May 31st - June 4th I traveled to the Grand Canyon as a member of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Hike for Discovery program to raise money for leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma research and patient programs.
Thanks to the generosity of over 70 of my family, friends and co-workers, I have raised 82% of my $5000 goal! Won't you join us as we support the LLS in their vital mission to cure blood related cancers and improve the quality of life of patients and families?
Every 2½ weeks we lose the number of people lost in the World Trade Center on September 11th to blood related cancers. That means we experience 21 World Trade Center disasters each year.
Every 5 minutes an American Learns that they have leukemia, lymphoma or myeloma. Every 10 minutes someone dies from one of these diseases.
The research is working. Overall five-year survival rates for leukemia have tripled in the past 45 years. The five-year survival rate for patients with Hodgkin’s lymphoma has doubled from 40% in 1960 to 85% today.
Sharon died from leukemia at the age of 35. Her death devastated her family. She left behind her parents, husband and 2 young children. Her daughter does not remember her mom (she was just 3 when her mom died), but grew up feeling she was missing something. After the birth of her son, she realized what that something was - unconditional love.
My nephew Scott had just turned 4 when he was diagnosed with leukemia. Until that day, he was full of energy, never missing out on the opportunities available to an adventurous young boy. An initial hospital stay of more than 6 weeks and 3 years of treatment took a toll on his family. Scott is now 19. His desire is to make a difference in the lives of others. He is an EMT and plans to continue his education to become a flight nurse. Scott never takes life for granted. He has been given a second chance.
I met Maggie after I witnessed an auto accident involving her son and grandchildren. In a recent email, she wrote, "and I thought of you when the days were not as bright as they currently are. I wondered when we met you on the side of the road if God was leading us to a hospice nurse . . . and He still may some day, but, by His grace, it is not right now. The doctors are encouraging, although they keep reminding me that it is 'incurable.' That's okay with me . . . I'm feeling well and enjoying life . . . trusting God with the future."
Thanks for your support!
