Monday, October 8, 2007

Pink Blog Candy!

I had such a good day today! This morning, I took my summer sheets off the bed and put on my fresh, clean flannel sheets for winter! I love flannel when it's cold out and you can snuggle down in the warm bed! (But you don't care about the bed - get to the candy!! LOL!)

So this afternoon I went shopping with my friend, Heidi, and I found tons of cute pink stuff for blog candy! Here it is:

This is in honour of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I wanted to find pink stuff in keeping with that theme. Here's what you can win: six sheets of 8 x 8 designer paper, stickers, pink-toned bling stickers, pink buttons, pastel-colored brads, a spool with three different ribbons on it, love-themed clear stamps and a clear stamp block. I hope that's worth winning. I always have so much fun at Michael's, and I always spend way too much money!

So how do you win this blog candy, you ask? Well, in keeping with this month's theme, I would like you to leave a comment on this post and tell me how you or your family or someone you know has been affected by cancer. You don't have to go into detail if it's too painful. I just think it's important for people to know how widespread this disease is and how it affects our lives. Maybe by sharing our stories, we can spur people on to raising more funds and awareness. (One comment per person, please, and make sure you include a way for me to contact you if you win).

As for my story, well, I know a few people who have had breast cancer or who have it. My grandmother passed away sixteen years ago from it. But probably the most poignant encounter with cancer I've had is with my father. He had colon cancer. (I know it's breast cancer awareness month, but as my mother-in-law says, "If we can find a cure or treatment for breast cancer, it opens the door to healing all cancers!") My dad was diagnosed when I was in my final year of university in 1996. He went in for surgery to remove what the doctors thought was one large tumor in his colon. My mom and I were waiting for him after the surgery, when the doctor came in and told us that the cancer was literally everywhere throughout his colon, liver, and pretty much everywhere. He gave my dad six months to live. I have never passed out before, but that was the closest I came.

My dad fought brilliantly, confident that he would beat this horrible disease. I watched him go through rounds of chemotherapy, deal with a colostomy bag since his intestines no longer functioned properly and try every alternative medicine he could find.

He walked me down the aisle a year later and gave me away to my husband. He was starting to get better and things looked more hopeful. He fought on for six more months after that, but after a year and a half of fighting, his body didn't have the strength anymore. On November 6, 1997, my dad passed away. That was the worst day of my life. I was fortunate to have the chance to say good-bye and have the extra year with my dad, but this disease is horrible. It is so important to find a cure.

I'm going to copy what some of my blog friends are doing and commit to donating $1 for every comment I receive here to the Alberta Cross Cancer Institute, which is where my dad and many others receive(d) treatment (up to $50). So in addition to possible winning some blog candy, you will be helping contribute to cancer research and patient care.

I'll leave this open until the evening of Friday, October 12, and then I'll use Random.org to choose a winner.

43 comments:

Alex said...

Shannon, that is a wonderful, touching post - I have tears in my eyes reading about your dad! I have been extremely fortunate not to have cancer directly affect my family, but I have lots of close friends that have had to deal with this devastating disease and I know it scares me to death! I have a good friend of mine going in for a biopsy tomorrow and I am praying hard that it is nothing because I want her to be okay! Thanks for doing this special blog candy post - you rock!!! *STAMPIN HUGS* Alex

Scott Franson Photography said...

You have a wonderful blog. Thanks for doing this for all cancer survivors, I know they appreciate it. I have friends who have had breast cancer, it's so hard to know what to do to help them through it.
Claudia

Healthy Family said...

My step mother in law passed away in June of 2004 with Breast Cancer and then my father in law passed away on April 20th 2007 to lung and liver cancer after they said he would only last 6 months as well he opted to NOT take treatment and lived another 2.5 years! The wound's are still quite raw and I cry when I think about it, thanks for your post though, sometime's it is nice to know that your not the only one dealing with this horrible diesease. It would be great to find a cure but in my heart of heart's I don't think in my lifetime they will find one...I will keep on praying!!

Jayme Downs said...

I have several family members who've battle some sort of cancer. First was my grandfather who survived Throat Cancer. He's now passed away, but he was clear of cancer. My mom, who survived cervical cancer. And then my aunt, who survived breast cancer. They were all blessed to beat the disease, thank the Lord. Oh, there is one more person. My husbands aunt who has also survived Breast Cancer. My aunt and his aunt always get us involved with the Breast Cancer Walk, here in Houston each year.

What a wonderful thing you are doing, to donate money for posts.

Jules said...

I do not have a family member touched by cancer. I have known many people, from my church, that have had or have cancer!

Anonymous said...

good job with foundraising for cancer. My Aunt dead of breast cancer 12 years ago. The hardest part for me is we hung out a lot and talked about guys. But she dead the year before I met my Hubby! I still wish she had met him :P

Tee said...

What a great way to celebrate the cause!! your post is very touching. Thankfully i have had no one in my family with cancer, but i've worked with a lot of breast cancer patients in their rehabilitation. It's very hard on the families, but sometimes i've seen strength that shines after their ordeal, that has enabled them to put their lives back on track.

Angel said...

I have not been touched as closely as many with the "C" word. Ironically, BOTH of my best friends have close family members dealing with breast cancer. And I had a little blimp on my own mammogram that they were concerned about at first. THAT is a scary thing. Thankfully it appears it's nothing. You are very kind to give to this cause. I'm sorry about your father's suffering.

Karen Gladney said...

I don't think there are too many families that haven't dealt with cancer in some way. My Mom passed away after have a brain tumor for 17 years. She was lucky to have survived that long. My Dad had colan cancer a couple of years ago. He is doing well now though. Had a close friend pass away from having cancer all over a year ago. Reading about your Dad has made me think about my Mom even more today. Tks for the special blog candy for the cause that we all deal with so often... way too often.

Cheryl KVD said...

Pink is my favorite color!! You picked out some great goodies! I currently have 2 aunts (on my hubby's side) that have breast cancer. One is doing well and the other is not doing very good at all. Thanks!
Cheryl KVD

jodene said...

I have not been affected by breast cancer in any way. My husband brother does start chemo in two weeks for colon cancer. Our thought and prayers go out to him everyday. Thanks for supporting this wonderful cause!

Cheryl said...

My husband was diagnosed with leukemia 2 years ago at the age of 34. We at the time had a 3 year old and a 6 month old baby. They are now 5 and 3, my husband is currently in remission, but the effect and the unknown of the future has left its scar forever.

Anonymous said...

My grandmother had breast cancer and opted for a lumpectomy and was a survivor. My grandfather also had throat cancer (which was a horrible type to watch some one you love suffer with). He was a musician and a singer and he needed his voice box taken out. When that happened, it was the day we lost him. He was physically with us for about another year, but didn't want to live without his voice. Now we always listen to his wonderful songs and remember that great voice. Thanks for the giveaway and letting people share their stories.

Diane said...

Thanks for sharing your story and your pink candy!!
I lost both my parents to cancer which is still very hard!! I miss them terribly,also my SIS had breast cancer but is now a survivor,yayyyyy!!!!

Anonymous said...

My MIL just passed this past December. She had lung and breast cancer. We found out about it in September and she passed mid December. It was really hard on my dh b/c it was his mom and we live so far away, a 12 hour drive, so he couldn't just drive down and see her all the time. I think he got to see her two times b/t the time we found out and the time we passed. My heart still aches for him, I have no idea what it is like to lose a parent, and don't want to know yet, but it's hard when you see him hurting so badly. Cancer is such an awful, awful thing.

Deb said...

you are doing a great thing here! I lost 2 Grandparents to cancer, one with stomach cancer the other lung cancer. my great aunt died after having both breast cancer followed by bowel cancer and more recently a friend of mine lost her baby son to neuroblastoma which was just devastating. I can't go into details as it is too upsetting.

Anonymous said...

This is not an entry...I just wanted to say that you're doing a great job to support the cause. I have been fortunate enough so far to not be closely affected by cancer. Your story is so very touching and I'm sure your father would be so proud of you! ;)

Ijsbeer said...

I am really sorry your dad lost the fight. I have friends who parents lost the fight too and I know how hard it is for them.

I know and have known a lot of people with cancer, none with breast cancer though. My grandmother (my fathers mother)died of stomach cancer 12 years ago. She spent her last month in our living room. When they found out it was to late to try out any treatment.

My dad has cancer now. He has been fighting for about one and half year and been through surgery (not to remove the tumor as it was to big but to do radtion from the inside), radiation theraphy and is currently on hormon medicines and getting hormon injections. I hope he wins the fight!

My aunt (the wife of one my mothers brothers) just won the battle against cancer, hopefully for good.

A year ago our former neighbour and good friend of the family lost the battle to cancer. He was such an optimistic person and tried everything out but nothing could cure him. He was 58 years old. I wrote this when he died: http://www.nordinho.net/vbull/journal.php?do=showentry&e=2670&enum=60

Several of the parents of my friends, or friends of their family, people I used to do volunteer work with, people I know through internet, their families..so many are affected by cancer. Its a horrible illness because it comes with so much uncertainty. All we can do is have hope and believe that one day they will find a cure.

Anonymous said...

I've had a great aunt and a grandmother with breast cancer. Then there are alot of others that I've known that have suffered from cancer as well, including children that have attended the day care I work at. There are just too many people out there that have to deal with this monster!

Anonymous said...

My daughter's best friend from junior high school died on June 30, 2007. She was 23 years old and a mother of a three year old daughter and a six month old son. She lost all of her hair during treatments but her children loved her bald head. On the day that Hospice told the family that Megan had just hours to live, they called my daughter to her home. They sat with Megan and sang Amazing Grace as she took her last breaths. At the funeral there was a table of photos of Megan as she grew up. So many of the photos included my daughter. My all time favorite photo though was a close up of Megan and her son both with bald heads laughing. She never wore a wig and so was also buried bald. My daughter was so touched by this tragedy that she has decided to go back to school to become a nurse. She wants to help families the way the Hospice nurse helped them through Megan's last days. Someone has to find a cure for this. We lose too many moms, dads, husbands, children, and friends from this robber of life.
I never imagined that my daughter would have to bury her best friend at such a young age. I look at my healthy children and wonder how cancer chooses its victims. I pray that I will never know another one!
Stephanie Earls
smcearls@hughes.net

Linda SS said...

Shannon...Your story touched my heart. I'm so glad that your dad was able to be at your wedding as I KNOW it meant the world to him:) I,too, have colon cancer that has spread to the liver, and I've had 3 surgeries and a total of 13 months of chemo under my belt. I just thank God daily for each new day & all the wonderful gifts He continually gives me and I'm determined to live the rest of my life happy:) This cancer journey has been MUCH harder on my family than it has been on me, so I know how difficult this has been for you. The emotional pain of seeing my family hurting is much more severe than any of the physical pain I've gone through, and I'm sure your dad felt the same way. I also know that he will always be near you, and is so proud of you for your contribution in fighting this disease. God Bless you!

Anonymous said...

I'm sorry to read about your dear dad. Best news is that my cousin got bowel cancer in his mid 40's, and was cured!! huge yaay!However, our Aunt barely lasted 3 months from 'getting the flu', and went very quickly from a spot on top of the lung which spread to the base of the neck. My godsisters hubby has it in throat (not yet 50 with 3 kids), and since my medical history has my mother with 2 breast cancer/mastectomies before 44 followed by stomach cancer... I am being watched. Luckily these are a few incidences wthin several large families (50 of us). we count our blessings, we've been fortunate until loosing my Aunt.

Heather said...

I have lost 2 Aunts to breast cancer on my father's side...and have just lost a step aunt to ovarian cancer a few short weeks ago.

I am amazed at the ability for women to stand together and fight when it is time to fight and cry when it is time to cry. It is beautiful, as this is something that we all have in common and has touched each one of us in one way or another.

Lilian said...

hi shannon-

my dad had colon cancer and had to get treatment. thankfully, the treatment worked and he was able to lead a healthy life until he passed away 4 years ago.

thanks for raising awareness and for the chance to win.

Heather Leech said...

I'm blessed that I have not been directly affected by breast cancer in my family.
My dad was diagnosed with spinal cancer in 1983. By 1984 he was a paraplegic. He endured enormous pain but was always trying to help others. He was such an inspiration! He passed away a few days before Father's Day in 1995. He never got to meet my husband or my kids.
What a wonderful thing you are doing to fundraise! All the best!
Heather L.

Betty said...

What a touching story! I am blessed that no one in my family has cancer.

Jana said...

I have a friend that was pregnant with her second child, one sunday afternoon she was feeling some pain in her left arm and her mom thought that she might be having a heart attack. So she decided to go on to the hospital and found out that she had a spot under her breastbone, turned out that it was cancer. But by the grace of GOD she
went into labor a month early and baby boy Joshua was born fine and healthy. She did have a small round of chemo and it did not touch the baby at all. Also by the grace of GOD, she has not lost her hair either, she was worried that her eight year old and his friends would be upset. But he told her that he loved her with hair or no hair! The baby is only 2 1/2 months old. ;O)

Living Beyond said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

Shannon,
I am so glad I came across your blog (via AmyG.'s). You are doing a wonderful thing. Your story was super touching....hugs to you.
I had an aunt lose the battle to breast cancer. Also, my husband's favorite uncle. They both fought hard, but in the end this horrible disease was just too much.
Thank you again for sharing your story and to all the others whom share theirs.
Debbie J.

Anonymous said...

I am fortunate that I don't have a family history of breast cancer, but my daughter does. My husband's mother and sister have both been diagnosed with breast cancer. My MIL went through treatment a couple years ago and has been doing great ever since. My SIL is still dealing with it after 3 years. She opted for a pretty aggressive treatment, but it seems to be working for her. She still has bad days every once in a while, but she is doing well overall. They are two of the strongest women I know. I am lucky to have them in my life!

Jennifer S

Pamela said...

My mother is a 20 yr. breast cancer survivor. She "gives back" by visiting other cancer patients after surgery to encourage and educate.

Márcia Mattos said...

What a great idea!!!
I lost some friends lately, and this is soo sad!!

Hugs
Marcia

Kari (GrannySkywalker) said...

My grandmother had breast cancer, but eventually, it was the uterine cancer that killed her (1998). So sad and such a painful death she had. I lost one cousin to breast cancer back in 1999 and her sister is a current survivor of this horrible disease. And my wonderful friend, Kat over at JustaBeachKat.blogspot.com is a breast cancer survivor. I have my pink coffee mug and my sons have their pink tennis balls and tennis racket "shock absorbers" in honor of those who have been affected.

Anonymous said...

Lost my dad to cancer in 2001. I still miss him so much.

Brenda H. said...

So sorry to hear about your Dad...may all the wonderful memories you share of him bring you comfort.
I lost a dear friend to breast cancer a few years ago, & know several others who are still fighting!
Thanks for donating & making a difference!
~Brenda H.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for reaching out with this post, Shannon. Lately, we've been touched with an aunt being diagnosed with inflammatory breast cancer. It was a pretty devastating diagnosis but she is taking it in stride. We are so very fortunate to have a close family and we hope everyday that she will be us for a long time.

Marina said...

Shannon, what a wonderful blog. i am so sorry about your dad i know how you feel i lost my dad (he was 60) 2 years ago to cancer, it was very sad as he had a reaction to his drugs that ended up giving him steven johnson which burnt his body inside and out, he was taken to the hospital burns unit within 5 weeks he died, the thing i find the hardest is seeing the sadness in my mums eyes everyday she has lost her sole mate. My eldest son got married in August not having dad there was very hard.
Take Care :~) XX

Anonymous said...

What a great blog, and a lovely post. My grandfather died of complications of cancer- a brain tumor. While the medical world has grown substantially in serving patients with cancer, it seems like there is still a long, long way to go.

Anonymous said...

This is such a GENEROUS give away and donation! I think that's awesome! So thank you for that!

I know of one family member who's died from breast cancer, I have had three aunt's that have been diagnosed with it, plus one family friend and currently another family friend who has moved to stage four of it.

I don't think some people really do realize how much others are affected by it.

Anonymous said...

Shannon

Thank you for doing this. I was'nt going to post because it is always to painful for me. I lost my dear Opa and my Mom to pancreatic cancer. My best friend Brenda died at age 36 from bone cancer and just last week my Dad was diagnosed with possible lung cancer.

Dad will be going for surgery in the next 2 weeks. I don't have any family living in Canada so I am basically dealing with this by myself. I too will be praying hard for my loved one and for those who are going through this.

Saskia aka Elly van den Brande

Anonymous said...

Shannon,
Thank you for donating towards cancer research! As you already know (Shannon is my sister-in-law), my husband's sister died of breast cancer in 2003. She was not much older than I am now and was such a vibrant woman. Joanne was diagnosed and died in 6 weeks. She knew something wasn't right, but she thought whatever it was would just go away - she thought it might just be a pulled muscle. It is so important that we all stay in tuned to our bodies and not just hope for things to go away! I hope you reconsider walking with us in the Weekend to End Breast Cancer next year!
Love, Wendy

Anonymous said...

Thank you for sharing- I am fairly new to blogging and just ran across your site. I am deaf and find it extremely frustrating that there is not enough information about cancer in general for deaf people who rely on sign language for communication. It is my goal to educate them about cancer as well as about heart disease. I lost my husband a few months ago to a massive heart attack which caught all of us by surprise as he was so healthy and passed the stress test beautifully.
Thank you for wanting to educate people about cancer!
Vicki
p.s. If I win, please email me at vickimoseley@comcast.net

Anonymous said...

This so so generous of you! Cancer has touched almost evryone I know; 6 degrees of separation.

My mother-in-law passed away last year from pancreatic cancer. She survived 9 months from the diagnosis. She chose not to do anything but appreciate the days she had left. Tho the doctorw thought she had 4-6 weeks and would suffer at the end...she never once complained of any pain whatsoever.

The doctors were amazed. What happened was that she just got weaker and weaker and lost a lot of weight. My FIL says she never once complained but said she had lived a long and happy life.

We miss her and I feel her presence in almost everything I see around me.