monk and Marti Keefer Lynx adds going viral (which is hilarious by the way) and just such great vibrancy snapped in a few little, inspiring, available moments, all at my finger tips .

I then took some time to read the worldwide news and again whilst only the summaries, I closed the screen humbled by how ridiculously lucky I am, to have my little life and all the wonderful people, you ALL included, adding to my world on a daily basis.

I have received SO MANY bloody incredible messages, just an extraordinary response and a HUGE wave of support making its way around the world, willing this documentary to be brought to life and supporting me in my approach to moving on.

But to all you, who have been inspired, moved and in someway compelled to do something, be sure that you recognize what it is that is driving you to passionately get behind this project. Is it your compassion for people you are moved by? Is it that you feel a connection with Andy for one reason or another? Is it your frustration and perhaps own personal painful experience with the disease? Or is it that you feel a sense of wholeness by being involved in something meaningful, that you know in your gut WILL make a difference?

Whatever it is, harness it and remember to keep using it from this point forward. We were very, very lucky to have the resources and people behind us to follow our journey and however hard it may have been and yes ultimately, we lost a very beautiful man, we where and are, remarkably blessed compared to the masses of children, men and woman living and dying, every minute of everyday, around the world, with no one to share their stories.

It is imperative that we consistently take the time to explore where else we can make a difference. I hope that, as it has for me, Andy’s journey will inspire you to realise that collectively when you get behind something meaningful, GREAT things can happen.

 

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  • Alexiscarril

    Just amazing words Vashti, I’m inspired to do more. 

  • Sarah Stewart

    Wonderful words, as always, Vashti….  

    “A human action becomes genuinely important when it springs from the soil of a clear-sighted awareness of the temporality and the ephemerality of everything human. It is only this awareness that can breathe any greatness into an action.”  ~Václav Havel

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Cátia-Silva/100003812625298 Cátia Silva

    For me is just that cancer is, unfortunatly, a part of my family legacy. So any project that will enconrage more recearch and awareness for prevention calls my atention. Good luck for it, since my contribution will be small but very felt.

  • Acogozzo

    I haven’t donated to the be here now yet, but plan to for the reason of sharing his story with the world and to get it out there about this disease,, with you and him telling it I’m sure will make alot of people open there eyes to this horrible cancer,,Andy was a very talented, kind hearted soul,, to see him in the little preview clip completely broke my heart to see the suffering and struggle you both went through,, but the parts that did make me smile is seeing the love between you two,, and the strength he had to try whatever needed to be done. This documentary I know will be a success, I look everyday to see where the fund raising is at and just to see how far it is in a matter of days only shows that the money will be raised by the deadline,, Andy’s story will be shared with the world,,,,The preview clip of the doco you so kindly shared with us, when Andy said at the end the meaning of “Be here now” really sunk in…..”be here for the now,and do not fear the future”! Words to truly live by!!! I look forward to the release of this doco and will be the first in line to buy it! Keep inspiring the world Vashti,, cuz you completely inspire me everyday! And I have actually quoted some of the things you have said to my own kids,,, you are truly amazing! Take care, and keep blogging! <3

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=668857686 Terri Fentress

    I’m at a loss. I have so much to say in my heart but no words right now to say them. All I can say now is that I am so moved, touched, inspired and am at an impasse in my own life that is causing me to ask so many questions, deal with much pain and struggling to find an end on a very bumpy road and a turning point to a better place for me but one I can use to help someone else. I know it will happen and it is what I do on the journey that makes the difference. I’m so happy and blessed to be a teeny tiny little part of yours and Andys. 

  • Annett

    Good question, vashti, what is it, what makes, that so many human follow you or support ” Be here now” ?
    What is it, what makes, that I do it ?
    I will think about it this evening.

  • Irenemahon

    we all loved andy so much such a loss …so tragic we will do what ever it takes he was a blessed man a giant among men…..us lady s all need an andy to love thats going to be tough …but thank you Vashti for sharing your life …and thank you for letting us share Andy  …thank you for your kindness and understanding …you must think most of us are a little bonkers ….at times but Andy was so easy to love ……you have my undying gratitude……love irene….xxxxx

  • Beth Forrester

    I am very inspired in seeing just how many people are passionately supporting this documentary and Andy’s wish! There are a few things driving, me. Seeing your and Andy’s amazing and beautiful love story and how you both courageously and selflessly opened your lives to help INSPIRE others during this difficult time deserves support and the story to be told! And Andy’s and your words & actions are helping me live a life with less fear in a specific area I’ve struggled with for most of my life of the ‘what if’ and the unknown,….instead, focusing on the NOW, enjoying each and everyday and do everything I can to make my life as fulfilling as I can! Getting this project made is very important to me for many reason, I know it will make a difference in so many peoples lives, including my own…..

  • Debbee

    I think you are an amazing inspiration and I for one can say i have been truly touched by your journey so far without Andy, just the sheer resolve to continue living every day without your soul mate (physically i am sure he is with you in Spirit) to me is beyond comprehension, where do you find the strength? I for one would not know where to start, the void must be enormous.  I have lost family to the disease and wish/pray every day that we could move far more quickly with medicine to find a cure. I think sharing yours and Andys journey with ”Be here now” is a very touching and amazing thing to do, and i will definately be supporting you with this documentary 100% of the way. Sending you inner strength, love and peace.. ;0) xx

  • Naomi Duvall

    Your words inspire me on a daily basis. My connection with the beautiful Andy keeps me wondering what and how…….I will do whatever in my power to help fund this amazing project. Can I ask, has Starz donated?? I would think that they would have no problem covering the $200,000 dollars needed. Without Andy Spartacus would not have been such a success. I really hope they step up and show their support the most important way possible, with the checkbook. And what about the stars of Spartacus?? Are they helping bring in donations and support?? I sure hope so….My plan is in motion

  • Sally T.

    That one hug in the Be Here Now preview that Jesse gives Andy where he pats him on the back, in the way that children do, the way my boys did when they were little, was what made me stop everything and donate. I paused the clip, donated, and then finished watching. This film will be made, I just know it will.

  • Dilyana Konstantinova

    After watching Spartacus Blood and Sand I liked the main actor, read information about him and i was very upset.Somehow I came to your blog.Some invisible force directed me because obviously it was time to open my senses.No random things.The contact with you makes me better mother,wife……. woman.Thank you.You have my support and love.

  • Cazza C

    I think Alexis summed up what I wanted to say.

  • Malin

    Threefold wisdom of the
    tree:
    Leaf – wisdom of change, ever releasing,
    Branch – wisdom of growth, ever reaching,
    Root – wisdom of endurance, ever deepening. (Barddas)

     

    I don´t know how great my tree is right now, but I
    feel in every vein of my body and my mind, that “my tree” grows
    faster in depending of a strong ground, enough water and sunshine.

    I´m so blessed to be planted in a
    strong ground and the ability to feel so deeply in different ways. It´s like
    sunshine and water for me.

    But I think, the first time that you will be sure of
    being a strong tree or not, is, when the first big storm don´t pull out your
    root.

     

    The
    biggest storm for me till now, was to loose my solid rock (my so beloved
    father) and for a long time not to know if my little son will be alive or not
    after his birth. He has an very rare genetic disease. That was the point, when
    I lost all my leafs and fall into a deep hibernate. As I woke up I recognize,
    that I lost also branches, but the roots were still strong and deeper than
    before. As I looked at my little, every time fighting, smiling and beautiful son, laying in this incubator on the intensive care unit, it was
    the start for me to grow much bigger than before. He and his three years older brother,
    were the sun and the water I needed to be feeling alive again. It works till
    today and I feel stronger than ever before to over come the next storm.

    I am absolutely sure, that this film will be made. Because there are so many people that needed this kind of “sun and water” to be growing up in their own way.

    Music is for me a way of communication, the music begins, when the words ends. (Debussy) 

     http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4mTqMbuHyc

    Malin

    • Beth Forrester

       I love this, you said it so beautifully!

  • Tracywaine

    I remember being talked into watching Spartacus by my hubby who said to me that it would be a major success and that i would appreciate the leading actor!  We of course followed the series and were absolutely glued to each episode.  Its easy for all to say but true that Andy lit up the screen and touched all that tuned in.  When it was announced that Andy had cancer we were totally gobsmacked but confident that he would return once he was on the mend.  Sadly this was not to be.  
    Vashti you really are an inspirational lady and such a fab Mummy.  Andy will be watching over you all and be very proud of your strength and love you have……….
    Wishing you and your beautiful babies lots of love xxxx

  • Dilyana Konstantinova

    “Be Here Now”  Въведете текст или адрес на уебсайт или преведете документ.Отказ
    istoriyata na andi shte bŭde zavAndy’s story will be finished.So much positive energy focused in achieving of a common goal.Unity is strength!Alpha

  • http://twitter.com/BallantyneA anna ballantyne

    Vashti you just got me to pull my sorry ass into the 20th century and sign up for twitter – that is an achievement as i vowed I didnt have time for it!  But I have so000 got time to read what you have to say – amazing blog, and total inspiration. 

    Big love to you lady and hope to catch up when you are over.

    Anna
    ***

  • http://www.facebook.com/schickmirdeinemail Sarah

    I love your words ;) but also the wisdom of the words of your “followers”. I try to read all the comments and I appreciate every opinion that is posted because i can identify with most of the view and i can probably learn from all of them. Besides most of the people here express excatly what i feel, where i was just at a loss for words. So thank you and all the others for sharing their experiences and insights :)

  • Pam Stewart

    For me I truly believe Andy and you have a very important message here which is absolutely imperative that it comes to life as he and you wish…with that said, I also believe this will help so many with their own journey/battle with this disease and other devastating illnesses…I also believe this will be a fundamental tool in bringing awareness and even funding for a cure.  Being someone who has also suffered great and far too many losses to this disease I am behind anything that will do all the aforementioned and more if possible.  Yours and Andy’s story touched me deeply and was brought to my attention when a loved one was going through his own battle of which he ultimately lost…at that time Andy helped me in more ways than I can say with inspiration and fortitude…and much needed distraction with his outstanding portrayal in Spartacus…the least I can do is return that favor by contributing to his desire to do this documentary with its all too important message…  

  • ElenaFerro

    But who, in his sane mind, wouldn’t support this documentary once watched the preview??? Seriously, I really admire the sheer selflessly you both had letting the cameras got into your lifes, showing them to the rest of the world with the only reason of being the wise fellow of all those who would have the unfortunate of living the same, the only reason to give someone the warm feel of being understood by others, or simply to make those others that should go through that journey can do that with the “be here now” spirit… In this crazy days that we are living, it’s wonderful to find pure souls like yours, really. How not to support it???

  • Nemau

     Thank you very much, dear Vashti. My words in your language are limited to say what I feel in my heart, my soul … I’ll try ….
    You are so beautiful Vashti, Andy, your family ….
    Thank you for the life, thank you for the words, for courage, strength, for dreams … For sharing.
    You are truly a light unto my path … And for the life many people …
    I kiss you tenderly.
    God bless you.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100003808867386 Stephanie Stevens

    For me the inspiration came from the gentleness of Andy and the complete humbleness he always shown and his appreciation for his career success, it was something about him that always struck me as wow! Not only is he a incredible and handsome talent but he is a gentle soul as well. Than I came across your blog and instantly fell in love. I should have know beside a great man is an even greater women. Your strength and honesty about your entire situation inspired me, It made me take a look at my life and the decisions I was or wasn’t making to create a better “now” for myself. How can I not support something that will only help and educate other’s. I’m not religious but you have been a blessing in my life through your blogs and writings. Just when I want to give up and throw in the tile, I think of you and Andy and say what would Vashti and Andy do, I know times can be very hard but the impeccable strength of putting out what you want to get is a deep truth. I would do all I can and as everyone who follows you and are dear and compassionate supporters of your and Andy. It breaks my heart time and time again to think of him being gone, it’s funny how people we never meet can have such an impact on our lives. We are more than just fans we are people who care and want everything to work out for you and your family. Thank you Vashti and you can count on me to do my part  :-) With love from the States! 

  • http://www.facebook.com/sweet.angel.cyan Lois Salvatore Whitfield

    well, for me… My mother battles cancer and has been doing it for the
    last 12 years, thats part of it, then again the power that Andy has on
    people, Insppiring and moving, i do feel a conection with him, one i
    cant and i just dont want to even try to understand and then again, i
    get involved in big causes all teh time and that brings great
    satisfaction to know that you have changed someone’s life…so that’s my
    motive and i’m proud of it each second! 

  • Jayne

    Truthfully, I started out reading your blog because I was a fan of Andy’s.  But then I became a fan of yours :)   I am inspired by your bravery.  Not only do you face each day having lost someone you love so much, but you seem to LIVE it rather than just exist.  Parenting is hard at the best of times, and to see your obvious love for your children, and your attempts to keep their father alive for them, leaves me humbled.  So that’s basically why I contributed — you inspire and humble me and I’d like to see the documentary completed because it’s important to you, it will be a legacy for Andy’s children, and because there isn’t  one person in the world whose life hasn’t been affected by cancer, my own included.  

  • http://profile.yahoo.com/VXT7C6LEOMBC6BL6B6PGEOMTQY tee

    I was a “late bloomer” when it came to discovering Spartacus and Andy. I didn’t watch the first season until after Andy had passed. I decided on a whim to rent the first few episodes from Netflix and giggled my way through the first few episodes. Not a bad giggle, just a bit stunned, I guess you could say, at how bold and in-your-face it was. By episode 3, I was hooked. I decided waiting for my Netflix delivery wasn’t good enough, so I went out and bought the first season and watched it over the next few days.
    Watching knowing Andy has passed became harder and harder as the episodes went from one to another. What was it? What was it that made me want to know more about this man? The writing was fantastic; the direction was wonderful; the entire cast was brilliant. But it was Andy that sold me the story - that made me give a shit about this characters plight. It would be real easy to say it was those gorgeous eyes, the great abs(!!), the lines in his face when he would smile. That’s the physical. As for his portrayal of Spartacus, it was the way he would almost whisper when the words became to difficult (for his character) to say, making Spartacus very human and real. Or the tears, oh shit, the tears! I’ll always be in awe of those moments in Blood & Sand where his eyes welled up during a particularly intense moment. It’s all surface, the character and the physical, but it is what made me a fan intially. And now, having learned more about the man behind the character I dug so much, I just felt a certain connection. Seeing him in interviews or interacting with his fellow co-stars, it came down to…yeah, he may be beautiful and he may OWN as Spartacus, but more than anything, this was one hell of a nice, and very real, man.
    Seeing the brief clip from “Be Here Now” just confirms what I felt when watching him on Sparatcus…Andy was the real deal. Strong, warm, family focused and determined. That sparkle in his eyes wasn’t an act. I feel like I know him in some way, and now getting to know you. That even with distance and communication confined to this, I am able to share in this, in some small way, with you. To tell you how lucky I feel, as a fan from the other side of the world, to have had the chance to watch and learn more about Andy. It might sound simplistic, maybe even a bit weird, but that is what draws me in.  Of course, the awareness this documentary will bring to NHL is hugely important but for me the story needs to be told because the message of living in the present is so important and so inspiring.
    I just rambled on and on. I tend to get a little wordy, so my apologies, but I think you are really fantastic for being so open and so willing to invite us readers into your life.

    • lagunacat

      I too was a late bloomer to the Spartacus series and like you only learned of Andy’s passing after watching season 1 (which I finished in 1 week on my iPad Direct tv app). This news deeply saddened me. I am now watching season 3 and will constantly be thinking of Andy during each show. So I can totally understand everything you have written in this post. Thank you for sharing.

  • Lidia García.

    I think Andy began a project that we all us end, poque this beautiful man was sure he would achieve something  good for the future we live now, right now! BE HERE NOW….

  • Keirdwynn

    This week, I learned that my colleague’s baby, a little girl of 13 months, had liver cancer with lung metastases. She started chemotherapy on Thursday. I lost so many people with this disease that my anger and my pain poisoned my life. For this poison and because I am very very appreciative of Andy, his life and his work, despite my limited financial resources, I participated in the financing of the documentary. I hope it will lead. For Andy, for my father, for this little girl … for everyone… Please, excuse my bad english.