Ok All...

geotina said:

Dear Donna
People are not offering you a handout. They are giving you a gift. Please do not consider it a handout, it is not. Living in Michigan I know how hard the midwest has been hit. Our unemployment is now at about 20% and Ohio is right beind us. Please throw your pride out the window and accept the gifts with the love that is behind them. One day in the future when things are brighter, you can help someone else, be a part of the circle. Tina

ITS A GIFT, GIRLFRIEND
Gifts are not paid back, I am just thankful I am in a position that I can offer something. Like I said I was going to donate money anyway, would rather see it go to a family member here....So there your not the BOSS OF ME....LOL

Love ya
Beth

Paying you back
For the most part I'm a read only member. I've posted a few times when I needed the help of friends that understand what I'm going through. You responded to my first post 2 days after diagnosis. I was scared and lonely and needed comforting. You paid that bill for me, and many of your post to others have also comforted me. You need to let us pay you back and selfishly let us make sure you're there for us through the holidays.

Dear Donna,we love you
Dear Donna,we love you too.We all struggle with life in one way or another.As a new immigration to the U.S,I don't have a job.My poor hubby has to work no matter how sick he feels, otherwise we will be in trouble.Today is his chemo day,but after we were back from the hospital,he still had to deal with all the phone calls from the customers.Last weekend we had to drive through the snow from Canada all the way down to NH for almost 8 hours.I am so heartbroken.I wish my hubby could just stay at home and rest,but life doesn't work out this way.Dear Donna,I wish you and your family merry Christmas and happy new year.You are your family are in my prayers.Best wishes to you.

Shayenne said:

Hi Diane!!
Thanks for that, we've asked for assistance before, but apparently, my hubby makes 29 dollars too much to get food stamps, and since we own a 2005 Kia van, we don't qualify for anything, believe me, we've tried, but here we put money in the system, but when you really need some help as well, it isn't there for you.

I don't go to churches, and I don't like asking people for money. We got into this, we gotta get ourselves out of it. My hubby works as a highway construction worker, paving roads, so there is no work for them in the winter, they get laid off in the winters, and back to work in like March, living on unemployment, which still doesn't make ends meet, but it's higher than minimum wage, and too much too get financial assistance, even though it really isn't that much, it's crap. With his pay, we aren't considered low income.

Thanks and I'll miss you as well girl!

Hugsss!
~Donna

The lesson I learned
A very good longtime friend of mine called me after my dx and asked to stop and see me. She said she had something she wanted to drop off.

I was keeping my friends and family updated with a daily mass email (I later switched to CaringBridge - much easier). My oncologist said I needed a PET scan to check what my CT scan (before dx) saw on my liver. I agreed this was very important. After it was scheduled they called me and told me they had cleared it with my insurance and my portion due was $480, and to bring it in cash, check or credit card when I came. After surgery, the slowest month ever for my business (at the tailend of the worst year financially), I did not have the money to get the PET scan. I was upset. Normally they accept what insurance pays, and then bill us for the balance for medical bills. I figured I'd have some time, and if necessary make payments.

My friend came over and gave me a "lecture" first. She told me how awful she felt hearing my dx- and how hard it was for her not to know how she could help me. She said it bothered her a lot. Then she was so happy to know how she could help. She asked me to please let her do what she could because it would make her feel better and not so helpless. She gave me $500! Her family does well financially, so it was not a hardship for her.

Normally I could never have accepted this. But I realized that it isn't always about the receiver. Sometimes it is about the giver. And my friend really needed to be able to do this for me. I gave her a gift by accepting.

I didn't cry at my dx, or surgery or anything. The first time I cried was when she gave me that money.

So, my advice to you (you always have such wonderful advice for the rest of us), is to give your friends a gift; accept the help offered to you. Let them feel better and not so helpless. I know how hard it is. But I did it. If I can, you can.

Pay it forward...pay it back....
Oh, Donna. I'm so sorry about your struggles. Actually I can relate, being a career commercial construction project manager. I was laid off from lack of work, then we moved to the Florida Keys, but there is no large scale construction going on here. Bob and I are getting by, but we've scaled way back and now enjoy a simpler life - it's all good. We have love in our lives, and wonderful family and friends, and I am immensely happy and grateful.

Dear, sister, you have lovingly given so much to everyone here - folks here would like to give back to you. Giving and receiving - receiving and giving - it's a beautiful circle of friendship and fellowship. Sharing giving and taking enriches the soul. Please let us help!

Sending you, your husband, and your kids endless blessings for love, comfort, healing and peace this holiday season, and may those blessings continue throughout the new year.

You are loved!
Katie

tootsie1 said:

So sorry
Sorry to be reading this so late, Donna. I'm very, very sorry about what your family is going through right now. Please let us help you! We'll miss you, so I hope you'll be able to get to the library soon and let us know how you're doing.

Hope to hear from you soon!

*hugs*
Gail

Donna.......You have a PM
and you better write me back .....:)......Your Bro

Better yet pm me your #....I am at work and I can call for free...I need to speak with you...

unknown said:

This comment has been removed by the Moderator

HI!
Just wondering if you
HI!

Just wondering if you are still being cut off? I'm a little late in this but would like be included in the gift!!!

Christine

SandyL said:

It would help me
If you would let me help you. If anyone has her address would you please mail it to me?
Sandy
I'm at

lakelewis@gmail.com

sent it
I emailed it to you..if you see an email from dorookie2003, its ME...

Beth