Saturday, July 21, 2007

Raised my Goal for Light the Night Walk!

In only 1 1/2 days I was just a little short of my first goal of $500. Now, I have raised it to $1,500, lets see what I can do with that? Team Gump is gonna have a strong showing. I went to the fair last night with my in-laws and we had a nice evening. Good grief that is a lot of walking, but I needed it. I have added a few pictures of Allison's Salute Entry. There was some pretty good stuff there, and i must say that her's was tops. Good job honey!

Friday, July 20, 2007

Blue Ribbon Project

"We are so happy ! Allison's Salute to Heros Project received a Blue Ribbon/Excellent Exhibit Awards at the Del. State Fair."

This is an e-mail I just received from our friend Mike Lowe with Laurel Fire Department. He and Wendy have an angel of a daughter Allison Lowe. During Gerry's illness, Allison came to visit him at Johns Hopkins, and even baked him chocolate chip cookies when he came home. They provided several dinners for us, and Allison was always there to deliver. Since she is a "firehouse brat" Gerry always took the opportunity to "pick" on her during her frequent visits to the firehouse. Allison's Salute project is on display at the Del. State Fair in the Ice Arena Building.

Please stop by to check it out, be prepared, it will bring tears to your eyes!

I will post some pictures later, I plan to attend the fair this weekend.

Love D

Light the Night Walk - In Memory of Gerry "Gump" Brown

Please visit my Light The Night homepage. http://www.active.com/donate/ltnWilmin1/2122_mamagump

"Team Gump has been created by a very special group of friends. They are going all out to raise funds to support the causes of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. When they told me what they were doing, I just shook with excitement!! I will keep you posted on the fundraisers that they are planning. (t-shirts, stickers, etc.) You know me, PLAN is a four-letter word in my vocabulary, so I will leave that up to them. Since I have had amazing support in just my first two days of fundraising, I have increased my goal from $500 to $1500. Thanks for all you do for me and my family, which very much includes my friends! Check out the webpage..."

Although Gerry lost his battle to ALL this year, our family and friends are making it our mission to keep his spirit alive! Gerry's main concern when he was diagnosed with leukemia was to help others in the future. He was very vocal about the fact that he was given a second chance because someone else made a donation and gave their time to support funding and research.
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Light The Night Walk is the nation's night to pay tribute and bring hope to thousands of patients battling blood cancers and to commemorate loved ones lost.
The Society funds lifesaving cancer research that has contributed to major advances in the treatment of blood cancers and many other types of cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and stem cell transplants that have prolonged and enhanced the lives of patients. New targeted therapies that kill cancer cells without harming normal tissue have already begun to provide drugs and procedures that are improving quality of life.
But more research is critically needed:
Every five minutes someone is diagnosed with blood cancer. Every ten minutes, someone dies.
Leukemia causes more deaths among children than any other cancer
More than 20,000 Americans died from lymphoma in 2006
Please make a donation to support my Light The Night Walk and help save lives. Be sure to check my Web site frequently to see my progress, and again, thanks for your support!
http://www.active.com/donate/ltnWilmin1/2122_mamagump

Monday, July 16, 2007

OMG - Not another post!

Well, now that I am home from work, I have more time to share the things I have been so wrapped up in for the past couple of months, which have been an emotional roller coaster.

I bought a vehicle all by myself. Can you believe that I will be 40 next month, and I have never applied for anything on my own? I was scared to death. But...I did it, and I love my truck.

In June, one of my VBF's Cindy had to say goodbye to her dad. What a dear sweet man! He was such a hoot, always had a story to share, and I could sit and listen to him for hours. He worshiped the ground his little girl walked on, what a great relationship for a father and daughter to have!

Then, one of my other VBF's Pat took me away on a three day road trip to her hometown of Blue Jay, WV. Oh my, what a great escape. We had a blast. We were in no hurry to get anywhere. Pat has such a great loving family, they made me feel right at home, and the shopping was wonderful. We tried to hit every discount store within 50 miles, plus we hit a Wal-Mart in every state we passed thru. I can't wait to go back to God's country, which I am planning on doing over Labor Day weekend.

Then came the 4th of July. The Laurel Chamber of Commerce decided to dedicate the 4th of July Parade in Gerry's memory. He was very involved in the organization of the parades that took place in Laurel over the past several years. What a tribute. The fire company had a great showing, and there were eleven different fire companies in the parade to honor Gerry. We are so thankful for all that the fire company and local community members have done for our family. I feel so at ease knowing that Gerry's memory and legacy will live on in this community, actually I feel it everyday. The picture of Cindy, Pat and I was from the parade, at the judges stand. Dale and I sponsored a trophy in Gerry's memory for the Best Appearing Fire Company, which was awarded to our neighbors just to the north, Blades Vol. Fire Co.

On Friday the 13th, another VBF Linda, made a dreaded trip across the bay with me to Johns Hopkins. That is where my neurologist is, and it was time for my six month check up for my MS. My doctor was very pleased with my MRI results. There are no new lesions on my brain or c-spine, and one of the lesions I have has shrunk. Also, I had a very good visit with some of "Gerry's Girls" on 5C. The emotions going into that building were overwhelming! Just the smell of the building, which was not a bad smell, made my stomach turn. The sense of being an outsider was a whole new feeling as well. For so many days, and months, I felt like I owned that building, it was our "home" and we have a lot of family still there. This is just another chapter in my life that I am completing, but it will be one of the major rocks that I lean on to get us thru the future!!!!

Unfortunatley, last week was a very sad week. On Monday, Pop Pop Brown lost his battle to cancer. What a wonderful, strong man he symbolized. Aunt Carol put it very well during the service, he knew everything. I could see alot of him in my Gerry. Strong minded, and spoke up for what he thought was right. It is such a comforting feeling to know that now he and Gerry can watch over all of us with their great wisdom and love. The funeral service was on Saturday, which was bitter sweet. It was sad to say goodbye to Pop Pop, and to see Mom Mom so tired; however, it also was a time of celebration, and an oportunity to talk with family that we don't get to see often enough. Gerry's cousin Mike was so right in saying that families need to get together twice a year with happy intentions, not just to say goodbye to another family member. I agree, my family does not get together often enough either, it is time for some change!

Dale is doing very well. He is busy working full time this summer with the U of D Ag Studies. He is also very busy with the Fire Company Cadet program. He has turned into a young man, and I did'nt get the chance to see it, kids change so fast. Gerry has left his mark on Dale in many ways, oh boy!! He can start to talk and if I close my eyes, I swear that Gerry is sitting there talking. I think he was cloned, instead of conceived, haha!! I am so proud of who he has become, he bought a pool table at an auction a few weeks ago, so now we are gonna become pool sharks. That is a joke, huh?

Well, I have bent your ear long enough. I promise to keep this blog updated more often. Enjoy the pix's. Love ya, D

Yeah, Yeah, Yeah...I know it has been awhile!

Just wanted to say hi, and let you all know that I am still around! I hope everyone is enjoying their summer, it sure has gotten hot!! Dale and I are both busy with work this summer, he is working for U of D through their Ag Program. Hopefully we can get away for a weekend sometime soon, before school starts back. I am posting some new pictures for all to enjoy, of course you won't see too many pictures of Dale, he is camara shy, just like his dad, huh? I promise to update more often. TTFN Love D