June and July 2012 Cause: Help Our Own Elly Rose Kick Cancer

[Cami Walker -- 29Gifts Founder]

29 Gifts Volunteer, Elly Rose, needs your help to kick cancer. Elly Rose was diagnosed with Stage IV cancer in May. While her medical needs are covered for the moment, this illness has been a financial strain on the family's budget. Elly Rose has been working on the 29Gifts.org site full-time since the beginning in 2008. She has spent countless volunteer hours every month serving as our Technical Support Manager. We would like to provide Elly Rose a housing fund of $1,500, so her family does not need to worry about how the rent will be paid when Elly begins chemo. I can't help Elly Rose alone, so I am asking for your help. Please Chip In any amount you can spare. Every dollar adds up.

I asked Elly Rose to share about this journey in her own words,

please take time to read her story.

My Healing Journey by Elly Rose

I have always had fragile health. Looking back over my life I have always been dealing with one crisis or another. I look for humor and good in every situation. I find peace in moving forward no matter the circumstances. When I found 29 Day Gift Challenge in September of 2008 I felt it would help me to continue to look outside of myself. I have learned many lessons by completing the rounds of giving. It seems like I have one more to learn. I am learning that the flip side of giving is receiving. I like being independent and taking charge, making the changes that I can make.

Everything here in our little neck of the woods was going fine. Paul gets money for going to school and we live modestly and are able to meet all of our financial needs. Paul will graduate in December. While things are tight, we are happy.

Then late in April Paul found out he has too many credits. This meant he couldn’t go full time this summer. He will be able to go full time Fall Term. This was a financial disaster. We both decided to find part time jobs and just muscle through. You know the saying about best laid plans, they never work.

I became ill and was admitted to the hospital on May 1st. They were concerned that I had a hernia and it was causing my symptoms. When they operated on the hernia they found cancer. I got to go home and spent 3 days at home before they were going to start more tests. I had an adverse reaction the preparation for the test and when I went to the outpatient admitting the doctor admitted me to the hospital. The nurses prepared me that night for the test. The next day after the test I was told that I had several tumors in my colon that needed to be removed. I was going home to wait for surgery. Then I started to have a fever that spiked as high as 104. Day after day I was told; maybe tomorrow you can go home. Paul stayed with me at the hospital just going home to eat and sleep. Tom, Sandy and Kathy came up every day. I had friends dropping in all week. The nurses were wonderful, even came to see me when I wasn’t on the list of patients. Finally on Friday I was told, after many tests, that I was staying in the hospital until surgery. They put a pic line in my arm because they couldn’t draw blood anymore from my poor battered veins. After that decision was made my fever broke. During the weekend there were four patients on my floor. It was like a ghost town. Saturday Paul and I walked as much as we could. We were directed to the Nutrition Center. There the refrigerator was stocked with pudding, jello, juice and pop. The freezer had all kinds of frozen treats.

Sunday was Mother’s Day and I was still in the hospital. Paul came in Sunday morning with his guitar. His gift to me that day was a private concert of all of our favorite love songs. It was really special to me and all of the nurses standing outside my door enjoyed it too.

The nurses unhooked my IV and let me take a shower and get dressed for the day. My daughter, Trina, three grandson, one great granddaughter were coming to stay until after the surgery. Tom and Sandy brought Kathy to visit with everyone. We went to the Nutrition Center and had a party.

To soon the nurses had everyone leave as they prepped me for surgery the next day. Trina coaxed Paul into going home. They would all be back in the early morning before surgery.

I saw everyone before surgery and then I was whisked off to the operating room. I had been able to stay positive during this time but for a fleeting second I thought, oh, I might not wake up here. Then I woke up. I had a bowel resection and was fitted for a colostomy. But I was awake.

My daughter had decorated the room with streamers and balloons and she brought pictures of family to set around. When the nurse wheeled me into the room she asked, what is this. I said this is a celebration, I woke up.

I was able to go home 4 days after surgery. I was released into Home Care. I was a little upset, I can take care of myself. But after the nurses had to be there daily, sometimes twice a day I had to admit that it had been a good idea to have home care. I was just recently released from home care and now am able to go for walks.

I am looking at this as my Healing Journey. I have been released from my surgeon and will start chem next week with my oncologist.

Allowing this chip in campaign was a very hard decision to make for me. I know that the flip side of giving is receiving, but I didn’t want need to be receiving. Then the words of my Grandmother rang in my ear.

Grandma taught me to be gracious when receiving a gift. On my birthday, toward the end of Grandma’s life she gave me money. Now I didn’t need the money. She did though, so I tried to not take the gift. She told me that she had been saving up for this moment, and I was not to ruin it with my pride. She asked me to let her have the dignity to give what she knew she could give. She told me she needed the blessing that came from giving and asked that I would not be a part in withholding the blessing from her. She asked me always to remember that when we are receiving a gift, our attitude in acceptance was a gift itself. Just how did she know so many years ago I would need to know those things for this challenge?

All in all this personal challenge of dealing with cancer came at the perfect time. Paul didn’t have school, so he was there in the hospital and here at home when I needed him. We are in a town close to the Air Base and medical care there and in our local community. We have access to some of the best doctors. I have prayer warriors that keep me covered in Angel Wings with their daily prayers. I have an angel Landlady who is giving us time to find the money to pay the rent. Because of her I don’t have to move on the first. I have family that loves and cares for me and I have the opportunity to heal.

The Universe sings out today, Life is a Celebration.

 

 

[Deb~ Community Manager]

I don't have pay pal but will get a check out as soon as we get home~

[Elly Rose Tech Support]

Thank you Deb

[Deb~ Community Manager]

No problem kiddo! xoxo

[Lois55 wwt]

My prayers continue and I will contribute, also, with a check, Elly Rose..I will also pray that this need is filled!

[Elly Rose Tech Support]

Lois, thank you.  You are an angel.

[Ann]

Elly Rose,

Elly Rose,

Thank you for giving all of us here the opportunity to give back to someone who has touched our lives in such a profound way.  Love, hugs and prayers to you and to Paul and your family. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Elly Rose Tech Support]

I have angel all around me every day, like you Ann.

[Dawn wwt]

you give so much to all of us, Elly Rose, and never ask anything in return. i'm tickled pink to be able to give back to you. of course i wish the circumstances were different. but anyway, thank YOU for allowing us this chance to say "I love you!" in a practical way :o)   Hugs to you and Paul,  Dawn xoxo

[Elly Rose Tech Support]

Thanks Dawn, you always say the sweetest things.

[Mary Johnson]

Beautiful Elly Rose, I had no idea you've been ill. I'm so thankful to read that your surgery went well and you are home with family recovering. I love you and my prayers for you will continue. I am more than happy to send a gift to the most giving and selfless person I know. Your journey has been truly inspirational and I thank you for sharing it with us over the years. Paul's personal concert was incredible. He raised the bar high for men everywhere. Continued Blessings to you all.

[Elly Rose Tech Support]

Thanks Mary, you words are very kind, as always.

[deborah]

the pups and i sent a little something your way through chip in.  sending warm, fuzzy, and healing thoughts to you.