GRATITUDE

We had a great day a few days before Christmas, shopping for gifts for our new client.  She only asked for help buying two bicycles, one for her daughter, one for her son.  Four of our volunteers met the client and her boyfriend, the children's father, at a local discount store.  They picked out the bikes and were ready to go home.  We shocked them by telling them we had two shopping carts and we expected them to fill both of them with toys and clothes for the kids. It was such a joy watching them pick out the things they thought they wouldn't be able to give the children this year.  
     As we were checking out, we noticed our client with tears flowing.  She said she couldn't put into words what she was feeling.  But she didn't have to.  Her emotion spoke volumes.  She and her boyfriend both kept telling us how grateful they were for all we were doing for them.  
     But here's what's strange.  We felt grateful to be able to do it for them.  We feel like we get more enjoyment out of giving, than the clients do in receiving.  It's a win win.  And we're blessed to be a part of it.

WHAT DO YOU FEAR?

During our outreach with a new client today, she talked about the fear of breast cancer.  The question came up, if you were afraid when you got your diagnosis, what were you afraid of?  People who haven't walked the breast cancer journey, often ask, "Were you scared you were going to die?"  The general consensus from the 7 survivors at our outreach, was no.  Any fear we had was because of two things:
   1.  The unknown.  Many of us feared the treatment process, what would it be like, feel like?  How would the side effects affect us?  One volunteer said, "I don't like new experiences."  We all laughed, but she does have a point about how we as humans react to change.
   2.  Those we'd leave behind.  Those who don't fear dying, still have a burden for those we would leave behind.  Several survivors remember praying for the chance to see their children graduate from high school, grow up, get married and have families of their own.
    Your thoughts on fear?

BREAKTHROUGH !

The SAN ANTONIO BREAST CANCER SYMPOSIUM is going on this week.  So, we'll be hearing much encouraging news about breakthrough in the breast cancer fight.  It looks like there's been an amazing development for those who are battling late stage breast cancer.    Here's a link to a story that appeared December 7, 2011 on WORLD NEWS with Diane Sawyer.

http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/video/breast-cancer-drug-breakthrough-15109167