Friday, August 28, 2009

Stuart Little

I received this in an e-mail from a mother. It touched my heart. And it is the reason I have this blog. For all the Stuarts in the world. Please read this with an open heart. I had spoke on an earlier blog about how easy it is to get on the bone marrow registry.
A simple form, a simple swab on the inside of your mouth and you could be a true life saver!

This has become Stuart’s new role in life; he needs someone to be his match.
In 2008 a normal life changed when Stuart was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. He had been a successful real estate agent with a promising future before the devastating news of leukemia. He had spent 6 yrs in the navy and fought in several conflicts. His last tour was in Operation Enduring Freedom. His navy career had been the most important and satisfying part of his life. He left the navy for the next aspect of his life. We don’t always know where that is.

His diagnosis has turned our family upside down. We have always been close and his diagnosis has changed our lives forever. He has gone through intense chemo treatments and many complications. He keeps his spirits high as his treatments take a toll on his body. He has completed his treatments and is doing well now.

This is where he needs your help to recover and get back to a well and productive life. He needs a bone marrow transplant. This procedure is one needed by thousands of people daily in order to save their lives. The need for donors has hit close to home for us since Stuart has been on the National Registry and has yet to find a donor.

Everyday new donors are signed up in the bone marrow donor program. If your not one of those who has signed up our plea is to you. The test involves a mouth swab to check for a match. The procedure is so simple if you’re a donor, one that can truly save a life and change yours forever.

Stuart, a person willing to put himself out to help wherever he could help, has always been there if anyone needed a helping hand. He needs help now from the person out there that could be his match. Do the right thing, sign up today. He might just be waiting for you.

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Making Progress

Well, today I found a sponsor to purchase the small tree that will be used to show off Aunt Sue's pink & white ornaments. We will display this starting Sept. 19th at a craft show where we will sell the first raffle tickets. Then it will be on display at our donor center and at Relay. We will raffle it off on Nov. 1. This tree is in honor of breast cancer awareness month.
It will give me a little idea of how the big tree will do. I hope we can work out any little "bugs" we find before we display the big tree.
I am going to try to find a sponsor for the big tree. If someone purchases or donates the tree for us, then that is less money being spent on it and more money for Relay.
The sponsor is Redwoods Inc. here in Waco. They sell, well, redwood. Along with other stuff! LOL.
By the way, if you are interested in donating for the cause, see the link on the top right hand side of my blog where it says Stitching for a Cure Relay Team. Follow the instructions to donate online or there is a form you can print off to send in a check.
Thanks to Redwoods and to all the stitchers who have been a part of this great program. We are getting down to the wire!

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Aunt Sue's ornaments

If you would like to see a picture of Aunt Sue's ornaments please go to http://lonestarstitcherandherramblings.blogspot.com
My dear friend Cindy, Aunt Sue's niece, has them on her blog and since my camera seems to not want to work, it is a blessing to see them posted somewhere.
We are going to display the ornaments on a 4 1/2 foot lighted tree. They will go up on Sept. 21st and will be shown at Relay For Life on Oct. 17th. It will then go back to our donor center and will be raffled off on Oct. 31st. Since October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, this is just a perfect way to raise money for cancer awareness!
Thanks again to Aunt Sue! And to Cindy, love you girl!

Monday, August 3, 2009

I know, I know

I know it has been a long time since I posted. I am sorry. There is much to report.
However, I must have used my camera too much on my vacation last week because I can't get it to take a picture to save my soul.
So I will try to be as descriptive as possible.
First off, let me tell you that Jo's Bear and the Peace,Love & a Cure pillow made by Marian of Gumbo and Grits made $180 from the raffle we did for them! Wowie!
Thanks Marian! We are off to a great start!
Second, I have received many, many ornaments. I received some from Janet today that are beautiful and one from Bree today. All are just lovely.
Last week I received a box of 30 (yes THIRTY) ornaments from Wanda Neal. She participated in a contest with a Yahoo group and was the winner of the most ornaments made. They are just beautiful. Each one has it's own "personality".
Today I also received a box of pink and white machine stitched ornaments from Cindy's Aunt Sue from NC. There are 64 ornaments in the box including a beautiful angel tree topper. Some ornaments are 3 dimensional. Some go over pink glass balls. There are tear drops, ball ornaments, angels, Cure ribbons, just everything.
I have decided since these ornaments go so well together that we are going to do 2 trees! The one with Aunt Sue's ornaments will be a small tree, maybe 4 feet, maybe 5 depending on when I spread the ornaments out and see what size tree we need.
The other ornaments are going to go on a 6 1/2 foot tree. I think we will do $1 a ticket for the smaller tree and $5 a ticket for the larger tree.
My fear was that some people wouldn't want to risk $5 on just one ticket. But they might risk $5 on 5 tickets.
At this point the big tree is almost complete. I know Cindy and a few others have ornies they are finishing up and with those I think we will be set.
But if you want to make an ornament and haven't yet, please don't stop. Every ornament will be used to raise money. If we have more than will fit on the tree, we will sell the individual ornaments.
Prayerfully I will get my camera up and running so you can see some of the beautiful work that has been sent to me.
You all have been such a blessing. Right now our SFAC has brought in a total of $205 for cancer awareness (all to ACS). Our goal is $5000 and I think, no I believe, we will go over that goal.
You all are ANGELS. Your gift that has been given to you has been put to great use. THANK YOU VERY MUCH! I may not meet all of you in person, but I can truly say I love you. Such generous, sweet people. Bless you all!
I will update you all along the way to the big day, the day before Thanksgiving when we raffle off BOTH trees! TWO TREES! Who woulda thunk it?