In Appreciation

The 2009 Relay for Life begins in 7 hours. My life has been abnormally, unbearably hectic for the past 4 months. I am feeling lucky to have today off from work so I can make the preparations that a good team captain should, and so I can emotionally focus on this event and its specific meaning to me this year.

We knew before losing my mom that we wanted to do something special for the staff at Berkshire Medical Center who were so sensitive to her needs and dedicated to her comfort. What a difficult job these folks have. Soon following our last long day at the hospital, I began thinking of a way to thank these caring people.

I contacted calligrapher Debby Reelitz, who I had worked with previously on a piece that I gave to my parents as a thank-you for hosting my wedding. It was beautiful, and I knew that she would once again create something unique and special -- representative of both my mom and her craftwork.





We selected a color palette based upon my mom's beloved batik fabrics, and chose a poem that celebrated nursing.



I loved the frame as soon as I saw it, and although I worried it was too "whimsical" for something so serious, I could hear my mom's voice telling me that she also liked it and that there was nothing wrong with adding some fun into the piece.



I love it, and I am excited to finally present this most beautiful, meaningful "thank you" to the BMC staff today.

2009 Relay for Life

Two months ago today, my mom lost her long battle with cancer.

One month from today is the Berkshire County Relay for Life. There are few things I can do to calm the tremendous loss I feel each day. Raising money for cancer research in honor of my mom seems like a good place to start.

I welcome you to visit our team page and make a donation -- of any amount -- to this wonderful cause. For the second year in a row, we are JoAnn's Knockouts.

Note: I will resume blogging sometime soon after this year's Relay.


(Dad, mom and friends -- 2008 Relay for Life)

Online Blog Auctions for a Family in Need

I came across this family's story in several of the design/craft blogs I regularly read. Their story is below, along with two blogs that are offering hand-crafted items for auction, for which the family receives 100% of the proceeds. As a very tiny, tiny member of the blogging community, I felt strongly compelled to help spread the word:

From the family's blog:

Carol Decker, my wife, had an emergency cesarean section on June 10, 2008. After the surgery she developed life-threatening hypotension from a septic pneumonia infection. After fighting for several weeks, the medicine she was on to save her life had the unfortunate side effect of blocking blood flow to her legs, left arm and eyes.

Since then, Carol has had both legs below the knee amputated, her left arm amputated and she is blind. Carol was transferred to Harborview after an extended stay in ICU at Swedish Hospital, which insurance has covered to an extent and the rest we have had to pay for out of pocket. Carol will now begin inpatient rehab, which her insurance will not cover, and is estimated to cost somewhere around $80,000.

Carol, Chloe, Safiya and I just want to say "thank you" to everyone who is helping. Your thoughts, prayers and contributions are not only hard to believe but really have shown us the humanity and compassion that people really have. I hope we have the opportunity to personally thank each and every one of you. Until then, please accept our deepest gratitude and thanks.

Warm Regards,
Scott & Carol Decker

Click here to see the lovely items on one ongoing auction, and here for the other.

Berkshire County 'Relay for Life' 2008

At long last, the 24-hour 'Relay for Life' walk began this past Friday evening at 6pm at Onota Lake in Pittsfield. Many months ago, my friend Laura and I had formed a team in honor of my mom, JoAnn, and her fight against cancer - JoAnn's Knockouts!

It was a beautiful event (and all of my photos from 'the walk' can be seen here. Grab a beverage and click on Slideshow - there are lots of photos!).


In the end, there were 28 people on our team (26 were able to attend the walk) and many, many more supporters. I don't have the final numbers but, by my calculations, we raised at least $3500 for the American Cancer Society. I am overwhelmed! (An addendum: as of June 24th, the Berkshire 'Relay for Life' has raised over $281,000 - and counting!)

We arrived to set up camp at about 4pm on Friday - a day marked by typical zany Berkshire weather patterns. There was one last downpour before the start of the walk, but the sun shone the whole time. We knew it would blow over and, for the rest of the event, we were blessed with perfect early summer weather. The Onota Lake backdrop didn't hurt, either!


Many thanks to all who walked with us, to those who donated, and to everyone who offered their support!

Let There Be Light!

At night!

I am excited to share that the steeple at our church is lit this week in honor of my mom, and that an entire congregation offers their support in her fight against cancer.


(This photo was taken about an hour ago in the lightning and pouring rain—it came out surprisingly good!)

Scooper Bowl '08

What could be more fun than the all-you-can-eat ice cream extravaganza that is the Jimmy Fund Scooper Bowl—in 93 degree heat?! Nothin'.

According to the official website:

The Jimmy Fund Scooper Bowl is the nation's largest all-you-can-eat ice cream festival. The event serves up ice cream from 11 of the nation's leading ice cream companies while raising money for the Jimmy Fund, which supports cancer research and treatment at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Six of us headed over to Boston's City Hall Plaza before noon, and I think we successfully beat the major crowds. Many scoops were had (here are scoop carcasses from just one of us)...


...and here are our individual reviews/ice cream picks:

Erin M.
Overwhelmed by the 11 ice cream booths, I have now forgotten who made the coconut almond fudge ice cream that I would like to declare as my favorite.

Kelly
I'm all about team building....as Mike would say, "Ubuntu." I'm going to have to say my favorites were Birthday Cake and the Light Raspberry from the second tent we went to. Yummy.

Erin K.
I always knew I liked coconut, which is why my favorites were the chocolate coconut almond AND the coconut pineapple. If I HAD to choose, surprisingly, the coconut pineapple would be my favorite. It reminds me of summer! Secondly, I like how the scooper bowl really just knocked down the doors of inhibition for us! We were freely dipping our spit-covered spoons into each other's ice cream dishes like there was no tomorrow! It was definitely a team building exercise, if nothing else!

Anne
I concur on the dipping/sharing part. My favorite flavor hands down was the lemon sorbetto. With it being soo hot outside the icy lemon was a refreshing treat - so much so I went in for 2!!!

Meira
My fave was the Brigham's one....duck tracks....or something like that. That had delightful mini peanut butter cups and really good tasting vanilla with chocolatey swirl. Oh so good!

Bill
Interestingly enough, Erin and I had the same favorites. I would have to say that they were followed closely by the lemon ice that we enjoyed at the beginning and the end of our team building exercise. I thought it was important to use the word exercise so we don't feel guilty.

JoAnn's Knockouts!

My friend Laura and I recently formed an American Cancer Society "Relay for Life" team in honor of my mom, JoAnn, in support of her fight with cancer (which she is winning!). We have appropriately named the team "JoAnn's Knockouts!"

The 24-hour walk begins on Friday, June 20th at Onota Lake in Pittsfield, and we would love to see our team grow. At least one team member should be on the track at all times, so some of us are camping out by the lake. It should be lots of fun! And I have heard that the luminaries (purchased in honor of those affected by cancer) make for a beautiful scene at night by the lake.

I encourage you to visit our "Relay for Life" page, where you can JOIN or DONATE or PURCHASE LUMINARIES.


Laura had bracelets made for supporters (of which there are many!), and we continue to collect donations.


We have also been collecting signatures on a pair of giant pink boxing gloves, which we were thrilled to present to my mom this past Easter weekend (when we told her about the team we formed in her honor). She is excited!


The giant pink gloves are our inspiration for the team T-shirt design:


Many, many thanks!

Basket o' Sushi

For fundraising purposes, our church encourages members to create themed gift baskets to be raffled off at the Christmas Fair. We are new members (actually, we're not even actual members yet!) so I'd never seen these baskets before, and I was so amazed at how clever and elaborate they were. I had decided on a "sushi" theme for mine, which I hope someone somewhere is enjoying!


We, the Jubilate Ringers, played a bunch of Christmas songs throughout the morning of the fair. That part might not have gone so well. BUT, some friends of mine came, bought some cookies, and decorated their own pre-fab gingerbread houses!

A very congested gingerbread neighborhood!

What Meira made, er, yesterday:

Brainstorming has already begin for next year's fair!

Boston Walk for PKD!

I am excited to say that John and I were able to raise $1005.00 as members of Team Melissa for today's Walk for Polycystic Kidney Disease. That amount is more than twice what we set out to raise - what amazing friends and family we have!

Melissa's new neice, Kylie, got the best team shirt:

Polycystic Kidney Bean Mailer

That's kind of gross.

John and I are raising funds (and awareness!) to find the cure for Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD). We will be participating this year in the Boston Walk for PKD and, because I know many people are uncomfortable making transactions on the web, I decided to create a mailer to request donations. I expect to get them in the mail tomorrow - be on the lookout! In the meantime, if you would like to donate to "Team Melissa" online, please visit this link, click on "Support Erin" and donate away!

My First Habitat for Humanity Project

Although I completed the required orientation process last winter, I finally felt I was in a place to send in my resume and get on the Marketing Committee for Habitat for Humanity Boston. As it turns out, the request for my first project didn't have the best timing, but I got it done nonetheless. I am excited for some projects with them down the road, and I hope I am able to lend a bit more creativity!

Below is an invitation to the groundbreaking for a new home in Newton.