I’m thinking about you and your wonderful community of creative card artists.  I’m also thinking about my equally wonderful breast cancer community.  My third thought (I’m really on a roll here;-) is how nice it would be to connect the two communities in a project called “Give Thanks.”  In a nutshell that would involve card artists supplying breast cancer fighters with beautiful hand made cards – Thank You cards, Birthday cards and blank cards.  Here’s a story, which will explain the need for cards and how project “Give Thanks” will work.  (There’s a tidbit about you, Michelle waiting at the end of this letter for anyone who makes it there.  No peeking.)

As you know Michelle, I was diagnosed with stage-3 breast cancer on May 15th 2010 and now I’m almost finished with a long list of treatments and surgeries.  By the end of the summer I’ll be finished with the build a boob program and that will be the last of the ordeal (I hope!).  While everyone knows how difficult it is for cancer fighters they may not know what a tremendous time of thankfulness it is!  Think of all the people it takes to save a cancer patient – radiologists, oncologists, surgeons, chemo technicians, radiation oncologists, physical therapists, massage therapists, nurse advocates, financial consultants, therapists, pharmacist, and each of these has a wonderful staff that do much of the hands on work.  Also, consider all of the family, friends, neighbors, church members and community members that supply comfort, love, food, house cleaning, rides, and gifts (lots of head covers).  Wow!  Can you imagine how thankful you would be to have all of these concerned people by your side during such a life altering event?

Michelle, I know how thankful you are that those people were at my side while you were far away from me.  

Believe me, Cancer Fighters Give Thanks!  I’ve already sent out upwards of 100 thank you cards.  It is so therapeutic to remember and appreciate all of the love and care that I received.  But, most of this year I was also very tired, sick or recovering from surgeries.  It was difficult to gather up all of those cards. Also, because I have a Sister who makes outrageously beautiful cards and she shares with me, I didn’t have to spend $3-$4.00 for one special card let alone dozens of cards!  This is why I’m asking the card artist community to join me in project “Give Thanks.”  

As is the nature of giving thanks, project “Give Thanks” will benefit everyone!  I’ve already explained how Cancer Fighters will benefit from free Thank You, Birthday and blank cards.  The card artist will benefit from their generosity, support of cancer patients, people enjoying their work and appreciating their own thankfulness that cancer is not one of their battles to fight.  That last benefit may sound a little heavy handed but isn’t it true?

Don’t we all give thanks after a clean mammogram or prostate exam?  I did!  And I’m especially thankful that you, Michelle, got your mammogram last week!  Atta-girl!  I hope that everyone in your community will also have regular mammograms and monthly self-exams.

Please ask the card artist community to help with project “Give Thanks”.  Here’s how:

Send me SIGNED hand crafted cards with envelopes (or cards w/o envelopes or even card fronts which I will put together).  Please only send quarter cards, 4.25″ x 5.5″.    Did you know that prostrate cancer is now more prevalent than breast cancer?  That means there are men who want to Give Thanks too.  I’ll thankfully use any form or style of art that is sent to me.  The artist’s email on the back of a card could facilitate a chain of giving thanks but is not necessary. 

I will slip each lovingly made card/envelope into a cello envelope to protect it.

I will deliver the cards to the Rocky Mountain Cancer Center in Boulder Colorado.  They will be displayed in the Infusion Room, where chemotherapy is administered, and Cancer Fighters will be able to take as many as they need to “GIVE THANKS”.  Did you know that it often takes 4 hours to receive chemo?  Did you also know that mostly it doesn’t hurt?  So, often Fighters need something to do and Giving Thanks in a card is the perfect productive distraction!    Don’t worry that one person will take all of the cards for themselves or to sell.  This is a proven system of distribution.  There are already baskets of beautiful hand made hats, scarves, neck rests, teddy bears, books and food available and everyone takes just what they need.

If this project is supported, as I suspect it will be, I’ll supply cards to the infusion rooms in Denver as well.  If someone wants to make cards and a commitment to their own community of Cancer Fighters I would celebrate that too!  Giving thanks does not have geographic borders.  

SEND CARDS TO:

SONJA KNAISCH (better known as “Michelle Zindorf’s sister)

7184 GLACIER VIEW ROAD

LONGMONT, CO  80503

720-341-3829

Michelle thanks so much for embracing this idea and allowing me to communicate with your friends.

I Love You,

Sonja  

Tidbit:  Michelle’s family name is Mickey.  She’s my little sister and as kids she was a pesky follow about.  So… I would go to the spooky, cricket-ridden basement and hide under the stairs and when she followed me down there I would grab her ankles through the steps and scream something scary.  What fun!    Oh, my bad.  That’s something about me too… and look who’s following who now!    

Here is the link to the breast cancer card tutorial:  http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/2010/10/05/breast-cancer-awareness-tutorial-365/

 

Thank you Sis and to everyone that can help out with this wonderful cause.

May your life be one without Cancer and filled with much joy.

Until my next post. . . . . . . .

Huge Hugs,

Michelle