©Shelby Palmer

PATTY CAKE.........10, YRS.............FRISKY.......10 YRS............LUCKY..........2 YRS..........ROSEY.........2 YRS.............MELON........2 YRS............SHADOW..........4 YRS..............DAISY....4 YRS...........GRETA.......3 YRS.........BOO.A...2 YRS...........BOO-B.......2 YRS........CRACKERS..........10 YRS............MAGGEY....8 YRS...........MYSTIC........3 YRS.......YING-YANG..........8 YRS..............JAX...........8 YRS...........ZOE...........2 YRS.........ANNIE FRANNIE....3 YRS...........MO=JO...........9 MOS.............WEE BABY............5 MOS............BUSTER.......5 MOS.........BEAR........9 MOS.........SIR.......9 MOS...........GINGER........9 MOS............PATCHWORK.........5 MOS.........KRUMPET...........2 YRS..........SQUIRTY..........9 MOS.............SCOOTER....2 YRS.......BOOTS ......3 YRS.......MUGGSEY.........3 YRS.............

.....celtic oral tradition - 1st millennium

July 2008

Amanda Dixon
19 years old

Diagnosis:

Amanda was found to suffer from anaplastic meningioma in March 2005.

Amanda's Story:

One morning, as 15-year-old Amanda sat in class, her right leg suddenly went numb. Even though her leg felt strange, Amanda did her best to continue with her day. But when school let out, her right arm was also numb and she had trouble moving it. Her parents were very concerned and took her to the local emergency room where doctors did a CT scan. Within hours, what had started out as a normal day for Amanda turned into anything but normal: She was found to suffer from anaplastic meningioma, a type of brain tumor. That night, she was rushed to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in an ambulance. “Until that day I never had any symptoms,” recalled Amanda. “I thought I had a pinched nerve or something. You never expect something like this. I never dreamed it was this.”

At St. Jude:

Amanda had surgery to remove the tumor at the local children’s hospital and then she was referred to St. Jude, where our doctors treated her with eight weeks of radiation. While in treatment, there were some scary moments, but there were also happy times, like Amanda’s celebration of her 16th birthday at St. Jude. After treatment, Amanda’s St. Jude doctors gave her a good prognosis. She went home, returning to St. Jude every three months for checkups. For awhile, Amanda lived the life of a typical high school student.

But, just two years later, the unthinkable happened. "I was in bed one morning and it felt like something was sitting on my chest and it hurt to breathe," Amanda remembered. Her parents rushed her to the emergency room where, once again, Amanda and her family found themselves awaiting the results of a CT scan. For the second time, the news was not good. “When the doctor said he saw a mass on my lungs, I thought no, no, not again,” said Amanda. Within days, she was back at St. Jude and doctors confirmed the family’s worst fear. The mass on her lungs was cancerous.

During Amanda’s second time at St. Jude, she had chemotherapy and surgery, followed by radiation to her chest. She has now completed treatment, and has no evidence of disease. She returns to St. Jude every three months for checkups.

Amanda graduated from high school last year and wants to study business in college. She loves photography and hopes to one day own her own photography business. Amanda is grateful for the treatment and care St. Jude provided to her twice. “It’s really a special place,” she said. “Everyone works so hard to make sure kids are able to play and be kids.”

July 2008

Abigail Perez
5 years old

Diagnosis:

Abigail was found to suffer from acute myeloid leukemia in 2007.

Abigail's Story:

Little Abigail had always been the picture of health, but one day during a family vacation, one of her eyes began to bulge. Concerned, her parents, Marcelle and Billy, took her for an examination at their local hospital. On July 16, 2007, the family learned Abigail suffered from acute myeloid leukemia. Doctors gave her a 50 percent chance of survival.

Hurricane Katrina had wreaked havoc on the hospital in their hometown. Garbage collected in the hallways. No one came to remove the food trays from Abigail’s room, and ants moved in. “We went into survival mode,” Marcelle said. Abigail’s parents wanted a research hospital to provide cutting-edge treatment for their daughter. Their search led them to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The local doctor provided the referral, and St. Jude took care of travel arrangements.

At St. Jude:

At St. Jude, a nurse greeted the family. “Are you Abigail?” she said. “We’ve been waiting for you.” Abigail was instantly put at ease and loved the hospital. When they got into their room at Grizzlies House, Marcelle told her husband, “I think she’s going to make it.”

Abigail’s six-month treatment protocol provided five intense rounds of chemotherapy, necessitating inpatient stays. Each time before chemotherapy, she received a bone marrow aspiration and spinal tap. In addition, Abigail received a combination of intravenous and oral antibiotics to strengthen her immune system.

The battle against cancer affects the entire family. One day, Marcelle broke down on the elevator, and it was a St. Jude maintenance man who provided words of comfort. “There’s no crying today, miss,” he said. “We do miracles here, so you just dry up those tears.” It was exactly what she needed to hear. These small, random acts of kindness accentuate the treatment at St. Jude and make the difference between this and other hospitals – at least for the Perez family.

“No other hospital in the world compares,” said Marcelle. “Everyone from Dr. Ribeiro to the maintenance staff is on a mission.”

St. Jude is the only pediatric cancer research center where families never pay for treatment not covered by insurance, and families without insurance are never asked to pay. “Insurance doesn’t matter here,” said Marcelle. “If she needs a test, she gets the test.” It’s a good thing too. Abigail’s treatment costs a minimum of $20,000 per month; complications increase the cost. “I really believe the treatment costs could have bankrupted us,” said Marcelle, “but what choice did we have? Thank God there is St. Jude where parents do not have to choose between the life of their child and the huge financial burdens of skyrocketing healthcare costs.”

Marcelle says they are “evangelical about St. Jude” and calls it the “Disney World of hospitals.” She appreciates so many things about the hospital, from their lodging at Target House, where every need is anticipated, to the hospital’s school program.

Abigail now tests negative for leukemic cells. She’s done with chemotherapy and returns to the hospital every four months for follow-up. She’s an active girl who loves swimming, riding her bike and watching shows like Dora the Explorer, Wonder Pets and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.

Her hair was up in a pony tail,
her favorite dress tied with a bow.
Today was Daddy's Day at school,
and she couldn't wait to go.

But her mommy tried to tell her,
that she probably should stay home.
Why the kids might not understand,
if she went to school alone.

But she was not afraid;
she knew just what to say.
What to tell her classmates
of why he wasn't there today.

But still her mother worried,
for her to face this day alone.
And that was why once again,
she tried to keep her daughter home.

But the little girl went
to school eager to tell them all.
About a dad she never sees
a dad who never calls.

There were daddies along the wall
in back, for everyone to meet.
Children squirming impatiently,
anxious in their seats

One by one the teacher called
a student from the class.
To introduce their daddy,
as seconds slowly passed.

At last the teacher called her name,
every child turned to stare.
Each of them was searching,
for a man who wasn't there.

"Where's her daddy at?"
she heard a boy call out.
"She probably doesn't have one,"
another student dared to shout.

And from somewhere near the back,
she heard a daddy say,
"Looks like another deadbeat dad,
too busy to waste his day."

The words did not offend her,
as she smiled up at her Mom.
And looked back at her teacher,
who told her to go on.

And with hands behind her back,
slowly she began to speak.
And out from the mouth of a child,
came words incredibly unique.

"My Daddy couldn't be here,
because he lives so far away.
But I know he wishes he could be,
since this is such a special day.

And though you cannot meet him,
I wanted you to know.
All about my daddy,
and how much he loves me so.

"He loved to tell me stories
he taught me to ride my bike.
He surprised me with pink roses,
and taught me to fly a kite.

"We used to share fudge sundaes,
and ice cream in a cone.
And though you cannot see him.
I'm not standing here alone.

"Cause my daddy's always with me,
even though we are apart
I know because he told me,
he'll forever be in my heart"

With that, her little hand reached up,
and lay across her chest.
Feeling her own heartbeat,
beneath her favorite dress.

And from somewhere here in the crowd of dads,
her mother stood in tears.
Proudly watching her daughter,
who was wise beyond her years.

For she stood up for the love
of a man not in her life.
Doing what was best for her,
doing what was right.

And when she dropped her hand back down,
staring straight into the crowd.
She finished with a voice so soft,
but its message clear and loud.

"I love my daddy very much,
he's my shining star.
And if he could, he'd be here,
but heaven's just too far.

You see he was a policeman
and died just this past year
When airplanes hit the towers
and taught Americans to fear.

But sometimes when I close my eyes,
it's like he never went away."
And then she closed her eyes,
and saw him there that day.

And to her mother's amazement,
she witnessed with surprise.
A room full of daddies and children,
all starting to close their eyes.

Who knows what they saw before them,
who knows what they felt inside.
Perhaps for merely a second,
they saw him at her side.

"I know you're with me Daddy,"
to the silence she called out.
And what happened next made believers,
of those once filled with doubt.

Not one in that room could explain it,
for each of their eyes had been closed.
But there on the desk beside her,
was a fragrant long-stemmed pink rose.

And a child was blessed, if only for a moment,
by the love of her shining star
And given the gift of believing,
that heaven is never too far.

They say it takes a minute to find a special person,
an hour to appreciate them,
a day to love them,
but then an entire life to forget them.

Take the time...to live and love. Until eternity. God bless.

My husband drank 24-7, mostly Vodka, he would take it to work in a thermos(excuse spelling).....If he wanted a drink of water during the night, it would be beer instead......He didn't have to get drunk to be mean...Some people tell me their husbands are not abusive unless drunk, you know that's not true, they are just meaner when impaired!!

Some men/women are in denial about being abused......Wake up people , you are playing with your life!!.........Believe me there is nothing you can do to ease the inner pain that the abuser is feeling.....My husband would go to AA, (twice) but it meant nothing , he only went to please me and not for himself.......My husband stayed sober for 8, mos. when we first married, it meant nothing, just a ploy to keep me from leaving....Believe me, when he feel off the wagon, it was worse than before!!!

Love dies hard , especially for me!..... I give it my all, everything!

Robert my husband, would plant two gardens each year; one for us and one for the deer......so they wouldn't come into ours.....

We lived in North Wilkesboro, N.C........In the Brushy mountains, thirty miles from Boone NC.......I love the mountains, any mountains....They are my spiritual retreat now...............................

Julie mishak<flwrchld68,snflwr>

Why do we allow the abuser to distance us from our families, friends, . anyone else but the abuser?..... Why do we allow them to dictate to us how to dress, ..wear our hair, our makeup.(mostly no makeup)?

Why is the abuser so insecure that he/she must dominate us so completely?...............From my own experience,,My husband loved me but, didn't know how to show love!..... He thought . "keeping me in line" was a good way......It was either his way or no way!......Im a red head and didn't like being controlled1......So I fought back, which got me black eyes bruises,My legs being twisted, my back being bent back in the direction it wouldn't go......, being hit with chairs, etc....My husband would say,"look what you made me do!"....of course it would make me feel that I was to blame.......Boy was I dumb back then.........

flwrchld68..............snflwr360...........Julie Mishak