Hello everyone I have waited for what seems like ages to talk about what we are planning to do. But I think its like when one stops smoking......... tell everyone around you and then you will simply have to make a success of it! So here goes.
We had planned a road trip back up to Alaska and out west in our motorhome at the end of July this year. Then came Christmas and our motorhome burned when we were on the way to Florida - Christmas Day! Then right after we bought the new one, SPll, Steven, our 22 year old son, was diagnosed with CML. And the learning curve began. I learned that Steven is able to live because of other people that gave, donated and cared more than I ever before imagined. He has a chance at a good and long life because of the many, many people out there who went through the trials, suffered through awful side effects, and supported family and friends by enabling the research and development of the current and amazing medications. Never would I have dreamed that my son would have cancer. Never would I have imagined that, having cancer, he would be able to take a pill a day and be able to move on through his life with relatively little change. So far. I never imagined that while having a child with cancer, I could actually get a good night's sleep. I could never have imagined my life actually improving, getting deeper, because of the people I have met on this journey. He can, I do and it is! Now it's time for us to honor those that gave - gave of their time, their effort and themselves. It's time for us to "Pay Forward" and help to make more research and development possible. It is my time to try and make a difference and it's time to say thank you to everyone that has a hand in my son living! A wonderful lady who has CML and ran in the Alaska half marathon last year told of an amazing moment during the run when she saw others on the Leukemia Team running towards her. She realized then that it was those people that had helped her. This is the story that really got us thinking. Thanks Gale! It's all of you out there that have helped Steven - hopefully this way we can help too. This way we can honor you who have given Steven a chance. So. We are still going to Alaska at the end of July in the motorhome. But this is not going to be just an ordinary `holiday' anymore. It's going to be a cross country journey that will hopefully raise a goodly amount of money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. We are going to paint/wrap the motorhome so that there is no doubt that we are raising money for this cause We are taking this public and will be aiming for donations as well as pledges per mile, or any other type of donation that will help the L&LS. The last two trips we did, we traveled about 15000 miles each time and spent a total of two months on the road. We are aiming for the same this year. Now you know the plan. If anyone has any ideas please share... we are totally open to any and all suggestions - this is all very new to us. It is important that everyone understands that this is NOT a fundraiser for Steven in any way shape or form. All funds will be going directly to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. I have put a blog site together about Steven and the links to what will become the "Road Runners USA - Ride The Road for Cure" site are on there: www.livingwithcml.blogspot.com I have to say an enormous thank you to everyone who has shown such tremendous caring on the boards - I know that I would not have been able to deal with this cancer in Steven had it not been for all the caring, sharing and love coming from all of you. I hope that in some way, this journey will give each of you something back. Please feel free to email me directly if you have any ideas or comments or anything that will help make this a raving success! Love and Light Annie --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ [CMLHope] A support group of http://cmlhope.com ------------------------------------------------- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "CMLHope" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/CMLHope -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
