Fundraising Ideas #1 and #2

If you're new to this blog, welcome and feel free to say hello!

Last week, I had the privilege of meeting with two New Jersey Light the Night representatives and got some fantastic ideas for fundraising this year. In one month, my team raised over $8,000 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and I hope we will be able to raise just as much--or more--since I am beginning to fund-raise much earlier this year.

I've been posting on Facebook in a new Team Gillybean group I created a couple weeks ago. Here is the link: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Team-Gillybean/1471477149746725?ref=hl

My first ideas for fundraising:

 

Yankee Candle fundraising is new to me, but Team Gillybean/LLS will get 40% of the profit! That is a great deal! I have 10 seller packets, if you would like to help sell IN PERSON, otherwise, please use the link http://tiny.cc/teamgillybeancandles and don't forget to use our 

GROUP NUMBER: 99006317.

In-person fundraising ends April 14th, but it looks like online will continue through July.

Deadlines: Order by March 21st for Easter and April 11th for Mother's Day

 

And for my fundraising idea #3: Would anyone buy Jelly Belly jelly beans for Easter from me? I am thinking of ordering boxes of 10 flavors each, sell for $10 a box. If there is enough interest, I will do it! 

Thanks for your support!

Gillian

To shave or not to shave?

My hair is falling out more and more these days. It is everywhere! It's all over the backs of my shirts and coats, it's on the floor, in the sink, in my food... blech! Surprisingly, though, I still have enough on my head so that the thinning isn't noticeable.

I've read a lot of blogs/websites/articles that say people going through chemotherapy treatments will often cut or shave their hair before it falls out so that they feel "in control." Well, my co-worker said to me last week, "that might be true, but it could also be true that keeping your hair is another way you stay 'in control.'"

So, part of me want to get rid of my hair so I don't have to worry about it (and seeing it) falling out. But mostly, I want to keep it. I have an appointment this week with my wig shop friend and I want to see what she thinks, too.


My friend, Julie, writes a beautiful blog and if you have a moment to check out her thoughts, here is the link: http://juliehappenings.blogspot.com/. She wrote tonight about grief and while I am not strictly talking about grief in my post (or am I? The loss of my hair has surely caused me grief), this quote really stood out to me:

"No one is allowed to tell you what you should feel, ever. Or what you should do next. You get a free pass to make those decisions 100% selfishly." 

I hear opinions from others about what to do with my hair and it's fine, even if I do feel a little insecure or angry (see previous posts). I just have to remember that the decision is up to me and only me. 

But a little voice inside says...help? 

Results

My parents and boyfriend joined me at my appointment before treatment yesterday so we could hear the results of the CT scan from this week.

The results are good, the lymph nodes are still shrinking. We learned that the masses inside the nodes will never completely disappear because of scar tissue. It gets a little confusing here, because while this is good news, it still opens up a chance of having to go through two additional cycles after my next two cycles, when we were all hoping to be done by April. This would mean four additional treatments at the hospital, meaning two extra months. This is not what we were hoping to hear. I had a little cry while I listened to the doctor. 

It seemed odd to hear I could possibly get more treatments if the lymph nodes are still shrinking. But what we really want is to see is that the lymph nodes are unchanged from scan to scan, because it means the drugs have completely destroyed the disease and it can't get any smaller. 

So, if the scan after my next four treatments comes back unchanged from this week's scan, it means there is no more disease that could be killed and I'm done with treatments. If changes are reported, I will need to extend my treatments for two more months. 

It's not what we all wanted to hear, but it's best that my doctor prepared us for what could be! No one goes over 8 cycles (16 treatments), so even if I do have to continue, I will be done by June. 

The first thought that popped into my head was, of course, 'my hair!' I think I have enough to last me for two months, but four?! I guess it's time I go back to the wig shop-- just in case. 

Otherwise I'm feeling pretty good after yesterday's treatment. I felt a little light- headed last night while hanging out with mom, dad, and my friend Joan. I'm hungry this morning, so that's a good thing. Sometimes when I don't have a great appetite or what seems like my taste buds aren't working, I will eat Cheetos for the crunch and the flavor. I had a chocolate donut after dinner last night that tasted so bland! (And I sure do love my chocolate donuts!)

I think I'll find something to eat or just go back to bed for a while. Thanks for your support, blog readers and friends! 

Next treatment: Friday, March 14th.