by meganne 01 Mar 2012

One of my very dear friends Bernie Griffith from the States, has been injured in a car accident.

She had just appeared on HSN America demonstrating Juki sewing machines and sergers and it was after she left the studio that the accident happened.

For anyone who knows ELNA, Janome and Juki machines, you will know that Bernie was awarded the topmost honour of "Master Educator" by Janome.
She is now the worldwide VOICE of Juki and she is the most down to earth, fun loving, hard working, knowledgeable, person in the Sewing/embroidery industry and I am deeply honoured to be able to say, she is my friend.
I am posting (below) a large part of the message we received.
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She's OK, but really not feeling well, and had to stay in Florida for observation overnight.
She had been travelling non-stop for weeks, teaching at industry events, and said she felt like she'd been "beaten with a stick!" She sure did not look that way on TV. She looked great!
She was planning to fly to the Puyallulp, [WA] Sewing and Stitchery Expo - which is a huge event. I understand her classes were filled (when are her classes NOT filled?! LOL!) but she cannot attend due to injuries. She's supposed to be on complete bed-rest for a week, at the least.
If her back is injured, it could be serious, as she is constantly humpin' and haulin' machines, machine boxes, boxes of accessories, fabric and thread - and you can imagine how much those weigh! Imagine unpacking, then repacking 25 - 50 boxes of 30# machines for a class, AFTER you've set up a booth with metal frames, drapes, rugs, tables, banners, machines, quilting frames, and sergers! If she has whiplash, her neck, spine, and shoulders would be permanently injured.

She's not even sure how or when she's going to make it home at this point.

It would be a great show of support for her if we were to flood the JUKI AMERICA home office with get-well cards. She has had to fight long and hard to get JUKI AMerica to understand the importance of the home sewing market in the USA. JUKI AM likes to specialize in commercial machines, and while it was focused on manufacturing the Singer 6000 and Elna Xquisit for those companies, didn't want to transistion into USA home sewing - but Bernie talked them into it! Yea, Bernie! I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my XQUISIT!!!!! and want JUKI to take over the USA home sewing market. As we know, their machines are 'way ahead of the curve in technology, built like tanks, the most value per $1, and deserve to be fully supported with an unsurpassed dealer network!

****Sending Get Well cards would validate Bernie's hard work, and the fact that there is a strong customer base. It is a win-win. Emails to Bernie are good but private, whereas snail-mail to the home
office would be a harder-to-ignore, more physical, indicator of our support for her efforts. Get Well cards are fun to get when you are away from home, and feeling blue. And she is REALLY feeling bad, sad, and blue, too. =:>(

Also, she really and truly considers each one of us her friends, and knows us by name. We are not just an internet "list" of people to exploit. We are special to her.

The JUKI AMERICA home office address is:

BERNADETTE GRIFFITH, Domestic Sales, Marketing, and Education Manager

c/o JUKI AMERICA, INC.

8500 NW 17TH STREET, SUITE 100
DORAL, FL 33126-1035

U.S.A..
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Please Cuties, your prayers for her speedy recovery, without any long term effects, would be most appreciated and any get well cards you might send would be truly valued.
Hugs and my most sincere thanks for taking the time to read this. Meganne

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by blueeyedblonde 02 Mar 2012

I just went to HSN and watched her for a few min. So sorry to hear of her accident. Hopefully everything will turn out OK. Please keep us informed.

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by susiesembroidery 02 Mar 2012

May our dear Lord, Who always take care of us, now be her salvation and Healer. I hope she has a full recovery and that she will be blessed in her quest of doing an excellent job. I sure would love to see a Juki embroidery machine her in South Africa. Lovies, best wishes and lots of roses, hugs and kisses to you and Bernie.****

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by lflanders 02 Mar 2012

I certainly hope that she will be fine after the initial pain is gone. My prayers go out to her. With alot of good luck and the Grace of God, may she be well very soon. Thanks for letting us know! Linda

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by mad14kt 02 Mar 2012

Meg, I watched her the other day with the Juki machine, saying that machine looks mighty good to me. My prayers are that she be made whole and complete. May everything line up with the word of God. Every tissue, cell, bone, etc. be restored to completion. God you alone are able to do exceedly and abundantly of what we may think or ask! Send you angels to be a host around her. to encourage and lift her up. It is so, IJN!!!

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by pldc 02 Mar 2012

well God willing she will be just fine!& my prayers are added for her & her family!

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by theduchess 02 Mar 2012

Meganne, so sorry to hear about your friend.My prayers are being sent. I will post a card later today.Hope the recovery turns out for the best.Stella

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by brendaleas 02 Mar 2012

a Prayer,
Father be with Bernie, as she is so far from home, and not felling well, touch her body with your healing hands. In the name of the Father, The Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen

1 comment
meganne by meganne 02 Mar 2012

Thank you Brenda

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by dilceia 02 Mar 2012

Prayers for Bernie, may she have a speedy recovery.

1 comment
meganne by meganne 02 Mar 2012

Thank you dear Dilceia.

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by jacquipaul 02 Mar 2012

Thank you for posting this Meganne and I will certainly pray for the healing of your friend Bernie. Although I've never met or seen her, she is certainly an admired and respected lady!
Blessings to you,
Jacqueline

1 comment
meganne by meganne 02 Mar 2012

Thank you Jacqueline

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by gerryvb 02 Mar 2012

I don't know her( here in the Netherlands) but the way you write about her. she must be a lovely person. Hope she recovers soon. my prayers for her recovery.

1 comment
meganne by meganne 02 Mar 2012

Thanks Gerry. Yes she is a special person & it would be a tragic loss to embroidery if her injuries prevented her from working. She is a major force in getting Juki machines into the home market & if they ever release the embroidery machine she is pushing them to, then I will be first in line to buy one.

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by bumblebee 02 Mar 2012

I went to HSN and saw a video clip. She seems like a lovely lady. Sorry bad luck has struck your friend, prayers for a speedy recovery for her and you Megan.
Hugs
Linda aka Bumblebee

1 comment
meganne by meganne 02 Mar 2012

Thanks so much Linda.

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by justonlyme 02 Mar 2012

That is really sad that she has been injured. Good news that she wasn't more injured though...or worse. There are some terrible drivers out there.
I LOVE the Juki machines. I have a Juki mid arm quilter and LOVE it. If they made embroidery machines, I would trade in a heartbeat.
I knew nothing about the sew expo in Puyallup or would have planned to go. Bummer!! Will send card!! Thanks for the heads up!

1 comment
meganne by meganne 02 Mar 2012

Thanks so much.

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by lidiad 02 Mar 2012

Prayers and hugs for Bernie, for a speedy recovery. I will send a card to her next week. Hugs, Lidia

1 comment
meganne by meganne 02 Mar 2012

Thanks Lidia.

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by sadp 02 Mar 2012

Prayers for Bernie, may she have a speedy recovery, hugs S*

1 comment
meganne by meganne 02 Mar 2012

Thanks so much.

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by pennifold 02 Mar 2012

Dear Meg, I am so sorry to read about this happening to your friend. I do pray that she will fully recover. I know how much you love JUKI machines. Love and blessings Chris

1 comment
meganne by meganne 02 Mar 2012

Thanks Chris. I can't believe I was only watching her on US TV on Wednesday night!

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by vickiannette 01 Mar 2012

shall send a card.

1 comment
meganne by meganne 02 Mar 2012

Thank you Vicki.

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by capoodle 01 Mar 2012

Prayers that she will recover quickly from these injuries.

1 comment
meganne by meganne 02 Mar 2012

Thanks so much.

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by katydid 01 Mar 2012

So sorry to hear, The shows are here in the Atlanta area next week. keep us posted . Kay

1 comment
meganne by meganne 01 Mar 2012

Thanks Kay. Ray and I had sat up to watch Bernie on HSN on my laptop and to hear this news, being so far away, is unbearable for me.

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by meganne 01 Mar 2012

I forgot to mention that Bernie is currently pushing Juki to develop their own embroidery machine and if this happens it will become the one machine everyone will want to own. Juki have been making Bernette sergers/overlockers for donkey's years, as well as the one's mentioned above.
It would be a terrible loss, for all of us, if Bernie could not continue working because of this accident. Hugs n roses, Meganne

2 comments
meganne by meganne 01 Mar 2012

four of my machines are Juki's.

roberta by roberta 02 Mar 2012

I own a JUKI sewing machine and serger and I wouldn't trade it for any other machine in the world! It is a work horse and never been in the shop except for a cleaning. I support her fully and will be glad to send her a get well card. Roberta

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by bevgrift 01 Mar 2012

My Prayers are for Bernie.
May she have a speedy recovery.
Hugs From Bev

1 comment
meganne by meganne 01 Mar 2012

Thanks Bev

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by shirlener88 01 Mar 2012

So sorry to hear of your friends accident. Praying tht things will go well with her recovery.

1 comment
meganne by meganne 01 Mar 2012

Thanks Shirlene.

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