Friday, June 1, 2007

week 2

Hi all!

It's been a few days since my last post and I have much to share! Wednesday I drove up to King of Prussia mall with Keen for a much-needed day of shopping and sister time. My throat was feeling better and the dizziness was gone, but I did feel tired and had to take frequent breaks. Keen was very patient and let me rest whenever I needed to. It was a fun day overall :) I came home that night and collapsed in bed shortly after dinner.

While Keen and I were on our way to the mall, I got a very exciting phone call. Jeff and Christine Johnson (who is my Aunt Kelly's sister) heard about my journal and offered me the chance to become involved in an amazing not-for-profit web project that they are building. God must have a hand in this, because it is just too perfect to be a coincidence. They are starting a web 2.0 community for people dealing with serious illness called iCompassion.org, Inc.™, and as of that phone call, I am now one of its founding members!

Web 2.0 is the concept of using the internet as a means for people to interact and create their own experience rather than just read information. This site will allow users to have personal blogs (like this one), post on discussion forums, connect with other patients and doctors, post personal profiles, research their illness and treatment options, and even fund raise if they wish. It is exactly what I was looking for when I was first diagnosed, but nothing like it exists yet. My role as a founder is to offer creative input and serve as the first user. Today the other founders and I had our first teleconference to discuss what features the site needs and get everyone up to speed on the technology being used. I am learning so much already! The actual site will hopefully be up in August, so my blog will eventually be moving. I will keep you all posted on the progress of this amazing project :)

Thursday was a day of fun surprises. Elise and Amy Bobbitt came over with flowers and a box of home-baked brownies and oatmeal raisin cookies. Delicious! I had to sample some immediately. These chemo drugs seem to have given me the appetite of a horse. Amy also took me out to lunch at Applebee's. It was so great to see her. We've been friends since Amy was born (2 years after me) when our families lived across the street from one another in Deerhurst. I am hoping to go visit her in a few weeks at the beach where she is working for the summer.

When I arrived home from lunch, two more surprises were waiting on the front porch. One was a beautiful flower arrangement from the Bellomo family. They have just been showering me with get-well wishes :) I also received an adorable "friendship bag" from Lindsay which included...

An Umbrella for singing in life's showers (a cocktail umbrella)
A Lifesaver because we all need a little help now and then (candy!)
A Cotton ball to cushion the fall when the road gets rough
Elastic to help you stretch to your limits (a rubber band)
A Kiss to make it all better (a Hershey kiss, of course)
String to help you hold it all together
A Candle to light your way (a birthday candle)
A spare Marble in case you lose yours
A Happy Face because smiles are contagious
A Quarter to call your friend
And an Eraser for a fresh start everyday!

How cute! I am looking forward to heading down to the Bellomo's beautiful home on the water in Annapolis at the end of June for Lindsay's graduation party so I can reunite with her and my 3 other former-roommates from Loyola. I miss those girls so much.

As if that weren't enough to spoil me for one day, a giant basket of herbal bath supplies arrived from Aunt Kelly and Uncle Dan. Oh my goodness....it smells heavenly! It has two different kinds of lotion, shampoo, conditioner, body scrub, foot scrub, bath salts, a spray for relieving tension and headaches, massage oil, a neck pillow, back pillow, and an eye pillow. You name it, and this basket has it. I was so excited! It will be fun to try out all of these new things, especially on the days when I really need to unwind and feel girly. I am actually planning on taking a nice relaxing bath with my goodies as soon as I finish this entry. Maybe I'll soak in the tub, eat some of my cookies, and prop up the flowers on the sink so I can enjoy them too. haha

I really am feeling very spoiled by all of this. More cards arrive in the mail each day. More friends call to see how I'm doing. Everyone has just been so incredibly generous and supportive! With so many people taking care of me, I know the challenges of the next 6 months will be much easier to handle.

I think it's bath time for me, so I'm signing out for today. I have to run over to the cancer center to pick up some forms and then head back here to get dressed up. Tonight I am chaperoning an 8th grade dance with Dan. His little sister Kathleen is graduating, and this dance is her big end-of-year semi-formal. I'm sure it will be a flashback to my own 8th grade dance memories.

Thank you all for the comments you leave me. I check this journal several times a day, and even sometimes during the night when I can't sleep. It really makes me happy every time I get a new post. I hope everyone has a great weekend!

Love and hugs,
Lauren

6 comments:

Aunt Kelly said...

Hi, Lauren. I'm glad to hear that you're feeling a little better and have been feeling spoiled with all of the attention you're getting. You deserve it! I'm happy to hear that you finally received the gift basket. It literally crept its way across the country, starting in Vegas. I was anxious to hear that you received it. Enjoy! One thing I must clear up, however, is that the basket is from ALL of your aunts and uncles in Middletown. Uncle Gary, Aunt Laura, Uncle John and Aunt Kara all pitched in with us to send you something special. There should have been a nice gift card accompanying the basket and sending wishes from ALL of us; but I was a little worried that the supplier wouldn't pull through with that. Looks like maybe they didn't. Anyway, we all wanted to send you something that might help soothe your body and your spirit while you're going through the ups and downs that this time in your life will bring.

I'm also glad to hear that you are excited about becoming involved in Jeff and Christine's project. Being the protective aunt that I am, I was a little worried that you might find the offer overwhelming (sorry, Jeff -she's my niece), but it doesn't seem as such, so I'm glad for you and hope all goes well with the project. I'm looking forward to hearing more about your progress with it.

Enjoy your weekend!
Love,
Aunt Kelly

Cousin Cheryl said...

Hi Lauren. I am your Mom's cousin, Cheryl, from NJ. I was so sorry to hear about your illness. Please know that we are praying for you. We don't really know each other, but having read your latest journal entry, I am just absolutely amazed at the courageous, candid approach you have taken in facing your illness. You are truly an inspiration. I have a three-year-old little girl and I can only hope that she grows up to face the challenges in her life with such grace and perserverence. Thank you so much for sharing this journal with all of us. And good luck with the new project that you've begun. You're right...God really does work in mysterious ways. Right now, he is surely working through you. Stay strong and know that a lot of people are praying for you. I will drop you a line again soon. God bless.

Stephanie said...

Lauren!

So I've just caught up on all the entries and the best thing about it?

You haven't lost your sense of humor at all! Just reading the entries made me feel like I was back at school, visiting your room and listening to your stories. I definitely wish I had gotten to spend more time with you girls... I miss all of you!!

I will definitely be following along here in the upcoming months.

Also? Have you put any thought into a rainbow colored mullet wig? I'm just sayin'...haha!!

- Stephanie

PS I can't believe we're college graduates!!!

Unknown said...

hi friendy! i just wanted to say i can't wait to see you tomorrow and that i hope you feel better and your throat gets better toooo...honey will do the trick!

Mary Beth said...

I am just now FINALLY reading your journal. I am so glad that you are doing this and I can't wait to see you! I also have something to send you in the next couple of weeks... get ready! Hahaha!

Maryann said...

Hi Lauren,
I'm your Grandpa Chuck's sister or your Mom's Aunt Maryann from Dallas, PA. You and your sister Kathleen were the beautiful redheads that he always bragged about and shared photos with us. Lauren, your Grandpa would be so very proud of how you are handling this health crisis in your young life. You have many friends and relatives that are praying for your intentions,and though they'll be good and bad days in your treatment, know that we'll all be there for you. Your participation in that new website may be God's way of you and others going through these illnesses to teach us all that there is hope, love, courage and strength despite life's set backs. You've already proven that by your courageous journal that you are sharing with us. I came across a lovely poem that seems to say what I feel you might need to hear when maybe you can't sleep at night. God bless and keep those positive thoughts & notes coming; you are truly an inspiration to us all.


Hope for Tomorrow
There's hope for tomorrow, even when things look dim, there's hope for tomorrow, when you put your trust in Him; Though darkness surrounds you, He's always there, with arms that will hold you in His loving care. Just when you thought you had had lost everything, He's right there beside you with comfort to bring. And you'll know assurance, He'll never depart, for He's dwelling inside you, right there in your heart.
God bless you, Laruen.
Aunt Maryann & Uncle Joe