Day 91 of 98 Days - "Man In The Mirror"

I'm Gonna Make A Change,
For Once In My Life
It's Gonna Feel Real Good,
Gonna Make A Difference
Gonna Make It Right . . .

I'm Starting With The Man In The Mirror
I'm Asking Him To Change His Ways
And No Message Could Have
Been Any Clearer
If You Wanna Make The World
A Better Place
(If You Wanna Make The
World A Better Place)
Take A Look At Yourself, And
Then Make A Change
(Take A Look At Yourself, And
Then Make A Change)

Please click here to "make a change".

Lyrics and Song...by Michael Jackson

Day 90 of...98 Days ...Trees in the Forest

It has been asked if a Tree falls in the Forest does anyone hear it?  If you were there you would.  Now imagine yourself in a forest with 900,000 trees of all sizes and years starting from the unsteady fragile seedlings up to full grown trees.  As you walk through this very dense forest you noticed that in fact upon closer look the tress looked sickly, the leaves are turning brown and there are unusual growths. As you continued on walking in disbelief of what should be this beautiful sight all of a sudden within the first 10 minutes you heard one fall, then another and every 10 minutes trees were falling all around you.  It would take you back it would be a frightening sight you would see the whole forest dying and you didn't know how to stop it and you then realized if you didn't this entire forest of 900,000 would be gone.

Now substitute that forest with all those who suffer from blood cancers from the youngest precious of children to teens and older adults.  And as you were walking through this forest of 900,000 patients passing all of those that had this devastating disease.  Seeing some of them with tubes keeping them alive, balding, suffering in pain and every 10 minutes one fell and died and again every 10 minutes another and another.

You know it's easy to say I am not seeing the tress in the forest if you don't know someone who has been affected by blood cancer.  But they are all around us and it's the family that sees them and every day dies a little inside watching their loved one battle this disease.  If you ever saw that forest of patients you would understand the importance of stopping Leukemia, Lymphoma and Myeloma. If a tree dies you plant another no one mourns that loss when a life is taken it changes the surviving family members forever.  Together let's fund research and find a cure.... Let's save them...Donate Now.

Day 89 of 98 Days - Regarding Haiti, Katrina, Indonesia, 911 Attacks

The Haiti earthquake of 2010 was a disaster for the scores of displaced and injured, undeniably a tragedy for the 200,000 killed.

The response was widespread, immediate, and celebrity endorsed. Giving was made so easy. Notables like Michelle Obama were on TV almost immediately broadcasting a Red Cross text number that we could without a second thought access and give an easy donation of $10.00.

And contributions poured in for relief efforts. Fifteen days after the massive earthquake struck, donors contributed more than $528-million to 40 U.S. nonprofit groups.

The pace of giving for Haiti is outpaced even the amount donated in the same period after the September 11 attacks in 2001 but was slightly slower than the outpouring of gifts after the flooding caused by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

In the eight days after the flooding started in New Orleans, Americans gave at least $580-million for relief efforts and in the 10 days after September 11, Americans donated $239-million.

American's are a generous people. We have always stepped up to a cause and given what we can where need exist. Haiti, Katrina, Indonesia, and the 911 attacks are perfect examples. In total 244,809 men, women, and children died in total in those tragedies.

Did you know that leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma, repeatedly claims the lives of 244,809 men, women, and children every 3.6 months?

Like me you probably felt the responsibility and without a second thought texted the advertised number and gave $10.00 to the Red Cross to help save Haiti. Did you know that it's equally easy and quick to click here and give $10.00 to help fund research to help save the men, women, and children in America who are afflicted with blood cancers like leukemia and might die this year if we don't find a cure?

Thank you for understanding the need and thank you for giving whatever you can.

Day 88 of...98 Days...Around the World in 88 Days

Actually the movie was "Around the World in 80 Days".  However you look at it what fun that in mere seconds we can reach across continents and communicate with complete strangers but feel connected by a common goal, purpose or even philosophy.  I can't even imagine life without the Internet and without feeling connected.  

I have been fortunate through my blogging I have been able to reach out to others who have the same passion as me about saving lives of those with blood cancer and about fund-raising so we fund research and find a cure. I know that many have come together to want to honor the life of our special honoree Tressa and all others who have lost their life to this devastating disease.  And they like me do not want Leukemia, Lymphoma or Myeloma to take yet another precious life of a child or any loved one so they gave donations or wished me luck in finding those who would. 

Where would we be without our Smartphones? It has become our lifelines, allowing us to connect with others around the world. There have been more than a thousand downloads from all over the world who have come together in a community on Light The App the free iPhone application where they lit a virtual candle and shared a dedication a prayer or inspiration to a loved one battling or lost from blood cancer.

Our networks Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn who knew we could form relationships and share with others what we were doing and have others spread the word to their networks.  In some way it has been around the world in 88 days at least of blogging and in other instances only mere seconds. In any case it's been a connection to an important and common goal the need to cure blood cancer a disease taking a life every 10 minutes. Maybe you can help connect me with others who have the same goal I would love to meet them anywhere in the world?

Day 87 of...98 Days...Glee

I have to admit I am completely hooked on the show Glee.  It is fun to watch to remember what High School was like and Choir.  Oh that was so much fun.  There was always that one that stood out in choir that was so talented.  Now I don't know as talented as what we see in Glee but we had our own characters.

It's High School after all when kids are just finding their way in the world and coming of age and starting to make the right decisions. It in some ways sets the stage for their life on making decisions.  Sometimes however life takes an unexpected turn.  A decision you didn't even make but was made for you. The body accepted the decision to allow cancer cells enter the body and start to takeover. So then the decision comes back around to the child as to whether to fight for their life or throw their hands up and give in to the pain.  Thank goodness for families and friends because these become the bravest children you will ever meet.  What they have to endure is beyond words and I wish I could say they all become survivors.  But Tressa is an example of the fact that is just not so.  When there is no cure there are no guarantees of survival.  That can change with your help because by funding research for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society a cure can be found.

Let's together put the Glee back into our children wrought with Leukemia, Lymphoma or Myeloma and Donate so we can find a cure and not lose another precious life...

Day 86 of ...98 Days...U-OH My AARP Card Arrived

Yes I received my AARP envelope in the mail.  I am getting ready to turn the big 50 and receiving that in the mail just seals the deal.  I have so many emotions that surround that number.  It makes you look back at your life and realize as in the Song by Five for Fighting "100 Years"

The sea is high, and I'm heading through Across the years Chasing the years, of my life

As one might think I have become very reflective.  I want to know I am spending the last half of my life making sure I continue doing things for others.  So why have I spent the last 86 days blogging because I want to make a difference in the lives of those that have been affected by blood cancer.  I know that if a cure is not found the 900,000 affected in every 10 seconds one of those precious lives will be lost.  The fund-raising efforts are only one piece and Light The App the free iPhone app we developed where loved ones can light a virtual candle as they make dedications to loved ones we are hopeful will be a gift that keeps on giving.  And with your help we can find that cure way before the next 50 years come around so those children who are now battling blood cancer today can have their own u-oh moment when they receive their AARP card.

Let's get these children to 50 and beyond... Please Donate Now...

Day 85 of 98 Days - "A Little Help Here"

We received another heartfelt dedication in the 'Light The App' iPhone application today. The words of encouragement appear to be from a mother or father to his/her son or daughter.

"You can do this!!!!! We know it's not an easy thing to beat (trust me) but if you stand strong, you'll get through it. I'm so proud of you. You've beat it before; don't give up now!!!"

The inference is that the child has battled cancer in the recent past and 'won'. The champion is herein besieging him/her to muster all available strength and courage to wage war on the blood cancer which has returned and it so often does and beat it ... again.

"Don't give up now!!!" the parent exclaims.

All of these kids we heard about are so brave - daily fighting this demon that has invaded. And they believe their parents and adults when they say "fight on, you can win".  As long as family continues to encourage they will fight and with every fiber of their beings. But alas, eventually the battle so taxing and their now frail bodies so weakened and even though they long to fight, both for themselves and for their moms and dads who besiege them to fight on, they can't, and tragically all too often - their battle is lost.

Today, right now, please help these brave children in their war on cancer. If we work together, a few dollars from all of us can fund the research, find a cure, and win the war against blood cancers.

Will you donate today? Remember no donation is too small and every single dollar is a dollar closer to the cure.   Donate Now