So as many of you remember, my last post had to do with a promise I made to my husband. I promised him I would bring awareness to Leukemia, as well as the importance to becoming a bone marrow donor. I am trying my hardest to make good on those promises.
In the first few months after Pat passed away, I thought regularly about how I was going to fulfill the promise I made to my husband. Originally, my plan was to bring awareness primarily through my blog. I knew I had many people who read my blog on a regular basis, along with people out there who found it without looking. While I am still bringing some awareness through this blog, my passion has taken on a life of it's own. I have started planning an event that has taken the level of awareness to places I never would have imagined possible.
I have been super busy the past couple of weeks. I am trying to organize an "unofficial" Light the Night Walk. A few weeks ago, I came across a link on Facebook for a Light the Night Walk. I clicked on it, and read more about it. I had never heard of this walk, so I scoured their website, looking for a the location of a walk near me. After searching, I realized there were no organized walks anywhere in Montana. The nearest walk site is in Boise, ID. I want to change that. I contacted the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS), and asked how I would go about organizing a walk in Billings. I was told that LLS doesn't really allow people to start their own walks, that it was something that needed to be organized through the society. She also told me that LLS needed a good reason to bring a walk to my area, telling me that they needed to know they would raise enough money, for it to be worth their efforts. She asked me if I would like to register a team, under the Boise walk site, and raise money. She told me I could just pick a park, gather friends and family, and walk in Pat's honor. Without a doubt in my mind, I said, "Yes." Immediately after I got off the phone, I called a few family members, and told them what I was planning. I was, and still am, super excited about getting this all going. From that very first day, I knew I wanted to make this big. I knew I wanted to make this about more than just our friends and family walking for my husband. I wanted to get our entire community involved, and make this a community event. My hope is, that if I can raise enough money, and get our entire community involved, that LLS will consider Billings as a prime location to host an annual Light the Night walk. I would love nothing more than to be able to attend this walk, every year, and raise money for them, all in Pat's honor.
I started posting on Facebook, asking friends and family to donate, and asking them to share the link. I noticed it was only getting me so far. I was never going to get the word out to the community, when only a handful of people were sharing with their friends. I decided to call the media. I contacted our local paper, they interviewed me, and the article printed in today's paper. You can read the article here. I also contacted a local news station, and did an interview on Friday. That is scheduled to air early next week. I hope by this getting out through the media, our community will come together and support this cause.
I am doing several fundraisers to try and raise money. With the help of an excellent friend, Dani Buhmann, we are having a garage sale with items donated by the community. Our garage sale fundraiser is scheduled for September 17. We are also organizing a raffle. If you live near the Billings area, and would like to help out with either of these fundraisers, please contact me (If you don't live near me, but are willing to ship your donations, that would be great as well!) We are still in need of your unused items for our garage sale. I know some people may not be able to donate money to this cause, but most people have a few things taking up space, that could be donated to our sale. Even if it's only a box full of items, we sure would appreciate it! We are also looking for items to add to our raffle. These items would need to be new. Items we think would be good for this raffle "basket" include: gift certificates, handmade items, candles, health and beauty, electronics, or anything else you can think of that would be a good prize for a raffle. No item is too big or small! I am also going to be selling orange bracelets, in honor of Leukemia awareness. I will let everyone know when I get these in.
The walk is scheduled for October 14, 2011 at 7:00 pm, at North Park in Billings, MT. I am very excited to announce that during the walk, we will also be hosting a bone marrow recruitment drive. The National Marrow Donor Program will have a team set up to answer questions, and get people signed up to be on the national registry. I really hope we get a good turn out, and get a lot of people signed up!
Even if you are not from Billings, please consider making a donation to this cause. I need everybody's support to make this dream a reality. If you are interested in making a donation, you can go to my fundraising page. Donations in any denomination will be greatly appreciated! No amount is too little! Even if it's only $1, it will help us reach our goals! Thank you in advance to any that donate!
I am supposed to have a meeting with LLS sometime early next year. We will talk again about the possibilities of bringing a walk to our area. I want to be able to bring the numbers to them, when we have this meeting. They will see how much money we raised, and I hope to be able to tell them how many people support this. I created a Facebook page for this cause. If you are in support of what I am trying to accomplish, please like this page.
I am really excited for this whole event. I feel like it's an excellent way to honor my husband. I want to make him proud, and honor his wishes. I made that promise to him, and I have every intention of keeping it. I hope that we not only raise a lot of money, but I hope I am bringing awareness to Leukemia, and becoming a bone marrow donor, through all of this.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Thursday, September 1, 2011
8 Weeks and Craving Ice Cream......
So I have a few different things on my mind tonight. I apologize in advance because I feel like my mind is all over the place, so chances are, so will this post. I am also going to warn you in advance because I am going to undoubtedly make someone mad with this post.
"8 weeks and craving ice cream....."
I am sure you have seen similar statuses posted all over your Facebook news feed. Some of you know what it is about, and I am betting that many of you reading this are male, curious about what is going on. What is it all about? Well it's another breast cancer awareness chain game.
I personally don't understand. I don't understand what playing these types of games has to do with breast cancer awareness? How does this bring awareness to anyone? And more importantly, why are the men not supposed to participate? Did the person who started these not realize that men get breast cancer too? There have been several of these games played over the last couple years. This one is about your birthday, there was one that had to do with bras that made national news, there was one last year that had to do with where you leave your purse, and one earlier this year that had to do with your shoe size. All of them produce the strange status updates like, "8 weeks and craving ice cream", or "I like it on the coffee table", or "8 inches :(", that inevitably leave the men wondering what us women are up to. Does it make people laugh? Yes. Are games like this on Facebook fun? Yes. What I don't think is funny is cancer. Any form of it. And I don't understand how playing games on Facebook is bringing any type of awareness to any kind of cancer. I feel like it's just kind of shooting in the dark, what exactly is it bringing awareness to? I think most people by now have heard of breast cancer. The cancer itself doesn't need awareness, and the fact that this does nothing to raise funds etc, just makes it kind of pointless to me. Now if it raised awareness on early diagnosis, or maybe some facts that people may not know about, I would undoubtedly have no problem. If people want to bring awareness to certain types of cancer, then donate your time or money to the cause, and invite your friends to do the same. Start a fundraiser. Donate your time and efforts to local community events that support cancer research. Heck, even set up a Facebook page to help raise awareness to certain aspects of cancer that others may not know about. Anything, but play a silly game that makes cancer into a joke. Bottom line is: I think these chain games are funny and entertaining, I just hate that 'breast cancer awareness' has to be attached to them. I feel like it demeans the real awareness that needs to be shared, and turns it into a joking matter. If these "chain games" were just that, games, with nothing attached, I would have no problem with a silly game to keep the guys guessing.
Pat and I had this talk last year when the "purse" chain game was going around. We couldn't figure out what our friends were talking about, so we Googled it. When we figured out it was supposed to be about breast cancer awareness, we were both kind of dumbfounded. We both agreed it didn't really make sense. How was any awareness being brought to the table, and it certainly didn't seem like it would be inspiring people to donate to the cause. When I saw these ones going around this year, it definitely brought back the conversations we had last year, and really brought it all to the surface.
Before I move on, to those of you who are friends with me on Facebook I hope you are not offended by what I have said. I know many of you have posted the above status with your details, and I just want to say that I do not think any less of you for doing so, and I hope you understand this is just my opinion of this awareness game. This also was not directed at any of you personally, just something that has been on my mind the past couple days. I know many of you were either doing it to get a rise out of the guys, or because you truly were trying to bring awareness to cancer, or both! I know not everyone will agree with me, but I hope at least it gives you something to think about.
Before my husband passed away, I made a promise to him. I promised him that I would bring awareness to leukemia. I also promised him that I would advocate becoming a bone marrow donor, as well as cord blood donation. I have been waiting for the perfect time to keep this promise I made, and now seems like that perfect time. Today marks the start of the leukemia and lymphoma awareness month. That, mixed with all the feelings I had about this "chain game" on Facebook, it just all seemed to fit together, and I couldn't NOT post about it tonight. I want to bring some REAL awareness to the plate.
Before my husband was diagnosed with leukemia, I never really knew much about the disease. When I heard the term, I always thought of it as a childhood cancer. I knew it was cancer, but never really knew what the cancer was 'attacking'. Pat and I had several conversations about this, and we both seemed to agree. In case you don't know, leukemia is cancer of the blood or bone marrow. There are several different types of leukemia, but I won't get into each of the different types today. One of the main struggles that is different than most other types of cancer, is there is no tumor to remove, sometimes making it harder to treat. Many leukemia patients are forced to get a bone marrow transplant, as their only hope for survival. A bone marrow transplant may have saved my Husband's life. He never got that far. Had there been someone out there, somewhere, that they could have used, my husband may have survived. Most people are aware of organ donation. Most people know about blood donation. Most people even know about plasma donation these days, but you don't hear too much about bone marrow donation. Maybe I am just completely naive, but I don't know that I had even heard about it before I came in contact with this terrible disease. And if I had heard of it, I sure had no idea how to sign up to be one, or what all the details were, or how GREAT the need is, or that it could actually SAVE someone's life. I encourage each and every one of you reading this today, to please sign up to be a donor. Please sign up to save someone's life. To save someone's family. I am not asking you to do this, my Husband is. I made a promise to him to educate people about donating. He told me that he didn't want another family to have to go through what we had gone through. He told me that he didn't want all his pain to be in vain, and that if we could help another family out there, it would all be worth it. The process is simple. You fill out a questionnaire online, and they send you a kit. Go to "Be a Match" to join or to learn more information.
Another route of donation that I am sure some of you have heard of, is cord blood donation. Another misconception I feel is out there, is that many people think they have donated their cord blood. Well, you may have donated your cord blood, but if you just signed a consent form of some kind, it wasn't donated to be used in this way. Most likely it was donated for research purposes. Cord blood can be used for transplantation, when there are no close matches in adults. This can truly save someone's life, and it's saddening that many times it is just discarded. So if you are pregnant, or plan on becoming pregnant, please look into donating the cord blood. It will take a little time and energy on your part, but you may be saving someone's life. Make sure you look into it early, and discuss it with your doctor, because as I understand it you have to have everything planned by 35 weeks gestation.
I feel like this is the single most important post I have blogged about since Pat has been gone, and I am asking for your help. Not only am I asking you to become a donor, but I am asking you to share this post with as many people as you can. Please share on facebook, twitter, email, however you can. I want to honor my husband by bringing as much awareness to this topic as possible! Thank you for your support and help!
I hope I made an ounce of sense tonight. So much on my mind that I wanted to get out, and I hope it was read-able at the least. I miss my husband. I want him back in my arms. Unfortunately I can't have that. If I can help one family avoid the devastation we have dealt with, at least I will know his pain was not in vain. I know he would be happy with that.
"8 weeks and craving ice cream....."
I am sure you have seen similar statuses posted all over your Facebook news feed. Some of you know what it is about, and I am betting that many of you reading this are male, curious about what is going on. What is it all about? Well it's another breast cancer awareness chain game.
I personally don't understand. I don't understand what playing these types of games has to do with breast cancer awareness? How does this bring awareness to anyone? And more importantly, why are the men not supposed to participate? Did the person who started these not realize that men get breast cancer too? There have been several of these games played over the last couple years. This one is about your birthday, there was one that had to do with bras that made national news, there was one last year that had to do with where you leave your purse, and one earlier this year that had to do with your shoe size. All of them produce the strange status updates like, "8 weeks and craving ice cream", or "I like it on the coffee table", or "8 inches :(", that inevitably leave the men wondering what us women are up to. Does it make people laugh? Yes. Are games like this on Facebook fun? Yes. What I don't think is funny is cancer. Any form of it. And I don't understand how playing games on Facebook is bringing any type of awareness to any kind of cancer. I feel like it's just kind of shooting in the dark, what exactly is it bringing awareness to? I think most people by now have heard of breast cancer. The cancer itself doesn't need awareness, and the fact that this does nothing to raise funds etc, just makes it kind of pointless to me. Now if it raised awareness on early diagnosis, or maybe some facts that people may not know about, I would undoubtedly have no problem. If people want to bring awareness to certain types of cancer, then donate your time or money to the cause, and invite your friends to do the same. Start a fundraiser. Donate your time and efforts to local community events that support cancer research. Heck, even set up a Facebook page to help raise awareness to certain aspects of cancer that others may not know about. Anything, but play a silly game that makes cancer into a joke. Bottom line is: I think these chain games are funny and entertaining, I just hate that 'breast cancer awareness' has to be attached to them. I feel like it demeans the real awareness that needs to be shared, and turns it into a joking matter. If these "chain games" were just that, games, with nothing attached, I would have no problem with a silly game to keep the guys guessing.
Pat and I had this talk last year when the "purse" chain game was going around. We couldn't figure out what our friends were talking about, so we Googled it. When we figured out it was supposed to be about breast cancer awareness, we were both kind of dumbfounded. We both agreed it didn't really make sense. How was any awareness being brought to the table, and it certainly didn't seem like it would be inspiring people to donate to the cause. When I saw these ones going around this year, it definitely brought back the conversations we had last year, and really brought it all to the surface.
Before I move on, to those of you who are friends with me on Facebook I hope you are not offended by what I have said. I know many of you have posted the above status with your details, and I just want to say that I do not think any less of you for doing so, and I hope you understand this is just my opinion of this awareness game. This also was not directed at any of you personally, just something that has been on my mind the past couple days. I know many of you were either doing it to get a rise out of the guys, or because you truly were trying to bring awareness to cancer, or both! I know not everyone will agree with me, but I hope at least it gives you something to think about.
Before my husband passed away, I made a promise to him. I promised him that I would bring awareness to leukemia. I also promised him that I would advocate becoming a bone marrow donor, as well as cord blood donation. I have been waiting for the perfect time to keep this promise I made, and now seems like that perfect time. Today marks the start of the leukemia and lymphoma awareness month. That, mixed with all the feelings I had about this "chain game" on Facebook, it just all seemed to fit together, and I couldn't NOT post about it tonight. I want to bring some REAL awareness to the plate.
Before my husband was diagnosed with leukemia, I never really knew much about the disease. When I heard the term, I always thought of it as a childhood cancer. I knew it was cancer, but never really knew what the cancer was 'attacking'. Pat and I had several conversations about this, and we both seemed to agree. In case you don't know, leukemia is cancer of the blood or bone marrow. There are several different types of leukemia, but I won't get into each of the different types today. One of the main struggles that is different than most other types of cancer, is there is no tumor to remove, sometimes making it harder to treat. Many leukemia patients are forced to get a bone marrow transplant, as their only hope for survival. A bone marrow transplant may have saved my Husband's life. He never got that far. Had there been someone out there, somewhere, that they could have used, my husband may have survived. Most people are aware of organ donation. Most people know about blood donation. Most people even know about plasma donation these days, but you don't hear too much about bone marrow donation. Maybe I am just completely naive, but I don't know that I had even heard about it before I came in contact with this terrible disease. And if I had heard of it, I sure had no idea how to sign up to be one, or what all the details were, or how GREAT the need is, or that it could actually SAVE someone's life. I encourage each and every one of you reading this today, to please sign up to be a donor. Please sign up to save someone's life. To save someone's family. I am not asking you to do this, my Husband is. I made a promise to him to educate people about donating. He told me that he didn't want another family to have to go through what we had gone through. He told me that he didn't want all his pain to be in vain, and that if we could help another family out there, it would all be worth it. The process is simple. You fill out a questionnaire online, and they send you a kit. Go to "Be a Match" to join or to learn more information.
Another route of donation that I am sure some of you have heard of, is cord blood donation. Another misconception I feel is out there, is that many people think they have donated their cord blood. Well, you may have donated your cord blood, but if you just signed a consent form of some kind, it wasn't donated to be used in this way. Most likely it was donated for research purposes. Cord blood can be used for transplantation, when there are no close matches in adults. This can truly save someone's life, and it's saddening that many times it is just discarded. So if you are pregnant, or plan on becoming pregnant, please look into donating the cord blood. It will take a little time and energy on your part, but you may be saving someone's life. Make sure you look into it early, and discuss it with your doctor, because as I understand it you have to have everything planned by 35 weeks gestation.
I feel like this is the single most important post I have blogged about since Pat has been gone, and I am asking for your help. Not only am I asking you to become a donor, but I am asking you to share this post with as many people as you can. Please share on facebook, twitter, email, however you can. I want to honor my husband by bringing as much awareness to this topic as possible! Thank you for your support and help!
I hope I made an ounce of sense tonight. So much on my mind that I wanted to get out, and I hope it was read-able at the least. I miss my husband. I want him back in my arms. Unfortunately I can't have that. If I can help one family avoid the devastation we have dealt with, at least I will know his pain was not in vain. I know he would be happy with that.
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