Relentless...

Hello Dear Community

Noah and I are back safe and sound from Chicago.

Gosh I love that City!

I do have to say, that it was more challenging then I had anticipated. And that I didn’t realize how fragile my lungs were until I started to walk around, do the airport thing (ugh) and try to just in general be a tourist.

I managed though and listened to my body. Napped when I needed to, listened to my guided visualization CDs every night and sometimes in the afternoon.

The heat and humidity was difficult and I’m happy to be in the moist foggy air of SF. yummie!!

But we had a great time. THE COLOR PURPLE and WICKED and the Gospel at House of Blues were all wonderful.

I got to see my Aunt Carol and Uncle Jim and Cousins Patrick and Nancy. I haven’t seen them in YEARS, I’m talking years and years. And it felt so natural and welcoming and loving to connect.

My cousin Patrick is like a powerhouse for fundraising and not only was generous himself but has been rallying his coworkers and friends to donate to Light the Night.

I admire that, I’m the one walking and asking for money is challenging at times for me. Money is a weird thing and can make people uncomfortable and feel pressured. Why is that?

But I started thinking about a few things.

My red wrist band that has been on my wrist since October was given to me by the Leukemia Lymphoma society. It says RELENTLESS.

That means a lot. That is how they are in that organization, which is why there have been so many improvements in treatments and care. That is why so many more people are surviving, especially children. Because they are relentless to find a cure and that has been done thru raising money thru Team in Training and Light The Night and tons of other fundraising programs.

The question came up, how much of the money goes to the actual programs and I was told at least 75%

I think that is pretty good percentage and I know first hand that there are not a ton of people who are paid in that organization and there are a lot of happy volunteers.

So I just wanted to put that out there for you, in case you were thinking one of these things.

1. I wonder exactly how much of that money goes to programs
2. I can’t walk because I don’t like asking people for money, could I raise enough?
3. What difference can 5.00 make or whatever I can give... (The answer it makes a HUGE difference, because with any donation goes intention and THAT is powerful)
4. What ever else you may or may not be thinking.....like man, that Prednisone is making Victoria pushy and aggressive :)

Whatever the case may be, its OK. I think these things sometimes too.

But then I look at my wrist and I see the red band and I see the word RELENTLESS and I think how many times in our lives have we had to be Relentless to have something amazing happen? I bet at least a few times.

I think of my cousin with his sweet heart getting all his people to donate and I'm like wow, he is RELENTLESS, and even though I am just getting to know him again, I am pretty sure this is one of his shinning qualities.

At the end of tonight’s loving rant I am cutting and pasting the response I received from my contact at LLS.org. I asked her exactly how much of the money raised goes to all the programs.

I'd love for you to see what she had to say.

I love all the support you all give whether you are able to give money or not. Whether you are able to join the team and walk. Your prayers our powerful, your intentions felt, your love seeps into my heart and is aiding in my healing right now. Please know that.

I just had to send out this email, because this is what I am thinking about, waiting to take meds, eyes half open, running on Central time.

Sweet Dreams all...

Thank you for all you do. Thank you for Relentless love and prayers and Visions of my full recovery and return to Full Vital Health!!

Below is the response I received.


WHERE DO YOUR DOLLARS GO?

The Society is proud to be one of the most efficiently managed non-profits in the country with approximately 75 cents of every dollar spent directly on mission-related activities.

Research: Since 1949, the Society has invested more than $483 million in research, $58 million in fiscal year 2006 alone. Society-funded research has directly contributed to many breakthrough cancer treatments, such as, chemotherapy, bone marrow and stem cell transplantation and new, targeted oral therapies such as GleevecTM, might never have happened were it not for the kinds of research funded by the Society.

Patient Services: The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society provides a wide range of services to patients such as family support groups, an extensive educational web site with web “chat” support programs, free seminars and conferences, and direct patient financial


WE ARE RELENTLESS FOR A CURE

The bad news…

• There is no known cure.
• Leukemia remains a leading cause of cancer related death in children.
• Leukemia and lymphoma are the leading fatal cancers in young men under 35.
• Every five minutes, someone is newly diagnosed with a blood cancer.
• Every ten minutes, another child or adult is expected to die from a blood-related cancer.
• 785,829 Americans are presently living with leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease or myeloma.

The good news…

• In 1960, the five-year survival rate for children with the most common form of leukemia was just 4%. Today, it is 80%!
• A newly FDA approved drug, Gleevec, has been shown to normalize blood counts in nearly all patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML).


Namaste
Victoria