With the celebration of the New Year, as with most people, it causes me to reflect on the past year. So many things have changed and so many things deserve to be reflected upon.
With the coming of 2012 we were still reeling from the "firsts" that we were being faced with after losing my brother in October.
We spent the New Year 2012 in Key West! We were there from before Christmas...the weather was wonderful and rejuvenating...definitely something helpful after the preceding year!
However, home to reality was inevitable! With those realities came so much heartache! We saw Lou the day after we returned and it was evident that he was not on the mend. Soon he was put on hospice care and on the same day they were told that Cliff, Amy's father, was also terminal with pancreatic cancer.
I continued to worsen with the treatment I was on and had to receive IV fluids on a few occasions...eventually causing me to discontinue treatment temporarily.
February and March testing was tough...leaving us, for a while, uncertain of my disease progression. But March also brought us our first official fund raiser!! Charmed by Claire! Lou made sure he came out that night no matter how difficult it was for him! He was there with his family at his side. March 17th 2012 Lou finished his battle with cancer.
April found me trying to find medical reasons for the constant headaches and frequent dehydration I was dealing with. April 3rd was also our second official fund raiser!! Fireside Grill & Bar. It was a great night...so many people come out to support us!!
In May we traveled to Hershey Pa to watch as Crossroads Middle School participated in several music competitions...and won them all!! I was blessed to be well enough to be there and see Christian play his trumpet solo! However, May 10th found Nancy and I at the services of Pam! As a foundation we had hoped to reach out to Pam and her family while she was battling and had been unsuccessful. Pam finished her battle on May 5th 2012 We were blessed to be able to connect with the family and through the foundation we have made a lasting connection!!
June 3rd was another fundraiser for us...Ladies Day Out! It was a great success...however June brought us another loss...Cliff completed his battle June 8th 2012! Half the year over and how many losses already?? The rest of June, July and August Deana and I traveled as often as possible to Connecticut to be with Aunt Jackie. We watched as she slowly faded away. August 25th 2012 my Aunt Jackie finished her battle with cancer!
During the course of my battle I had reconnected with a girl I went to high school with...her husband was battling 3 years with cancer...Steve finished his battle on August 2nd 2012...we were able to spend a day together August 19th on her way back from a memorial for him in Massachusetts. A reunion with mixed emotions!
September, the "new year" for any one with children!! September was a full month with school starting, trying to get back to "real" life, seeing "long ago" friends! September 28th Agi, Deana and I traveled to Connecticut to help raise money for a foundation out there. We rallied many of my friends from high school to help out! We participated in The Breast Cancer Awareness Photo Shoot! Pictures can be found on our website!! It was great fun and gave me an opportunity to meet up with so many old friends!! Rich & Sharon among them!! Rich is fighting his own battle right now and I wish him well...I love you Rich!
October was far from uneventful with the onslaught of "Sandy"! We were fortunate and got off with out damage...several friends were not so lucky and we were thankful to be able to share our home with some of them! The one thing that Sandy did do was put most of our fund raising efforts on the back burner.
November was a month to be thankful...but so is everyday! But we had a great Thanksgiving! November 30th 2012 Christian made his first presentation for DBDHF! He kicked off Pajama Day at Greenbrook School!
December 7th 2012 was the actual fund raiser. It was a great success raising over $700.00 with very little out lay! A very successful first venture for our 13 year old son! We are very proud that he is learning about "paying it forward"! Christmas was wonderful and I was very grateful to feel well enough to bake, cook, shop and decorate!! We felt truly blessed! December 28th 2012...a day with mixed emotions!! My Aunt Phyllis lost her beloved husband Bruce after a long battle with this unfair disease! Later that same day...our second granddaughter was born...Victoria Juliet!!! Happy Birthday!! What a way to end a year...!
And so we ended the year as we lived it...with sadness and blessings...always blessings! We lost many friends and family this year...we can pray that this year is better...but we must always remember the many things to be thankful for...good friends/family and the healthy days to spend with them!
I, along with Nancy, Rich, Mary Ann and SO many others, continue the battle with this unfair disease. A disease that sometimes leaves us wondering when it will get better...but should always serve to remind us to be grateful for friends & family...for each day we get to share with them. Remembering to always "pay it forward"!
We will hope for a year with less loss...less pain...less CANCER! We will continue to do our best to ease the burden cancer places on a family the only way we can...day by day...please consider helping us with time, money or just helping us "get the word out"!
Happy New Year!!
With the coming of 2012 we were still reeling from the "firsts" that we were being faced with after losing my brother in October.
We spent the New Year 2012 in Key West! We were there from before Christmas...the weather was wonderful and rejuvenating...definitely something helpful after the preceding year!
However, home to reality was inevitable! With those realities came so much heartache! We saw Lou the day after we returned and it was evident that he was not on the mend. Soon he was put on hospice care and on the same day they were told that Cliff, Amy's father, was also terminal with pancreatic cancer.
I continued to worsen with the treatment I was on and had to receive IV fluids on a few occasions...eventually causing me to discontinue treatment temporarily.
February and March testing was tough...leaving us, for a while, uncertain of my disease progression. But March also brought us our first official fund raiser!! Charmed by Claire! Lou made sure he came out that night no matter how difficult it was for him! He was there with his family at his side. March 17th 2012 Lou finished his battle with cancer.
April found me trying to find medical reasons for the constant headaches and frequent dehydration I was dealing with. April 3rd was also our second official fund raiser!! Fireside Grill & Bar. It was a great night...so many people come out to support us!!
In May we traveled to Hershey Pa to watch as Crossroads Middle School participated in several music competitions...and won them all!! I was blessed to be well enough to be there and see Christian play his trumpet solo! However, May 10th found Nancy and I at the services of Pam! As a foundation we had hoped to reach out to Pam and her family while she was battling and had been unsuccessful. Pam finished her battle on May 5th 2012 We were blessed to be able to connect with the family and through the foundation we have made a lasting connection!!
June 3rd was another fundraiser for us...Ladies Day Out! It was a great success...however June brought us another loss...Cliff completed his battle June 8th 2012! Half the year over and how many losses already?? The rest of June, July and August Deana and I traveled as often as possible to Connecticut to be with Aunt Jackie. We watched as she slowly faded away. August 25th 2012 my Aunt Jackie finished her battle with cancer!
During the course of my battle I had reconnected with a girl I went to high school with...her husband was battling 3 years with cancer...Steve finished his battle on August 2nd 2012...we were able to spend a day together August 19th on her way back from a memorial for him in Massachusetts. A reunion with mixed emotions!
September, the "new year" for any one with children!! September was a full month with school starting, trying to get back to "real" life, seeing "long ago" friends! September 28th Agi, Deana and I traveled to Connecticut to help raise money for a foundation out there. We rallied many of my friends from high school to help out! We participated in The Breast Cancer Awareness Photo Shoot! Pictures can be found on our website!! It was great fun and gave me an opportunity to meet up with so many old friends!! Rich & Sharon among them!! Rich is fighting his own battle right now and I wish him well...I love you Rich!
October was far from uneventful with the onslaught of "Sandy"! We were fortunate and got off with out damage...several friends were not so lucky and we were thankful to be able to share our home with some of them! The one thing that Sandy did do was put most of our fund raising efforts on the back burner.
November was a month to be thankful...but so is everyday! But we had a great Thanksgiving! November 30th 2012 Christian made his first presentation for DBDHF! He kicked off Pajama Day at Greenbrook School!
December 7th 2012 was the actual fund raiser. It was a great success raising over $700.00 with very little out lay! A very successful first venture for our 13 year old son! We are very proud that he is learning about "paying it forward"! Christmas was wonderful and I was very grateful to feel well enough to bake, cook, shop and decorate!! We felt truly blessed! December 28th 2012...a day with mixed emotions!! My Aunt Phyllis lost her beloved husband Bruce after a long battle with this unfair disease! Later that same day...our second granddaughter was born...Victoria Juliet!!! Happy Birthday!! What a way to end a year...!
And so we ended the year as we lived it...with sadness and blessings...always blessings! We lost many friends and family this year...we can pray that this year is better...but we must always remember the many things to be thankful for...good friends/family and the healthy days to spend with them!
I, along with Nancy, Rich, Mary Ann and SO many others, continue the battle with this unfair disease. A disease that sometimes leaves us wondering when it will get better...but should always serve to remind us to be grateful for friends & family...for each day we get to share with them. Remembering to always "pay it forward"!
We will hope for a year with less loss...less pain...less CANCER! We will continue to do our best to ease the burden cancer places on a family the only way we can...day by day...please consider helping us with time, money or just helping us "get the word out"!
Happy New Year!!
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