A Childhood Cancer Survivor Blogging about the World of Childhood Cancer

Archive for December, 2010

The People in My Life

Today, I am thinking about the people in my life. Well, not just today, but every day, I am thinking how I am blessed with so much love.  There are Mom and Dad and Nicholas and Dean and I can’t forget Larry and Snowie and Oreo.

Beyond my immediate family, Gramma & Poppy live nearby, and they are always (yes, I mean it, always!) supportive of whatever I am doing. They come to school events, dance events, my speaking events, and they support me in incredible ways for my book project. Poppy loves to joke;  you know who else loves to joke too! And Gram… she is always thinking of others and together she and Poppy have established themselves as the Grand Prize Best Host and Hostess.  

Searching my heart further, I find Uncle Bruce and Gramma M. and Uncle Jeff and Aunt Sharon and Uncle Greg and Aunt Valerie and all of my cousins who I love to pieces!  I am thankful for school friends, dance company friends, Academy of Dance friends, and now this whole new world of people I have met through my book project.

This “New World” of people happen to be passionate about exactly what I am passionate about.

STOP CHILDHOOD cANCER!

Of course we despise all forms of cancer– we are just focused on stopping the suffering of the children first and foremost. We need to raise awareness of the facts, we need to raise money for research, we need clinical trials, we need less toxic treatments, we need a cure. I want to thank my friends who inspire me each day to work hard to see that major change happens– not later– but now.

The Nunn family, Jennifer Powers, John Gavin, Niki Axford, Susan Blake, Dan Cohen, Bob Piniewski, Joann Nawrocki, Ramona Gail Butler Harris, Carly Boucher, Deliece Hofen, Becca Stapleton, Christine Bouchard, Stacey Eva, Renae Barnes Murphy, Deborah Green Fatheree, Kriszan & Jade, Lois Salter, Christine Becker Barbour, Michelle L., and I have just begun to thank all of you.

I know there are more I am missing on my list. Would you like to join?

A 13-Year-Old’s Journey from Cancer to Grace

A 13-Year-Old’s Journey from Cancer to Grace.

Diana and The Chevron Station

For those of you who have read Grace: A Child’s Intimate Journey Through Cancer and Recovery, you may remember a story that took place at our local Chevron Station. Mom and I were on our way to the Cancer Center in Santa Barbara, filling up the car for our daily radiation treatment journeys, when a woman came over to our car. Mom was busy scrubbing the windshield when “Diana” approached her and asked if she could  pray for me. At the time, I was completely bald– not even one wisp of hair dangling from my scalp. Diana proceeded to pray one of the most heartfelt, meaningful prayers I have ever heard in my entire life. With tears flowing down our cheeks as our silver Tundra sped down the freeway on ramp, we then noticed something else… 

Giggle, giggle… have to read Grace!

This moment in time is something I will never forget. And now, I have a brilliant memory to add to this one. One of the girls I dance with on the Nipomo High School Dance Company asked me yesterday, “Do you remember the woman who prayed for you at the gas station?”

“Yes… ” I replied.

“Well, she’s my mom,” she announced.

Wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh this is so great, so amazing, so incredible! I believe I am going to have the opportunity to wrap my arms around Diana and thank her for reaching out to me with her loving heart. Wish you could see me smiling now:):):)

I love that there are “Dianas” in this world of ours who teach us to not be afraid to share our love and faith with everyone. I am grateful– so grateful– that Diana gave me the gift of her divine prayer that day.

This appreciation in me will last my lifetime.

 

 

I John 4:7

“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God, because God is love.” I John 4:7

I love to begin my Twitter Day with a Bible verse post. I decided that, each day, I will ask God’s spirit to lead me in where He wants me to read. I open to a section, start reading, and when I come upon the verse that strikes me, that is what I post on Twitter. Well, yesterday morning, I chose the above verse. A few hours later, when I arrived home from school, I  walked out to the mailbox to retrieve the mail. Each and every week since I fought cancer, Clearview Methodist Church in Florida has been praying for me and sending me a card of encouragement. The card always has a Bible verse on it.

Guess what Bible verse was on the card?????????????????

No kidding.

It was I John 4:7.

And how many verses are in the Bible???????????

Good one God. Really, really, REALLY good one God! 

By the way, thank you for the spectacular sunset tonight too, God!

Barry Eva Chat and Magnificent Make-A-Wish

I enjoyed chatting today on Blog Talk Radio with Barry Eva. I absolutely love his voice and the way he speaks! What a lovely and gracious host he is; I had such a good time! He obviously took time and effort to prepare for the interview so that he was able to ask great questions. I hope that listeners learned something about childhood cancer, and I hope that Barry enjoyed meeting me as much as I enjoyed meeting him. I think I might have to start working on my own radio show so that I can invite Barry to have a chat with me! I would like to ask Barry some questions of my own:)

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/across-the-pond/2010/12/02/a-book-and-a-chat-with-melinda-marchiano

 Guess who called yesterday with an update? My amazing Make-A-Wish person, Stefanie, called! I realize that my wish will take awhile to process before I will hear anything, and Stefanie is very thoughtful to let me know that they have not received an answer yet. I truly appreciate the kindness of Make-A-Wish Foundation in helping make this passionate wish of mine come true.

With all of my heart, I know that if my wish is granted, at least one child’s life will be saved.

At least one life. That one life is worth everything I am working for and more.

My Buddy Soozie

Over the past year, I have had the invaluable opportunity to meet people I never would have had the chance to meet if I had not set out on  a book production mission. For me, one of the best things about meeting new people is how pieces of them stay with you. I truly believe that when we meet someone who touches our heart, we keep a “piece” of that person within us forever. I find it fascinating that in a very short time– even just a day– meeting someone special can be so uplifting that it never leaves you.

One of these people is Soozie. When we first met online a couple of months ago, I called her by her “official name,” Susan. As our communications have grown, and my love for her has grown, I now call her Soozie. Guess that means she can now start calling me “Quaily”!!!! Well, Soozie and Quaily have become friends even though the Atlantic Ocean separates the countries we live in. What a gift humans have in this day that we can communicate with people far, far from where we live, and not only communicate, but grow to truly care for one another.

I am thinking of Soozie today. Thinking of her battling the cancer beast… thinking of her wrapped in warm, soft blankets, thinking of puffy, fuzzy socks to warm her tootsies, thinking of this love in my heart for her. Time to send it all off to my buddy.

My buddy Soozie:)