Thank You Rob Thomas for giving us Her Diamonds!!
Posted By Michelle on July 2, 2009
I am so glad I saw something about this on Facebook. Here is an excerpt from the bio on Rob Thomas’ website:
The album’s first single, the kaleidoscopic “Her Diamonds,” is the most personal song Thomas has yet committed to disc. Rob’s wife Marisol is courageously battling an autoimmune disease, and “Her Diamonds” was written “about a couple dealing with that on a day-to-day basis,” explains Thomas. “There’s an incredible amount of sadness that comes with something like that. There are moments where I think I flirted with a thinner personal line than I’ve ever done before, but, really, I’m writing a song about how people deal with hard times, and that hard time is universal, that hard time can be anything.”
That gift of turning the personal into the universal has long been a hallmark of Rob’s work. “If I can take a specific moment in my life and write about how that moment makes me feel – not about the moment, but the way the moment makes me feel, all of a sudden I’m in a territory where a lot of people can understand that. A lot of people understand that feeling; they have other things in their life that make them feel that way. If I write ‘3am’ about my mother dealing with cancer, that’s a very specific moment, but if I write about how that made me feel, then it opens up and it becomes a universal moment.”
I went to the site and watched the video “Her Diamonds“. Wow. Writing a song about his wife’s illness and how it feels is really intimate and I’m so glad he did it. It opens up conversation about autoimmune disease to his fans. What is it? Which one does she have? etc. It must have been hard to open up their personal life and talk about his wife’s battle with autoimmune disease and how it affects both of them. I wonder if she wanted him to, to help the cause. I wish I could say thank you to him personally, I can’t so I will just say it here. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart-thank you. My husband and I watched your video and were both so touched. You nailed it right on the head.
I’ve always said if more famous people would speak about autoimmune disease, the population would be soon asking questions about autoimmunity. We really need more press and exposure. A lot of you know that there have been no new meds for lupus in 50 years. That’s just inexcusable. That’s just one example of how autoimmune diseases are at the bottom of the barrel when it comes to exposure, research dollars, and just plain understanding. How many people live with the pain and fear of their body’s attack on their body. Even that sentence doesn’t seem to make sense. None of it does. It’s so random.
Done, off my soapbox now. This is a video of Rob Thomas performing this song Her Diamonds live on the Ellen Show. To see the video of the song, you can go to his website at www.robthomasmusic.com and click on the videos tab, or just click here. 
*******UPDATE*******I added his video, Her Diamonds to my vodpod on the left side of the blog. It is the first video in the lupus vids. Have fun!! Even though I want everyone to hear this song and talk about it, the song kicks ass. It doesn’t need a small town blogger trying to sell it. Enjoy!
Thank you so much for sharing this. I am going to share it on my blog as well, but I will be sure to acknowledge you!
This is a good thing he did. More celebrities need to do this to bring more awareness.
How are you doing these days? I hope you are feeling better. I have been having a really bad flare up that just won’t leave me along.
Hugs,
Lana
fibrohaven-your welcome! I’m glad you’re going to share it. I wish the whole country could know, if I had my way they would! lol :0)
Lana-I am still struggling with the longest flare known to man….ugh. It has to stop at some point, right?? I’m sorry that you’re hurting hun. You will be in my prayers for some respite from the pain. Sending you some positive vibes~~~xoxo
Dear Michelle, Thank you for this blog. You are brave and to put yourself out there and discuss the personal aspects of this illness. Most people just try to find someone to talk to about what’s on their minds, hearts, bodies, and only beg God to put someone in their path. You are courageous to take on advocacy and the challenge of being honest with something that is so private. Now since reading this all I see are articles on Rob Thomas, and interviews, and performances, and who knows why but God. Could it be for my own reasons, or someone I will come into contact with, or to relate with down the road? It’s a journey worth opening up and sharing about. Good going sister!
My Margee-I love you! Thank you so much. Your opinion means the world to me, and I’m so glad you like my blog. There are times when I doubt what I’m doing, and getting a comment such as yours tells me, it’s OK.
Maybe someone is newly diagnosed and they can take away something from me-I don’t know.
When I first got sick, I was looking online for information. Anything really. I accidentally found this woman’s blog called Good Times and Boxed Whine. I started reading and I couldn’t stop. She ultimately lost her battle with scleroderma, a systemic autoimmune disease. I couldn’t stop crying when she died. She never knew me, but I knew her and she was so strong. I tried to model my attitude to hers, but I couldn’t. I was too scared. And this beautiful woman, she was fighting a losing battle and she knew it, but she kept positive. She found 3 things to write about that made her happy each day. I thought, wow, she is really so strong, I want to be strong like her. I took something away from reading about her life, I’m not even CLOSE to being as positive as she was, but I try. If only one person can get something from this, than it’s totally worth it.
I love you my sister. Big cuddly hugs to little R, she is pure joy, you can see it in here eyes!!! I love you some more xoxo
Praise the Lord! Finally someone in the spotlight talks about autoimmune. I have had Lupus17 years, and yes those flares are hell. But even worse is when you completely lose remission. My heart goes out to Marisol, I hate seeing a young person with this awful disease. But you can have alot of good times ahead. The first 5 years or so seem to be the worst. I am in a good remission now and I enjoy every day of it. But you have to learn your limitations, how to care for yourself, when to stop, It just takes time. As far as funding for Lupus, there is NO federal funding, only private donations. Millions of people have an autoimmune disease and they are deadly. I have been waiting for a long time for someone famous to talk about it. Thank you Rob and Marisol Thomas. (I know it was hard for Marisol to allow the knowledge of her disease to get out) I have been a Rob Thomas fan for years and loved Her Diamonds even before I knew what it was about. You rock Rob. God bless you both.
Michelle,
Your blog is so very informative and your posts go a long way in raising awareness about autoimmune diseases like RA. Keep up that good work as I always look forward to checking in.
Sincerely,
Brian
Brian Kenney
Centocor Ortho Biotech Inc.
Corporate Communications
I ran across your blog entry by accident . I am encouraged by your courage to put yourself out there. I’m 34, and I too suffer from an autoimmune illness that started as a simple skin rash about 6 years ago. You know well and as you know it can be a roller coaster ride and we aren’t getting enough exposure as far as understanding. You look great someday but no one really knows what may be waiting for you later or the next day. It’s really hard to explain to people how it feels for your body to turn on you. I like to relate it to being in a invisible hospital bed that no one really sees because they don’t see you day to day.
As for Rob’s song, it’s so simple yet so powerful. He really gets to the heart of it. That depiction in the video of her on the bed is something know all too well. I’m hoping some exposure will come from this. But I’ve learned that autoimmune sufferers are somewhat private and really struggle in isolation a lot. So it’s a catch 22.
I won’t go on and on. I have bookmarked your blog and will be back soon. Thanks for your putting yourself out there.
Hey Trudy,
You’re right, it’s awful when someone young gets sick with an autoimmune disease. Whenever I feel really sorry for myself one of the things I tell myself is at least I had almost 40 years…a lot of people don’t.
It’s good to hear you are in remission!! I know that one day it’s coming for me, I just have to have faith and be patient. And-take care of myself a little bit better
And lucky for everyone-the 2009 Omnibus Appropriation Act is funding programs to educate health care providers, funding for a National Lupus Registry which would provide more accurate numbers lending creedence to this disease-I believe there are much more than 1 and a half million people…but I digress, the best part is the legislation also includes nearly $1 billion more for the National Institutes of Health, the NIH, one billion!! It’s amazing, and it’s for biomedical research on lupus. So, things are changing bit by bit. It just took a long time. And you are so right, more celebs need to come forward and talk about it. It’s sad that we have to rely so much on celebrity power to get things noticed, but if it works, it works.
Thanks for stopping by and I hope that you have many many more good days ahead!
Thank you so much Brian, I’m glad you like it here
Come back anytime!
Hey LBX,
Take care and be well!
Well I’m glad that you accidentally found The Lane! I found a couple of my favorite blogs that way, completely accidentally. Cool
I totally relate to what you said about looking great one moment but no one really knows what’s waiting for you later on or the next day. I deal with that a lot. Even with my kids sometimes, and they know all about my diseases and see it firsthand and yet, sometimes, they don’t understand why I can’t get up and go somewhere, when just that morning I was laughing and bopping around in the kitchen. I CAN’T control the attacks on my body and when they happen! If I could schedule them, I’d do it for the day after never, lol.
Well, your welcome. And thanks for putting YOURself out there too! Come back anytime and feel free to go on and on whenever you like
Cool!!! Great post about this song.
I luv this song! Cool!!!
I just bookmarked this so I can share this song and info. I’ll be sure to link back to your post. It’s important for celebrities to help our cause in any way.
Hi…I just came a cross this song and your website today. I heard the song and I loved it….after the song was over the dj remarked that Rob Thomas wrote it for his wife and their struggle with her Lupus…I started to cry…the song represents the struggle my husband and I have had dealing with my Lupus for the past 18 years….good news I was told this year I am in remission…YEA!!! but now I have been told I have RA! I cried…my feet & hands have become quite deformed in the last year…but I am on a new medicaton (Humira) that has made me feel much better. I still work full-time and I have wonderful family and friends….great doctors…and a lot of Faith. I have my sad moments which we refer to as my “pity party” and I am the only one invited
I usually I stay anywhere from an hour to a day or two then I get bored and leave 
My husband has taught me it is ok to cry and it ok to say it’s not fair…but it is also ok to live life and move forward…so that is where I am at…just living my life the best I can…loving every minute. Thanks for having your blog, it is nice to know there are places out there for support! Also thank you Rob Thomas for bringing this subject to the general public.
Hey Tanja Jean,
Late late late response here, I’ve been very sick and not online much. I let my blog sit and I feel bad about it. This is my baby! lol.
Isn’t the song just so right on? I cried when I heard it. The lyrics literally gave me a chill and the video is amazing. I think that representing here as being frozen and thawing is about as close as you can get to analogy of how it is when you are having one of those all nighters.
Congrats on your remission and I’m so sorry about your RA diagnosis. That is just plain unfair. I’m glad you are doing well with it. I’ve had so many problems with finding the right meds that when I hear of someone finding the one on the first try I give an Amen.
Thank you for the thank you. I intended for this to reach someone when I started it, I’m really glad it has reached a few. Come back again anytime. (I’ll start writing again. Soon. lol)
take care and be well
Michelle
Thank you Michelle for sharing! My husband has MS, which is also an autoimmune disease and my great-aunt has lupus. It is scary that the body can do this. My husband is rarely sick. The last time he had the flu was back when he was 7 and he’s 28 now. I keep telling him, “see your immune system is too good, it attacks both bad and good”, he says, “it gets bored.”
Thanks a bunch and I wish you the best of luck!
Hi Tiffany,
And I’m really glad your hubby is in good health!! Oh good news, good news, we need more of it! 
Sounds like he has a great attitude about his disease and his bored immune system, lol!!! I am working towards that goal; acceptance. I read a really great article this morning about how acceptance can change how we deal with our pain. I hope to one day become as positive as your husband.
I’m glad you stopped by
Stop by again any time!!
take care and be well,
Michelle
Good Day Miss Michelle,
this was my first time i replied after reading a blog since.. i really felt the sincerity of this page to all of those who have the sickness.. my girlfriend is already developing the symptoms of lupus and the worst is her mouth sores and everytime i see her feeling the pain, with tears in her eyes i feel so helpless and its the worst feeling ive ever had in my entire life.. we are only both 23 and full of dreams of a better life. she developed the symptoms after taking a 6 month of stressfull reviews before taking her board examinations.. she passed. but with the cost of her condition.. i really cant blame her for how the symptoms became active because of the stress because she really strived of passing the exam to support the financial problem of her family.. oh God.. she is always on my mind and in my heart for i love her so much.. Christmas is just days ahead and its very sad.. though we want to enjoy the season of breeze we cant because her muscles ache and this makes her really depressed. we hope we could get through this. i told her that we will always be together in every step that we make.. and for every trials we encountered in our life..
i hope for all the wellness for all of us and with Love and Faith, i believe we could all get through this.
thanks a lot Ma’am and have a wonderful day!
Take Care!
Merry Christmas to all!
Hi Mark,
I’m so sorry that your girlfriend is sick. It is very hard to comprehend why any of this happens to anybody. It’s really important that she doesn’t feel like it’s her fault just because she was under so much stress during her reviews. Who knows if it wouldn’t have happened anyway, you know? She’s lucky to have you to stand beside her though this, she needs all the moral support she can get and it sounds like you are right there for her. Good man!
I wish you both good luck, and have a merry christmas to you too!
I, too, have an autoimmune disease and all I can say to those men out there supporting their women w illnesses, is YOU ARE WONDERFUL and truly do help! My husband left me because he couldnt deal with it, never even went to one Dr appt with me, and told me “this is YOUR thing, not mine, I’m too young to be tied down with this”…so God Bless You men out there supporting your women…
Amen!