Lottes of Love

Happy Humpday, my Molly friends. Today's post is a guest post by one of my very favorite women. Cynthia and I met through an online forum nearly a dozen years ago. Since then, I have been privileged to meet her in person (along with her adorable boys) many times.  She is one of the most giving and caring people I know. And, now, here she goes again for another dear friend in need.

My dear friend, Marie, invited me to share with you some of what I have been doing in conjunction with other Modern Mollys to support a dear friend diagnosed with an aggressive form of Cancer.

 I’ve been friends with Charlotte for the last 8 years or so.  She is one of my “go-to” friends.  When I’m in a pinch and need some help, she’s someone I know I can count on. My sons also know that if they ever need help and I’m not around that Charlotte will know what to do. 

 In March of 2011 Charlotte was diagnosed with cervical cancer.  At the time she was completely healthy, very active and never expected to learn that she had any health problems let alone something as devastating as cancer. When discovered, the cancer was small and could have been removed surgically quite easily. However, since her family did not have any health insurance, the entire burden of the hospital, testing and doctors fees was more than they could afford. The first doctor and hospital they spoke with would not even tell her what the costs would be and kept putting her off, refusing to schedule surgery until she had financial arrangements in place—impossible to do since they wouldn’t tell her how much was needed. Over the next seemingly unending weeks she made phone call after phone call, had agencies lose her paperwork numerous times, she was given information only to later be told that it was in fact mis-information and she had to start all over again. 

 In early May I received a letter with a handcrafted friendship bracelet from a friend of mine.  Her letter says it better than I ever could:

Hi friend!

We all love and know Charlotte super well.  We all know that she is a strong, special and faithful woman.  When I heard from her that she has cancer, I was shocked, but it didn't sink in for awhile.  She was playing it so cool.  After going home and pondering it, I wanted to do something to show that I cared and supported her 510%.  I thought of making these bracelets to wear.  Though simple, I thought it was a perfect opportunity to involve some of her closest friends too.  That's why you're getting one!  I hope you can support Charlotte by wearing this until she has had her surgery and she is "all clear" from the cancer.  I learned and interesting thing about friendship bracelets (or BFF Bracelet" according to Danny).  Part of the reason they call them that is because they are extremely difficult to put on yourself...you need a friend to help you.  I thought this was perfect.  Charlotte needs her friends to help her through this difficult time.  I hope you choose to wear it!

Lots of Love, Brenda

 PS.  White and teal are the colors for cervical cancer.  I used silver instead of white (thanks Karen for the fab idea), and the black just looks cool.

So initially this small group of Charlotte's closest friends started wearing the friendship bracelets that Brenda had crafted with love and sent to each of us, we took pictures of us wearing our bracelets and posted them as our Facebook Profile Pictures.  We loved on Charlotte and supported her.  We knew she was juggling medical stuff but didn't want to pry or get in her business.  By the time financial arrangements were able to be made and the surgery performed over 3 months later, the cancer had spread. While the main growths were removed it had spread and is now in her lymphatic system. She recently began radiation and chemotherapy treatments.

Before long we realized that the monetary commitment her uninsured family was going to have to come up with just in order to get the hospital to schedule the surgery she needed was really beyond their resources.  Not to mention the toll the added stress of trying to handle all the phone calls and paperwork was taking on her health.  So for our love of Charlotte we started to put plans into place to help with the financial needs.  Thus with some phone calls and conversations we pooled our talents and Lotte's of Love became a reality. 

In early July we pulled together a yard sale in less than 2 weeks from inception to advertising and collecting donations.  Karen, another of Charlotte’s friends (who is also a fab caterer) baked up scrumptious muffins and cinnamon rolls to sell.  Over 30 people were involved in sorting, organizing, pricing the donations, staffing the yard sale and helping with clean-up.  Sometime late the Friday night before the Yard Sale a group of ladies decided that they’d volunteer to sleep over in a tent to guard the donations until morning.  When Shandi snuck the money from the cash box into the house to count it at 10:30 and we had already collected over $1000 in donations we were amazed.  And when at the end of the day we had a little over $2100, which is more than half of what Charlotte needs for each month’s medical costs, we felt so encouraged that we were going to be able to help her get the treatments and care that she needed to beat this ugly beast. 

HOW YOU CAN HELP

·         Read our Blog  http://lottesoflove.blogspot.com/  and become a Follower.

·         If you have friends or family in Northern Utah share Charlotte’s story with them and tell them about the events we are holding.

·         Make an online donation to help pay for her ongoing cancer related medical treatments.

·         Consider becoming a sponsor with either a monetary donation or a prize donation for one of our events.

·         Pray for Charlotte and all the organizers of Lotte’s of Love.

We can't lose her!  Please help us get our dear friend the medical treatments she needs to save her life.