Sunday, November 28, 2010

When A Town Comes Together To Help One Of Their Own...

Very recently a friend of mine was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma.  Some of you may have read about the efforts local business owners were doing to help keep her 125 yr. old business running.  The story of her illness, lack of medical insurance and all that the wonderful volunteers have done to help her have been posted in the Chicago Tribune, LA Times and the NY Times. 
 
Her family has been a fixture in our growing downtown for 125 years.  When it was time to buy your gym uniform, you went to Keeneys.  When you ordered your lettermen jacket, it came from Keeneys.  You're a hunter?  You bought your ammo, hunting knives etc. from Keeneys. 

Pat is a unique woman.  She has an aura about her that no other can duplicate.  From her turquoise jewelry that she is never seen without, to her long and wavy hair, she is a woman of style, substance and certainty. 
On Saturday December 11, a local Italian restaurant will host a fashion show with local residents modeling the vintage clothing and jewelry from her store.   The money raised from this event will go towards some of the medical bills and other expenses.  With the help of local businesses, friends and family, Pat will weather this storm as will her store.  This town has come together and united to help one of their own so that Keeneys Sporting Goods can continue to call this town home for maybe another 125 years.
                                                                  


                                                                          

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Cancer-It Comes In All Kinds...

I guess you could say that I've had a pretty good assortment on the different types of cancer in my family.  Lets see, besides breast cancer, we've had leukemia, bone, ovarian and lung cancers...x's 3 on the latter type.  Right now I have a 54 yr. old cousin battling this dreaded and ugly beast termed SCLC or as it's commonly called... small cell lung cancer.  I lost my mother as well as her mom to lung cancer. 

Now, being that I am a cancer survivor,  I remember the feelings that some may go through when diagnosed as well as the truly crappy feeling that over comes you while going through the malady of treatments.  I can also be very empathetic, but one thing I can't understand is the feeling you have when you're told by your doctors that in order to even try to get an extended lease on life, you need to travel 1,000 miles from your home and go to the Mayo Clinic in Arizona. 

That is exactly where my cousin and his wife are traveling to today. 

They're traveling in hopes that the doctors at the Mayo Clinic will have better options, treatments and maybe give to him just a little more time.  A little more time to spend with his grandchildren and hold his newest grandson.  A little more time to spend with his wife, now that the kids are all grown up and gone.
But there's one thing my cousin is.  He's a realist.  He knows how sick he is.  He knows that this maybe a long shot.  But he knows he must try.  Because everyday researchers and scientists are discovering new drugs so that people with that dreaded beast can maybe have an extended lease on life. 
Just like the one I was given....

To my cousin....you are in my thoughts, my prayers, and in my heart...

I love you cuz....