St. Baldrick’s Foundation

Friday, April 30, 2010

An Evening of Will Power

Sorry all, this post has been a long time coming.

On April 24, JM and I were able to attend the First Annual Evening of Will Power, hosted by the Brave Will Foundation. This foundation was started last year after a couple, Matt and Tammy, lost their 6 month old son, to cancer. AT/RT to be exact, which is an absolutely devastating form of cancer. One that has few treatment options, and one that has very little research. One that comes with a crushing feeling. I can't begin to tell their story, but I will say that their family has touched both mine and JM's life forever.

At the time of Will's diagnosis, JM was working on the pediatric floor of Albany Med at nights. He was one of the many people who fell in love with, and became attached to this baby, and his family, over night. They are a family that exudes love, humility, grace and strength, even through the worst of their cancer treatments. Through the worst of their fears and the worst of their struggles. When they were told that their son wasn't going to make it through the weekend. When he responded to treatment, and they were given hope. And when they were told that the cancer had spread and it was time to focus on the time they had left. They were courageous. They were pillars of strength. They are to be admired.

Will eventually responded enough to treatment to get discharged from the inpatient floor, and come into the clinic where my office is to receive outpatient chemo, which is where I fell in love with his family immediately. I had heard stories from JM about them, and he was right. They too, are adults with young children whom he and I look up to, just as So-Ro's family is.

These are some pictures from the event, which is raising money to help fund the palliative care program and to help fund the social workers who work with families, not just patients, while they are facing such times of uncertainty.

Their logo.





Their Mission Statement, which is truly impressive and inspiring. This is a foundation who has come from the depths of despair to try to help other families who are facing uncertain times just as they have.





The picture that is also the cover of their book, which is a compilation of all of the journal entries that Matt wrote while Will was going through treatment. (Suggestion: Please be sure to have a box of tissues readily available).



This is a "picture of a picture" that was taken of Matt and Tammy's two other sons, after Will's passing. They too, are absolutely phenomenal boys, who make you smile, and truly present themselves the way that every parent hopes and wishes that their child will turn out. (It also doesn't hurt that they are fabulously photogenic, and completely and fantastically cute).


The wall of pictures that were hung up during the gala, from times of hospital stays, last days, and the time after Will's passing.

So, to those people who are looking for a way to help, buy a copy of Matt's book here and also learn more about their foundation.

To Matt and Tammy, and the rest of the people who are making this foundation into something that is truly going to affect people's lives, you are amazing. You are parents who love to such an extent that it brings tears to peoples' eyes and truly changes their lives. You are parents who have such strength that even through the turns in the road that would break most people, you have risen. You have given each and every person who meets you, or hears of Will's story something to keep in mind during the toughest of days. You have changed people's lives for the better, making us better people, better friends, better families, and better couples.

Thank you.

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Tat? Too? And the blogosphere world...

This is one of *POSSIBLY* two posts for the day.

I know.

Control. the. panic.

Or, be totally impressed that I am writing all this fabulous stuff again.
I just have too much to say today. My mind is going crazy.

First, I have been playing with the idea of getting a(nother) tattoo for quite some time. Yes, Mom and Dad, I have a tattoo. We can all talk about this out in the open now, because well... it's been there for over 2 years. And it's cool. And a Celtic guardian angel. And the stairway puker went with me to get it. (hahahaaaa, stories for another time).

Anywhoooo.
I want it to be a weeping willow tree, on my side upper rib cage. I want the "leaves" if you will to be squiggly, and turn out to be the numbers of the years of the birth of my immediate family members. Cool, huh?
Some ideas I have come across:
Not totally sure I love it. But it's cool. If the leaves were more swirly, sure. It'd be great. As of right now, it's a good starting point.


Ok, like this one a bit more. It's not quite as "weeping" but it's cool. And you could see how the numbers could work into it. I like it. It's definitely workable.


And then there's this one. I could do the year numbers around the heart. I kind of like that idea. I like that the tree is growing out of the heart, and that is quite symbolic.

Thoughts? Comments? Questions? Concerns? Total rage or you think I shouldn't get it?

So, onto topic numero dos, for post numero uno today. My Spanish is rocking, by the way. And by rocking, I mean... this is the only stuff I know.

As some of you may have noticed, there is a new little picture on the right hand side of the screen. This is called a "button" in the blog world. I love it. I love what it stands for. I love that there are other women out there who can get as fiery as I do about topics that others choose to ignore.

I have recently gotten lost in the blog world quite often. I first heard of "Women's Writes" on this blog. Then I linked to the original post here. I think that the idea that women writing about issues to bring a lot of people's ideas to the forefront is amazing. It can be life changing. And it can be overwhelming. There are people who are going to write this month about the new law in Oklahoma that protects doctors from giving expectant mothers health information about their unborn children. The article presents that "A second measure passed into law on Tuesday prevents women who have had a disabled baby from suing a doctor for withholding information about birth defects while the child was in the womb."

ARE. YOU. KIDDING. ME?! Let me tell you, that my unborn children (who again, are far off and not happening any time soon, Mom) (hahaha, love you!) not only will I be the most informed soon-to-be-parent, but I know enough people in the medical world now (thank YOU Albany Med) and enough doctors, students techs, nurses, patients, whatever, that this would never be allowed. A woman has a right to know what is going on with her unborn child. If they didn't have that right, why bother with the ultrasound? This isn't keeping the sex a surprise until birth. This is why I want to be a Dr., a lawyer, a social worker, and a legislator. At the same time.

Yikes. Cross Oklahoma off the list of places I (never) want(ed) to live (anyways).

Thursday, April 22, 2010

The one where I'm bored at work...






As I am sure we can tell... I'm super bored at work.
Team Photo Shoot.
You can see my desk. And how absolutely thrilled I am to be here today.
Gotta love the pink sweater. And the super cool headband. It has sparkles on it.
Be jealous. ;)

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

A little bit of a Woman's Intuition.

This may or may not be the greatest post I have ever read in my life.

Like, seriously.

This woman has totally hit life on the head.

Except, let's clear some things up for those who may be confused.

1) I am not pregnant. (Nor, Mom, am I trying to get pregnant, because well... just because "Fertility" is in the name of the practice of my lady parts doctor, doesn't mean I'm making use of their services.)

2) I don't know what this could be, except for teh fact I find it fabulously interesting and intriguing. See, JM, I am not the only one.

and 3) I am so sucked into this whole blog world, that it may just have to become a new way of life for me. Just saying. Look for that post still to come. But seriously, how cool??

Ahhhh, those girls.

I wonder if it ever comes around for them...

Monday, April 19, 2010

Oh, ShopRite. You were tha bain of my NJ grocery shopping experience. Who knew you were still in NY.

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

My comfy couch

I have an un-canny ability to be able to pretty much fall asleep wherever I am.

So, if you add a couch, a comfy sweatshirt, a blanket, and 2 glasses of super fabulous red wine. I end up sleeping. I have come to terms with this fact. I have accepted it as a fact of life.

Even if Glee is on.

(Which if you have yet to get into, shame on you. It's awesome. And it's been DVR-ed. No worries)

However, JM doesn't feel like he ever falls asleep while watching TV, movies, or anything else while on the couch, with the blankets. He is not in the world of the acceptance quite yet. Even when I tell him he is snoring.

Good thing there is a JS around with her handy dandy iPhone to snap this photo. Please excuse my hair, because well... clearly I'm sleeping and can't be held responsible for the small little hair monster that clearly comes and makes me look like Medusa as soon as I am becoming best friends with the backs of my eyelids.


As you can see, he is just as much asleep as I am. And yes, I did add in a little sleep bubble. Because this is where my creative genius ends.

So there.

And yes, that is a beach towel on our couch. It's because I was folding laundry, and well... when you run out of space, you use the backs of couches. Stop judging. :)

Monday, April 12, 2010

Rita's, On the Border and a lil bit'a the Cadillac Ranch

So, this past weeked, JS and I went on a road trip.

On Friday afternoon.

Because we are totally cool like that.

JS had found a country line dancing bar in Hartford, CT, and we decided to try it out. So, I left work, we changed, got in the car, and drove on over to CT.

It was a blast.

But before we get to the lady with the light up shoes, we have to cover Rita's, my new favorite water/ice/gelato/ice-creamery place. We had some lovely Raspberry Lemonade with Gelato on TOP and it was delicious.
Then, there was a trip to an "On the Border" aka chain Mexican food. While the Lill family has driven down to Myrtle Beach many a time and seen many a sign for "On the Border" restaurants, I had never been. So we sat at the bar, and enjoyed some vegetarian grilled enchilada-y thing. It was fine. It was food. And I have officially been to On the Border.

My life, is forever changed I tell you!

So. The Cadillac Ranch.
Has a mechanical bull.
Line dancing classes on a nightly basis.
Creepy silly men who wear way too much cologne.
Women who have light up silver pumps (don't worry, I asked, and they're from WalMart about 3 years ago).
Strange old men who dance with every woman around.
A crazy cowboy line dancer who has got more moves than... someone who has a lot of moves (like, he did push-ups and this half-worm dance move in the middle of the line dance. JS and I were VERY impressed).
And we had an all around great time.

And then I went to work on Saturday, and found out that there's a country line dancing bar about... 35 minutes from Albany. It's not even hidden. Because, of course, it's called "Just Country."

Ooops :)

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Happy birthday, Sophie. Miss you and love you always, dolly.

4/8/2003-1/30/2010

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Just to point out... the April version

There is a blog that I read that every once in a while does a post on "And another thing" it's kind of a compilation of things that people just totally forget about in real life.

So, just to point out:
When you go to a bar (or restaurant), tipping a quarter is completely rude and totally unacceptable. If you can't tip 20% seriously, don't go out. Tipping is part of the deal, and the days of 15% being ok are gone. Please see here for more details.

Wedding invite lists should either be all, or none. Especially in the work place. It creates drama. And if you are a person who likes to create that type of drama, have a good explanation for why.

Mindless busy work projects for school is a total waste of time. If you want me to do something that is going to further my education, don't make it a stupid project with few guidelines and zero examples. It's annoying. And you're wasting my time.

The weather needs to be sunny a lot more often. This whole "today it's sunny and beautiful and tomorrow it's rainy and gray and gross and depressing" really isn't good for anyone's psyche.

And just because it's over 60 degrees doesn't mean that I should be able to see your totally winter bod out in public quite yet. If you didn't go to the gym over the winter season, please don't turn into a supermodel and think you're totally hot. I don't (because I haven't been to the gym) and neither should the people (especially women) who weigh a solid 50-100 lbs more than me. Not. Attractive. Figure it out.

Just because I am a Red Sox fan doesn't make me a terrorist, a sleeper cell, nor does it mean that I support Al Quaeda and 9/11. Thank you to any Yankee fan that proves just how ignorant a group of people can be.

Being 23 years old doesn't give you the right to speak to me as if I am uneducated, and undeserving of an adult conversation. If you speak in a demeaning way to me, I will do the same to you, and I will make you feel like an idiot for it. Especially in emails.

16 weeks is a really, really long time to wait to be done with a job that doesn't challenge you, where you're staying for health insurance reasons.

School advisors that are supposed to be helping me figure out my class schedule/internship should really have a faster than 15 day turn around for an email response.

People shouldn't maintain employment if they really suck at their jobs. There's enough unemployed people who are great at working, who deserve to have a job but can't get one because there's people that are dinosaur age who just can't get fired.

Butler really should have won the NCAA championship game. Duke, for all their fabulous name recognition, didn't play like a championship deserving team. Just sayin.

Not eating chicken and beef is turning out to be a lot easier than I thought it was going to.

I will have a puppy at the end of July, even if JM says he doesn't think I'll go through with it. I know deep down he's kind of excited.

I have had green extensions in my hair for over 2 weeks. Just noticing them now seems slightly awkward.

"Please" and "Thank you" are not expressions that should just be dropped in the 21st century. Make sure that the people in your life are appreciated, you never know when they may not be around anymore.

I think that covers most of it for now, but who knows... maybe we'll have a monthly "Just to point out" post. Any other thoughts my lovely 13 followers?

*>Ooohhh an update! I have 14 followers! Thank YOU my faithful 14!<*

Friday, April 2, 2010

Mom and Dad totally sent JM and JS and I an Easter basket!! Happy Easter weekend everyone :)