Prayer's Please

Hello All,

A lot has happened in the last week.  Last Wednesday was Carolyn's CAT scan.  The results showed minmal tumor shrinkage.  This was disappointing news for everyone.   Fortunately,  her doctor's did not skip a beat.  I am happy to say today she arrived in Maryland.  Tomorrow she has an interview with the staff at the National Cancer Institute to determine if she will be an eligible candidate for clinical trials.   Carolyn has asked me to type a little message tonight and ask everyone to send her lots of thoughts, prayers, and positive energy.  She really needs it over the next 48 hours.  We are all very hopeful that she will get into the program at NIC and can start healing soon.

Thank you all for your continued support,
Val

Fabulous Fundraising!!

     

The Great Wave off Kanagawa by Katsushika Hokusai

     
    A little over a month ago I started an online fundraiser for my sister.  The overall success of the fundraiser has far exceeded anything I could have dreamed of.  I am forever grateful to all of those who has given, and continue to give support and prayers. 


    It was funny how it came to me,  I went to CT to visit family for Christmas.  After seeing my sister, I was laying in bed late at night sobbing a bit about how sick she is and realizing she needed some immediate financial  help.  If I could not make her feel better maybe I could help take some stress out of her life.  I was racking my brain as to what kind of fundraiser I could do for her, something BIG, something epic, something  LIVESTRONG style.  As I cried I flipped through the TV channels and the story of one woman's infertility caught my attention.  The woman was explaining how she and her husband had always wanted children, had difficulty conceiving,  and now wanted to try in vitro  fertilization.  The cost was 8000 dollars and they did not have it.  They proceed to tell of a website that they listed their story to raise money.  There goal was 8000 in 30 days and they raised 10,000 in just  6 days!  I knew this was the answer.  I spent a few weeks perusing the website, trying to figure out how it worked.   In this day of social media it seemed like a godsend had fallen into my lap.   I went "live" with the fundraiser on a Thursday evening, posted it on my facebook page.  Our goal was to raise 2000 dollars in 90 days.  We hit our goal within the first 12 hours and the total continues to grow.  In addition to the online fundraiser,  I have also received some very generous checks in the mail.  


    Earlier this week a milestone was set, we hit 10,000 dollars!!  This is such a blessing to for my sister, and again I can not thank you all enough for your support!  We have 49 days left in the fundraiser.  If I had it to do again I would have made the length only 30 days, but I set it at 90 and can't change that now,  so on we go for 49 more days.  


    In the days to come,  I can only hope that my sister continues to feel better, heal, and keep finding strength to fight.  Today, Carolyn is in Boston, meeting with doctors and receiving a second CAT scan to determine if there has been any shrinkage in her tumors.  We are all anxiously waiting the results,  praying that the treatment so far has been successful.  I will be sure to post results when I find out.


    If anyone is interested in sharing the fundraising information, Carolyn's story can be found at...
www.indiegogo.com/Carolyn-Gifford-Brennan-Fundraiser   We are asking contributors to pay though paypal when possible.   Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!! 


  

And so it goes...

One of my all time favorites,  Hieronymus Bosch,  Garden of Earthly Delight,  center panel. 

Hello All, 


      Tomorrow marks the 3rd week of Carolyn's treatment.  Last week she was experiencing small bursts of energy allowing her to do small tasks like cook a meal or make her bed.  These are small but positive signs.  One nurse said, if you are seeing positive results on the outside that means something good is happening on the inside. This week the treatment is catching up with her and causing more uncomfortable side effects, but she is so strong and she continues to fight.  Next week will mark 4 weeks of treatment and a repeat CT scan will be performed.  If all is going well,  we will see tumor shrinkage.  I will be sure to update this blog as soon as we have good news.  Please continue to send prayers and positive energy Carolyn's way.  She has received several thoughtful gifts including a prayer shall and healing stone bracelet.   We can not thank you all enough for the outpouring of support. 

Be Well, 
Val