LEMON-AIDE

This week is “Blogging for Blood Cancer” week.  I learned about the organization, Friends of Heroes and their call to bloggers, from ”My chronic life” a terrific blog about life with chronic illness, written by a brave woman named Connie who fights her own daily battle with chronic illness.  Connie not only blogged for the cause this week, she lives the cause, in honor of her sister who died at the age of 32 from Leukemia.  Her sister left behind two young children, her husband, mother and father and sisters and brother who loved her dearly.  Her death followed her diagnosis by only six months.

I blog today in honor of my dear friend who lives with a chronic form of blood cancer and has for over twenty five years. (She is a bit of a medical miracle as the prognosis of her illness is ten years).  She is one of the most courageous woman I know, not just because of how she lives her own journey with blood cancer, but because of how she has lived with the loss of her son to Leukemia when he was just nine years old.

I feel like I knew her beautiful, wise- browned eyed, little boy from the stories she has shared.  His bravery and his acceptance of death at such a young age, have touched me deeply.  They were a hardworking young family with four young sons before the Leukemia struck.  They had to work even harder after his diagnosis, both parents worked long hours in order to pay the medical bills to fight for their son’s life.  At the same time they cared for their terminally ill son.

I don’t know how they did it, and today I am inspired by their courage, their tireless sense of humors, caring spirits, steadfast faith and a “never quit” attitude. 

Friends of Heroes is dedicated to finding cures and being there for families who are effected right now by devastating blood cancers.  You can visit Friends of Hereos web-site at http://www.friendsofheroes.org/ for more information or to make a donation.

Thank you Connie for sharing ”blogging about blood cancer”.  You can read about Connie’s sister’s story and the love of Connie’s family in fighting for her, at My Chronic Life.