Back in June when my spring quarter ended, I told myself that I was going to "relax" and "enjoy life" this summer. I pictured long, leisurely days spent playing outside with my kids, going to bed early each night, sleeping in late each morning....I wasn't going to get caught up in worry with self-imposed work deadlines and projects....I wasn't going to care if my house was spotless, or if the laundry was caught up....I was going to enjoy the good life!
This lasted approximately 5 days.
Then on June 16, we found out that Maple Tree got approved for non-profit status....and suddenly the "good life" meant running around like a chicken with my head cut off, telling everyone I could think of about Maple Tree. What a whirl wind the last 2 months have been! Backed by the support of my fearless board members, we have worked very hard to spread the word. We've spoken at Rotary Club meetings, Tawasi Club meetings, and community centers. We've given newspaper interviews. We've joined our local Chamber of Commerce. We've contacted every doctors office, oncology center, and hospital this side of the Mississippi. We're working on lining up some more speaking engagements at some local churches. And we've been making bows.......
Bows, you ask?? Why yes, bows!! Last January, I thought it would be fun to learn how to make hair bows. I have two adorable little girls, and what better hair accessory for an adorable little girl, than an adorable hair bow?! And thanks to Youtube and some late nights of practice, I learned how to make them. So, back in July I thought it might be a fun way to raise some money for Maple Tree. I wasn't sure what the response would be, but I thought I'd give it a go anyway. Late one night, I took a deep breath and asked my facebook friends if they would be interested in buying some breast cancer awareness bows. I soon learned what wonderful, supportive friends I have...within 2 days I had raised over $200! For the entire month, I was able to raise $500!! I was overwhelmed with gratitude. I just couldn't believe the support I was getting - even from people I didn't know!
This gave me an idea...One of the things I have wanted to do ever since I first started working on the Maple Tree was to create Chemotherapy Care Packages for patients who were undergoing chemo treatment. I got the idea when talking to a friend of mine who was undergoing treatment, and he mentioned that his treatments lasted an average of 8 hours -- and sometimes he would have to go a few days in a row, 8 hours each day!! Now, being the mommy of 3 (almost 4) very young children, the thought of spending 8 whole hours to myself sent me into an imaginary land of bliss.....but then I remembered that these people would be receiving medicine that many doctors refer to as "poison". Soon after their treatment ends, they will suffer from acute side effects, including nausea, vomitting, mouth sores, fatigue, diarrhea, neuropathy, bleeding problems, sleep disturbances, hair loss, memory loss, pain, infection, skin and nail changes, and swelling....just to name a few. And that's not even getting into the chronic and late effects of chemotherapy! So, in my attempt to follow Jesus' call to bear one another's burdens, I thought that chemo care packages might be a nice way to let these people know that someone out there cares about them.
Each care package will include a few items to help them pass the time (journal, pen, word puzzle book), somethings to help manage side effects (hand sanitizer, lip balm, ginger tea), some necessities to help them find answers to questions they may have about the journey they are on (Bible, "Becomming a Christian bookmark"), and of course, some things they could use at the Maple Tree (gym bag, water bottle, pedometer)! It costs approximately $15 to assemble each care package. Since the bow sales went so well in July, I decided to dedicate all bow sales from the month of August to these care packages. My goal is to raise enough money to create 100 care packages - a total of $1,500. So far, we have raised just over half of the money needed to meet this goal! Now that is a lot of bows!!! With 13 days left in the month, I am confident that we will reach our goal!!
If you would like to donate, simply send a check made payable to Maple Tree Cancer Alliance to 106 Peach Orchard Ave, Dayton, OH 45419. And of course, I would be happy to send you a hair bow as a thank you :-)
