Polar Bear

Polar Bear….

This past weekend I became a polar bear for a brief moment in time.  Here is how things went down. I originally blogged about Lenn and Camp Sunshine to help raise money in memory of Lenn’s friend Will who recently passed away from brain cancer.  There were so many of my friends and family members that sent in money to help Lenn’s cause. I was amazed by the show of support.  (I know I promised you something, message me your address and I will mail it out to you).  Then one thing led to another and I found myself in a hotel room within walking distance to the beach. I brought my bathing suit and towels.  However, I was not sure if I was going to go into the Atlantic. First there was talk of a huge snow storm.  Then, my ear started hurting.  I committed myself to going down to Long Branch so I was definitely getting on the beach to support Lenn.  So, I popped some Motrin for my ear pain, put on my fleece hat that I wore when I was bald, wrapped my breast cancer scarf around my neck and headed towards the beach. As I walked my mind was going back and forth about actually plunging (to plunge or not to plunge, that is the question).  We make it to the beach house and I spy my uncle. I was not sure if my cousin was really going to plunge. He had mentioned that he wanted to.  I see my cousin Matt all ready to go plunging with a cheering squad nearby.  I am not sure if they were there to cheer or to remind us how stupid we were for going into the Atlantic when it was so cold out.  Well, question answered…..If Matt came down to join me in the plunge, then I was plunging.

Man it was cold out.  

                                (Yes, I went in with my hat and glasses on....I knew I was not going under)

Couldn’t feel the rocks under my feet because my feet were frozen.

We ran into the Ocean but the water only went up to mid leg.  We had to keep going….

I made it to about my chest area and then started to head back.

Matt said “I going farther, I am going under”

I said “bye, I am going back.”

                                                                  Plunge accomplished!!!!

I made it back to the sand….numb feet, got my flip flops and had my cousin Lindsey come with me back inside to clean off the sand.  Brrrrr

                                                                  (our support group)

                                                              (thanks for coming!)

I cleaned my feet (I was super worried about my toes from the side effects of chemo) and put my socks and snow boots back on.  Ahh the feeling started to return.

Well, I did it!  I plunged into the Atlantic in January.  It was January and one of the coldest days we have had in a while.  There was snow on the beach.  There were girls making snow angels in the sand.  It was an experience I will never forget.  I am happy that I was able to help Lenn raise over $15,000 for Camp Sunshine.

Here is Lenn with three of his former teachers.  We did it!  Lenn was diagnosed with cancer as a 7th grader.  He just had his birthday and has received his license to drive!  Way to go Lenn!

Strength...

Strength…..

We all draw our strength from different things and different people.  After I first started chemo there were moments when I didn’t quite feel like I could get through it.  Usually after feeling sad or upset about what was happening I would get a text from a former student.  I don’t give out my phone number to my students but this student was very different.  He was the only student I had that was diagnosed with cancer while being my student. I knew him as an A+ student who had a cancerous brain tumor removed over his winter break.  After Lenn’s years of hell our families grew close.  We have spent time together over the years.  We even spent a whole day at their house when we were without power.  After I lost my hair, Lenn was the one that said “hair is over rated” and he was right.  When I couldn’t move because of the taxol infusions, I thought of Lenn and often said to myself  “if an 11 year old kid can beat cancer, what am I complaining about.”  Lenn was a source of strength for me.  Lenn has decided to give back and help others that are in need.  I would love to do this with him but it falls out on my Sabbath.  Maybe in the future they will do it on a Sunday and I will have to be one of the crazies that jump in the Ocean in the middle of the winter.

http://www.crowdrise.com/teamlenn

Check out the above website.  That is Lenn’s link.  He is trying to raise money to help other children that have battled through the unfortunate experience of cancer.  Trust me, cancer is no fun.  I missed out on a few things, but Lenn missed out on a big chunk of his childhood.  Let’s help Lenn help other children.

My goal would be for at least ten of my fb friends to donate at least ten dollars.  Message box me if you donate because I have a special surprise for you.  Of course I would like my FB friends to share this link on their wall.  Hopefully, then ten of your friends will donate at least ten dollars.  Maybe they will share the link.  Just maybe this link will be shared so much that Lenn will be able to reach his goal.  Most importantly maybe together we can help other children who are battling cancer have a little bit of “sunshine.”  

I will be stalking my facebook wall to see who has shared the link…….