Hawks!!!

Chicago, Illinois - Hockey Fights Cancer is my next nod to the silent supporters in the fight against cancer. The reigning Stanley Cup Champions - the Chicago Blackhawks (I'm woozy just being able to say that in one sentence...) recently hosted HFC in their house. It was out in the news but didn’t get nearly the attention it deserved. This team quietly and diligently worked to insure that several cancer foundations all were able to receive incredible donations.

Their staff members are amazing - so kind, so generous. They worked well over 14 hours in one day to make it all happen smoothly and seamlessly. One gal told me 'You know, you work every day so hard but then you get a day like today. It all seems worthwhile when you get to give back.' Amen! The players wives came out on the concourse to sell pucks to raise money - that’s right, the players wives. Tell me how many wives of pro athletes would take the time to help out in such a public and open manner? Amazing.

And then there was the golden moment. (Golden, get it? Golden ... jet ... ok, anyway ...) My son was put on the zamboni for the beginning of the game. This little boy who wasn’t supposed to make it this far, according to some. He had all that chemo in utero, who knew he would get this far? Who would have guessed that I would survive to see him do this fun thing? Now he and his sisters are in Chicago with the best hockey team on the planet. A big thank you to my friend Ashley and to the Chicago Blackhawks. Your hearts are all bigger than Lord Stanley's Cup.

Blackhawks

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - We salute you, too. Thanks for all you do for us cancer patients, and congratulations on Lord Stanley’s Cup. Well done, well deserved.

“Quamtotius”

WARSAW, INDIANA - We are all, we are total, we are complete. We cancer warriors may have had bits and pieces of us removed, medicated or radiated, but we are still whole people. We are varied; there is not a segment of society that hasn't been touched by cancer, not a race, not a religion, not a height nor weight group that doesn’t wear our badge. We are all totally different and yet have so much in common. Here are my unique bits: I myself like hockey. A lot. Chicago Blackhawks, thank you very much. (Check out my Blackhawks sweater.) I am a mommy and think my children have flawless hearts and souls. I am a wife, and think my husband deserves more than I can ever give him. I am a daughter, and while I have a 'bucket list', I am sad to think that my mom never got to finish her own list. I am an American, and have voted for all major parties. I am an employee, and have fierce loyalty to Vera Bradley because they are American dreamers that actually included compassion in their dreams. I am a Christian, and in honor of that I try to love everyone. You may not be any of those things, but still you have cancer in your life. Doesn’t that just bind us all the more to one another?

So this is me, and I am the cancer everyman. We don’t just wear hospital gowns; so keep in mind that when you sit next to someone on the train, at church, at the ice rink, in the restaurant, in the theatre, at the game. We own the local pottery studio, work at the local insurance company, the local car wash, and in the cubical just down from yours. Thank you, to those that donate to help one or all of us. =We can't all say thank you, but I know we all wish we could!