Hello, Where to begin. This year has been crazy and were only half way through. By now most of you know that I am fighting to KEEP HOPE ALIVE for people fight the beastly monster we call cancer. As we know its not picky as to who it attacks.
What is important is that we realize also is that cancer does NOT just affect the person who is diagnosed but it attacks everyone involved in thier life, other family menbers, friends, caregivers, co-workers, classmates, the list goes on and on.
While I can proudly say my 84 yr old mom and my sister Jenny are both survivors. (Mom twice) praise God, I can also say as a young girl I watched my little cousin Lisa fight ever so bravely w/leukemia and I sat with her just the night before she past painting. When it was time for me to go home, I gave her a kiss and siad I'd be back the next weekend to paint again as that had became mine n her time together. As I stood up (I still see her as plain as day saying this) Lisa said to me "Thanks for being with me today. I don't think I will see you next week, I'm pretty tired." I told her "oh sure you will see me, I'll be here no matter what." That night she drifted off to go to Heaven.
In my older yrs, 20s etc I lost 2 uncles to cancer. 2002 came around n My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer, as she was in treatment 1 month to the day my older sister Jenny was also diagnosed with cancer. And a couple yrs later mom relapsed and was diagnosed this time with lung cancer. I am one of the lucky ones that can say she again beat the monster.
Then 2006, moms closest &favorite brother n my favorite Uncle Clyde was diagnosed with colon cancer. NOW one would think ok really, this family has had enough. Nope as my uncle battled colon cancer his wife my Aunt Jackie was diagnosed with breast cancer. Unfortunately Uncle Clyde lost his battle with colon cancer, however his wife Aunt Jackie was able to beat cancer and she is doing well.
Think the story ends there? NOPE also in 2006 our best friend Scott was reading to his 5 yr old son when he got a severe headache. He finally went to the ER, next thing we knew he was being life flighted away to a larger hospital. A CT had found a large brain tumor. To our sadness he was diagnosed with brain cancer that had metastisized to his lungs. Scott fought till the very end but we lost him about a yr after he was diagnosed.
Now to 2009, our Dear friend Mark, Mark thought he had an abcess tooth, so he kept taking antibiotics. By the time Mark went to the doctor he too had Brain Cancer that had spread to his lungs. He is going through treatment now and while he is weak he will be jjoining us this year as we walk in the Relay For Life.
My granddaughter Gabbie is one of our biggest fundraisers and she to is being impacted by cancer as she has a little girl in her school that has leukemia.
So in closing I am asking you, we walk JUNE 12th in RELAY FOR LIFE to #kickcancer. Could you be so kind to donate even as little as $10 for us to donate to the American Cancer Society.
Together we can beat this disease. Here is the ACS link to donate. I Pray that you will find it in your heart to donate. http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RFLFY10IL?team_id=555407&pg=team&fr_id=22164 I Pray you will find it in your heart to go donate.
Your donatin could save a life.
Thank You and God Bless.
Over the years, I have had many ups and downs, at times it seemed more downs but it took me until now as in Ephesians 2:10 God was fulfilling his promise. I now use my past both the good and the bad to help others.
Showing posts with label cancer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cancer. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Friday, April 30, 2010
The Challenge of Becoming a Non-Profit Org.
In previous Blogs at times I may not in your eyes have really been on the "HOPE44ACURE" theme, however, you would have had to followed me from where I was almost 30 yrs ago to now to understand why that is. A couple of Dear friends deserve my sub-title "your past will prepare you for you future". Those 2 people are Richard @mcprodigal and Marie @spreadingJoy. I won't go into it in great detail but in short, I lost my son Shane when he was 7 months old in 1987 and last December My Niece lost her son Jacob at 5 wks old. It was a dark dark time for me. During a phone call from this beautiful Southern voice Marie said "sweety your past n all you've been through, will help you now to help you niece get through this." As I grieved and processed everything I thought to myself wait a minute here...there can be so much more to this!
That was kind of my ahha moment. I thought, now look you work with Relay For Life and the American Cancer Society every year for your mom n sister and those fighting cancer and who have lost the battle.
So I began to think I do that once a year, NO Problem BUT what it I were to do something BIGGER? What if I were to put all my energy into something positive rather that say "I wish there was more that could be done." I was sitting right there! ME, I could do MORE! I could get busy and turn my @HOPE4ACURE09 on twitter into somethings that could reach out and help others.
Not just by tweeting and re-tweeting but by turning it into a non-profit organization actually raising money and using that money to HELP others. GIVING BACK!
But then I thought about it and Said to myself "NO, you have people that can help you, ask for advise. They will tell you where to begin" And I was right my wonderful twitter family came through as they always have.
They have been so kind to offer guidence as to who to call, what I need to do, help with forms I have to fill out, and there are a LOT!
The one hurdle I now have to overcome AND I know my Lord and Savior WILL see me through it, Is that to get my non-profit statis sertification (501(3)(c) there is a $400 fee. While I wish I had that to just write a check out and pay so all would be good and I could be on my way, I don't. So, right now, I am doing the paper work getting all my things in order. I will them Pray to God that he helps me with the rest.
Continue to keep up with me as I will keep fighting to Keep Hope Alive. I will get HOPE4ACUE09 recognized as a non-profit org. Its all about time. I Pray your willing to take the journey with me.
God Bless You All.
That was kind of my ahha moment. I thought, now look you work with Relay For Life and the American Cancer Society every year for your mom n sister and those fighting cancer and who have lost the battle.
So I began to think I do that once a year, NO Problem BUT what it I were to do something BIGGER? What if I were to put all my energy into something positive rather that say "I wish there was more that could be done." I was sitting right there! ME, I could do MORE! I could get busy and turn my @HOPE4ACURE09 on twitter into somethings that could reach out and help others.
Not just by tweeting and re-tweeting but by turning it into a non-profit organization actually raising money and using that money to HELP others. GIVING BACK!
But then I thought about it and Said to myself "NO, you have people that can help you, ask for advise. They will tell you where to begin" And I was right my wonderful twitter family came through as they always have.
They have been so kind to offer guidence as to who to call, what I need to do, help with forms I have to fill out, and there are a LOT!
The one hurdle I now have to overcome AND I know my Lord and Savior WILL see me through it, Is that to get my non-profit statis sertification (501(3)(c) there is a $400 fee. While I wish I had that to just write a check out and pay so all would be good and I could be on my way, I don't. So, right now, I am doing the paper work getting all my things in order. I will them Pray to God that he helps me with the rest.
Continue to keep up with me as I will keep fighting to Keep Hope Alive. I will get HOPE4ACUE09 recognized as a non-profit org. Its all about time. I Pray your willing to take the journey with me.
God Bless You All.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Preparing 4 our 2010 Relay For Life Fundraiser...
Were to begin, I am not really sure. For me Next to my Love for Jesus and family, Any and ALL spare time I have is spent on my cancer site that I INVITE you to please visit. Also my Dear Friend and parther, Maynard Stratton is a VERY tallented and compassionate person who designed this site, helped set up this BLOG and built a FREE tool bar that is designed totally for those you do NOT want gimmicks, just to find comfort and support.
The tool bar is FREE it has a chat room as well as video chat and if there is a time that anyone INDIVUADLLY, or some in a group, we can set up a meeting.
We each have a story to share, and if one person can reach out and help somebody else. Then I feel I have done something right. Now Your wandering where are these links, (lol to be honest I think Maynard put them on my Blog page but to be sure I will post at the end.)
Also IF you have FACEBOOK, please take a moment and become a fan of HOPE for a cure. Post your stories. I encourage you if you have ANY links of interest/youtube channels let us KNOW we will get them up to share with others. HOPE4ACURE on Facebook is a FRIENDLY page. If you on anyone you love is affected by a cancer or any severe illness, we urge you not only to join and leave us a note we will pray for you but share the videos that we put up as well as (and on FB fan page you will see this a LOT) SHARE SHARE SHARE.
To battle this beast we must unite and work together. No our site will take you actually to any place I have mentioned in fact you can click the click here to DONATE and go to the American Cancer Society site and donate. WE so badly need all of your help!
How are we preparing? I'll cover this breifly on the HOPEACURE fan page has lots of info about our 2 current fundraisers.
First on April 17th at the VFW in Hamilton, IL (Hancock County) from 11am - 6pm were are having a soup/sandwich supper as well as a CRAFT/BAKE Sale.
As you come in you put your name in a drawing and we have a LOT of doorprizes we will be giving out. Again there is a ton of info on the fan page. Our family has been working overtime making crafts, lining up what we will have as baked goods etc. BUT THIS I PROMISE you will find a HUGE variety of crafts and bake goods.
Our second thing is my 84 yr old mom has crocheted since I can remember and she makes beautiful cancer afghans that we sell raffle tickes for and soon there will be one on EBAY. ALL MONEY FROM BOTH EVENTS GOES to the Relay FOr Life. American Cancer Society.
Now I'll attempt the links... to our site: http://md4urpc.com.hope4acure09.aspx/ and to the HOPE4ACURE fan page go to : Facebook fanpage- http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/HOPE4ACURE/390990013078?ref=ts
Last n not least if you have ANY questions our TOLL FREE number is 1-888-901-4630. If I don't have the answer for you, Iwill do my best to find out.
God Bless You all. Brenda - KEEPING HOPE ALIVE
The tool bar is FREE it has a chat room as well as video chat and if there is a time that anyone INDIVUADLLY, or some in a group, we can set up a meeting.
We each have a story to share, and if one person can reach out and help somebody else. Then I feel I have done something right. Now Your wandering where are these links, (lol to be honest I think Maynard put them on my Blog page but to be sure I will post at the end.)
Also IF you have FACEBOOK, please take a moment and become a fan of HOPE for a cure. Post your stories. I encourage you if you have ANY links of interest/youtube channels let us KNOW we will get them up to share with others. HOPE4ACURE on Facebook is a FRIENDLY page. If you on anyone you love is affected by a cancer or any severe illness, we urge you not only to join and leave us a note we will pray for you but share the videos that we put up as well as (and on FB fan page you will see this a LOT) SHARE SHARE SHARE.
To battle this beast we must unite and work together. No our site will take you actually to any place I have mentioned in fact you can click the click here to DONATE and go to the American Cancer Society site and donate. WE so badly need all of your help!
How are we preparing? I'll cover this breifly on the HOPEACURE fan page has lots of info about our 2 current fundraisers.
First on April 17th at the VFW in Hamilton, IL (Hancock County) from 11am - 6pm were are having a soup/sandwich supper as well as a CRAFT/BAKE Sale.
As you come in you put your name in a drawing and we have a LOT of doorprizes we will be giving out. Again there is a ton of info on the fan page. Our family has been working overtime making crafts, lining up what we will have as baked goods etc. BUT THIS I PROMISE you will find a HUGE variety of crafts and bake goods.
Our second thing is my 84 yr old mom has crocheted since I can remember and she makes beautiful cancer afghans that we sell raffle tickes for and soon there will be one on EBAY. ALL MONEY FROM BOTH EVENTS GOES to the Relay FOr Life. American Cancer Society.
Now I'll attempt the links... to our site: http://md4urpc.com.hope4acure09.aspx/ and to the HOPE4ACURE fan page go to : Facebook fanpage- http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/HOPE4ACURE/390990013078?ref=ts
Last n not least if you have ANY questions our TOLL FREE number is 1-888-901-4630. If I don't have the answer for you, Iwill do my best to find out.
God Bless You all. Brenda - KEEPING HOPE ALIVE
Friday, March 26, 2010
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Those calls from the Dr that make your heart drop...
This is kind of going backward a little bit. A couple of months ago mom had her follow up check up with her cancer doctors. As she had lung cancer in the past though she has been cancer free now 8 yrs they still check her out yrly.
We went to the DR..had the normal chest xray, mamogram bloodwork. I would say its about a week after the test the Drs office called and...said to my mom..."we need you to come in, there is a small spot in your lung we need to follow up on."
So as my heart sank, I prepared myself to hear that moms cancer had returned. I took mom to her cancer Dr for her PET scan ( a special scan that looks for cancer spots) and we were told to schedule an appointment for a week.
Result day came...my older brother took the day off work and he n I took mom to the Dr.. As mom, myself and my brother sat waiting all with knots in our gut...finally in walks the DR...with a smile he says...Gertie (thats mom) You are still cancer free. Mom says "Thank You Jesus!" My brother and I breath a sigh of relief. But I write this becasue it is so important once you have had cancer...stay up on your check-ups with your Drs. Don't let appointment slip...Follow up is so important. We have been so blessed. Mom had breast cancer first, a month later my sister was diagnosed. Both went through treatment, both are survivors.There is HOPE, don't ever give up the fight and there are people too support you. Share your stories with us on FACEBOOK join our fanpage HOPE4ACURE share your stories with us and let us support you. Thanks for reading my blog.
We went to the DR..had the normal chest xray, mamogram bloodwork. I would say its about a week after the test the Drs office called and...said to my mom..."we need you to come in, there is a small spot in your lung we need to follow up on."
So as my heart sank, I prepared myself to hear that moms cancer had returned. I took mom to her cancer Dr for her PET scan ( a special scan that looks for cancer spots) and we were told to schedule an appointment for a week.
Result day came...my older brother took the day off work and he n I took mom to the Dr.. As mom, myself and my brother sat waiting all with knots in our gut...finally in walks the DR...with a smile he says...Gertie (thats mom) You are still cancer free. Mom says "Thank You Jesus!" My brother and I breath a sigh of relief. But I write this becasue it is so important once you have had cancer...stay up on your check-ups with your Drs. Don't let appointment slip...Follow up is so important. We have been so blessed. Mom had breast cancer first, a month later my sister was diagnosed. Both went through treatment, both are survivors.There is HOPE, don't ever give up the fight and there are people too support you. Share your stories with us on FACEBOOK join our fanpage HOPE4ACURE share your stories with us and let us support you. Thanks for reading my blog.
Monday, March 22, 2010
Life as the caregiver n daughter of a Cancer SURVIVOR
Ok some of you see me talk about my ma on twitter..a LOT at times. Mom (Gertie) is 84 yrs old. Though she is very fisty and full of life and spunk she is totally deaf in one ear and partially deaf in the other. So sometimes communication is hard to say the least with her. There are many times when someone tells her something if she dosen't hear it, she just comes to her conclusion as to what is said whis if you can imagine leads to a lot of confusion at times. Mon is deaf because when she was young n young I mean I was a toddler, she was cleaning a rabbit (it was hunting season) and a bone splintered poking her finger. She later became ill and in the hopspital was told she had "rabbit fever" No I had never heard of it either. Regardless as a result it left her with only minimal healing in one ear. Mom being 84 is set in her ways and change is hard for her. This whole internet thing drives her nuts. She says " I don't understand what it is you can do on there to raise money?!" Many I day I've gotten descouraged even about cried, but then took deap breaths reminded myself I must keep going and understand in her day this technology was NOT thought of. I may have a descussion with mom about what is happening and a few days later well...I'm sure i don't need to explain, I'm repeating myself. I love mom she is my ROCK. But I would be lying to say there are not days that are tough. But I push through it because she and my sister are both survivors and I will continue to keep HOPE4ACURE alive. Become a fan of our fan page on facebook HOPE4ACURE http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/HOPE4ACURE/390990013078?ref=ts
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
A day in my life as HOPE4ACURE
Well, this is my first blog, so be patient with me. Where to start...
Ok, so Prettty much I come from your normal every day average family. We have our ups n downs, and we work through them but as a whole life is good.
Then came 2002 my mom Gertie, who today is 84, in 2002 we heard the word nobody wants to hear CANCER! Mom had breast cancer. Feburary 14th 2002 mom had a mastectomy and began her chemo n radiation, and though she went through all the expected side effects. Thank God it was successful. One month to the day mom was diagnosed we again heard that ugly word CANCER this time my sister Jenny, exactly a month to the day after mom was diagnosed, again chemo-radiation and success. Time passed, all was well, so we thought..mom got sick and was admitted to the hospital..again that word CANCER this time LUNG...Mom sat us down and said "i don't want to upset you kids, BUT I'm almost 80 yrs old. I've been blessed with a beautiful family and a great life. I will take the chemo, BUT, I
am NOT taking the radiation this time. It makes me weak, n sick n I'm down in bed and IF it is my time to go, I don't want to be sick, I want to enjoy my time with my family. I am putting my trust in the Lord." She said, "If it is my time to go, I've had a great life. I am putting this in the LORDS HANDS!" Praise the Lord as I write this today mom is CANCER FREE 8 yrs now and so is my sister.
So I have been involved with the American Cancer Society/Relay For Life/Hancock County, Illinois. On twitter you can find me tweeting about mom n praying for others with cancer I am @HOPE4ACURE09 my personal twitter is @Brenda_Northway on facebook I am so proud that along with a dear friend we made a fan page HOPE4ACURE I welcome all of you reading this to become a fan, share your stories and support each other. Together we can beat this disease. There is HOPE4ACURE I invite you to check out my friend who helped develop all this http://www.md4urpc.com/ he is also on twitter @md4urpc his name is Maynard Stratton..is you see him online please say thank you. I am sure I have a lot more to cover but I will leave it at that for now. Thanks and God Bless. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to leave me a message. I will get back to you.
Ok, so Prettty much I come from your normal every day average family. We have our ups n downs, and we work through them but as a whole life is good.
Then came 2002 my mom Gertie, who today is 84, in 2002 we heard the word nobody wants to hear CANCER! Mom had breast cancer. Feburary 14th 2002 mom had a mastectomy and began her chemo n radiation, and though she went through all the expected side effects. Thank God it was successful. One month to the day mom was diagnosed we again heard that ugly word CANCER this time my sister Jenny, exactly a month to the day after mom was diagnosed, again chemo-radiation and success. Time passed, all was well, so we thought..mom got sick and was admitted to the hospital..again that word CANCER this time LUNG...Mom sat us down and said "i don't want to upset you kids, BUT I'm almost 80 yrs old. I've been blessed with a beautiful family and a great life. I will take the chemo, BUT, I
am NOT taking the radiation this time. It makes me weak, n sick n I'm down in bed and IF it is my time to go, I don't want to be sick, I want to enjoy my time with my family. I am putting my trust in the Lord." She said, "If it is my time to go, I've had a great life. I am putting this in the LORDS HANDS!" Praise the Lord as I write this today mom is CANCER FREE 8 yrs now and so is my sister.
So I have been involved with the American Cancer Society/Relay For Life/Hancock County, Illinois. On twitter you can find me tweeting about mom n praying for others with cancer I am @HOPE4ACURE09 my personal twitter is @Brenda_Northway on facebook I am so proud that along with a dear friend we made a fan page HOPE4ACURE I welcome all of you reading this to become a fan, share your stories and support each other. Together we can beat this disease. There is HOPE4ACURE I invite you to check out my friend who helped develop all this http://www.md4urpc.com/ he is also on twitter @md4urpc his name is Maynard Stratton..is you see him online please say thank you. I am sure I have a lot more to cover but I will leave it at that for now. Thanks and God Bless. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to leave me a message. I will get back to you.
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