I'll wear yellow.
I'll wear blue.
I will wear these colors to remember to pray for you.
These bracelets around our wrists are not just symbols....they are real reminders for me. They are real battles being fought, and real spirits being tried.
Don't we all tend to get complacent in our lives when the wheels are turning, the sun rises and sets and we all go on....? What if your world were to suddenly get rocked? Everything was upside down? How would you respond? Things like this show us what we are made of....good, bad, ugly or triumphant.....
The blue bracelet is for a seven year old boy named Forester who is battling cancer in the form of a brain tumor. Medulloblastoma is the official name. It is an ugly name. He's only 7! SEVEN. The same age as my son. He is about to endure his second round of chemo and radiation. This is a terrible thing for anyone, let alone a 7 year old to endure when he should be riding bikes and swimming in the hot summer sun. But, the cards were dealt and he got a bad hand. Now instead of playing like other carefree seven year olds....he is enduring. And fighting. What a hand, but what a testimony of bravery. How would you handle that?
The yellow bracelet has had many meanings over the years. One of admiration to a great athlete who overcame a significant battle. One of allegiance to a spirit of determination. One for a grandfather who lost a battle to cancer....in the form of pneumonia that took advantage of a chemo-laden immune system. But the most significant meaning yet would be for my father-in-law. The athletic, super-fit, super-consultant, marathon-runner, comedian extraordinaire, father of 6, grandfather of my two, plus 5 (soon-to-be 6) others...father to my husband, was recently given a terrible diagnoses. Cholangiocarcinoma. Another ugly word. Cancer of the bile duct. 1 in 100,000 people....rare.... WHAT???!!!
So, we buck up. We pray. And we conquer. This terrible disease has met it's match. As he said, ironically, this is the real marathon he has been training for. He ran the Boston Marathon in April, his doctors say they couldn't wish for a better patient for overcoming any surgical "issues". The best of the best have rearranged their schedules to fit him in. If anyone can do it, he can. So, LIVESTRONG GeezerJock. You are an inspiration to us all.
If you will...please remember J's dad, "Grampa Bill" in your thoughts and prayers on Monday June 15th when he goes in for surgery. 7 hours...for complete tumor removal and no sign of cellular spread into his liver or pancreas. This is still unknown information to us all. If you want more information on Bill's progress and condition, check out this nifty blog.
The blue bracelet is for a seven year old boy named Forester who is battling cancer in the form of a brain tumor. Medulloblastoma is the official name. It is an ugly name. He's only 7! SEVEN. The same age as my son. He is about to endure his second round of chemo and radiation. This is a terrible thing for anyone, let alone a 7 year old to endure when he should be riding bikes and swimming in the hot summer sun. But, the cards were dealt and he got a bad hand. Now instead of playing like other carefree seven year olds....he is enduring. And fighting. What a hand, but what a testimony of bravery. How would you handle that?
The yellow bracelet has had many meanings over the years. One of admiration to a great athlete who overcame a significant battle. One of allegiance to a spirit of determination. One for a grandfather who lost a battle to cancer....in the form of pneumonia that took advantage of a chemo-laden immune system. But the most significant meaning yet would be for my father-in-law. The athletic, super-fit, super-consultant, marathon-runner, comedian extraordinaire, father of 6, grandfather of my two, plus 5 (soon-to-be 6) others...father to my husband, was recently given a terrible diagnoses. Cholangiocarcinoma. Another ugly word. Cancer of the bile duct. 1 in 100,000 people....rare.... WHAT???!!!
So, we buck up. We pray. And we conquer. This terrible disease has met it's match. As he said, ironically, this is the real marathon he has been training for. He ran the Boston Marathon in April, his doctors say they couldn't wish for a better patient for overcoming any surgical "issues". The best of the best have rearranged their schedules to fit him in. If anyone can do it, he can. So, LIVESTRONG GeezerJock. You are an inspiration to us all.
If you will...please remember J's dad, "Grampa Bill" in your thoughts and prayers on Monday June 15th when he goes in for surgery. 7 hours...for complete tumor removal and no sign of cellular spread into his liver or pancreas. This is still unknown information to us all. If you want more information on Bill's progress and condition, check out this nifty blog.
Thanks, Sweetie: You have moved me to tears...I'm trying to be strong here. I will be wearing my yellow band after surgery again...as I have for every marathon run. It's now got even more significance than ever for me. All my marathoning diligence has been training me for this moment in our lives unknowingly. I am being pushed and challenged to keep learning and growing for a reason...who the hell am I to question the why of it...I just take it on as another of life's growth moments. I'm ready as I'll ever be so bring it on Monday and beyond. Love and care to all, "Dad/GrampaBill "
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