A Visit with Aunt May and a few Awards

On Thursday afternoon when I was out and about, I decided to stop in and see Aunt May. My regular readers will know that Aunt May has bone cancer and spots have shown up in her head and also in her liver. The prognosis is not good.

Aunt May was told years ago she would never be able to have chemo because she suffers from a rare blood condition. All of her problems started when she was diagnosed with breast cancer five years ago. After taking radiation treatments and going for her cancer checkups, she was assured she was cancer free. Then, early in 2007, she began to experience terrible leg pain. The doctor told her it was sciatica. The pain continued to get worse as the months passed and in April 2007, she broke her leg when she turned.

Thus began six months of intense pain, surgery to rebuild a hip and radiation. She finally left the hospital in September but had to continue to have radiation treatments out of town. Then in April 2008, they found she had cancer in her head and in her liver. They told her she would have to have chemo and she told them that she was told she could never take it. They advised her that if she didn't have it she would die within two weeks. With it, she may live two months. That was six months ago and she is still going. Aunt May always was one who would prove the doctors wrong.

Thursday went I stopped for a visit, my mother was there. Aunt May is her sister. We had a nice visit and then Mom got ready to leave. I took a photo of Aunt May and Mom because I know that Aunt May doesn't have much time left. There may never be another opportunity for photos of these sisters. I don't have the photo to show you here, as it was taken on Mom's camera, but as soon as I get a chance, I will post it.

After Mom left, Aunt May confided that she almost wished it was all over. Her right leg gives her terrible pain constantly and now there is cancer in her spine. Sleep is hard to come by because the pain keeps her awake. She always was a petite woman, but she has lost a lot of weight. The cancer is progressing and recently the doctors told her that they have done all they can do. However, Aunt May is a fighter and not one to give up hope. She had another consultation at the cancer hospital today and I don't have that report as yet. I will let you know what they had to say.

I had a great visit with my favorite Aunt. I really hate to lose her but I can't wish for her to go on like she is now. I pray the Lord will take her home and relieve her pain and suffering. Please keep her in your prayers.

The award below was present to me by Hootin' Anni. This is what she said when she passed the award along to me:

Mary for her friendship and loving generosity.

Anni we are like two peas in a pod. We have a lot in common and I value your friendship. You are like a sister to me. I am honored to accept it.

According to Anni's blog, this is to be passed on to 8 blogging friends by paying it forward to those who have brought me laughter, joy and friendship through blogging. So here goes:

Marcel at Sitka Daily Photo

Sharon at Sit with Me Awhile

Virginia at Small Reflections

Tipper at Blind Pig and the Acorn

Lady Di at Kitty Justice

Amy at I Love Retro Things - Amy is my newest blogging friend and I look forward to getting to know her better.

Katherine at Yellow Rose Arbor

BJ at Sweet Nothings

Please accept this award with the love it is given and be sure to pass it on to 8 blogging friends. Though I don't always visit on a regular basis, I value each of you in a special way.

Mari at My Little Corner of the World presented me with the Kreativ Blogger Award. Thank you, Mari. I really appreciate it. Sorry it's taken me so long to post it.

I would like to present this award to all my blogging friends who are creative in any way. It doesn't matter if you knit, crochet, make web graphics or are a great cook. You are welcome to have this award.

Mike at Rambling Stuff thinks I'm an awesome blogger friend. Thank you, Mike. I really appreciate it.

I would like to present this award to the following people:

Hootin' Anni at Hootin' Anni's - Anni, you and I are like sisters . I value your friendship.

Pea at Pea's Corner - Pea and I are both from the same area and have met. Pea, I can hardly wait for us to meet up again. You and Steve are so much fun.

Denise from Samaritan Women - Denise inspires me in a special way.

Ann from Ancient One's Place - Ann, you were the first person to ever comment on my blog. We have been friends from day one. Thank you for your warm welcome and for your lasting friendship.

Denise from Edge of Design - Denise, I value your friendship.

Jeni from Down River Drivel - Jeni, we have much in common and I value your friendship.

Carolyn at Talk to Grams - Your stamina and your positive attitude toward life is a real inspiration.

Mary Isabella at Daisy Bouquet - You are one of my regulars and I always enjoy visiting with you. Kiley, you are also included here. Please take a copy for your blog.

Paula at On a Rainy Night - I always enjoy visiting with you. We share a love of farm and reading.

Denise at Shorty Bear's Place - Denise, you were one of my first blogging friends. Thank you for your lasting friendship.

Mari at My Little Corner of the World - Mari, I always enjoy visiting with you. Thank you for being a regular visitor to my blog.

I have so many other blogging friends and the list could go on and on, but I will leave it at ten for now. Please accept this award with the love it is given and pass it along to others.

Jojo at My Random Insantities gave the following award to all of her visitors. Thank you Jojo, I really appreciate it.

There are no rules that come with this award, so I would like to present it to everyone who visits me, just as Jojo did. So many of you inspire me when I visit your blogs and you all are most deserving.

Thank you to everyone who has present me with an award. I love to display them on my awards pages. All of you are great blogging friends and you mean a lot to me. Though I may not visit as often as I would like, I value your friendship.

In other news, Meeko has been invited to join Rusty's Squirrel Patrol by Rusty at Chasing Squirrles with Rusty. Thank you so much, Rusty. Meeko is honored.

Enjoy your weekend and take some time out to enjoy the sights, sounds and fragrances of the season. ~Blessings, Mary~

A Canadian Hero - His Dream Lives On

On July 28, 1958, a young boy was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba. His name was Terry Fox and little did his parents know at that time that their son would leave his mark on the world.

Terry's parents moved to Port Coquitlam, British Columbia when Terry was still young. He attended Simon Fraser University and in 1976, was chosen to play junior varsity basketball. But after being on the team for only a year, Terry began to have excruitiating pain in his right knee. It turned out that Terry had osteogenic sarcoma, a type of bone cancer. His right leg was amputated to try to prevent the cancer from spreading.

While recuperating from the surgery, Terry read a magazine article about an amputee runner. He made up his mind that he would run across Canada to raise money for cancer research. After he fully recuperated Terry began to train for his run, which he called The Marathon of Hope. Two years after the amputation, Terry started to run at night when no one would see him. He was preparing himself to succeed in his goal.

On April 12, 1980, Terry dipped his articifical leg into the Atlantic Ocean in St. John's Newfoundland and then set off on his Marathon of Hope. He ran an average of 26 miles a day across six provinces.

Everywhere Terry went he was greeted by hundreds of people who lined roads and streets, cheering him on. But when he reached Thunder Bay, Ontario, disaster struck. Terry collapsed. The dreaded cancer had spread to his lungs.

Terry's parents flew in to Thunder Bay and took their son home but the Marathon of Hope was far from over. Isadore Sharp sent Terry a telegram the following day, stating that he would organize a run to raise funds for cancer research. It would be called, The Terry Fox Run.

Terry Fox succumbed to cancer on June 28, 1981. On September 21, 1981, the first Terry Fox Run was held at 760 sites across Canada and around the world. In 2008, the Terry Fox Run will be held on September 14th. The Terry Fox School Run Day will be held on September 26th. Jordan always participates.

For more information on the Terry Fox Run, or to make a donation, visit the website of the Terry Fox Foundation. Every dollar goes toward cancer research.

Note: My prayers are with all of those in the path of Hurricane Ike. Be sure to get in all the supplies you need and stay safe.

Prayer Request

Myspace Christian Comments & Graphics

It's been a while since I posted a prayer request, but we have a grave situation in our family.

Some of you may have noticed that on my sidebar is a ribbon in honor of my Aunt May struggling through bone cancer. She had a masectomy three years ago. In the beginning of 2007, she was having terrible pain in her right leg. She asked the doctor about it many times and he kept telling her it was sciatica.

One day as she was going into the kitchen to start dinner, the telephone rang. She turned to go back to answer and right there in the kitchen doorway, her leg broke. Her husband and son were able to lift her in a chair and get her to the hospital. When they did the x-rays and further tests, they discovered that she had bone cancer.

Aunt May was in hospital from late April until the end of August. They had to place rods in both legs and eventually the surgeon rebuilt her hip. He described it as building a bridge with wire and steel.

A couple of weeks ago I was talking to her and she told me that there is a spot of cancer in her brain. She explained that she had to have further tests so the doctors could determine how much cancer was in her body.

Aunt May was told she couldn't take chemotherapy because she has a rare blood disorder. They did give her a chemo pill, but it wasn't putting the cancer into remission. Last Friday when she went for tests, her doctor told her she had to have chemo while she was there. When she explained about the rare blood disorder he told her that she could take her chances with the chemo and maybe live two months or go home and die within two weeks. She took the chemo. So far she hasn't had any negative repercussions. She has to go for another round of chemo this Friday.

I am worried that because of the blood condition that the chemo could kill her, which is possible. She had been warned never to take it. But what choice does she have with the prognosis she was given. On Friday they also found she has cancer in her spine.

Please pray for God's will in Aunt May's situation. If God is going to call her home, I would like her passing to be pain free. If He has more for her to do here on earth, I hope that the cancer will go into remission and she will be pain free.

My request is simply, "May God's will be done." I do appreciate your prayers. ~Blessings, Mary~