Be the Giving Type

HEY EVERYBODY!

Please join us again this year for our

5th Annual Blood Drive.

If you haven't donated with us in the past,

please consider doing so on Saturday.

Remember, I LOVE first time donors! 

• You're eligible to donate if you are 17 years or older (16 with a signed parental consent form) and weigh at least 110 pounds.  Calling all young and healthy kids!  Start the habit of giving now. 
• There is no upper age limit.  Our most senor donor was a Sister of St. Joseph who joined us last year.  She was 84!   
• Less than 10% of the national population donates blood.
• Someone needs blood every two seconds.
• One unit of blood can support up to three lives.

Come and kick off the beginning

of the summer months with us.
Stop in and donate before heading
out to the hustle and bustle of the weekend.
Bring family members, co-workers and friends.
Whether you're Type A, B, O or AB...
Be the Giving Type!

It's so easy to Make a Difference.



Click here for the LifeSource Website.

We're Group Code 556C.

 

Looking forward to seeing you

in Morrissey Hall!

...in loving memory of "e"

They Made the Cut!

Last Saturday, I had the opportunity to be part of an exciting event called "Make the Cut" at The MAX - McCook Athletic & Exposition.  Sponsored by The Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University and hosted by 1st Alliance Volleyball Club, ponytailed club members were encouraged to step forward to have their hair cut for the purpose of making wigs for cancer patients.    

As the mother of a young daughter who had lost her hair during cancer treatment, I was asked to share my personal experience with those in attendance with the hope of inspiring as many girls as possible to step forward to cut their ponytails.  I was thrilled to do so.

I told them about Erin, who had been a spirited, fifteen-year-old athlete (who had begun playing volleyball with 1st Alliance/Lions in third grade) when she was diagnosed with Ewing's sarcoma in December of her sophomore year at Lyons Township High School. 

A cancer diagnosis impacts so many facets of an individual's life, and one challenge many victims face is the effect it has upon their physical appearance. For the typical teenager who is very concerned about fitting in with the crowd, looking good is at the top of their checklist.  Shortly after beginning chemotherapy, Erin's long, beautiful hair began to come out in handfuls.  Attainable items on her personal checklist fell away, one by one.

She couldn't attend school due to her treatment protocol.  She was facing radical surgery that would take away her ability to participate in the sport she hoped to play in college on a scholarship.  Her system was trying to adjust to the cocktail of prescribed chemotherapy drugs, AND she was quickly becoming bald.  No, she most certainly did not fit in.  She sat, hooked to infusion pumps, while the crowd moved forward.

In time and with the support of family and friends, she began to make progress toward accepting this altered path of life that stood before her.  Adjustments were made, attitudes were reshaped and the concept of perspective was gaining recognition.

Not yet convinced that anything could make her look "normal" with that white, shiny, hairless head sitting atop her shoulders, she finally agreed to go to a wig store with me... just to look around mom!!  God bless the woman who owned the place because this voice of experience took my tearful, self-conscious daughter by the hand, sat her down in a chair in front of a huge mirror and gently placed a box of tissues in her lap.  After asking Erin what type of hairstyle she liked, she went into another room and came back with wigs that varied slightly in length (long and longer) and color (brown, medium and dark).  She explained that they were all made from real hair that people had donated.  They could be washed, conditioned, blow-dried, curled, flat-ironed, dyed, highlighted and/or cut. 

As Erin tried them on, one after the other, I noticed fewer tissues coming from the box in her lap.  She began to ask questions about the styles - layered or blunt cut, what do you think mom?  This one?  And the sadness and tension that had initially dominated her corner of the room were slowly being replaced by, dare I say, a shred of confidence?  Wait, there's a smile!  One was finally chosen.  Medium brown, long, layered.   

As we drove home, I looked over at my daughter who was staring out the passenger seat window, running her fingers through the new hair on her head.  I asked what she was thinking.  She said, "It truly does feel almost like my real hair."  And, in a moment she added, "I wish I could thank the people who donated their hair to make this wig.  It was really generous of them."  I bit my cheeks and wished I had that box of tissues that was sitting back at the store.

Erin lived for three years after her diagnosis.  Due to different treatment protocols, she lost her hair three times.  The first experience was, by far, the most difficult for her.  Throughout those years, her wig was worn to school, while coaching volleyball games, when out with friends on weekends, at prom, to graduation from LT and into the halls of Elmhurst College for a couple of months.     

I've thought of her gratitude that day in the car so many times since her passing in 2009, and thus was so happy to have the opportunity to share her sentiments with everyone at The MAX last Saturday.    

So, on behalf of my angel, Erin, I sincerely thank all of the young ladies who set personal vanity to the side and selflessly donated their lovely hair so someone else will feel a little more "normal".  I truly appreciate how difficult it is for teens to understand the impact of this gesture unless they've known someone personally who has been affected by this common side-effect of cancer treatment, so the overwhelming response (90 donors!) was extraordinary.   

Now, because of their generosity, someone is going to look really pretty!   

  

Erin, wearing her wig, at her LT graduation in June 2009.

• Thank you to Sharon Markman, Director of Public Affairs and Communications at Lurie Cancer Center and two-year melanoma survivor, who organized the event and whose daughter, Alexa, was one of the hair donors.
• Thank you to Sue Keck, Club Director of 1st Alliance and six-year breast cancer survivor.
• Thank you to Jeff Tobolski, Mayor of McCook, and Toni Preckwinkle, Cook County Board President, for their support of the cause.

Good things are happening around town!

Making A Difference

It's been a long, challenging winter season for the majority of us, and in spite of the calendar's declaration that May arrived a few days ago, the chilly weather continues to hang around. 

 

Thank goodness for all the excitement for us Blackhawks fans!

Keeps us energized, yes?

 

#88 Keenan Kane

I haven't checked in with you for a while, and I'm knocking on your inbox today to assure you that Scatter Kindness, while in its beginning stages, is already impacting our cancer patients.  Your generosity during the Erin Potts Invitational Volleyball Tournament, as well as donations made directly to the Hinsdale Hospital Foundation website, makes this possible.

 

Word is spreading because the Fund's total collections are now just over $11,000. 

THANK YOU!

 

Due to the HIPAA restrictions in place to protect the dignity and privacy of patients, I can't post names or photos of individuals without their permission.  I can, however, tell you about several avenues through which we are reaching out to folks with support as they face the daily challenges resulting from their diagnosis.  And, we've only just begun! 

• A Keurig was purchased for the reception room in radiation oncology.  Now, patients can choose from a variety of tasty K-cups and enjoy a little treat as they wait for their appointments.
• A box is stocked with greeting cards and gift cards (ie:Target), and this serves as a resource for staff members to look to when they want to help a patient celebrate a birthday... mark the end of a treatment protocol... offer an encouraging word when one needs a little TLC...  
• A young basketball fan and his three guests were treated to the final Bulls game of the season. Thanks to community members Helen & Don (Mark too), four Club Level seats complete with a parking pass were donated, and Scatter Kindness funds provided a little "mad money" for the purchase of food/souvenirs. 

Per the Fund's mission statement, Scatter Kindness is dedicated to providing support for cancer patients through experiences that meet the unique needs and interests of each individual.  This Fund is a new resource for Adventist Hinsdale and LaGrange Hospitals, and eventually The Adventist Cancer Institute, and YOU are ensuring our fulfillment of this intention.  Thank you.  I'll be sure to share more good news in the near future. 

 

 I'm also knocking to let you know we've set a date for our annual

Erin Potts Memorial Blood Drive.

Please mark your calendars for Saturday, June 7.

8:00am - 2:00pm at St. Cletus

 

 

CLICK HERE TO SCHEDULE YOUR APPOINTMENT

OR

Contact me via email at mary.potts8@gmail.com.

Call LifeSource directly at (877)543-3768.

 

615+ units have been collected so far under 556C

That's really extraordinary! 

Let's add a bunch more on Saturday, June 7. 

 

Making A Difference Starts Here

I really like the new LifeSource slogan.

 

It's often thought that we get over the death of a loved one.

Not so. I miss Erin each and every day. I'm not over anything. I never will be. 

 

 

 Personal soul searching after she died led me to the

realization that positively impacting others who are experiencing

what we once did is the most fulfilling way I know

to ensure her spirit continues to live.

That starts with me.  Making a difference starts here.  With me.

 

Thank you for continuing to join with me in support of my mission.

 

Some Thoughts Before Yet Another Snowstorm

Do you think when he snuggles now

 

he thinks about snuggling Erin back then?

And when he looks into these eyes now

he remembers looking closely at Erin back then 

to make sure she was OK?

 

I wonder if when she loves him here

and here

he remembers how much Erin loved him back then?

 

I also wonder if someone can tell me why it's snowing

in this old photo taken out at Fullersburg

when I have no idea how to make it do this?

just some thoughts rolling around in my head this afternoon...

 

We Have Photos!

Thanks to our favorite tournament photographer, we have over 800 photos to share with you!

 

  

Click here to access the Shutterfly Website.

 

Enjoy, and thank you Kevin.

It's All I've Got

Those of you who know me are aware of the fact that I'm typically not at a loss for words.  The gift of gab is a prominent character trait, and I can usually string thoughts together into fairly cohesive, grammatically correct sentences.  Well, that simply isn't the case at the moment.  I'm struggling to find the words to say thank you so that it means more than just thank you (as in - achoo, "God bless you", "thank you" or "Your skirt is cute", "thank you").  The English language is aggravatingly limited.  If there really are fifty Eskimo words for the word snow, then there's a need to ramp up our vocabulary when it comes to expressions of thanks! 

The long-winded rant above is due to my lack of ability to adequately express my deep gratitude to each and every one of you who played a part in the success of the 5th Annual Erin Potts Volleyball Invitational and the resulting achievement of the launch of our new Scatter Kindness Memorial Fund.
 

WE DID IT!!!
An estimated amount upwards of $7500 was raised!
This does not include donations made directly through
the hospital foundation's website.

UPDATE - $9600 with the donations made through the Foundation. 

Just imagine the number of patients who'll reap the benefits of your generosity.

I'm still coming down from the rush of emotions from last weekend.  Each year, the event takes on a slightly different feel, and every time I think to myself, it just doesn't get better than this... and then it does. 

When the first tournament was held in 2010, it was less than two short months after Erin had died.  The whole thing had been planned by the St. Cletus community, and I'd shown up at the appropriate times and pretty much just sat there and tried not to cry (unsuccessfully).  My insides were so conflicted at the time. I was numb over Erin's death, and working hard to breathe a few sighs of relief (sort of) for her much-deserved peace after three years of watching this awful disease take her from us piece by piece.  I was beginning to practice the fine art of engagement with the normal world again (and this was a very crowded, public venue for a debut) and, finally, I was completely overwhelmed by the extraordinary generosity of a community that was raising a whole lot of money right before my eyes in that little gym on 55th street where I'd once spent hours in my "before" life... my former home away from home. 

Gosh, how I loved it there.  Admittedly, I become very nostalgic every year as I take part in the excitement that used to be a huge part of my life.  The pull of those days is very strong, and I long to gather my teams in a huddle, give words of advice and encouragement, sit on a bench in my St Cletus red and, yes, drop a clip-board in exasperation over my players doing something really stupid on the court when they know better!  

Recognize anyone? 

Some of you played a little alumni VB this past weekend.

 It was so good to see you.
 

Each year since 2010, I've become increasingly involved in the planning for and running of the tournament, and the experience has been personally rewarding on many levels.  Monies raised in previous years have been forwarded to organizations that perform research studies on Ewing's sarcoma, and to Bear Necessities which supports pediatric cancer patients and their families. 

Now, with the opportunity to create a fund in Erin's name that will provide programs for individuals right here in our community, together (you and I) we'll be able to watch your generosity unfold in the hands of those in need.  This is something we've not been able to see in past years with the other organizations, and that is part of what makes Scatter Kindness so special.  Stories about patients will be shared through Adventist publications and right here on this blog, so stay tuned, and I'll be sure to notify you as well with a knock on your inbox.   

Kindness was scattered down upon me in abundance through the individuals and organizations who: donated concessions (both purchased and home-baked) and worked the stand, sold T-shirts and raffle tickets at the door, sat at the score table for hours, ordered pizzas, took countless pictures, drove in from South Bend and Milwaukee, stopped by to say a quick "hi", bought T-shirts and raffle tickets, placed a check in my palm and closed my fingers around it, competed in alumni games, made a fabulous new tournament banner, sold some "Got Hope" bracelets, hugged me and reminded me they'd never forget Erin. 


YES! Thank you Sammi.

And then there's our tournament director, Sue, who does a million and a half things each year to ensure the event is a success and always says, "I've got that. No worries!", and she does (she never even knew Erin) and Tina who coordinates so many of the random details, and the Sadowski family who schleps things large and small, does crowd control in the lobby and takes photos (and they never knew Erin or even me) and finally Joanie who donates her time to referee the games for three straight days, and has done so each year of the tournament. 

Within the walls of the gym that contained a palpable reverberation, I saw Erin in the athleticism, energy and joy of the players as they competed and celebrated a victory.  I felt her frustration and disappointment in the tears of girls whose teams were eliminated from the competition after hard-fought matches.  She was in the ponytails tied with lime ribbons that swung from side to side and in the T-shirts bearing her name and in the tweet of Joanie's whistle and the stink of the knee pads, and in every person who told me "something great is happening in here" and "we feel so welcomed and at-home in your gym" and "there's a certain magic that goes on at this tournament every year that's hard to explain".  

Yes, the spirit of Erin was there with such force I could almost reach out and touch her.  But, I couldn't... so my voice sometimes cracked when I spoke through the microphone to each team as I presented medals, and my tears flowed as I hugged friends, both old and new.

And now, after all that, I've returned to the afore-mentioned exasperated
feeling due to the inadequacy of the words

I have to express gratitude for all the above.

So I guess I simply have to say
THANK YOU. 

When all is said and done, it's all I've got.

in memory of Erin Elizabeth

P.S. - Our favorite photographer is busy uploading 800+ pictures to a Shutterfly site that I'll share as soon as I can.  I'll put a link in the sidebar when it's ready so you can all look at photos and copy what you'd like, so please check in occasionally over the next few days.  Thanks.  I didn't take one picture this year.  I was so busy blabbing!  I know.  Shocking!!

Pre-game Excitement

We're just five days away from the start of the volleyball tournament on February 7th, and I'm getting really excited!  Sue picked up the T-shirts and they rock!  She has already sorted them, and those who pre-ordered will receive them at school tomorrow. 

If you didn't take time to place an order, they'll be sold at the tournament.  If we run out of sizes, we'll also take orders that will be filled promptly.  Remember, they sell for $10 each and all profits will go to Scatter Kindness. 

Folks have been dropping items at the house, and our den is beginning to look like a concession stand.  Dave, back away from the chocolate!  All this generosity allows us to donate every bit of money from sales at the tournament to Scatter Kindness.   

Thank you to the staff at St. Cletus for sharing information via the Parish eNews, in the School Scoop and also in the Sunday Canticle. 

Lynn Petrak wrote a beautiful article in The LaGrange Doings as well.  Oh my gosh, we'll never forget when all of you lined our street for blocks holding candles to welcome Erin home after the completion of her fourteenth cycle of in-patient chemotherapy. 
Never...

The response to my email with this blog link has been overwhelmingly positive.  I'm a Facebook dummy, so I appreciate those of you who've been posting information in that venue.  Folks seem to feel more comfortable writing comments there, so carry on and please don't hesitate to leave a comment here, too.  Because I have very few friends on Facebook, it's hard for me to spread the word over there.

Many of you have written emails to me, and this has served to fuel my excitement further. Such lovely sentiments have been shared - memories of Erin, offers to help with "anything", pledges to keep Erin's light shining while assisting others through our future tournaments and blood drives and now, support in our newest effort to Scatter Kindness.

I must share part of one email due to its spot-on accuracy.

 

...an effective action, not only as philanthropy,

but also activity which softens the grief without diluting the memory of a loss...

 

Yes John, exactly.  

~ ~ ~

And with that, go on with the business of the day.  Get to the store to get your nachos and adult beverages in preparation for the big game tonight.

 

Are you ready for the Super Bowl?  Which team will be the champion? 

I do like football and will be watching the game,

however, I must say I'm really looking forward the Puppy Bowl!

Hard to resist, yes?

 

See you in a few days!