A Childhood Cancer Survivor Blogging about the World of Childhood Cancer

Posts tagged ‘The Giving Pledge’

A Salute to General Christine and Mr. Mark Zuckerberg

Dear Oprah…

Grace: A Child's Intimate Journey Through Cancer and Recovery

Just kidding! That really was my last letter yesterday. Now, we play the waiting game. What do you think? Will HARPO Studios respond?

Today, I want to bring to your attention the administrator of the Oprah Please Do A Show On Childhood Cancer Facebook Page. I call her General Christine, because in just a few short months, she has gathered together over 50,000 voices for childhood cancer all in one spot. She calls us “Army.”

Thank you, General Christine, for your hours and hours of effort to create a united force of passionate advocates for childhood cancer. Thank you most of all for your tender heart that opened wide when you saw the huge need. Thank you for using your talents and gifts to give straight from your soul. Thank you for keeping the Army of Soldiers positive, engaged and enthusiastic about working toward our common goal.

Little did I know what I would have missed if I had not been active with Facebook when General Christine began assembling the Troops!

I need to thank Mr. Mark Zuckerberg for creating Facebook. I held off longer than anyone I know before I finally created a page– for the purpose of connecting with other people whose lives have been touched by childhood cancer.

Mr. Zuckerberg, you have forever changed my life. The gratitude I have for the friendships I’ve made, and the opportunity I have to link together with those of similar passion, is priceless. When you created Facebook, I imagine you had no idea that it would be a Tool for change for children with cancer. Your creation is a blessing.

Mr. Zuckerberg, one more thing… will you please consider a donation to childhood cancer research as a member of The Giving Pledge?

Sorry… is it wrong to genuinely thank someone and also ask for something in the same letter?

My hand is in saluting position for General Christine and Mr. Zuckerberg. It has been quite the mission. Let there be an answer and please let it be the one we are all praying for.

Stop Childhood Cancer

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Treasures in Heaven

Grace: A Child's Intimate Journey Through Cancer and Recovery

Dear Oprah,

Thank you for your compassion in reading my daily letters requesting you to do a show on childhood cancer. People keep reminding me that time is running out. Since this is your last season, I know chances are becoming slimmer and slimmer that you will answer positively. Yet, I can’t give up, and I won’t give up.

We, as a society, cannot continue to ignore childhood cancer. There are 40,000 children in the U.S. battling cancer today. We are more interested in the lives of the rich and famous and badly behaved people of the world than in turning our attention to fight for the most vulnerable, our seriously ill children.

This is just wrong.

I love this verse:

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on Earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But, store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19

Imagine the Treasure we could leave here on this Earth. I imagine a large table (like Mr. Trump in The Apprentice,) with childhood cancer experts and members of The Giving Pledge gathered for a Pow-Wow about building the Childhood Cancer War Machine that will decimate childhood cancer. I see their faces: Dr. L. Hartwell, Dr. E. Kleinerman, Dr. Bruzynski, Dr. P. Adamson, Dr. J. Schiffman, Dr. Curran, CureSearch, St. Baldrick’s, PAC2, Kids V Cancer, Members of the Pediatric Cancer Caucus, and interspersed with them, The Giving Pledge members: Mr. and Mrs. Case, Mr. and Mrs. Gates, Mr. Zuckerberg, Mr. Icahn, Mr. Milken, and all others.

At the end of this show, I see a gigantic celebration of the beginning of change… streamers, balloons, and confetti streaming from the sky while tears stream down audience members’ faces. We cannot wait another day to act in a huge way to cure childhood cancer. Children are a treasure here on Earth.

I cannot imagine a greater Treasure for Heaven than ending their suffering.

Grateful for your care,

 Melinda 

Grace: A Child’s Intimate Journey Through Cancer and Recovery

 

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