Today I met a new friend as well. A woman that I have been speaking with for a few weeks that I finally met. I was supposed to have met this woman a while back through another friend but resisted for some reason thinking I didn't need the support. Or wasn't ready to talk or meet other families. Yet now I realize we have a lot in common, seeing as though we both have children that have Leukemia. She has been on this road for many years and would probably hate to admit she is an expert, but when we finally met afte several phone and text conversations it made me realize that I really do need support and someone to talk to. Even though our stories are different and the two of us would probably have never met otherwise we are connected by circumstance. I know that as much as I am concerned with Daniel and his health and well being I only spent a short 30 minutes visiting with her and her breathtakingly beautiful daughter and can't help but hope and pray with every ounce of my being that she finds a donor match and the right treatment so that she never has to come back to this place again. Because no matter how wonderful this hospital is, it is no place to spend your childhood. I hope to continue our new found friendship for support and comfort as well as a possible project that may develop for promoting future bone marrow drives maybe through said Broncos. I also want to thank you for everything you have done on Daniel's behalf. Your heart is in the right place and it means so much to us.
I also met another friend today whose path I had crossed before at a very different time in my life. Who would have ever thought we would have met again under these circumstances. Last time I had met this woman I was donating a small gift from our store for a golf tournament that was held in honor of her sweet angel Melina who unfortunately passed away from Leukemia. We don't donate to every cause. How can you? You have to pick and choose. Right? But this one was important something must have told me. Hmmm. Was it because it was for children. Was something sending a message. And I remembered her when I saw her today as soon as she saw me in the hall and she told me who she was. I remembered why we donated that little lamp. But today when I opened the card that Desiree left us I saw that she had left a very generous gift for us from her foundation. It was created in her child's memory to help families with children with Leukemia like ours. I don't want this gift. I don't need this donation. Not monetarily anyway, but the gesture. Wow. That took me by surprise. As did her words. She said that we were all pat of a club. It is not one that we want to be part of. Interestingly I thought as Desiree met up with me and the other woman and her daughter in the hallway that we were and unlikely threesome of woman that likely would not meet anywhere else in a social situation. But we are all part of this same club that we all want out of and are in for life. Then I was shocked by the fact that Desiree took out her pocketbook and offered (what I assume to be) the same gift to this other family. A gift to another club member. This is her daughter's legacy and what she does. This is how she helps others and my guess is it helps her as well. She left us with prayers for both of our children. Thank you on behalf of the Melina Wachter Foundation. I know that part of your money will be paid forward and be going to two spectacular young woman I am so proud to call friends of ours.
These spectacular people I would like to mention are two phenomenal young ladies that know the importance of friendship and support. Miss Talia Williamson will be holding and Exercise Benefit on September 28th from 1-2pm at Endorphin at Lowry in honor of Daniel and in blessed memory of her cousin Alon, raising money for Leukemia awareness. And Miss Hannah Sidell is doing the Annual Light the Night Walk (15th Anniversary) on October 2nd. Hannah has done this walk every year since I have known her in memory of her Aunt Patti Robinson Kaufmann who died of Leukemia. This year, Hannah will do the walk for her friend Daniel. Hannah is looking for donations and walkers Go see what Hannah's team page and join "In Hannah's Shoes" . Go to http://http://pages.lightthenight.org/rm/DenverL14/hsidell
I am so touched by all these gestures of support.