bendamron's Cancer Blog

February 25, 2008

Angel Hair Pasta Fundraiser! What a success!!!!!

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gosh, i don’t even know how to begin this entry. my mind is racing (i kinda feel spastic, and this entry is going to be real choppy) and my heart feels like it’s going to explode with gratitude, i know it’s a lame analogy, cliche, metaphor, or whatever. i am so damn grateful of the pouring out generosity from my friends and their friends and their friends who came out and joined us at luigi’s pizza & pasta. man, it was amazing, i really do feel like exploding right now just thinking about it all. all the hard work and generosity of luigi, liza, david and niko. luigi and liza were the true masterminds of this whole thing, and decided to open up shop on their only day off. i can’t thank them enough. luigi is going to kill me, but i might be safe if he’s not reading this thing, but i thanked him many many times, and he brushes it off as if this is the norm. spending your only day off, supply all the food, cook all the food, and then get your butt kicked for four straight hours! i thank you sooo much! and as promised, angel looks forward to coming in this week for a personal hug and kiss of gratitude. i also want to thanks the girls up front, toni, alana, steph, and the deneen! okay, more thanks later.

my main responsibility for the event was playing host. i went around being my charming self ;) and giving updates about angel to nearly every person who came in. everyone was so thoughtful with their questions. one of my favorite inquiries which several people asked it this way was ‘how is angel today?’ curious about her today and let’s work our way back. this is the way i’ve approached many of my friendships. start with the present, talk about yesterday and then about tomorrow. i told people that susan is with her at the moment, and not alone, and that this morning angel said in a curiously observant way, ‘i feel like something is working.’ i think she might have said this before, but this time i felt it too. and yesterday before the infusion of cetuximab, dr. otero said he is optimistic about her response to treatment so far. he’s planned for a progress marking ct scan next week. this is exciting, but makes us all very nervous. what if what if what if? i think something is working, her labs came back good as well, bili’s down to 1.3! (normal high is .2-1.2) other levels are pretty much where they should be too (give or take a couple .1’s). so this week will be long if we think too much about next monday and what it could bring. staying positive is all we can really do.

& father, david & luigi

back to the fundraiser, i had a great time catching up with old friends i had not seen either for years or since the diagnosis, so many people showed up (with a lot of babies too) they showed so much support for angel! i’m still in shock.
alana, toni, liza, steph were running around with plates, sodas, salads, and bussing tables. six month pregnant deneen hosting and keeping the overflow of supporters at bay until a table opened up. and the son and father team of luigi and david kept the food flowing. it was a sight. angel would’ve been so happy to see all of this going on and all for her. there’s a lot of love for her, and i felt it all this night.

well, the first fundraiser was a success. if angel stays on the same combo of meds, we could be good for the remaining year and then some! oh and good news, regence started paying for some of the hospital bills (pulmonary embolism related), but none that includes anything to do with cancer. it’s a start, but we are still in the appeals process.

thank you everyone for showing up and donating money and your time for this event. i have a list of of names, but i know that some of you didn’t get a chance to write in the guest book or the address book, and probably paid cash ;) anyways, i’ve always wanted to do this, it’s a shout out to all the people that helped support angel, kinda like what rock stars do on the backside of the cd cover, giving props to all their friends. so here’s mine :)

BIG HUGS TO Luigi for the use of hi place of business, Liza for working it, angel’s ‘lil brothers Niko & David for the kitchen support, Steph for the beverages and salads. Toni, Lan and Deneen, i can’t say enough, but you know how much you mean to us. hmm, this is getting really cheesy, since i’m not a rock star or a dj, i’ll end this with a huge list of people who supported, and the names are in no specific order. xoxoxox!

Mary K & Tim T, Marc & Liz, Eric-Carolyn-Jake, John R, Kurt S, Maggie M & Sean A, Pete J, Sue J, The Ford Family, Arthur & Sarah, Andrea & Ken H, Brian & Nancy, David C, Kathryn S, Henry & Gale, Kelly J. O, Lisa L , Marie M, Sam-Megan-Grace-Baily-Marley, The Valencia Family, Clayton & Isla, Ryan & Sarah, Sarah H, Steen, Michael-Mitzi-Sophia, Ellen-Mike-Joe, Rawee, Louis & Carol S, Ann & Brian N, The Psychotherapy Co-op, Alana & all her friends, Daniel G, David & Judy M, George B, Rosalyn & Heidi E, Harold & Ellen W, Jonathan & Catherine B, Stephen & Monica, Robert & Carol M, Robert C, Beverly B, George Sr-Jr-John, Shirley & Craig P, Suzi W, Susan K, Diane B, Jacob, Si & Bruce, Daryll M, Marjorie & Gary M, Nancy M & Gene Y, Paulette T, Jack H, Sue & Robert L, A.J. P, Gerald B, Anthony-Gina-Ian-Lucas, Gerber, Compass Health, Kim B, Melissa P, Nanci V. J, Kelly O, Milana, Bryan, Principal from Lowells, Katie, Karl & Jenny K, Kim-Fred S, Terri F, Gary S, Don & Mary, Al Barbra, David Keith, Dan, Mike G, Sandy & Terry, Mike & Gail D, Bruce & Karin, John & Barbara Logan, Ramon, Bridget Boling, Kim Beuhlman, The Bobin Family, George & Julia, Michael & Gale D, Joy & Emma, Ty-Missy-Cyrus, Peter & Mary, Taylor G, Peter H, Karen H, Matt J, Peter & Katie J, Kristina & Casey L, Erik & Lindsey, Kristie L, Gary & Marie M, Annamarie & Justin N, Pat & Jo M, Kelley Plechu, George & Cindy, Nicole S, Sherman S, Alex S, The Santucci Family, David & Steph, Maynard & Pat T, Doug Y, Weeda-Ellen-Lucas, Gwen W, Nancy D, Ashok D. Susan R. xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo