Today, April 1, is always a very difficult day for my family--there is nothing funny about the day. Ten years ago today, our grandson, Nathan, was diagnosed with neuroblastoma. He was 2 1/2. He was a courageous fighter for 4 1/2 years before he lost the battle. He suffered through many treatments, surgeries, a bone marrow transplant, trips to Denver and New York City for care. He had great pain and a beautiful smile. Cancer was all he knew for most of his life.
During that time, there were many people, many people, who reached out a loving hand--a hand of friendship, courage, support, gifts, love, tears, smiles, and did I mention the tremendous amount of love my family felt? We will always have Nathan with us. We carry him in our hearts as do many that were touched by him during those most difficult years.
(Easter 2007)
Today, I spent the better part of the day working on a quilting project for another cancer victim. The son-in-law of one of my very good Red Hat friends has been diagnosed with cancer and is undergoing treatments. His outlook does not look promising, and yet, many people are supporting him just as our family was supported when Nathan was sick. Prayer is a very powerful tool. Many of us are now praying for Dan. On Saturday, there will be a benefit to help him and his family with the many bills that accumulate with cancer treatments. My quilting project today is for Dan, for his benefit. I don't think it will bring a lot of money, but it will show my love and support for my friend and her family--and every little bit helps--financially and emotionally when you and your family are in the cancer battle.
Good luck to Dan and Lois and the rest of the family. Many prayers and blessings are flowing your way.
Tomorrow, I will donate blood--just another way to pay it forward.
