ST. Jude Food for Thought

[Pine]

I have been making arm guards for the St. Jude auction.
I decided today that I would make one that is fully basket weave .
As I am about a quarter of the way across I start getting cramps in my hand that almost made me stop .
Then a thought came to me ; this is not even close to the discomfort that those kids go through with chemotherapy .
Kinda made me ashamed of myself for even thinking of stopping .
There are lots of people on this site that contribute to the auction and if you bid on an item please don't try to get a deal .
This is a wonderful thing that Trad Gang is doing .
I just wanted to let you know what I was thinking .
I am not looking for an attaboy nor do I think any of the contributors are either .
Its fun for me every time to see like a custom knife that is worth about $200.00 go for $1200.00 . WOW !
It's for those kids and there families .    

[Steve Jr]

Well said Graps    

         

Bisch

[Rathbuck]

Well said, Graps.

Don't know if I posted this story here or not, but when my daughter was diagnosed as Type 1, we had to take her to the local Children's hospital for 3 days of classes, lessons on carb counting, etc.  At the end of the third day, I packed up a bunch of the stuff we'd received and made my way to the elevator.  A gentleman of about 40 hopped in with me, and said:

"Looks like you're going home!", he said as he smiled a big grin at me...he wasn't faking being happy.

"Yeah." I told him.  "Been here long enough - ready to go home."  

"When did you come in?"

"Three days ago."  

"Gotcha.  We're hoping to go home Thursday."

"Awesome...when did you come in ?"  

"October 10th."

It was Feb. 1st (I felt about 2 inches tall at this point) - he then told me the whole story of his daughter (around 8 or 9 at the time if memory serves).  She'd been having some discomfort between her shoulders that ended up being cancer - tumor next to her spine.  Surgeons operated, followed by chemo, then physical therapy.  Around December, they were ready to send her home when some of her blood work came back strange.  More tests...yup, it had returned.  Another surgery, another round of chemo, and more physical therapy followed.  We went into the lobby out of the elevator and talked some more, then wished each other's families the best and parted ways.

So, when St. Jude's pops up, I still think of that man and his daughter...just thinking about that conversation makes me misty eyed.  What these kids have to go through and put up with absolutely humbles me.

Such a great group here to do what you all do!!!!!  Some great items already listed this year - bid up guys!

[halfseminole]

My son spent over half his life in Children's.  We know that "I get to go home finally" feeling all too well.  I post stuff up when I can to the auction in memory of him.  It helps me to know that his memory will help others.

[Pine]

Thanks for sharing guys .
I truly hope that this auction beats the best record for Trad Gang .    

[Bud B.]

[Lady Frost]

I had friends who lost their son last year to Medulloblastoma-cancer of the spinal cord and brain.  That little boy fought for 3 or 4 years.  His family dubbed him Augustus the Mighty-you could probably look up his story online. He was 3 weeks younger than my 6 year old.  Makes me very very grateful.  I think of him a lot when I hug my boy.