As you know, there are hundreds of people around the world who mourn the

loss of Ann. They never met her but grew to love her through her words

online.

Here's the history you requested. Brian and I came up with the idea of

International FAS Awareness Day in January, 1999, when we realized that all

of the 9's were going to come together at 9:09 a.m. on the ninth day of the

ninth month of '99. We thought it would be a good idea to try doing an

International FAS Awareness Day on that date. There had been a big blizzard

in Toronto, Canada, where we live, and we came up with this idea while

digging out our cars, which were covered with two metres of snow!.

I then phoned Teresa Kellerman in Tucson, AZ, USA, to see what she thought

and she loved the idea and said she could pull together a listserv and do a

website, and I sent out the idea online, asking for volunteers. Teresa felt

we needed a name for this international alliance and the word, "FASworld"

just popped out of my mouth.

One of the first people who volunteered was Ann Gibson. We heard from her

within hours! She picked up the ball and ran with it, not just in Germany

but in making contacts across continental Europe. On the first FAS Day, Ann

spearheaded events in THREE German cities, with the help of her daughters

and other friends! She rounded up the best medical experts, had bells

ringing, and encouraged the rest of us. I think there are archives on the

FAS Day website that you can access that can tell you more.

It was an incredible experience to meet Ann in Grand Rapids three months

after FAS Day. I remember sitting across from her and Alan at a long dinner

table with a number of others who had participated in FAS Day. (We now call

it FASDay.) Ann and Alan were telling us about how much they loved Germany

and how they could never leave because they would have to leave their

beloved foster children behind, as adoption of foster children was not

allowed in Germany. Alan and Ann were so in tune with each other, almost

like a pair of teenagers in love -- enthusiastic, funny, bubbly.

I remember thinking to myself that this beautiful woman who was so

brilliant, organized, creative and compassionate still managed to find the

time to have the exactly perfect scarf with her chic outfit, tied exactly

perfectly!

Ann certainly took on a huge job within 24 hours of Brian, Teresa and me

coming up with the idea. Basically, she took on the continent of Europe!!!

She was brilliant and creative. None of us was in this to take credit or

make money or get famous. All we wanted to do was prevent more FASD births

and help those children and adults who had been born affected. Ann was

always a totally selfless person.

Thanks for caring so much about our "Anni."

Much love,

Bonnie