This is a tough post for me to write

A lot has happened in the last 24-hours and I need to let you know the latest. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for going to Lisa's and Miss Ann's blogs to offer your kind and generous support. If you haven't yet, I hope that you will take a bit of time to go to Lisa's blog, click on the "comment" button, and leave her some words of encouragement -- yes, even though you don't know her.

Here's what she says in the comments section of her blog...

"I want to reply to each and every one of you. I mean that in all sincerity because your comments mean so much. I have been printing them and so far have 43 pages!!! They will keep me strong and remind me what to be grateful for on the days I feel weak and feel like I can’t fight.

I’m grateful for all of you! "

She's an amazing woman who is such an inspiration to all of us.

Here's an update from Lisa:

"... It turns out that I have tumors on my liver and abdomen. This is an aggressive cancer that seems to be spreading fast. I’m inoperable although my only hope may be that Johns Hopkins is the only hospital on the East Coast that may be willing to try surgery to “debulk” the tumor in my abdomen but it’s very risky.

Using chemotherapy at this stage in the game may or may not produce good results..."

An update from Miss Ann (she's hosting the raffle):

"...We’ve reached $3000+! Since people don’t like to insure two time cancer survivors, and since the raffle is still running and even MORE stuff has been donated, which I will post tomorrow, I’m asking for the donations to continue to help with medical expenses and such. As I said yesterday, the raffle might end early depending on what goes on with her at her next doctor appointment sometime next week. I have to pull it abruptly if she needs to go NOW. You guys are the greatest. Seriously. Your thoughtfulness and caring are amazing. Thank you so much..."

Another blog friend, whom I haven't met yet has made the following video. It is beautiful and makes me very proud to be a part of the blogging community.



Now, I need to ask for your love, support, good vibes, and prayers. Our niece, Alex and her boyfriend, Adam, were in a terrible auto accident yesterday in Indiana. It was raining, the country road was slick, and they hit a pothole. I don't know many more details except the truck flipped 7 times. My niece was thrown from the truck and her arm was severed. Adam found her arm, and called for help.



They were both airlifted to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis. Alex was assessed there and the doctors determined that she could withstand the surgery to reattach her arm. She was then transported to St. Vincent's Hospital. She made it through surgery and her arm's circulation is good, but she has started running a fever and is in critical condition. She also has significant facial injuries, but the swelling has to go down before the doctors can do anything.

It's my understanding that Adam is still at Methodist Hospital in critical condition suffering from internal injuries and hemorrhaging. Unfortunately, I don't know anymore than that at his time.

It is very hard for us to be so far away when something as devastating as this happens. The movers arrived here this morning to begin packing our household goods. Michael packed up a lot of things today and took them to the service apartment. I still have a bunch of forms to fill out, but I'm getting there -- slowly, but surely. I promised Lisa last night that I would stop procrastinating the shitty stuff that I hate to do.

I'm so thankful for technology, the internets, and the beautiful people behind those computer screens. I'm pretty sure I'd be a total basket case right now if I didn't have them. It felt good to talk to Jimmy and my Mom on Skype this morning and to be able to see them. They had been to see Alex, and it was terribly difficult for them to see her little body so battered and broken. So, once again, I thank you for your love and support. It means a lot to me.