Donna's Day: A Chance To Help Kids With Cancer

  Today's topic is a little different from my normal posts. If you have been following me for a while you might remember a sweet little girl who touched my heart, and changed my life forever. Donna. Though sadly, I will never get to meet her. That sweet innocent girl, only a baby really, whom I think of often. Sometimes she will creep into my thoughts as I put my own little ones to sleep. As I sneak another look at their sleeping faces, her story and Donna's Mama wiggle right in. Reminding me to drink in the moments we have... You just never know who you could be helping by learning and sharing this information.

  Too many children are lost to cancer. More adults get cancer, therefore children's cancer is one of the less funded types of cancer research. For example, from the National Cancer Institute, out of the money funded to researching cancer, only 4% is dedicated to children's. This subject deserves the utmost tenderness and respect, so I will try to be careful.  I know it is uncomfortable to think about, but I beg you to read on. Cancer is such an ugly thing already, we especially don't like to look at it attached to children.  I didn't even like writing it as the title. Kids and cancer. Yuck. A parent losing their child. Double Yuck. Double. Triple infinity suck. You can read why children's cancer research funds are so very underfunded here. If you are more the video type, here is an amazing one explaining why there is a need for funding.

  My point is not to make you sad, or give you one more thing to worry about. Of all people, you know I am against spreading worry and fear. At the same time, I am completely for and believe we depend on truth. We  have a responsibility to share any vital knowledge we may learn. No. Today is not for sadness. It is Donna's Day. Today is a day for choosing hope. Donna's story and her Mama continue to teach me things, about myself, about my loved ones, and even strangers with her bravery to share such an intimate story. If you would like to read her story at Huffington post you can find it here.  This short video of pictures of Donna and a radio interview from her parents, shows how very important their message is. Her story has touched countless hearts, but that can only do so much. We have to take action.

  Here is why:

    *More US children will die from cancer than any other disease, or many other diseases combined:
    *Before the age of 20, 1 in 300 boys, not mine, and 1 in 333 girls will be diagnosed with camcer
    *Worldwide, child is diagnosed with cancer every three minutes:
    *The cure rate for the most common form of pediatric cancer, ALL leukemia, is as high s 90%, but MOST other childhood cancers do not have that success rate, e.g., brain tumors have  50/50 cure rate, and    some like DIPG, are known to be fatal with NO KNOWN TREATMENT OR CURE;
    *73% of kids who survue their cancer will have chronic health problems as a result of their treatment and
      42% will suffer sever or life threatening conditions like secondary cancers.
Those stats and more can be found here at St. Baldrick's website.

  Now, we have all been there. In line at a grocery store, fast food place, or even when we see pink ribbons plastered on car bumpers, we get suckered into giving money to charities, particularly ones for cancer, without second guessing what those funds actually go to. It makes us feel like we are helping in some small way. Right? True. We just have no idea how very small it could be. Now hear me out, I am all for helping. But, what is most important to me, is that the money I give actually goes to cancer curing research. When I found out how LITTLE the percentage was from some places, I was absolutely shocked. Some are as little as 5%!!!

  One of the many things I have learned from Donna's Good Things, (a foundation started by her parents to give dance scholarships in her name, plus so much more), is how awesome St. Baldrick's is. Their Foundation is a volunteer- driven charity that funds more in childhood cancer research and grants than anyone besides the US government.  How they use it is even better. I like donating to where I know it is making the type of difference I can stand behind. Here are some stats that can be found here about why donating to St. Baldrick's is worth your while. As they say, "All childhood cancer research, all the time."

How Can I Help? 

  Join Donna's Good Things on  Donna's Day! TODAY is a very special day dedicated to raising funds for Donna's Good Things head shaving event, March 30th in Chicago! It is a super awesome benefit, with people of all ages and backgrounds, shaving off their hair to help raise funds for St. Baldrick's. This year, the oldest shavee, so far, is 89 years old and is coming with her daughter, a returning shavee. Isn't that awesome! Way to go!

  It is their second year holding this event, and I would really love to support them in any way we can. Here is the LINK to Donna's Good Things SHAVING TEAM if you feel it in your heart to give. Just click on the GREEN button. Even if it is only 5 or 10 dollars, those are the donations that can really add up. If we can share this and really get the word out, imagine how much we could help them raise! Last year's goal was $20K, and they blew it out if the water with $79K!!! Amazing what one little girl's story can inspire people to rally behind.

  Let's do all we can, share this everywhere. We can send virtual hugs with what counts, our prayers, and our pockets. I encourage you, like never before, to give, even if it is only one dollar, 3, 5, or 7! Every little bit helps and shows you care.
  As big as I wish this blog was, we are only a few. Our circle is only so big. The only way to expand it is with YOU,  my friends. Normally, I don't grovel, BUT, with cherries on top, could you please, from the bottom of my heart, float on down to the share button, just under this post, and click on it. Click it and invite your friends to give a few bucks to kids who need cures. Sharing means caring. Who remembers that saying?!

  As usual, you guys rock. Thank you in advance for all you do for this community. Love all you hotties out there.  PS SHARE!!

Mom Says Thanks to Fire Fighters on Behalf of Daughter Lost to Cancer

   September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.  As a fire fighter wife, I know that, though I hate to admit it, sometimes what gets me through days when I wanna strangle my family, is thinking of situations when they may not be here anymore. Now, you know how I feel about spreading fear, worry, and doubt. If you don't, please read here before you go on. With this life style, supporting a fire fighter, you really have to be careful what you focus on, or you will drive yourself crazy. (On a side note, if you can not shake your worry, I share what I do about that in this post.) So I think to myself, how would I feel about this fight if something bad happened, which it won't, to my hubby tomorrow? Or what if that was my child in that accident he is fleeing to?
  Well, the following story is one I hate even thinking about. In fact, for a year now I have been avoiding reading this whole story every time I see my dear friend post it on Facebook, well, like the plague. I had read just enough to know I didn't want to be sad at that time in my life to read anymore.  Not wanting to add any reality to my otherwise selfish thought to make me forget how I am frustrated at the time. I say selfishly, now, only because that is how I am feeling after reading Donna's story. The things this poor girl and her family had to go through is heart breaking, and I feel selfish for avoiding the ugliness of it all. Now, I know, our situations are different than most wives out there. That I truly believe we need to avoid inundating our lives with negative sad stories, since we will already know more than the average. We need to be strong for our spouses and not be full of fear, because it immobilizes us. Once in a while,  I think we all need to get some empathy for humanity in us, and all around us. The type that we can use for good, as in Donna's Good Things, that we should humble ourselves to share in another's pain. So we can see other people around us as they are.

This is beautiful Donna. Feel Free to save and share her picture and story. Her Mom gave her fans permission to the other day.

                                                                                                  

  The fact that Donna's Mom can even think to thank the Fire Fighters and Service Men that were there to cheer her up humbles me so. There are times when I  get aggravated when he has to leave, like after I spent all day on dinner, or if he had to leave from a special birthday party or something. It is stories like these that make me zip my lips and say a prayer, instead of getting resentful. It may be inconvenient for us, but someone may be fighting for their life at the time. I wanted to personally thank Shelia Quirke for having the courage, love, strength, and just pure heart, it takes to share her story. Donna is a precious girl and it breaks my heart to think you don't have her to hold. My three boys will get many extra squeezes because of her. Though we have never met, and probably never will, you have changed our lives forever. What is awesome, is that I bet there are many, many of us out there that can say the same.  I am sure Donna looks down on you often and beams proudly, telling God and all the angels, all about your family.

  Here is the link to today's entry into Donna's Story. Sheila's blog entries are featured in the Huffington Post this month. Each day they post a new entry. She has created a special chaity called Donna's Good Things, in the name and memory of Donna. Who by the way, was named for her grandmother Donna, who sadly also passed away from a brain tumor.  I highly recommend, when and if you are emotionally stable, to read the whole thing. When I am at the brink of throwing in the towel mentally, this has made me stronger. It is yet another reminder,  at 3 am, while I am sleep exhausted and mental, to soak the moment in. That this time passes by so fast. Remember that this all some people get with their children. sadder even are the ones who never got this much. Who would give anything for one minute of this. To drink it all in. Thick and full. To stare at those long eyelashes. Linger in each hug a second longer. Answer why, one hundred more times. To breathe in that baby smell. To pull my husband closer. Feel him breathe. Hear his heart beat under my ear. To slow down and savor more moments. To make love as often as I can muster it. Scratch my boys' backs as they fall asleep. Even, yes, read two stories, and maybe even three.

  For now, love to all, and thank you for reading! Also, a special thanks to all our men helping others! This post from Sheila shows you how much what you do, means to other people. Though you may not get to hear all of it, they are thankful. During all of the politics and high school drama, (that we all know can come with a department and building leaders) that when you come together it makes all the difference. In this brotherhood and sisterhood bound by fire, we forge together, to persevere on, even if no one sees it. Even if it is only by one of us supporters, making a heroes' dinner.  Or standing strong at an airport for a family who needs to lean on your strength. Harder still, if that means there is a side when you come home and lose it. Again and again. Don't despair. Your wives are so very proud of you.

All my love-