What a Great Holiday!

I hope everyone had a great holiday - we did! Having been through cancer treatment only solidifies the importance of a holiday like Christmas - love, sacrifice, humility, faith and HOPE.

Fortunately, the little 2 yr old girl was able to go home on the night before I was to take the tree, so she could be home for Christmas and come back afterwards. So I still have a raspberry Christmas tree. BUT, other things happened. Stash's mom bought some gifts from her own money and wanted to take them to the kids, so I met her on Saturday morning and we passed out a wagon-full of gifts. Afterwards I took her to Spot of Tea since she had never been and it's such a girly place! We talked and had a few laughs. I think it was good for her and I was happy I was able to do it for her.

On Friday, I was able to meet with Jensen's mom. We talked for a while and it brought back a lot of memories for me, sitting in the room, the chemo smells, etc. It has been 2 years since Colette had chemo, but it is something you never forget. His mom set up a caringbridge site so go and leave them some encouragement!

I am also waiting to hear from the hospital when the little girl is able to have visitors again. I received some donated Christmas gifts for her (she is a cutie!) and I want to take them to her after her surgery.

With HOPE,
Tammy

Can't Wait!

I had breakfast with some very sweet friends of mine yesterday and told them about the tree. One was able to give me $10 towards some decorations. That donation, plus the donation from my super sweet helpful loving friend in Indiana - MEGAN - is all I have received for the tree, so I am going to try to make some stuff here at home. I can't show up with this awesome tree and only 10 ornaments on it!!! :o

I might even try to myspace all my youth at church to see if they can bring an ornament tonight to the Christmas party. It might be short notice, but it won't hurt to try!

So there are potentially 2 kids in Mobile with neuroblastoma now. A little boy and the little girl that we are doing the tree for. They are both 2 years old, that is the most common age for this type of cancer to appear. I am going to visit them today. I am going to take his mom a bracelet (see upper right side of this page). Pray he will be home for Christmas.

The little girl is the one we are doing the tree for. She will definitely be in the hospital for Christmas. I hope to meet that mom today as well. But I am saving a big surprise for them. I will update more on that later.

It's not too late if you want to paypal any money or just call me to pick up some ornaments. I plan to take it to the hospital tomorrow morning.

With HOPE,
Tammy

35 hits on the blog...

And I have only heard from one person. A lot of times, people (myself included) think, "Oh she will get plenty of responses, after all it is Christmas and who wouldn't want to help a baby in the hospital?" So no one emails or responds because they assume there will be plenty of help. Well that is not the case this time (nor is it usually!)

So here's the tree with no decorations. The color I asked for was strawberry, the color I got was RASPBERRY! haha It's ok, she is 2, but she will get older and then she will really love this color! (I hope! I can't wait to see their faces when I take this to the hospital! I will probably take it tomorrow, Friday.

Here's HOPING the tree won't be naked, :D
Tammy

ChemoMoms Needs Your Help!

Sorry for not posting sooner, but things have been hectic, the typical busy around the holidays.

When Colette was in stem cell 2 years ago, for Christmas, I picked up the cutest hot pink Christmas tree and ornaments. We still put it up each year and I try to add a few ornaments each year. Recently my brother was in Birmingham, and went to the store where I bought Colette's and they had one left in the box. He picked it up and I have been waiting to hear from the hospital if anyone would need it this year. Well I just heard today.

There is a 2-yr old little girl in the hospital for Christmas in Mobile! She is still waiting on a diagnosis, but they called me knowing I had the tree available. We all hoped NO ONE would be in the hospital for this holiday...so here is what I need your help with:

I need ornaments for the tree! The tree is only about 3 feet tall, so the ornaments need to be PLASTIC, SMALL and preferably things like Dora, My Little Pony, or Disney Princess. WalMart and Target usually carry the packs of 5 mini ornaments for around $7. I am going to pick up a white mini boa to use as garland, and I think I have a star. I also need WHITE LIGHTS. We just used our last set outside since our chasing lights died last year!

If this is something you would like to help with, please email me or respond to this post - we are on a time frame, so I would LOVE to bring it to her as soon as possible.

Also, another little boy in Mobile has been diagnosed with neuroblastoma. I am going to visit with his mom in the next day or so. She already received a basket, but I am going to take a lapghan to her when I go. I don't know if I have mentioned this, but a sweet lady named Rebecca has handmade mini-afghans for the moms in the hospital. They are a perfect size for sitting in the infusion room, doctor's office, or just being cozy at the hospital. They were prayed over with every stitch. They are so special and so soft!! I have already delivered one to a mom that I met at Thanksgiving. I think I am going to wrap this one in Christmas paper and let her open it.

I am also trying to come up with something special to do on Christmas Eve. I mean, how many folks will actually get visitors on Christmas Eve? It would be so cool to drop by and either give a card, or maybe I will take a bracelet to the moms who are stuck in the hospital on that special family holiday. I don't think there will be many though. I think it is one of the worst times of the year to be in the hospital, cancer or not.

Well, I've got lots to do! Let me know if you have any of those little ornaments or can pick up a pack of them. I will be happy to pick them up from anywhere in Mobile!

With HOPE,
Tammy

I am back!!!

I have been so busy since Thanksgiving! sorry I haven't updated before now!! Thanksgiving was awesome! I had so many helpers, it was such a blur! We served 11 families at tables, plus about 10 or so came down to take a plate back to their room. I was so excited that so many people came! We also learned a few more lessons about planning...that's ok, though! I am just so thankful for all the helpers I had!!!

I still have pictures to put up, but I had some exciting news first:

I have Gift Certificates to All About Hair & Tanz, a local hair salon in Tillman's Corner. My hair stylist is donating a portion of the gift certificates to ChemoMoms!!! So for only 60 dollars, this is what you get:

Design Cut & Style

Face Framing Highlights or up to 10 foils

Eyebrow Shaping

Deep Conditioning Treatment

All together this would cost $105. (I know this for a fact - that is why I still have gray hairs!) But just until Christmas you can buy a gift certificate for $60. Then you can call and set up your appointments any time in the next year. The appointments can be broken up, not all in the same day. This is a GREAT price and a really good gift idea. I even thought about getting a couple donated to certain moms in the hospital. You NEVER have time to take care of yourself when your child is constantly in the hospital!

I already sold one today at lunch! The stylist is really friendly and a good stylist. I have been using her since she started there, which was back around April. She has been good to me by occasionally helping me out with squeezing me in, or giving me a little extra for the money, if that makes sense! So I am excited to get to tell everyone about her donating to ChemoMoms!

If you are interested in buying a gift certificate, email me or leave a comment. If you would be interested in purchasing one as a gift for a mom, email me. I am not doing anything massive for the local hospital since so many groups come out to help at this time of year. I will probably plan something for January 08.


Oh yes, today is my daughter's 2nd transplant anniversary. That makes her at +730 days. Praise the Lord!

With HOPE,
Tammy