We are gearing up for the last couple of weeks of summer vacation including a trip to Lake Hubert. We are bringing friends along this year - friends for Erin, and friends for us.
Our original plan was to have the Shives family with us this year... then cancer got in the way. Kula has reached another stage in her journey as radiation treatments started this week. 5 days a week for 5 weeks... no trip to the cabin this year... 2017 for sure...
Cancer has been on our minds these past few weeks as a longtime friend of ours was diagnosed with colon cancer which has metastasized. Michelle is our age. She was the first of DanO's high school buddies wives that I met. She was so kind to me the first night I hung out with the Bloomington Lincoln class of '81. Every guy seemed to have a nickname, and I didn't know a soul.
We've stayed in touch with them through all these years and the ups and downs we've each faced. Mark and Michelle have a long road ahead of them, but they, too are fighting the evil cancer with all they have...
In the concentric circles that make up life, the Shives, who traveled Shannon's journey with us and are now fighting their own battle, have paid it forward and helped Michelle be seen here at Mayo Clinic... Michelle started her chemo here this week... cancer sucks, but friends help...
Each of us must play the hand we are dealt. Do the best we can, while we are here. Fight our battles with everything we have...To that end, we sent off our scholarship checks this week. Two more Shannon O'Hara Foundation recipients on their way to the next stage of life. August brings college and two more kids are headed that way with a little help from our girl.
Pay it forward...
