Dreams.

Since my mom, Grandma M started treatment for cancer I have dreamed about her a couple of times. I guess when something like this is on your mind it tends to come out in your subconscious.

The first dream occurred in the chemo room. I sat and watched  my mom light a cigarette. She took a couple of puffs and then attempted to put it out. The cigarette did not go out all the way. The smoke was swirling from the cigarette and then a nurse walked up to me and got in my face and said, “You know, you can not smoke in here?”

My response was, “It was not me! She was smoking the cigarette!” I woke up at that point.

The next dream I had last night. My mom and I were on a road trip to Salt Lake City of all places. We were supposed to meet up with relatives that I had never heard of. We arrived at the house and spent time with the wife and children. Soon after, the husband came home. He told me that he worked at a Starbucks in a grocery store. He knew that I was unemployed at this time and asked me if I would like to check out his job. I said yes.

Me, my mom and the husband went to the Starbucks. The husband showed me around and then he had me wait on a gentleman. I served him a coffee and french fries. (Yea, I do not think Starbucks serves french fries.)

I turned around and my mom was gone. I wondered where she went. The husband and I got back in the car and on the way home went drove by a big building and I asked if it was the Mormon Temple. He said it was. We arrived back at the house and I asked about my mom. The wife said she left.

My response was, “How will I get home?”

I woke up after that. Mom, you simply must get out of my head! Next, I will wake up strapped to the radiation machine. In a dream of course.

Read about the journey here.

Sydney’s Message.

I’ve written about Sydney Ives before. She was diagnosed with a brain tumor in May of 2008. She fought hard and in November of 2009 she went to heaven. Before she left she inspired many with her attitude and insight.

Cancer has touched my family one too many times.

I woke early this morning, my best time of day, to find a link to this journal entry by Sydney’s mom.

One little girl. One big faith.

Passages

I learned a few days ago of a friend’s entrance to heaven. He fought a battle with cancer.

I. Hate. Cancer.

I first met him more than 25 years ago. He is responsible for my love of lakes and boating. I am not the only one he inspired.

I watched him raise two wonderful boys. He did not have to.

There was laughing. There was eating. There was drinking. Good sometimes, not good other times.

He brought a sack full of

yellow rubber duckies for my

granddaughter’s birthday.

Nuff said.

He was a great friend. He was not perfect. He was a great friend.

He is missed.

This is an artwork from a photo I took of his family’s boat and my family’s boat. Tied to the shore next to each other.

I gave him this artwork as a gift one year.

I call it Buddy Boats.

Because they were.

Rest in Peace Friend.

Climb to Conquer Cancer 2010

When my granddaughter was barely four years old, she was diagnosed with Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). This is a bit of a summary of the disease. ALL is a fast-growing cancer of the white blood cells. Lymphocytes are a type of white blood cells that the body uses to fight infections. In ALL, the bone marrow makes lots of unformed cells called blasts that normally would develop into lymphocytes. However, the blasts are abnormal. They do not develop and cannot fight infections. The number of abnormal cells (or leukemia cells) grows quickly. They crowd out the normal red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets the body needs.

Needless to say our family was devastated with this news. I won’t go into all the specifics, but about 8 weeks after the diagnosis, Butterfly was in remission and after another two years of chemo and treatment she is now cancer free. I may be wrong on all the specifics, but looking back, the whole thing was a blur and I just operated every day making life good for both Cinderella and Butterfly.

Last year my daughter, Cinderella and Butterfly participated in the Climb to Conquer Cancer 2009. This year they participated again. So here are some great pics of them climbing the mountain for a cure.

Angel Tuesday

Today’s Angel is Brianna Sharp. Brianna was a lively 7^th grader when last fall she was diagnosed with diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma, a highly aggressive brain tumor. She went to heaven surrounded by her family on July 25, 2009.

Brianna loved running cross-country at school. She also played the flute in her school band and liked art.

Her father Matt said she had a contagious smile and laugh. She would laugh at his jokes even when they were not that funny.

Brianna kept a daily blog where she has chronicled her battle with cancer. She also describes her life with family and friends.

Brianna’s faith grew during her illness. She wore a cross, carried a rosary and said the Hail Mary. Many family and friends attended her 13th birthday party this past spring.

Brianna is loved and missed by her family, friends and all who knew her. Please say a prayer for Brianna and her family.

Please continue to pray for Lolly Pop Kid and our families. We now have answers as to why Lolly went to Heaven. I will not post that here. The information does not make me feel better. It just breaks my heart more and gives my brain more stuff to think about.

Today is also the start of Childhood Cancer Awarness Month.  This is near and dear to my heart because Butterfly once battled Leukemia and won! Please take a moment to think about the littlist warriors today and through the month.