Such a wonderful time of the year...
I think back to all the Christmas Eve's as my children grew up...the wishes I had...for them... for us...our family...
Now I sit and with my 2 youngest children and my wonderful husband...gaze at our beautiful Christmas tree and the gifts beneath it...and how my wishes have changed...I still wish for my children to become happy, healthy, productive adults...to find the happiness they desire...
But as our family gets smaller each year with losses we are never really ready for and illness befalling so many we love and care about...
My wishes needed to be amended. I wish for this unfair disease...this cancer...to be no more...for the side effects it brings to so many of us to be gone...
To my wonderful friend Nancy...WE ARE STILL HERE!!! I wish for us to see SO many more Christmases! To my "new" friend Chris...it's amazing how cancer brings you together and makes you feel a connection...like I have known you forever...I wish for you less pain, less swelling...and to be with Nancy and I here for MANY, MANY Christmases!! We ALL have too much left to do...for our families, for ourselves...for all the others battling this unfair disease!!
To the little 3 yr old boy in treatment...That we should find a cure so he can grow in to a man and live life experiences....and the 17 year old young girl diagnosed with Brain cancer...I wish for you all the wonderful things life has in store for you...proms, parties, graduations, dates, marriage, babies of your own!! For your families...because cancer effects the WHOLE family...that they are strong for each of you but that they find comfort to sooth their own pain...the pain of watching someone you love be sick and you are helpless!
I wish my Aunt Phyllis a Merry Christmas knowing that this year she is with out her husband and her son...I know she has the love of SO many and those beautiful babies to help ease the pain! I love you! You are the strongest woman I know!!
John, his first year with out his beautiful wife of SO many years...may your memories comfort you today and always...
For me...I wish for many Christmases with my family...to be here to watch my youngest son grow in to the amazing man he is well on his way to becoming! To be there for his graduations, his wedding, his children... But I am thankful for everyday..for every moment...for every memory we make...I know those moments will help carry them through what ever comes our way!
I wish for this foundation to be my legacy...that this foundation is able to ease the burden that SO many are enduring...I wish that one day...this foundation is not necessary...that we have found a cure for this unfair disease...
Till then...we will do what we...perhaps you can join us to ease the burden for a family battling cancer...the only way we can....day by day!!
To all those families battling...I wish you peace and the blessing of family and friends!
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!