Got an Old Prom Dress You Could Donate?

My heart goes out to kids who find themselves in chronic, life-threatening illness. It was a real joy to discover a couple of local girls who are equally moved on behalf of these kids. They have started up their own non-profit organization called "Drop Your Dress." They are collecting prom dresses and boys' suits and ties in order to provide a prom experience for teens who are unable to experience a regular prom. What a great idea!

So if you have an old prom dress or suit coat that you could donate, check them out at www.dropyourdress.wordpress.com.

I Want a Job Just to Support Charitable Giving

I've previously explained my connections to the cancer world. My grandfather's entire family was basically decimated by cancer (I will probably get the specific facts wrong, but I think of ten siblings eight of them died of cancer, my grandfather dying of colon cancer). My father grew up knowing that he would have to be checked quite regularly for colon cancer because his father was a carrier of the Familial Adenoidal Polyposis gene (the cancer which killed Katie Couric's husband). Luckily, for myself and my siblings, several years back when I was experiencing some questionable symptoms, we met with a geneticist and were told that my father did not carry the gene. Sadly, his sister did (and has faced this demon) and one of my cousins has already passed away after battling cancer.

When I was ten, my classmate and friend, Janet, was battling cancer. Her parents were very nice to me and often allowed me to visit and sleep over. I went away for camp, the following summer, and returned to the news that she had passed away.

Both my father and my father-in-law have battled cancer. My father had a cancerous kidney removed. My father-in-law received too many radioactive pellets during his treatment for prostate cancer. These basically ate out his insides and left him in a state of constant pain.

Then, my youngest brother's daughter, Amelia, was diagnosed with leukemia (ALL) two days after her second birthday. Through Amelia, I was introduced to Caringbridge and Care Pages and have since been following many cancer patients in their battles against this pervasive disease.

One of my all-time favorite pages belongs to the Larsen family of Iowa. Scott and Peggy Larson and their twin sons, Coleman and Caden, coined the term "Team Larson." I think there were several reasons why I was drawn to this family so strongly. For one, their boys are close in age to one of my sons. For another, Peggy does such a fantastic job of inviting her readers into their lives and leaving them with some encouragement. Despite the fact that Coleman earned his wings in January of 2009, Peggy continues to struggle on in this battle and reminds us all of the value of life.

In fact, I just learned that Peggy has bravely joined a group called "46 Mommas Shave for the Brave." These 46 mothers are going to be shaving their heads, with the St. Baldricks organization, on September 7th in honor of their children and the battle against cancer. Why 46 moms? Because each school day, 46 children are diagnosed with cancer.

As I was looking over Peggy's St. Baldrick's participant page, my husband grew alarmed. He said, "Oh no! You're not thinking of doing that, are you?"

Ha! He thought perhaps I might be so moved to agree to shave along with these brave women. Alas, I'm not that brave. However, I am really wishing I could find a job to support the charitable giving I wish to donate to these heart-tugging causes.

Last week, I read in our local paper about a mother who, after beating breast cancer, was diagnosed with a terminal case of lymphoma. The Indianapolis Star stated that "the expense of fighting the disease cost the family their home, and both Sean and Jill lost their jobs. They now live in Avon with a family member."

On August 14th, a 5K run was held to raise monies for her husband and three children (ages 11, 8 and 7). As soon as I read the article, I wanted to run the 5K (ha, like I'd even be able to do that with the constant fatigue I am still battling) and make a donation to the family.

Thankfully, John is gracious and never begrudges my investment in these causes. Indeed, I found myself plugging another hole (which is what my donations feel like - like the Dutch boy in "Hans Brinker and the Silver Skates," who places his finger in a hole in the dike in order to stem the tide of the avalanche of water) when Cardiogirl mentioned a friend who is raising money for a leukemia run in honor of her 5 year old daughter who has been in remission from leukemia for two years. I felt compelled to offer up a little something for her efforts.

Now, I am passing along the information as "46 Mommas Shave for the Brave." Who knows, maybe you feel a pull to stem the tide alongside me? Maybe you just want to watch their efforts. On Sept. 10th, they will be spotlighted on a show produced by "Stand Up 2 Cancer."

Encyclopedia Mythica explains the story of The Little Dutch Boy:

"This story is told to children to teach them that if they act quickly and in time, even they with their limited strength and resources can avert disasters. The fact that the Little Dutch Boy used his finger to stop the flow of water, is used as an illustration of self-sacrifice. The physical lesson is also taught: a small trickle of water soon becomes a stream and the stream a torrent and the torrent a flood sweeping all before it, Dyke material, roadways and cars, and even railway tracks and bridges and whole trains."

Maybe you'd like to lend your finger, too? Here, here or here?

A Beauty With or Without Hair!

It was wonderful to read the news on my niece Amelia's Caringbridge page about Saturday's St. Baldrick's event. Last year, there were 48 individuals who participated in the shaving ceremony. This year, over one hundred people participated. Amelia (while not prepared to go completely bald again, as she was during her leukemia treatments), cut off her long locks to donate to Locks of Love.

Here is the photo they posted on Amelia's page:

I say she's a beauty whether she's bald, in a bob or long curls. If you would like to, you may view a video of the proceedings there in Green Bay. My baby brother, Tim, is the one holding the microphone for the kick-off cry of "Start your razors!" He'll always be my baby brother, even though his oldest child is in the double digits and his youngest is a cancer survivor. I'm sure ES will always feel that way about YS, since they have the same 10 year age gap.

They surpassed their goal ($20,000) and managed to raise over $40,000 for Childhood Cancer. What a great day it was for raising money and awareness for the battle of childhood cancer. However, my sister-in-law, Mary, did mention another family reeling from the aftermath of cancer. Sarah Aberle is no longer battling cancer, but she left behind a husband (a cancer survivor) and five young children. Please say a prayer for this family as they enter this journey of grief.

If you would like to get involved in weekly efforts to support families in the midst of crisis, feel free to visit the Cole's Foundation website. Tim and Mary were privileged, this past weekend, to meet with Aaron Ruotsala, the father of Cole (a three year old who passed away eight weeks after his cancer diagnosis) and they have been touched by this ministry of support.

And the Winner Is ...

We have a winner for my first giveaway! My MS drew out the name of Mandy Greene. As soon as I receive her mailing address, I will be sending her the gold Childhood Cancer Awareness Ribbon. Congratulations Mandy and thanks for participating!

A few readers expressed a desire to know where they could purchase a similar button. This particular one was distributed in exchange for a donation to the Families of Children with Cancer, Inc. in Green Bay, Wisconsin, where my niece, Amelia, lives. The donations for the buttons benefit children diagnosed with cancer in Northeast Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

I feel very grateful to this organization. I have witnessed the many ways they have reached out to my brother and his family as they battled my niece's leukemia. I think any family personally familiar with childhood cancer recognizes the great role these supporting organizations play in rallying strength and encouragement for the journey they must travel.

If you wish to contact the Families of Children with Cancer, Inc. in Green Bay, WI, you can view their information at www.ourkidswithcancer.org or contact kathy@ourkidswithcancer.org. I'm sure they would welcome any further donations.

I'm glad I was able to play even a small role in increasing the awareness of Childhood Cancer. Wearing the pin will bring more opportunities to share my family's personal story.

When I was working at Littlejohn Elementary in DeKalb, IL, they held a fundraiser to aid kids with cancer. It was called "Caps for Kids with Cancer" and for a small donation, students were permitted to wear a cap in school for the day. On the day the caps were worn, I was blown away by how many students had participated. I attempted to get a photo of the event (some of you know what a lousy photographer I am). I had to pan the group three times to include everyone and I was standing on a very tall ladder. It literally moved me to tears that day, because I knew that just a year before it would have been just another fundraiser to me. But, watching my niece fight her battle with leukemia made it a very personal thing and I appreciated every child who contributed that week. The following year, shortly after our move to Indiana, Mrs. Brown, the teacher I had most recently worked with at Littlejohn learned that her own son, Michael, had a brain tumor.

Perhaps, you don't have a personal connection to the fight against cancer, but every donation and every ribbon displayed represents your support of these children. And if you can't afford to give or obtain a button, please remember to say a prayer for children battling cancer. I know I'm saying many prayers of thanksgiving these days on behalf of my niece, Amelia, along with prayers that God would continue to protect her and use her life and testimony.

How Cool is This?!

When my niece, Amelia, completed her treatments for leukemia, her family decided to hold not one celebration, but two big celebrations in her honor. One was held in May in their hometown of Green Bay, Wisconsin, and one will be held in June in Janesville, Wisconsin, the town where my brother and sister-in-law met and married. From the sounds of things on Amelia's caringbridge site, they had a blast at the first one.

I had been thinking that I would like to find some thing or some way to honor Amelia as we attend this celebration in Janesville. Michelle Kemper Brownlow saved the day! She offered a 24 hour window of time when you could order one of her hand-crafted namesakes. I just happened to visit her blog at the right moment and got my order in. The really neat thing about her offer is that 1/2 of the proceeds go to pediatric cancer. So, not only does this gift for Amelia honor her, but it also gives back to others who are fighting the pediatric cancer battle.

A while back, I received the namesake in the mail. It is perfect. The colors and princess theme fit Amelia to a T! Plus, Michelle added the scripture reference which their family has claimed throughout Amelia's leukemia battle. It might be the most special gift I've ever given. I took a few photos on my digital, but kept putting off posting it on my blog (I'm not that great of a photographer). We have been unable to access AOL for a while (I wish I could blame Comcast like Cardiogirl, but I can't!), so I haven't been logging on as often.

Imagine my surprise, when I logged on last night to find a picture of Amelia's namesake (Michelle decided to tackle it first, since it was needed by a June date as a gift) on Michelle's blog. Plus, she did a video explaining her passion behind this project and talked briefly about Amelia's namesake. Once she completes the first 14 orders, she will do another brief window of ordering.

Michelle also mentions her new site, called 4-the-kids, which is really worth checking out. If you visit this site, you can also see Amelia's namesake in the section about meeting the artists. Be sure to check out the stories of some of the cancer warriors (like Coleman - who is home and doing well after his stem cell transplant, despite some concerns over the spot in the scan still showing). And, if you want to do something to help fight pediatric cancer, without having to purchase a gift or spend a dime, please sign the petition at www.thepetitionsite.com/1/CureChildhoodCancer. If my link doesn't work, there is a link on the 4-the-kids site, too. They are hoping for a million signatures. Last I had heard, they had only secured 4,000. Please take a moment and sign the petition.

Take Time to Help a Kid Cope

I'm a complete and total WIMP when it comes to getting shots. I even have a bad history with something as innocuous as having blood pressure taken. When I was a child, we headed off to a clinic to receive our physicals for camp. There were many kids in attendance and I had to stand in the doorway as one of the nurses came around checking blood pressure counts. Believe it or not, I fainted and slumped down the doorway - just over the psychological trauma of having my blood pressure checked.

Or, on another occasion, my mother had taken myself, my sister and my youngest brother to receive our immunizations. We argued over who would go first. Finally, my mom suggested we go oldest to youngest. I ended up fainting, while my brother quietly took his shot and sucked on the lollipop they offered.

I have always had difficulties in this area, but I can explain why it is so traumatic for me (even now as an adult) to receive a shot. When I was three years old, I developed a case of double pneumonia (this is where both lungs are congested with mucus and fluid). My mother tells me that I received 64 shots in the space of the 8 days I was in the hospital. I was like a human pin cushion, because they often had to give a shot in the same spot as before. (Someday, I'll have to share the miraculous story of my recovery from this illness -another post, another day). Ever since, I have had to give a preliminary warning to doctors and nurses who have assisted me in the difficult process of giving birth to three sons.

As I've said before, my niece, Amelia, has leukemia. She has spent countless hours in hospitals and received so many scans, injections, blood draws, spinals, etc. that she has a long chain of beads symbolizing each event on her cancer journey. Her bravery amazes me. Today, on her blog, Amelia's mother suggested a way to help children who are facing devastating and terrifying illnesses. It takes just a moment of your time, but it could help a child cope with very difficult experiences. Here are her words to describe how you can help:

"I have a favor to ask of all of you reading this. There is a competition going on between three Wisconsin hospitals (St. Vincent Hospital – Green Bay, Childrens’ Hospital of Wisconsin, and American Family) to get a Colgate-Starlight Starbright Fun Center donated. Now in order for St. Vincent to be in the competition they need people to vote for the hospital. I was wondering if all of you would vote for St. Vincent Hospital. The way to vote is going to www.colgate.com/starlight. Then you have to scroll down and click on 'wisconsin' on the us map. Then just click the button next to St. Vincent Hospital and 'Submit'. Obviously, some of you may have your childrens’ care done at these other hospitals so I understand if you vote a different way. But it would be great if we could get everyone that reads this to vote on St. Vincent Hospital. I have included below a description of what a Fun Center is. Anything that can make these childrens’ lives a little brighter in the midst of what they go through would be great.

A Fun Center is a mobile entertainment unit containing a flat-screen television, DVD player, and Nintendo Wii™ system. Whether hospitalized children are nervously awaiting surgery, sitting restlessly during a long treatment, or feeling lonely in their hospital room, the Fun Center helps them cope by providing endless hours of fun and distraction.

To date, more than 4,000 Fun Centers have been sponsored by companies, foundations and individuals and are being enjoyed at hospitals across North America. However, the need is great and the waiting list is long. To your part to help this come to St. Vincent Hospital. Thank you very much! Remember, you can vote once a day!"


It only took me a moment and I'll try to head back again several times this month to vote again. Please take time to help a kid cope.