Woman of the Year
On January 19th, 2012 I lost the love of my life to Acute Myelogenous Leukemia. We were together for 21 years, this was not how our love story was supposed to end. Too young, too soon… still so much to do, to see, to experience… How do you go on? How do you continue life without the other half of you? How do you stop crying in the shower, before the water runs cold? How do you get dressed, put on a smile & face the world – alone? How do you believe again, when everything you believed in is gone?
You find a tiny light in the darkness, a ray of hope – a reason that your life is still worth living. You use the experience of fighting Leukemia side by side for 2½ years - 285 nights together in 3 different hospitals & help somebody else on that same difficult journey. You turn the pain, which is so fierce, into determination to find a CURE! Together, we can help LLS and they will find a CURE – this is their mission, this is their goal, this is why they are in existence! YOU can make a difference! YOU can help save a life! YOU can help change the world – please join me: Blood cancer is the enemy, and LLS is our weapon!
Blood cancers don’t discriminate. Eighteen years ago Leukemia took my cousin, Brandon, when he was only 19, starting college, first love – just beginning life. It’s the most common childhood cancer and affects all ages from babies to the elderly and everything in between. Today Over 1 Million People in the U.S. are living with or in remission from Blood Cancers - this is tragic!
I’m committed to fighting in Mike's honor, so someday…another spouse doesn’t have to lose their soul mate, another parent doesn’t mourn their child passing before them, another child doesn't grow up without their mom/dad, another sister/brother doesn’t have to miss their sibling, another person doesn't suffer the loss of their best friend…I BELIEVE there is a cure in the future and LLS is crucial to this vision!
I am very honored to be nominated for 2013 Woman of the Year and to be affiliated with an organization that I truly believe in - the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society! Every dollar counts as a vote and brings us one step closer to our goal to Link Michael's name to an LLS Researcher to honor the strength & determination of his Leukemia Battle and our on-going efforts to help people with cancer!
On-line fundraising concludes on May 15th 2013, a very special date - it would've been our 20th Wedding Anniversary... help me give Mike the greatest Anniversary Gift. As he would always say: "To live in the hearts of those you leave behind - is to never die..."
Thank you with all my heart!!!
