For a Good Cause

"CANCER AWARENESS"

What a touchy subject for me.  Let's start with my dad dying of it when I was 12, just 3 short years after my mom had died, leaving my younger sister and I orphans and wards of the state of NY until the wills were all figured out. Luckily my parents were thinking ahead and expressly defined their wishes in the event of their deaths and my sister and I were able to go with loving family members with no fuss. A quick move from upperstate NY to Central Florida. BIG CHANGES.

Since my rude awakening to the realities of cancer in the world, I have realized that over the years it seems that cancer is truly an epidemic, and has been around since the time of the mummies in Egypt and Peru dating around 3000 BC.  Let's just call it "since forever ago." 

I have done some research over the years and looked into organizations such as The American Cancer Society and learned about "the medical establishment" and what they are doing about cancer. I have very strong opinions on what is happening in the cancer arena, but I probably should save it for another day. Suffice it to say that at this point in history it would take a major shift in the universe, so to speak, to turn things around. The best that most of us can hope for is "treatment" and "maintenance" with lots and lots of expensive drugs.

The reason for this post isn't really to rant, although the above is a pretty good approximation of one. The reason for this post is to acknowledge that people with cancer, in recovery from treatment, with loved ones who have cancer, all need comfort and support and from the more sources the better.  Last August 2009 a friend and co-worker of mine died of lung cancer. Mim. Mimsy. Mom. Gaki. An energetic, silly, faithful,  vibrant lady close to retirement who wasn't sick a day of her life (for the most part) although she was a life long smoker.  One day she felt a pain in her back, a short 3 months later, she succumbed to lung cancer. This situation started something that I have been involved with in other venues and with other people since then. Cancer awareness jewelry and funraisers. Symbols of Hope and Inspiration. A grounding effect. Reminders. Mantras. Shows of support.  There are millions... but a few I have known are my dad, Kelly, Shawn, Mim and Rosa. Sweet Rosa, Mim's daughter in law, now has breast cancer, with 3 types of cancer. She is in recovery from treatment as of the writing of this post. I have made a bracelet for her as well.

In a world where way too many individuals and entities capitalize on people's pain and vulnerabilities, I still acknowledge there is a great need for these items.  These are simple things, but they mean so much. As I grow and expand my horizons in the world of jewelry, I find that I am more of a "one of a kind" kind of gal not liking to repeat the same things over and over again (except for a couple favorites), but I humbly and gladly would make hundreds of these bracelets over and over again if they bring a sense of peace, hope, comfort or inspiration to those who wear them.



Ladies' version of the MIM bracelet



Guys' version of the MIM bracelet

Made for a family member of
a young girl who is fighting leukemia





Made to celebrate cancer free since 1989!!



The ladies' version of the ROSA bracelet

Guys' version of the ROSA bracelet

 

Special "puffy heart" made for ROSA



Made for my own Aunt Marian who survied open heart
surgery at 80+ years of age. Her heart was disintegrating, literally.
The surgeon said it was a miracle she survived the surgery.
She's still alive over a year later.

 

My new tote I had made in honor of some brave souls
It needs updating already, unfortunately

 Thank you for visiting!