A Cause We Can All Get Behind.

There are many causes that are worthy ones. Just look around and you’ll see so many people in need, yet so little resources to fill those needs. But my bloggy friend Jay over at Halftime Lessons has come up with one that we all can “get behind.” Supporting the fight against children’s cancer.

And he’s doing it with every bit of spunk and whit that we’ve come to expect from him – for the second year in a row, he’s shaving his head. On March 21, Jay will shave his head along with hundreds of other participants in support of children’s cancer research though the amazing national organization called St. Baldrick’s.

In other words, we all get to see him bald. Priceless.

But all kidding aside, Jay is the kind of blogger I like. He says what he means and means what he says- so when he confidently states that he’d like to beat his record last year of over $1600 in donations, know he’ll do it.

With our help.

I don’t want this to be just another post about “giving up your hard earned money.” I realize thousands of charities ask for donations a year and it’s simply too difficult to give to all of them.

But you see, his cause is mine – and thousands of others.

It’s rare that I open myself up to the blogosphere. I’m careful of what I write and whom I write it too. Years of keeping peoples secrets makes you keep lots of your own.

But now, it seems, I have a reason.

There is no way I am going to shave my head with Jay (yes, I am spineless when it comes to going bald), but perhaps I can share something with all of you that will enable you to open your purse strings, post on your blog, or just be a little more thankful then you were the day before.

My 5 year old daughter, Pinkerbell, is a miracle.

It began when my hubby found a golf ball sized tumor on her little abdomen.

It ended with a trip to Children’s Hospital in DC and a preliminary diagnosis of cancer.

In the 5 days before her surgery, we contemplated how our lives had turned completely upside down. We were prepped by oncologists, and a team of doctors and surgeons on what to expect post surgery and thereafter.

I vividly remember meeting other parents in the hospital with children suffering from this horrible disease, yet they had such resilience and strength. I remember the kindness, support, and honesty of the staff, nurses, and doctors. And I remember the day of our daughter’s surgery, walking by the hospital gift store and picking out a pretty pink hat with a red rose for Pinkerbell. I wanted her to have a sassy new hat when she lost her hair during chemo treatments.

But a miracle was awaiting us post-surgery. We were told that our daughter was one of the lucky few. The mass was successfully removed and it was benign. The oncologist was in tears when she gave us the news. Why? Because in her words, “I don’t get to give good news very often.”

Yet, this is not a story about me – or even about my daughter. It’s about something bigger than both of us. A silent promise I made to myself and Pinkerbell when I took her home that evening and held her in my arms.

“I will give back,” I promised her. “I will give to all of those families that are not as fortunate, but fight just as hard.” We will fight with them.

And so, we all must fight with them.

Through my daughter’s journey and near-miss with cancer, my family and I have been “paying it forward” for the past 5 years by donating what we can to Children’s Hopsital and other causes to help children suffering from cancer.

It’s the right thing to do.

It’s the only thing to do.

And though times are tough, if you cannot donate money (every little bit helps), please blog, Twitter, and head over to Halftime Lessons to find out other ways to support this worthy cause (hint, this may involve head shaving).

Heck, if you want you can just grab his button and post it on your site – please help us all spread the word.

But most importantly, please keep the thousands of children and their families in your thoughts and prayers who need to purchase a “pink or blue hat at the hospital gift shop.”

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