How To Save A Life A Minute…Stand Up 2 Cancer

       Tonight there is going to be a historic program on television called Stand Up 2 Cancer on the major television networks, ABC<NBC<CBS.  They are working together in an unprecedented event to raise awareness and funds to fight the fight against cancer.  It is an amazing effort, which was planned to be the beginning of the end, of the horrible plaque on the earth called cancer.

      The statistics are horrendous…we lose one person per minute or 1,500 people a day to cancer…that is unacceptable.  Join the program tonight starting at 8pm on the major networks…will be journalists, music, celebrities and stories that will amaze you.  Please stop what you are doing and make a commitment to be a part of history and join the effort to bring an end to cancer.  Dig deep and pledge money, pledge awareness, pledge your time, skills, talents; and, more importantly pledge to care!   We have lost too much… lost too many people to allow this disease to continue to rob us of those lives.  Each of those who were lost has family, friends, communities who feel cheated.  It could be you or one of your friends or family members next…please get involved in the fight to stand up 2 cancer!

      I love this song…how to save a life…http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cqJJ-u0nog&NR=1  You can help save lives by watching and committing to the battle to stand up to cancer tonight at 8 pm on the three major television networks.  Be there if you dare to make an impact!  Update:  StandUp2Cancer raised over $100 million dollars for research and development of experimental therapy for cancer patients!  Just amazing what can happen when people join together for the good of mankind. 

     

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Cancer is a Thief

        Well, another life was stolen by cancer.  Today, we found out that a person that we loved and admired was taken too young by breast cancer.  She was the mother of a young 3 year old son.  She was the wife of a strong upstanding positive man.  She was the teacher of my sons and so many others; and, she was and is a blessing to all who knew her.

         My heart aches because of the loss.  She was one of those people who just made such an impact on all who knew her.  I thought she was going to beat the aggressive disease…i really did.  She fought it with all she had and she didn’t dwell on negatives.   She got into a clinical trial and was making progress.  Through surgeries, chemo, radiation and prayer and faith…she waged the cancer war on every level.   Her battle was courageous and focussed on healing.  She truly engaged all of those around her with a positive energy.  I can’t tell you how much this world has lost today.  I know how much her friends, family and community has lost.

         Cancer is a thief…stealing so much joy, brillance, compassion, energy, laughter, sensitivity, education, potential, love, understanding…and the list goes on.  Help to fight it in your own way.  Donate money, donate time,donate your skills, donate your experience, donate help, donate your free time, donate your educational/research abilities…because, cancer doesn’t just steal from those who can afford to lose extra people in their lives, every life is valuable, cancer steals from us all.  See what you can do: www.cancer.org/ or www.relayforlife.org/ .  www.acscsn.org.   

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Passionate Impact

        Have you ever felt passionate enough about something that you were willing to step outside of your comfort zone to make an impact on the subject? 

        Here is a story about a man who has been affected by the condition, cerebral palsy and wanted to raise funds and awareness for the United Cerebral Palsy of Michigan.  You can also choose to support their efforts here: http://www.ucp.org/ucp_local.cfm/87.  He is making his impact in an unusual and intriguing way.

           His name is Neil Sauter and he has a mild form of the condition.  The way that he has chosen to raise awareness, is to walk a total of 830 miles ON STILTS over the next six weeks across Michigan.  He started on May 5th and hopes to end the walk up by the Wisconsin/UP border.  He has already raised approximately $5,300.00.  He is making a passionate impact on this issue. 

          You can make a passionate impact on any area of your life that you choose.   Update:  Neil has completed his long journey on stilts…what an accomplishment.  Good job!  He was able to raise more tha 64,000 dollars by a matching grant program through the US Department of Education.   You can read more about this at:  www.stiltstory.org.

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Mourning In Myanmar

        When cyclone Nargis hit Myanmar it brought nothing but death and destruction.  The government has been severly overwhelmed and prideful in the past about being able to handle anything.  The whole country is in mourning…but is in crisis mode just to survive themselves.  This is a situation that is going to require help from other nations but, overcoming past suspicions is not easy.  Accepting help that is being offered is going to be the key to rebuilding their country.

          The destruction of land, property, and lives is such, that it is going to take massive relief from other countries.  The sooner the Myanmar government “allows” this help the better.  The numbers are being contested and thrown about here and there…but, there is no doubt that the loss of lives is massive.  It is estimated that over 22,000 people are dead and 41,000 people are unaccounted for or missing.  Those numbers are subject to change and not for the better i am afraid.

         The peoples of Myanmar are angry…angry because of a government crackdown on peaceful protests by monks back in September.  The people of Myanmar don’t feel that the government properly prepared the people for this storm.  Some precautions could have been taken, with proper notice, to find some safety for many of the people.  They were caught unprepared.

           Now, the  Irrawady delta region was flooded by the massive storm surge and not only the lives were lost but the area of the delta which is called the rice bowl.  This is where the large portions of rice were grown and produced.  This will have long lasting effects on the country because of the lives lost and the ability to earn income in that area that was devastated.

        The government of Myanmar did ask for assistance from other countries which is unheard of.  This should tell us that the circumstances are dire indeed.  Now, relief efforts are underway.  This will require large scale coordination of aid workers.

        Fresh water, food supplies, building supplies, medicines and clothing and other basic necessities are scarce.  This is all in relation to the damage from the storm.  Think about the large scale need to bury this many bodies before disease sets in to the area. I am sure that the military will have to pitch in to help bury this many dead people.   These deaths could cause massive infections and diseases if the bodies of those lost is not properly taken care of. 

          In the meantime, cleaning up the damage is critical to getting the aid workers into the region.  Giving them room to work that is safe for those offering help.  Pray for those who are grieving and trying to survive physically at the same time.  Time and genuine human compassion are required not to mention funding.   Relief efforts will also require teamwork.  The fear is going to be tremendous at a time like this.   We need to unite at times like this…because, therefore, but for the grace of God…this disaster could be visited upon any of our countries, at any time. 

        

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Charity Work…Help Petey Who Has Muscular Dystrophy

      If you are one of my regular readers, you know that i don’t do this type of posting often.  However, Petey is a young man who is suffering from a FATAL disease called Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.  He is going to be 13 years old on the 18th of April.  Petey is in NEED people, in a big way!  http://petey.heartheirstories.com/.

      Petey was recently upgraded to a power wheel chair; the kind that weigh a couple hundred pounds and take several people to load into a vehicle.  That presents more than a few problems, as you can imagine, when you don’t even have a vehicle.

      Not to worry…Petey has friends who care.  Petey’s friends are trying to raise money to get him a wheel chair accessible van.  Now, that wheel chair accessible van doesn’t come cheap.  Petey is in a very large family (9 children and he is the second to the youngest) and no one in the family has a driver’s license or a vehicle,yet.  That will all change with some $$ help.  http://petey.heartheirstories.com/.

       Jason Marshall, from  Joel Comm’s The Next Internet Millionaire show, is one of Petey’s good friends; and, he is heading the campaign to raise the approximately $40,000.00 for that life changing van. 

         Jason is also an internet marketer, with a big heart. He is a man of faith.  He hopes to rally people to either donate monies; or, purchase some incredible internet marketing tools for a mere price of $47.00 from some really successful internet marketers who are donating some great goods worth a grand total value of 2,487.00 !    Wow, that is amazing trust me.  People really do care…they want to make Petey’s 13th birthday a day to remember! 

         If you aren’t interested in internet marketing tools don’t let that stop you from just going to the sales page and donating whatever your heart and your finances will allow.  If you have been blessed with a healthy body…go there and donate.  If you know someone who has been affected by a muscle disease…please go and donate.

        Help Petey….go to this address:  http://petey.heartheirstories.com/.   Come on, some corporate sponsor’s support wouldn’t hurt either…how about it Ford, Chevy, Pontiac, Honda, Chrysler…Petey needs transportation.  Check out:  http://www.mda.org/.

        

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Illnesses That Doctors Can’t Figure 0ut

     I don’t know about you…but, over the last few years, anytime any of my friends or relatives have gone to the doctor about some major sickness/disease; the doctors have not been able to diagnose it. 

       Now, it isn’t because they all go to the same incompetent doctor or anything like that.  These are all well respected, professional doctors.  What is it then, why is it that illnesses/sickness/diseases are so very hard to pinpoint over the last few years or so?

        When the body functions as it should…it really is a major miracle as far as i am concerned.  With all of the things that can go wrong…when everything goes right…it is truly and honestly because God has designed a marvelous thing…the human body.

          When things go wrong…it is scary and confusing.  At the moment, i have a sister that is very ill and no one seems to be able to figure it out and she is getting weaker and weaker.  I know several people in the same sort of position.  It is frightening. 

           So, I lift up those people to God and pray that wisdom is bestowed upon the doctors and nurses who treat patients that are ill when there is no clear cut diagnosis…may healing flow over those God has created!

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A Respectful Tribute

       I read a wonderful tribute on a fellow blogger’s blog today.  It  was a respectful tribute regarding one ovarian cancer survivor’s feelings of the passing of another afflicted with cancer.  They were in the battle against the enemy cancer.  They had a rich relationship of love and support. 

        The respect and caring just comes through her words that define just what he meant to her.  He was friend, adopted grandfather as well as favored “uncle”.  No i don’t think they were related to each other biologically, but that doesn’t matter.

         They connected in a way that goes beyond surface; so, i know that with his passing she will grieve the loss, even knowing that he is no longer suffering pain or discomfort in the battle anymore.  Cancer might have taken his body; but, it didn’t claim his soul or his essense.  God will not allow the enemy that much power in the battle over his own children called by his name.

         So, I wish for her healing; and, joy in the remembering of their time together.  May the highs from the joy of knowing each other far outweigh the loss in his passing from this world.  It isn’t the end…it is the beginning of forever…they will know each other again in eternity; and they will be blessed from the knowing of one another.

         She is playing a song from Vince Gill on her blog in rememberance, it is a song called High on the Mountain. It speaks of a strong faith and the victory that comes to those at the end of the journey.  It is a song of encouragement and an acknowledgement of the struggles of life.

          Both of my parents have battled cancer…they have friends who have battled the disease right alongside of them.  These relationships are hard to define and the bond is stronger than diamonds.  They sparkle just as brightly too.  So, I pray that the comforter send her the strength she needs at this time of loss.  God bless  you Lady Ashley and those that you touch in your journey!

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