Friday, February 03, 2012
Laurianne's Hope For a Cure
I will never knowingly give another dime to The Susan G. Komen Foundation. I made this decision when I heard that The Susan G. Komen Foundation was suing people for using the phrase, "For A Cure." In fact, I won't even buy toilet paper if it has Susan G. Komen Foundation's label on it. I would rather grab a handful of leaves outside. There are other types of cancers besides breast cancer, and there are other people who are looking for a cure for the cancers that their family members have developed. Apparently, the survival rate of breast cancer has gotten high enough that instead of focusing on other types of cancers that could use the donated funds for research, SGK has decided it was more important to sue individuals for using "For a Cure." It could just be you and me, and their legal bloodhounds would be on us quicker than you can say "pink".
Cancer has affected my family. This blog was created because lung cancer has affected my family. My grandmother and three aunts have had breast cancer, and I am sure their survival can be attributed to cancer research funding. But what about funding for lung cancer? Or prostate cancer, ovarian cancer, bone cancer, leukemia, melanoma, esophageal cancer, brain cancer...and the list could go on and on. Where is the aid for people who do not have breast cancer, but they do have cancer? Why can't the SGK Foundation take some of their funding, and instead of suing people who are trying to find a cure for their stricken loved ones, they help fund some of the research for other types of cancers. The very fact that they pursue people who use their "For the Cure" branding makes me feel like they are making too much money and don't know what to do with it.
The SGK Foundation was built by Nancy Brinker, Susan Komen's sister. I used to admire her for putting herself out there, and trying to help people because she lost her sister to an insidious disease. But Nancy Brinker isn't the only one who lost a sister to cancer. I am sure there are people in this world who can point to themselves and say that they have lost their sister to cancer. I am one of those people. I don't think there is anyone in this world who can truly say they have not been affected by cancer in one way or another.
Of course, unless you live under a rock, you probably have heard of SGK Foundation's decision to stop funding Planned Parenthood. No matter what reason you believe they have for pulling the funding, the thing is that there are women who may only be able to get or afford their health check-ups through this organization. With this funding being pulled, what are the chances that someone may not get the early detection they need to beat the disease? When did the almighty dollar become so much more important than saving lives?
When my sister was diagnosed with lung cancer, she decided to put herself out there and raise funds for cancer prevention. She wanted a world where Calem didn't have to worry about cancer, a world that was cancer-free. In her own words....
I am amazed how many people are affected. I read that 1 in 3 people will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their life! I hope that Calem and his generation will not have to worry about cancer as much as we do.
Posted by Lynda ::
7:00 AM ::
---------------------------------------
Wednesday, April 06, 2011
International Chocolate Cake Day is Here!!!
Today is International Chocolate Cake Day!! Today family and friends from all over the world eat a piece of cake in Laurianne's Honor. We do this to remember her life, and because chocolate cake was one of her favorite foods.
Happy 31st Birthday, Laurianne!! I hope you are having a huge party in heaven!!!
Posted by Lynda ::
11:26 PM ::
---------------------------------------
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Laurianne's Hope is in the News
Laurianne's brother, Mike, was featured in the an article from the San Francisco Examiner. Kiara, the cat Mike is fostering, is a cancer survivor and Mike is looking to find her a home in Sonoma County. The reporter also mentioned our blog, so if you came here from the San Francisco Examiner article, welcome!
Posted by Lynda ::
1:52 PM ::
---------------------------------------
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Four Years Ago
Labels: cancer sucks, Laurianne, lung cancer
Posted by Lynda ::
1:29 AM ::
---------------------------------------
Friday, June 26, 2009
Inked
Yesterday was a day full of excitement. Did you hear the news? I'm sure everyone did. Yes, folks, it is really true....
My dad got a tattoo! His first tattoo!
After my sister died, my dad had decided he wanted this. I was against it at first, because it was right after my sister died, and I have heard that in times of tragedy people do things they may regret. Plus, my dad is a clean-cut, old-fashioned kind of guy. He doesn't like long hair or earrings on men. When my sister had a port installed to help with administering her cancer medication, I remember her saying, "I got three tattoos and Mommy and Daddy weren't even mad at me!" because they tattooed three dots on her chest for the port. And when my brother got tattooed, I vaguely recall neither of my parents were too happy about it. So, I think Laurianne would have agreed with me that my dad didn't really like tattoos.
My mom initially wasn't happy at all that my dad wanted to ink something on his arm. But almost a year after Laurianne passed away, she ended up going into surgery, and waking up looking at the ceiling, glad she was alive. And she said she was only going to tell him once, but if he wanted his tattoo, he could go ahead and get it, because life was too short to argue about such things. And still my dad faltered. He respects my mom, and didn't want to upset her. But the other day, after some discussion to make sure she was ok with it, I'm sure, he started talking to my brother about taking some action.
But the other day, my brother was over and he said that my dad was going to meet him yesterday to "talk about guy stuff". And I said, "Oh, you are going to look at tattoos." I think he was a little surprised that it wasn't a big secret, but he said, "Yeah." And so my dad left at 1 p.m. that afternoon. My brother called later about some celebrity stuff going on, to see if my mom had heard the news. And we found out that beyond looking, they decided to get the tattoo done.
My dad came home excited, showing off his newly wrapped brand on his arm. I took a picture. When he removed the saran wrap, I took another picture. Now, almost four years later, my dad is finally inked. And it wasn't a hasty, impulsive decision.
We can only hope he won't want a motorcycle again.
****
Every year my family takes walks in the American Cancer Society's Relay For Life in memory of my sister, Laurianne. This year, I would like to raise $2500 in donations and walk 25 miles in her memory. To donate, please visit: http://main.acsevents.org/goto/lyndas_page
Posted by Lynda ::
1:00 PM ::
---------------------------------------
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Call Me Crazy, But....
My sister did Relay For Life for the first time in 2005. She wore this hat. I didn't make it to Relay that year. I remember her saying to me, "Next year, we will do Relay For Life together!" The next month, cancer took her from us, and our Relay For Life walk was not to be. However, I think that in a way, she was there with me the next year. Our local American Cancer Society dedicated the next Relay For Life to my sister. That year, I was pumped up and ready to go. That year, and every year after, I wore my sister's pink hat and I walked in Relay For Life. That first year, my dad handed me that purple "Cancer Sucks" button, and not wanting to poke the hat, I strung the pin through the hat's tag where it has stayed ever since.
The following two Relays was also good for me. I asked some bloggers if they would mind if I walked in memory of their lost loved ones, and they agreed. I always think of the people who I have met that have been affected by cancer. But last year, I just didn't have my heart into it. While in the past, I asked the online community to help me with donations, I think I did one post. And one person who has always been anonymous has always donated. (Thank you, anonymous person! I do know who you are!) It seemed harder and harder to ask for donations. I still wore the pink hat, I still thought of the people. Even though I haven't forgotten what cancer took for me, I felt sure that others were tired of me talking about my sister and her cancer. But every year, I wear the pink hat and I do my laps around the track.
But last weekend, it hit me. People are still dying of cancer. People of all ages. Mothers and fathers. Sisters and brothers. Friends. Aunts. Uncles. Cousins. All three of my mom's sisters are battling cancer right now. One of my aunts signed up for Relay For Life within minutes when my mom sent out the email a few weeks ago. And I procrastinated. But I've signed up now.
And as I was walking the other day, I realized I wanted to try and get more donations than ever. And I wanted to try to do something to motivate me to raise some money this year.
My sister was 25 when she died of lung cancer. Ironically, this year is also Relay For Life's 25th anniversary. So, my plan this year is to try and raise at least $2500 in donations. And if I raise this much, I intend to walk 25 miles. Part of me doesn't think it can be done. Part of me says there is no way I am going to get enough donations to have to walk 25 miles, so hey, I can just do things I always have done. But, I'm going to train for it, none the less. Because maybe the community out there will prove me wrong. If you are interested in proving me wrong, the link to my page is: http://main.acsevents.org/goto/lyndas_page
Are you willing to help spread the word and prove me wrong? Labels: awareness, cancer sucks, Laurianne, Laurianne's hope, organizations, Relay For Life, support
Posted by Lynda ::
4:17 PM ::
---------------------------------------
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Cancer Still Sucks
I feel a certain indescribable pain every time I hear that someone has cancer. I don't remember being as emotional before my sister died. I have met people through this great World Wide Web who have cancer. The amazing thing is that they are all fighters. What can you do, but fight?
Once again, I am bawling over my keyboard for one of these great fighters, someone who ended up losing their fight. Lisa was a wonderful person. I have never seen a community pull together for someone before, like the blogging community did for her. I emailed her last September about Relay for Life, and she was so friendly. It pained me to see her fight this, another young mother, whose children will have to grow up without her.
Rest in Peace, Lisa.
Labels: awareness, cancer, cancer sucks, ovarian cancer
Posted by Lynda ::
12:27 AM ::
---------------------------------------
Support A Cause
