Day 63 of 98 Days...The Amazing Race

There is an Amazing Race on TV and then there is another Amazing Race for all of us.  It's the Race against time.  It seems no matter what we are in the middle of we are racing against the clock.  Everything we do on the other side of it has a time limit attached.

For me it's become an Amazing Race against funding research and finding a cure for blood cancer.  It's the fund-raising campaign that started over a month ago and will commence on April 24.  Everyday I feel the time tick and every 10 minutes as hard as it is to hear we lose another to this devastating disease.  So my team of four have literally reached out to thousands of people and asked them to join this fight.  To family, friends, neighbors, acquaintances and others we never even met.  Just trying with everything we have to gain traction and hoping people feel a connection and want to be a part of something that ultimately can save a life and a child's life at that.

Some days it feels like we are making tremendous headway.  Other days this fight falls upon ears where other things in a person's life are more pressing.  Sometimes you know if that person you are reaching out to have not been touched by blood cancer your quest to get them involved seems to have come to an end.

But I can't stop asking for participation and that $1.00, $5.00, $10.00 donation or more because without it funding research cannot happen and a cure is not any closer. Because that Amazing Race I am in is a race for a Parent who just learned out of nowhere their Child has Leukemia. And they are now facing their own child's race against life or death.

Won't you please get involved...  http://in.llsevent.org/Pam

Day 62 of...98 Days...Coming of Age

The "Coming of Age" oh what a time that was to look back upon.  And now we watch our own children grow into Adults.  Every Parent should have that pleasure.  Who wouldn't want to see their baby transform into an unbelievable miracle of life magnificent Adult ready to tackle the world.

This fundraising campaign is about the circle of life being cut short long before it's time when children like Tressa who lost her battle before having the chance for that coming of age party. Although The Society has made great strides in decreasing childhood leukemia rates, the incidents of lymphoma are on the rise, and leukemia remains one of the leading disease killers of children in our country.

That's why I come back every night and keep asking for your support so we can prevent someone else from losing a child, sibling, parent or loved one. Every dollar raised is another dollar to fund research to find a cure. Let's work together to fund research and find a cure so every Parent has the opportunity for the circle of life to occur as nature intended and let them watch the coming of age of their young children.

In the mere seconds it takes to register your donation, you are offering a lifetime of hope to those whose lives have been touched by blood cancers. I am extremely grateful and deeply honored by any contribution or support you can give in memory of Tressa and for the benefit of all those battling right now.

Click http://in.llsevent.org/Pam to make that contribution.

Day 61 of...98 Days..A Day in the Life

Everyday another dedication in Light The App from a loved one praying, reaching out, expressing themselves regarding their beloved fighting for their life from this devastating disease.  The fear of watching a loved one with blood cancer is so real.  If you have not been affected by it sometimes it's easier to sweep it under the rug as though it doesn't exist because it's too hard to hear.  That's human nature and I get that but today I felt the only way you could really understand was to bring it to the forefront and the only way is to share another day in the life of our brave honoree Tressa.

It was October and Tressa' was have horrible stomach pains when the Leukemia had yet returned again with vengeance.  It was a most difficult day a day in which family decisions were in the balance. Tressa's heart rate was up and her belly distended. The doctors had to do surgery to find the source of infection which was in her abdomen. She was on the ventilator being wheeled off to surgery.  She was 21 and it was determined the source of infection could be in fact her ovaries so the entire abdomen cavity was flushed and her ovaries removed. They couldn't close her stomach up because of the swelling so they put a very large bandage to protect her opening and the hope was the days that followed they could suture it back together. She rested soundly after surgery and her oxygen level was better.  The family and pastor all relived after both praying and crying all day because their dear Tressa made it through to fight another day.

It's reading those real life stories that you just don't want to believe happened. Tressa's not the first and I am sad to report she will not be the last.  And in order to find that cure research is needed.  And research comes at a price and that is why I am asking for your help.  Together we can all make a difference so that the Day in the Life isn't about a daughter her lost her life to Leukemia.  Won't you please help me and spread the word no donation is to small every $1.00 can make a difference.

http://in.llsevent.org/pam
Light The App site with link: http://lighttheapp.org

Day 60 of 98 Days - St. Patrick's Day

St. Patrick (Patron of Ireland) b. 387 d.461

"St. Patrick preached and converted all of Ireland for 40 years."

According to the Catholic history, St. Patrick labored for forty years to convert the people of Ireland from Druidism to Christianity. A long time - a life time. We marvel at how anyone can remain committed throughout such a long period of time.

I suppose that the key is that he was ''committed. St. Patrick was ardently committed to his cause and furthermore believed that his mission was blessed and it was worthy. He faced enumerable obstacles in his campaign to covert the non-believers including many from those who opposed him by attempting to end his quest, killing him if necessary.

Fast forward fifteen centuries and find us here engaged in a struggle to change minds and hearts just as did St. Patrick in his day. Daily we are working to convince those we meet online and on the streets of our own neighborhood of the relevancy of supporting research to find a cure for life ending blood cancers. Like St. Patrick my team struggles in a community where so many we encounter aren't believers in our cause, many of which would rather we simply disappear. Of course their reaction is not directed toward us, in fact is is likely the threat of the disease that they are reacting to, as people are very much afraid of all cancers and by ignoring them are hoping against hope to cast them all into non-existence. But of course that is the stuff that fairy tales are made of.

So, on this 2010 edition of St. Patrick's Day, we celebrate the man, his mission, and his struggle to convert the people to his cause. Similarly, we take great inspiration in his work to find the deep reserves to continue our own mission to complete our work to fund the research to find a cure for blood cancers now or at the very least before another 40 years has passed!

Won't you help today with a few dollars? It means a lot to the men, women, and so many children who are struggling to survive with leukemia, lymphoma, or myeloma.

http://in.llsevent.org/pam

Day 59 of...98 Days...Here comes the Postmen

Practically at the midpoint and we are feeling like you just have to try a little bit of everything.  So with the help of two very loving people (our soon to be in-laws who we adore) we stuffed envelopes over dinner one night.  They brought over a scrumptious meal and we were like a well oiled machine letter here, one donation form, self addressed envelope and insert into larger envelope.  Rinse and Repeat you could say until another 450 letters were sealed and ready to go.

It was a wonderful evening we talked about our daughter and their son's wedding this summer and laughter ensued.  Then the conversation turned to the task at hand.  We showed them Light The App they hadn't downloaded yet they couldn't believe all of the heartfelt dedications that appeared.  They both made a dedication to their Niece Tressa that night.  It was extremely touching. It's so sad that I never had the pleasure of meeting our honoree but I do know in Tressa's memory I don't want another family to lose another loved one it's just not fair especially when it is a child who had not yet begun to live.

So the letters are ready and Tom and I are the new area Postman delivering our letters every night walking to neighborhoods and putting them in the mailboxes hoping that we can reach out to you and appeal for a donation.   So look for the new postmen wearing sweats, sweatshirts and sneakers and a knapsack, our letter carrier, walking their black and white English Springer Spaniel we will be coming to a neighborhood near you.  Please say hello and we hope that you'll join us as we reach out and collect $1.00, $5.00 every dollar counts so we can Stamp Out" blood cancer and find a cure so we don't lose another life as we do every 10 minutes from this devastating disease.

If you prefer make a secure online donation: http://in.llsevent.org/PAM

Download Light The App: http://lighttheapp.org

Day 58 of...98 Days...Opt out

"Opt out".  That was literally the entire response I received when I sent an appeal/ ask for support LLS letter via e-mail.  I have to say it took me by surprise.  I just stared at that very powerful phrase that set off a series of emotions for me.  At first I was saying to myself are you kidding me opt out of what?  This wasn't a monthly e-newsletter; this was a plea for funding research to find a cure so we wouldn't lose another life.  Then I thought oh what if this person just went through some horrible ordeal and that was all they could muster to say because it was too painful too hard.

So then I started to look at that word more closely and thought you know what a great goal to have the ability to opt out of blood cancer.  The doctor comes in after running a series of tests on you or a child or a loved one and out of nowhere the diagnosis is Leukemia, Lymphoma or Myeloma and you said no we opt out.  We refuse to be a part of the lunacy that will begin the treatments the therapies the chemo the sickness the pain the possibility of losing the battle against it we just opt out.

If at this very point in time it could be that easy.  If it were I wouldn't be here day after day asking for your help your donations a $1, $5 it doesn't matter every dollar can stop us from losing another in the next 10 minutes to blood cancer.  So together let's make this the "opt out" campaign for blood cancer.  Please help me spread the word and when we rally enough people and funding then when someone is diagnosed with this devastating disease they can say I opt out now give me the cure.  

Day 57 of...98 Days...So Many Choices

I was going through my various feeds today and read about so many wonderful causes. There are people trying to raise money for Autistic children, others trying to help single parents, others trying to raise money for the Relay for Life, for Susan G. Komen, St Judes Hospital, Riley Children's Hospital, Wheeler Mission, Haiti, Chile, Africa, United Way, Red Cross etc. You can't help but to look around and be touched by how many different options you have to support.

And here I am trying to touch your heart again with my efforts for yet another The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society to fund research and find a cure for blood cancer. I think I have come to the conclusion that everyone has decided upon which ones to fully support and are stretched so thin it's hard to give beyond those causes. The important message is that I commend you for giving to whatever Charity or Charities is your calling. I think the fact you are giving is the most important piece. That you know with that gift you are making a difference. Whether its 1 dollar or more the fact is every dollar adds up to saving someone's life.

So today on behalf of all charitable giving I say thank you from the bottom of my heart! And if you have not found your cause just yet there are so many amazing choices just give once and you will see not only what those dollars can do for another but what it can do for your life as well.