Some of the positives....

ABC321
ABC321 Member Posts: 52
edited December 2011 in Esophageal Cancer #1
Hi folks,
i thought i would write a quick update (from work!) about some of the positive things happening in our lives right now as a result of EC. For those of you who aren't familiar, my partner James has stage 4 and was diagnosed about 3 months ago.
Whilst we have a great medicare system here in Australia and also a good social safety net, james and i decided to organise some fund raising activities to support the treatments that are not covered here. (ie the alternative treatments such as vitimin C etc). The first was a band night that included auctioning sporting memorabilia , hamper auctions etc. James brother organised three bands to play free of charge at a heavily discounted venue. We invited all our family and friends at $25/each. All up the night raised about $4,ooo. In two weeks we are holding a Christmas fund raiser fete at a local town hall (also donated). Our friends are donating kids clothes, cooking, baking, face painting etc, as well as manning the stalls. We have the hall all day and i will be on the sausage sizzle out the front...should be a realy fun day and you know its a great way for family and friends to really help in a practical way. From the beginning our families and friends have cooked, worked on the garden, organised for cleaners, and simply donated money to help out. EC is truely awful but it also highlights the beauty of the human spirit....im choosing to focus on that right now!
XX
Steve

Comments

  • TerryV
    TerryV Member Posts: 887
    #2
    That's a great focus, Steve!
    Isn't it amazing how wonderful people can be? It's a durn shame that it takes the bad to show us truly how good life can be.

    Love the fund raisers that you have done and have coming up. Sounds like a wonderful way to make something good out EC. I wish Oz were closer - I would love to attend :)

    James is (and you by extension!) are in our thoughts and prayers. As are the lovely munchkins in your photo. Cuties!

    Love & Hugs,

    Terry
    Wife to Nick, age 48
    dx T3N1M0 05/19/11
    THE 09/08/11
  • sangora
    sangora Member Posts: 213
    #3
    TerryV said:

    That's a great focus, Steve!
    Isn't it amazing how wonderful people can be? It's a durn shame that it takes the bad to show us truly how good life can be.

    Love the fund raisers that you have done and have coming up. Sounds like a wonderful way to make something good out EC. I wish Oz were closer - I would love to attend :)

    James is (and you by extension!) are in our thoughts and prayers. As are the lovely munchkins in your photo. Cuties!

    Love & Hugs,

    Terry
    Wife to Nick, age 48
    dx T3N1M0 05/19/11
    THE 09/08/11

    Great Focus Steve
    Anytime you can take this mess and turn it into a positive is a good thing. One note of caution. I talked with 2 different oncologist about doing Vit C and they both said that you have to be careful with that in mega doses becaue the vitC working as an antioxident also flush out the chemo drugs thus countering there usefullness. They suggested only doing that the last 10 days before the next treatment cycle.
  • sandy1943
    sandy1943 Member Posts: 824
    #4
    It's great to have the
    It's great to have the loving support that is being shown to James. Good luck on the upcoming fundraiser,
    Sandra
  • Daisylin
    Daisylin Member Posts: 365
    #5
    sandy1943 said:

    It's great to have the
    It's great to have the loving support that is being shown to James. Good luck on the upcoming fundraiser,
    Sandra

    Hi Steve,
    Well, James is certainly lucky to have such a wonderful caring partner. What a great idea to help raise some funds. I am so happy to hear that you were able to raise so much money, and hope your next event is an even bigger success!

    I also would like to post a brief note about how wonderful people are. When Lee was sick, everyone offered to help, and yes they did mean it. At first I was hesitant to bother people for favours, but during the last little while, I asked my dear friends to help with Daisy if I was going to be at the hospital for an extended period, or people to get my garbage out if I forgot, or make calls, shopping trips, mow the lawn, rake the leaves and I don't even remember what else. I had so many offers of help, it was incredible. Not one person made an excuse or was 'too busy' to help out. I had many dear friends, and some people that I barely know drop off food and gifts at my doorstep. (baking, meals, wine, treats, you name it) I had so many special deliveries that I did not have to cook anything for the 3 weeks that Lee was in the hospital.

    Also, I work at a high school in the developmental centre, with special needs kids. I have about 50 co-workers in various classrooms who all decided to take up a very generous collection for me, and also, each class has been taking turns making me care packages, to take home every Friday. These are not your average care packages, they are truly spectacular. My freezer is stocked for the entire winter, gift cards for everything you can think of, candy, chocolate, dog treats..... it's incredible. Lee's co-workers are constantly calling me to see if I need anything 'fixed', any computer problems to sort out and whatnot. I don't even know most of them!! Incredible.

    This has truly taught me how absolutely fantastic, loving and kind people can be. it is truly humbling to know just how generous and wonderful people are. I have learned a very valuable lesson about the kind nature of humans. So many people have reached out to me, strangers, friends, neighbours..... wow. I hope I can somehow return the love to each and every one of them.

    Be well my friends,
    Chantal

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