Love

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My friend Kim was diagnosed a few months ago with stage 3 breast cancer. She's young (30s), with 4 little kids (all under the age of 6 or 7, something like that). Her cancer treatment was immediate and aggressive. The result of a brand new (only a year old) medicine is that the original tumor shrank incredibly. However, for some unknown reason, towards the end of her chemo, that very medicine was making her ill, very ill. So she had to stop that one.

What her family and friends have done for her is Oprah show worthy. Immediately, one of the moms put together (with donations from lots of us) a giant gift basket filled with things to make her treatment perhaps more bearable. A soft comfy robe, candles, books, etc. One of the moms at her kids' school put together a meal schedule where we have taken meals to her house for months. Her husband's workplace raised a ton of money to help with medical expenses. One of my friends is doing the family laundry - and with 6 people, that's a lot! Another friend babysits so Kim and her husband can go out to dinner once in a while.

For a while, in the beginning, I'd send Kim cards now and then, and little things for her kids. But I've been wishing I could do more. Then the perfect thing showed up. I love when that happens.

Kim has just finished her round of chemotherapy. To help her celebrate, about 20 women got together with Kim for dinner last night at The Northside. Kim wanted these women to know how much their support and love means to her and her family. She wrote a note and a Top Ten Reasons Why Chemo isn't so Bad. She wanted to print it in a fun font, with maybe a border, just postcard size. She didn't have any paper and couldn't get to the store so she thought of me. Hell, yes. I thought it was a fabulous idea and couldn't wait to get started so I had Kim email me the files immediately.

I found this photo on my new favorite website, iStockPhoto. It's so perfect. That could even be Kim, well, when she had hair, I mean. But what a perfect sentiment.

You can click on the image if you want to read what she wrote, she won't mind. I bought the Quickutz die to make that awareness ribbon maybe a year or two ago. I actually bought it with the thought of making yellow ribbons to make cards or something about supporting our troops but never did. (I think I felt weird about making money off something like the war or cancer, so I considered giving some of my profits to related causes but then that becomes a whole 'nother thing so I didn't.) Anyway, turns out I bought the die for this purpose!

I emailed Kim jpgs of the card earlier this week and she loved it. So I made 25 and she passed them out last night. They were well received because they perfectly represent Kim - a mix of humor and sincere love.

Next up for Kim is a double mastectomy, radiation and reconstructive surgery. She is an amazing woman, surrounded by family and friends who love her. Keep her in your thoughts and prayers.

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