Happy New Year...

Out with the Old....

In with the New...

I hope you all had a Merry Christmas

And I wish you a Healthy, Happy New Year too!!

See you in 2009 with much improved picture quality thanks to Santa!!!

100 List

I saw this list on one of the new contributing writers at MotherswithCancer; Stephanie and I thought it would be interesting to see what I have accomplished.

Last night we also watched The Bucket List... after watching the movie these 100 things are not necessarily what I would have on my bucket list but this list is interesting none the less so here goes...

The things I have done are in BOLD!

1. Started my own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than I can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain ( I am assuming that climbing one in a car does not count?)
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sung a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched lightening at sea
14. Taught myself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown my own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitchhiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person (should I even count this one?)
34. Visited the birthplace of my ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught myself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had my portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person ( can you believe we visited on a Holy Day of obligation and it was closed!!!)
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book (my story is in someone else’s book?)
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had my picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating (does fish count?)
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Rode an elephant

59 out of 100!!

I guess now I just have to work on my Bucket List and my Goals for 2009!!

Merry Christmas!

Wishing everyone a safe, healthy and Happy Holiday...

From our white Christmas town to yours....

Love,

MB

Two Years of Growth...

I posted on two years of hairgrowth on Mothers with Cancer today...

Please stop by and vote for our blog while you are there..

Relieving that pre-Christmas excitement...

I am not sure about your house, but the pre-Christmas anticipation at our house is at a all time high and we still have 9 days to go. The boys relieve their energy with a little wrestling...

We got these Mexican wrestling masks at the Rose Bowl Flea Market this summer. I think it is a match-up between Mil Mascaras vs. Rey Misterio, but I may have my wrestlers mixed up!!!

Mario even got into the action... see left sidebar!!

Santa's got a brand new ride...

The first December that we were in California my daughter came home from school and informed me that Santa had arrived at her school and passed out candy canes. I gave a cursory "that's nice" and went about my business. She then continued to tell me how he arrived and I was a bit dumbfounded. Every year since I make sure that I go to the school to watch Santa arrive to greet the kids. All of the kids sit relatively patiently on the playground and wait for his arrival. Here he and his Mrs. are arriving at my son's school...










Because of the school district's new "healthy" policy Santa can no longer give out candy canes, but he gave out pencils instead... the better to write those wish lists with....

They walked over to the day care next to school and greeted the younguns and then got back into their ride to visit the other schools in town. Santa keeps a pretty tight schedule.

Up, Up and Away....

Tag - I'm it...

When I checked my email - a comment was left regarding my last post and it said "Tag. Your it." That one stumped me. Tag. I'm it? It got me thinking - what was she trying to tell me? Does she like my Peppermint bark ice cream idea? So I hopped on over to her blog... Tag. I'm it - kind of like a chain letter for the blogosphere... great... I do not do chain letters... mind you it took me a long time to believe that something bad would not happen if I broke the chain. But since I am relatively new to this whole blog thing I will play this time - who knows it may even be fun????

So Imstell - I can't complain more than usual tagged me and here are the rules...



1. Link to your tagger and list these rules on your blog.

2. Share 7 facts about yourself, some random, some weird.

3. Tag 7 people (if possible) at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.

4. Let them know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blogs.



random and weird facts about mb:



1. My favorite doll was Drowsy.

2. I used to have a pet snail.

3. I saw Andy Warhol on the street when I lived in NYC.

4. I was a dancer(mostly ballet), but I was very clumsy unless I was dancing - go figure???

5. When I go to a nice restaurant, I like to know what the desserts are so I can plan ahead.

6. I am a planner - see number 5.

7. I love sarcastic humor (which may I add is a bit hard on the west coast as many people out here do not get sarcasm????)

Now who to tag??? Please forgive me...

Jen @ Jenster's Musings
Nicole @Throws like a girl
mod*mom
kellyrae @ kellyraeroberts
jenny @ jennydoh
katherine @ just a girl

Pam @ Pamela Garrison One Woman and Her Crafting Tales

Holiday Smoosh-In

One of our favorite Ice Cream shoppes back East, Sweet Jenny's, use to offer different items smooshed into your ice cream....and this was before Cold Stone and the many other chain shops that are currently popular. A few years ago we tried our own combinations and came up with this one that we really enjoy.

We love Peppermint Bark, our fav is William Sonoma's, but we just bought some from Trader Joe's and it is thicker and almost 1/3 of the cost!! (a good recession buster)...

Start with a small piece of this luscious holiday treat...

Chop the bark into bite size pieces....

Vanilla ice cream of choice...

Mound a few scoops of the creamy, cold stuff over the peppermint bark...

Then you smoosh it all around....

And that's what it is all about...

We now stock up on Peppermint Bark at this time of year and stretch it out as long as we can.

Enjoy... from our house to yours...

Our new favorite getaway...

Since we moved to California and we are away from family the Holidays are now different than what we grew up with. Some years we go to visit family for Thanksgiving, some years we have family visit us. This year it was going to be just the 4 of us. One year we went to Palm Desert and absolutely loved the desert. I am convinced that I was a reptile in a former life because I love the heat (although it is not usually that hot in November), but I digress...


We were going to go back to our favorite desert spot, but then we decided to go to Catalina Island. We have been in California for 5 years and have never been there. We have heard many speak well of the island and Avalon. So 'L' made the arrangements and off we went on the Catalina Flyer.



One hour and fifteen minutes later we descended on Catalina Island and the town of Avalon.

It was the most wonderful, relaxing 4 days that we have spent in a long while. There are only a small number of cars allowed on the island and 1 golf cart per address. You can walk to so much in town and bike ride and hike. There is something for everyone. On our next trip we are going to take more tours, we want to take a tour inland to see the bison that were brought onto the island to film a movie and were left after filming.

We had a delicious Thanksgiving meal...

After dinner we went to see Bolt at the Casino...

The Casino was built in 1929 and was restored a few years ago. It is absolutely magnificent. We sat in old style theater seats without cup holders...with very little leg room... and no 3D movie screen...

The kids got to see a bit of the past...

I got them all to hike up to the old Wrigley Mansion one day...

We took a golf cart tour...

We walked and ate and walked and ate...

We walked on the pier...

and fed the fish....

This time of year is considered the "off season" - it was pretty quiet, we definitely want to go back and see what it is like during the summer...

We boarded the Catalina Flyer and sailed off into the sunset...

back to reality and the countdown to Christmas....

Shop at CafePress!!!

Today I opened an online store at Cafepress!!! You can now purchase my collage images on various products. I am so excited. I only have these 2 images uploaded so far, but I will be adding more soon.

Circle of Friends is one of my personal favorites. I was thinking of my closest friends, this represents how they have surrounded me throughout my life. I am sure everyone has their own special circle.

This is Stop and Smell the Flowers II. It was the piece that I was commissioned to create and was my number one lesson learned from my cancer experience. We all need to take that moment to stop and enjoy the simple things in life (at this time of year especially).

I finally have some Giclees of my work which I will be selling in my etsy shop after Thanksgiving.

Speaking of Thanksgiving, I wish a very happy and healthy day to everyone.

I have much to be thankful for....

Missing Ted's and Wings, but not snow...

My sister sent this video to me and I love it… it makes me want a hot dog. We grew up near Buffalo and Ted’s is a mainstay. Whenever the weather would start to get nice you could be sure that the line would be outside the door with people having a hankering for Ted’s. When I was in school in NYC I would eat the street dogs with mustard and sauerkraut, they were okay but like the video…they do not compare. In California – forget it… there is nothing that compares (at least not that I have had yet). Usually when we go back to visit or a visitor comes out here they bring a 5lb. package of Sahlen’s dogs and we freeze them.

Then there are the wings… I cannot tell you how many people do not realize that Buffalo wings are from Buffalo, NY. It is pretty amazing when you think about it, that a Mom served wings to her son and his friends late one night at their restaurant – The Anchor Bar and now they are on most menus across the country. They are not made the same way as the originals, but they do try…

Lastly, Beef on Weck (Kummelweck). Not my favorite as the weck is a bit salty, but there really is nothing like a good roast beef sandwich – I just ask for a Kaiser roll instead.

Buffalo has some other exclusives, sponge candy (my favorite is from Antoinette’s Sweets – their turtles and caramels are yummy too), Weber’s Mustard (although you may be able to get that other places now), Bison chip dip, mmmm… I am getting hungry. So when people look at us out here and say we do not eat really healthy – we all look at each other and say…”you have no idea!”

I think I may place an order for some of my favorites….

World Health News Today

I was contacted last month about participating in an interview with my daughter for a news piece that World Health News Today wanted to film on Kids Konnected. The reporter and photographer came to my house and spent about 1 ½ hours filming me and then they attended a Kids Konnected meeting to film my daughter and the teen group. It is always interesting to me to see how much is filmed and what remains on the editing floor. I hope it highlights just how important Kids Konnected has been in our lives since my diagnosis.

Sometimes it is hard to be at the meetings and see another new family come in that has been affected by cancer. At least there is a place for support and understanding, for the kids, for the parents, but mostly for the kids. Sometimes kids do not want other people to know their parent has cancer. At Kids Konnected they can talk about it because everyone there has been touched by cancer.

I wish that kids never had to worry about one or sometimes both of their parents having to fight cancer or dying from cancer, but for now that wish is just that …. a wish. Until we have a cure Kids Konnected is a place for the affected families to seek help and support.

To see the video click here....

Girls Night Out ... for a cause

Friday night I attended the annual Girls Night Out Fundraiser for Art and Creativity for Healing. It is usually held at an interesting venue with music, dinner, drinks etc. As everyone knows this year has been especially hard, but even more so for many non-profit organizations. Being the creative organization that it is – my goodness Creativity is its middle name - it was changed up a bit this year. One of the board members offered to host the event at her fabulous home. The event was scaled down and 90 women were in attendance. Each attendee bought their ticket and also brought an item to be auctioned during the event.
This was my donation:

We had unbelievable items to bid on during the silent auction - jewelry, home decorations, artwork, spa treatments, teeth whitening – (which I lost out on at the last minute). There was also a live auction for some of the larger donated items and a scholarship pledge to fund various programs for children.
The 4 programs that ACFH is especially looking for donations are:
• Bedside art programs at Children’s Hospital in Orange
• Programs for the families at Camp Pendleton
• Bereavement programs for children
• Programs for teens in a recovery home

Our bartenders for the evening were the male board members. Each lady was served a delicious “boxed” dinner and we had our choice of venues to partake the meal. The sleek white and stainless kitchen, the table for 14 in the dining room, the comfortable sectional in the family room or the relaxing patio listening to the ocean waves crash below.

The event was much more low key than in past years but was much more intimate. You felt like you were in a gallery for visual art as well as architecture and furniture design.

While at the party the host’s son and some of his friends arrived:

If you have teens in your home, ask them if they know this person. They most likely will say “yes”. If they watch Life of Ryan on MTV they will realize that this is one of Ryan’s best friends Mitch. Mitch is a very polite and gracious young man who said “yes” when I asked if I could take a picture of him for my daughter. He said we both should be in the picture to which I replied “I do not really think she wants me in the picture”. We took 2 - one with and one without me!!

I asked if he minded if I put him on my blog and he said “you have a myspace?” I said no, not yet, just a blog!!
I sent a text to my daughter to tell her he was there and told her that he is even more handsome in person than on TV. To which she replied “How old do you have to be to go to GNO?” and “You are sooo lucky!!”

The evening was a lot of fun and we raised money for a good cause. If anyone would like to provide a scholarship for any of the above programs head on over to Art and Creativity for Healing, click on Donate to ACFH and select the scholarship type that you would like to fund.

I did it...

I have been wanting to sell some of my artwork and jewelry on Etsy for awhile now. So today I finally had a few minutes and some courage and I did it!!!

I am starting with my fused glass necklaces and I hope to have some giclees of my collages up soon. It is scary and exciting.

In my efforts to move on, re-design, re-create my life after cancer - I am trying to figure out "what I want to do". I think I know what it is and this is part - NO it is what I want to do. I want to create jewelry and art and sell it. I want my to have my artwork licensed on products. I will still volunteer for my favorite organizations and at the kid's schools, but this is the direction that I want my life to go.

Okay, I put it out there... lets see where it goes.....

From my Closet... to my Lens

Today is Election Day and this is one blog that you will not find a political post! That was one request, statement, whatever you want to call it that I told my husband long ago. I will not be a political wife so if you ever want to run for anything count me out. That being said my son is home sick today so I get to catch up on some things. This blog is one of them…

Saturday night, L and I went to a fundraising event “An Evening for Autism 2008”. It was at the home, estate, mansion of a friend and former client of my husband’s. This man’s son was diagnosed with Autism. They were expecting 750 people, I am not sure if that many actually attended, but imagine the size of the estate that when that many people were in the backyard (over the covered tennis court to be exact) with food venues, a stage etc. and you could still move around comfortably. It is another world that I only have glimpses of when invited to events like this.
The events’ main sponsor was Tommy Bahama, but many other restaurants participated.

The food was great – tastes for everyone. The Yard House, Scott’s Seafood Grill, Newport Rib Company (the best ribs I have had out in CA), Beach Pitt BBQ and Maggiano’s Little Italy. Cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory, delicious chocolates and a chocolate fountain by Valentino – with a name like that how could they not be good, Tiramisu – okay can you tell that I eat dessert first!!!

There were a few celebrities – more were supposed to show – but you know their hectic schedules!!!! There was a rumor that Jim Carrey and Jenny McCarthy were supposed to show as her son also has Autism. “Jo” from the Real Housewives of Orange County walked but me quickly and then I could not find her again.

Then there was this guy…..

He adorned by closet door so many years ago, a full length poster of him and his accomplishments. Thirty-two years later I met him, stood next to him and had my photo taken with him. Now that I am blogging I am always looking for “material”.

Mark Spitz… If it were not for the Olympics just happening I am not sure that I would know what he looked like. To me he does not resemble his image from 32 years ago. Still handsome nonetheless. He was a friend of the host also and was there to donate a private 1 ½ hour swim lesson. His lesson went for $1000.00.

I met a man who runs a surf school but also teaches physically challenged adults and kids to surf. They use adaptive surf boards so they can stay afloat since many are quadriplegic. I also spoke with a teacher whose students are special needs. There was a company who donates 50% of their profits to various causes all year long, not just for awareness month. Hope Wines. I love to meet people and find out “their story”, how they ended up where they are, what their cause is, what their interests are.

It was a fun event – they had 3 bands: Steel Drums, A Beatles Tribute band and the Oreo Divas (they were so good), live and silent auctions – all for a good cause. Now if I only saved that poster – an Ebay listing for sure…

Belly of the Whale...

“Belly of the Whale”, by Linda Merlino is the story of a day in the life of a mother of 4, Hudson Catalina, battling breast cancer. It is set in Gloucester, Massachusetts during a Nor’easter blizzard that has not been experienced in years. We follow Hudson through her morning of frustration with the disease and all that it entails. We travel on her road trip for chemo with her best friend and sister-in-law, Kathy and examine her relationships with the various people in her life. The story takes a turn for the worse, as the storm does, when her intentions to plan for the future of her daughter land her in Whales Market.

In Whales Market we meet characters that many of us have met in our own lives. Ruby, who guided by her strong faith provides wisdom. Willy Wu, a “Lamb of the Lord”, special in his own way. Buddy Baker, a person so damaged by the experiences and events that have occurred in his life that he forever changes those he unleashes his anger and wrath upon.

I personally had a difficult time reading part I of the story. I am a 30 month breast cancer survivor and found myself comparing and contrasting my experiences to Hudson Catalina. Hudson speaks of her feelings as she looks in the mirror, “I paused and saw the sunken eyes and sharp angles of my thinned face traced atop a neck so narrow that it disappeared into the collar of my robe.” That sentence alone took me back to the same face that I stared at in shock and disbelief when I was a cancer patient. I kept reading and started to enjoy the story more as it developed. As I read, I tried not to analyze Hudson but just experience her life.

Ruby is my favorite character, some of her phrases resonated with me, “A Mamma has got to do what a Momma has to do”, "The Lord puts us where we're supposed to be" and “I’ll tell you that life’s a circle and we go around like the spokes on a wheel. Sometimes we’re happy, our faces in the light, and sometimes the wheel thrusts us into the harsh places of darkness and despair. But we have to believe that it keeps going round, back into the light. Never give up hope.”

Linda Merlino has a descriptive style of writing that makes it easy to imagine the setting, her characters personalities and the events in their lives. After Part I, I found myself wanting to read chapter after chapter to see how Hudson’s emotions and experiences changed throughout the story. When I completed the book, I went back and reread part I. I found it much easier to read the second time around. I am not sure that I would recommend this book for someone currently in treatment although it does prove the point that in most circumstances there is always a situation that can be worse than the one you are currently going through. The story starts out "glass half-empty" but changes to "glass half-full" and therefore reiterates the message of never give up hope…

Reflections

My life the past few days and the next few days is filled with Reflections. Not the type of Reflections that most would think would be on this blog. I am speaking of the National PTA contest. I am the chairperson for my son's school. The children submit their ideas for this year's theme of "WOW" in visual arts, literature, photography, dance choreography, musical composition and video/film production. We had 132 entries from 90 students. Almost one third of the student body. I have cataloged them and they are ready for our 3 judges. Friday all of the children that participated get to make their own artful creation in ice cream after they eat their lunch. (of course we realize that is the main reason the participation is growing each year)
The winners will be announced next week and the 1st place entries will move onto the district level of judging. I love promoting children to be creative. Some of the entries are unbelievable, my favorites are always the ones that you can tell are truly the kids ideas. When creativity is encouraged, nurtured and rewarded it is amazing what can happen.....

WOW!!!

Postponed...Anxiety...Relief

My 4 month check-up with my oncologist was scheduled at the end of September. The day before the appointment the office called to cancel and I had to reschedule for yesterday. Even though I am feeling good there is always a certain amount of anxiety that pops up prior to any doctor's appointment. When it was cancelled, it was a short relief until this week. The anxiety builds until the appointment.
It was a pretty easy one though - 1 hour flat - unbelieveable!!
Weigh -in, Blood work, chat with the nurse - review medicine and symptoms.

The doctor comes in and gives me a big hug. "You've made it to the first big milestone - 2 year survivor" (2 year, 5 year and 10 year are the big ones) and proceeds to ask me a ton of questions...
Are you exercising? - yes - jogging 2 -3 miles 3 times per week,
How are the hot flashes? - not as bad as during chemo (as the nurse said -"we hit you so hard during chemo that any flashes after do not feel as bad"),
We talk about the hip pain I have been having - side effect due to lack of estrogen, but my hip bone density is great
How is your brain function? - forgetting some names
He performs my physical exam and asks about the kids, etc.
He says my blood work looks good.
He tells me to keep my stress level down - okay I need to work on that one.

We talk about the Komen race and he mentions how powerful it was. I spoke of how encouraging it was to sit by a woman wearing 20 strands of beads. We both agree we have come so far in this cancer fight, but we have so far to go. He talks about 3 new drugs on the cusp of being approved.

I show him the MotherswithCancer flyer and talk about our site, he thinks it is wonderful and asks me to give it to the nurses to post. He will see me in February after the San Antonio Conference. I always thank him and tell him to thank his wife for giving up so much of him while he is saving so many lives. I love my doctor... I love his bedside manner... I love his nurses... I am blessed to be one of his patients.

I say hi to all of the patients getting an infusion on my way back to the nurses station. I remember all to clearly the 8 times I sat in those exact chairs. I catch up with the other nurses. I get a flu shot.

My anxiety is relieved for another 4 months... I treat myself to a Jamba Juice... It was a GREAT day.

Guest Post

I was asked to contribute a guest post regarding my cancer experience... so you can check it out over at capessa if you would like...
http://www.capessa.com/members/StoryActions.aspx?g=126786&m=2359252

Too Close for Comfort

This is what we saw today from our front yard when we got home from school. The fire was burning in the nearby canyon but they evacuated the 3rd phase of our development. They told us to have our things packed. If the wind were to shift slightly we would have to evacuate quickly.
Luckily the wind shifted the other way so we did not have to evacuate. About 50 acres burned in 2 hours. Thankfully no one got hurt in this fire and only part of one home was damaged.
The firemen told my husband that if this reservoir was not so close to the fire it would have gotten out of control and many homes would have been lost. We saw the CSI's walking around so we will find out if it was arson.

laugh. dance. cure.

My husband wrote in to the ellen show and got 2 tickets!! My daughter and I were in the audience yesterday. What a fun day!!!!

We got up to LA about 2:30 and checked in, walked over to the studio and received our instructions, no sunglasses, no gum, turn off cell phones, no cameras, no grabbing ellen…. We were seated in the studio and the warm-up guy got us dancing and cheering. During every commercial everyone dances and cheers and sometimes they have dance contests. Ellen came out, she looked great and when it was time for her to dance she danced right across our row!!!

Harry Connick Jr. was on speaking about his new movie about the Doctor who developed Herceptin. He dunked the guy from “The Office” in the dunk tank for breast cancer. Microsoft donates $10,000 to the cause for each dunk. Two cute little sisters who are expected to become the next Williams Sisters were on – so cute….. Chris Brown danced – and my daughter could not have been more excited. I can not believe that he is only 19. We got some fun giveaways and then spent some money in the Ellen shop. She has a bunch of stuff with her laugh. dance. cure logo. They will register you to vote if you are not registered so she also has laugh. dance. vote.
We got a special treat after the regular show, they taped a segment that will be on a special show that Ellen will be doing later this year – this amazing magician performed – incredible.

It was a great day – great memories for me and great memories with my daughter. Our show will air today October 9 - so you know what we will be doing today at 4:00pm!!

Giving Back...

Last night my daughter and I attended the 10th Annual Founders Gala for Kids Konnected. It was held at the Marconi Automotive Museum in Tustin, CA.

I wanted to give back to this organization that helped us so much throughout my cancer experience and continues to help us emotionally move forward. I created this original collage that I felt was significant to Kids Konnected and the children that they assist.

The director of the organization placed the artwork in the live auction and asked if I would be willing to say a few words about our experience with Kids Konnected and my collage. My daughter and I went up before the audience and this is a summary of what I said… “Two years ago today I was in surgery undergoing a bilateral mastectomy with immediate reconstruction, before the surgery I underwent 4 months of chemotherapy and during that time we found Kids Konnected. Kids Konnected has helped us emotionally move through this horrible disease. Even as I got well my daughter wanted to stay involved, she became a teen leader and continues to help other children navigate through this maze. This painting was created to express how even though a child may lose a parent to cancer, their parent will always stay in their heart… their Mom or Dad goes up to heaven and becomes the angel watching over them. Even though my prognosis is good, I know that if I hear those dreadful words again (you have cancer), our Kids Konnected family will be there to help my children.”

The bidding started at $300.00 (the cost to send a kid to camp), the bidding worked it’s way up to $1000.00. The gentleman bidding then added, “I pledge $1000.00 annually”. He said he would honor his pledge and we could rebid the painting. They started the bidding again and another gentleman matched the $1000.00 annually. I am not sure if it was the collage, my speech or the visual of my daughter and I standing there together and people really seeing what their money can do…. but the details really do not matter. Six kids will get to go to camp each year, every year and that is what truly matters.

cross posted at MotherswithCancer