Yep, I’ve been mostly mute this week. There were multiple things taking place that threw me off my emotional equilibrium. I tend to hunker down and ponder and analyze until I feel level again. 😉
One of those events I want to share with you here, today. For the purposes of this blog, I AM ACTUALLY USING REAL NAMES! I know, shocking.
When I lived in AZ, I met and was befriended by an amazing woman named Shonda. We were co-workers and friends, and grew to become like family. She was with me when I found I was pregnant with Maddie, she coached me through Maddie’s labor, and – due to a completely crazy scene at the hospital – she DELIVERED Moses’ head. The nurse made it for the rest of his body. Haha. Shonda often teased me that I needed to have a third child, so she could just handle the entire delivery herself. Obviously, no uterus here, that is NOT going to happen. Haha.
Shonda has two daughters: Dani and Mikaela. Dani just turned 17 on Bastille Day. She had to spend her 17th birthday in the hospital because of POISON IVY. Basically, the poison ivy she had run into caused cellulitis, then an abscess, and then the abscess turned into sepsis. While she was hospitalized for all of this, the daily blood tests discovered WHY this all happened the way it did: sweet Dani has leukemia.
Her triple slam of chemotherapy medications began yesterday. Nothing she has heard from her team of oncologists is remotely reassuring to a girl who has her first serious boyfriend, as she is not going to be able to attend her senior year of high school. She may have to delay university as well, putting off her goal of becoming a large animal veterinarian.
The leukemia type is AML (Acute Myeloid Leukemia), and the subtype is M2 (meaning, “with maturation” if you’re interested in knowing). Shonda moved to Ohio in 2011, leaving AZ behind. Obviously, I’m not able to just drive there to be with them each week.
Being as far away as I am, I asked Shonda about their needs. She just wants to try to give her daughter as much modified “normal” as she possibly can. One of her goals was to get Dani her senior portraits before her hair loss takes place. I’m not sure that’s going to happen, but we are trying: right now, chemo is taking place daily (I think) and Dani won’t be able to leave the hospital at all.
Now that you have the story, I’m sharing the link to the GiveForward fundraiser I set up for them. It’s not much, but I know all too well how much simple cancer treatments affect finances. Dani’s treatment protocol is anything but simple.
For the GiveForward page: https://www.giveforward.com/fundraiser/l955/let-s-help-dani-fight-leukemia-
There are also two facebook pages for Dani. One was started by her little sister, Mikaela: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dani-is-strong/149379558565907 and the other was started by her BFF https://www.facebook.com/prayersfordani
Dani is just a normal teenager – she loves volleyball, her favorite color is purple, she has a celebrity crush on Taylor Lautner and she loves mystery flicks. Please help me to help Dani and her family! Thank you.
Blessings to you all…
Good luck to you and to Dani. I hope things work out for her!
Thank you so much! I will share your well wishes with her Mom.
thank you Caroline for being such a caring friend to Shonda. Prayers are coming daily for her and Dani. She is one of my most favorite people. God bless you and your family.
Thank you, Evelyn! God bless you – we are still praying for you, as well. Hugs to you!
I know Shonda pretty well too and am praying for Dani ‘s speedy recovery! Will share on my blog as well!
Thank you so much! Hugs!
You’re welcome . And thanks for writing such a lovely piece about Shonda and Dani. She was my daughter’s best friend in school and we all love her a lot! I only remember Dani as a 3 or 4 year old but she was quite the pistol then and this is so not fun for her to have to go thru.
Reblogged this on IVEGOTCONFIDENCE and commented:
Here’s a story about a good friend of mine and my daughter’s that I’d like to share with all of you. If you feel like going the extra step, as I have, and contributing to Dani’s special fund, please do. But most importantly, please Pray for Dani. Remember, that at any given moment on life’s journey, we all need each other to lend a helping hand. Give forward in any way you feel you’re able, wherever the opportunity arises. Trust me, God will bless you for it.