10 Gallons

 

It wasn't until after I donated platelets today that I realized I had donated 10 gallons. For me, thats 40 donations, since I donate either double or triple platelets each time. So, they gave me a t-shirt, a cool clear glass coffee mug, and topped it off with balloons.

I am telling this to all of you to encourage you to donate if you can. I don't do this for money or fame. I don't do it for a t-shirt or a mug (although it was fun to get). I do it because it is the right thing to do. The 40 donations isn't even all of them. It is just since I moved to the Sacramento area. Prior to moving here, I donated through the Red Cross in the SF Bay Area, and in the Los Angeles area. I know a lot of you donated after 9/11. Well, blood is needed NOW. Donate if you can.

Compassionate Friends Candle Lighting

Tomorrow night, at 7:00pm local time (Local time to YOU), please light a candle in remembrance of all those who died in childhood, regardless of the cause. From the Compassionate Friends website:

Worldwide Candle Lighting

The Compassionate Friends Worldwide Candle Lighting®, held annually the second Sunday in December, this year December 14, unites family and friends around the globe as they light candles for one hour to honor and remember children who have died at any age from any cause. As candles are lit at 7 p.m. local time, creating a virtual wave of light, hundreds of thousands of persons commemorate and honor the memories of children in a way that transcends all ethnic, cultural, religious, and political boundaries.

Now believed to be the largest mass candle lighting on the globe, the Worldwide Candle Lighting, a gift from TCF to the bereavement community, creates a virtual 24-hour wave of light as it moves from time zone to time zone. Hundreds of formal candle lighting events are held and thousands of informal candle lightings are conducted in homes as families gather in quiet remembrance of children who have died, but will never be forgotten.

The Worldwide Candle Lighting started in the United States in 1997 as a small Internet observance but has since swelled in numbers as word has spread throughout the world of the remembrance.

I may be on the road at 7:00pm tomorrow night while returning from work, so I will light my virtual candle at 7:00pm on this site. I light my candle for:

• Luke Covey (The son of my friends, Steve and Nicole Covey)
  
• Kimmi Burnett (My cousin)
  
• Tommy Hunter (The son of Alicia and John Bennett)
• Tammy Williams (My daughter's friend from junior high school)
  

If you can make it to a ceremony near you, I invite you to. Check out the Compassionate Friends website at the link above for information about a ceremony where you live (Worldwide, folks!).

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer

Well, I walked the walk! It was a lot of fun. Steve, Nicole, Brent, Brandon, little Genna, and I all walked the full 5K walk around downtown Sacramento, going into Old Sacramento, through the K Street Mall, and back around the Capitol. I didn't even feel it! Guess that means I have been walking a lot more lately!

 

The balloon arch all walkers went through at the beginning of the walk

 

The Capitol with the tents on the west side (Front entrance)

 

Pic I took of myself

 

I walked in memory of Annina. She was a good friend and co-worker. 

Annina passed away September 19, 2008.

 

Taken after the walk. Yeah, that's a 2-meter radio on my backpack strap. I am such a gearhead!

Never Forget

It was seven years ago today that this nation was attacked by terrorists. It changed many of our lives in ways we are still discovering. We traded some of our openness and freedoms for what we hope is enhanced security against further attacks; TSA screening everything we own when we board a plane, "LiveScan" fingerprinting and increased background checks for simple things such as employment, RealID coming up, and more.

It was on September 11, 2001, after the attacks, that I made the decision to join DMAT CA-11. I had tried to join the military years and years ago, but they wouldn't take me, since I was missing a kidney. I have always felt a strong need to give back to my country. I remember filling out the application that day, and have been a member of this team since then. Interestingly enough, my application sailed through in record time (Karma?).

Today I sit in a hotel in Dallas, waiting with my team and many others for Hurricane Ike to make landfall. Whether we move before it moves in, or afterward, is up to the folk well above my level. Some teams are out there evacuating patients, others like us, are waiting for our missions, which will eventually occur.

Please take time today to honor those who died as a result of these horrid acts. And take special time for those who died trying to save so many... the firefighters, EMTs, and police. They truly died serving their country on that day. If you don't already volunteer, consider it. It doesn't need to be DMAT... local non-profits are always looking for volunteers.

I need your help

I have helped many people and organizations over the years: financially, emotionally, spiritually. Some of you read this blog. Now, I need your help.

I need to raise about $1200 before Aug 23rd, to pay for my paramedic program (Books, tuition, malpractice insurance, uniform, etc). That is the first day of class. Until my month-to-month costs go down or my income goes up, I am barely keeping my head above water. BUT I NEED TO GET MY PARAMEDIC LICENSE. This is a part-time paramedic program through a local highly-rated community college. When I am done after 4 semesters, I will have earned another degree (An associate degree, but another degree nevertheless). But most importantly, it will enable me to provide a much higher level of care to my patients.

If you can help, I ask you to please make a donation through this link:

Can you help? Please? All donors will get recognition (unless they request otherwise) through a donors list on my main web page.

Honoring Our Veterans

Please take time today to honor those who serve, and who have served, to defend our country. Regardless of your political beliefs, they deserve our respect for their willingness to lay down their lives defending us.

I thought I would share a picture of my grandfather, Willard Dorsett, taken during World War II, that I found. I wish I had a picture of my other grandfather, Alfred Meyers, that I could show you. Both served in World War II with distinction. I am so proud of their service.













I have also added a picture of myself with two of my brothers, Josh and Daniel. They are both serving currently. Josh is in the Army reserves, and Daniel is active in the Air Force. Daniel is on the left, Josh on the right. Why am I in uniform? I am in a DMAT, part of the National Disaster Medical System. But I am not the focus of today, they are. This is just the only picture I have of them in uniform.

Memorial Day Tomorrow

Tomorrow is Memorial Day. Each year, I reflect on those who served and died in order to keep us safe. They sacrificed their lives so that mine and everyone else's lives can go on.

There seems to be confusion among some people (particularly those in their 20's and younger) regarding Memorial Day. This is a day of remembrance for those who died in service, not for everyone in service. That day is Armed Forces Day, as well as Veteran's Day.

There is a website, http://www.remember.gov , that I invite all of you to visit.

I found this poem over there, and the song that follows:

“ Last Monday in May”©

By

John T. Bird

We pause to remember those who died

With so much courage, so much pride

They’ll never come back, yet memories endure

To remind us of freedom: fragile, pure

We’re worthy of their sacrifice if we pause each day

Not just on the last Monday in May

This is an incredible song, if you have never heard it before, it can elicit strong emotion. It still does in me today:

http://www.remember.gov/moment/documents/OnThisDay-SaraEvans.mp3

Please remember to pray for those who fell protecting us and others. And for their families. With the war in Iraq, those families affected by the death of a servicemember need your prayers and thoughts.

Mila

If you haven't learned the story of Mila yet, I am about to introduce you. Mila is a little 2-year old who is dying from brain cancer. A growing movement is learning about Mila, and helping her mom, who is struggling in all the ways that a mom can struggle when dealing with a dying child. You need learn more about Mila. Her story, and her videos will tug at your heart in so many ways. My wonderful daughter Diana provided me the link at first.

Please pray for this little girl and her mom. They need all the prayers they can get.

First, watch this video: http://www.helpmila.com/aboutmila.html (It is the one titled "Gavin Michael Booth's Blog - Feb. 14, 2007 #2").

Now, go to: http://www.helpmila.com (The main page). There is a link to a MySpace page also (It is a clean page, so all you parents don't need to worry).

There are many more videos over there, and at the MySpace account listed on the site.

I can't imagine my kids dying. I don't know what I would do. It was hard enough to lose my husband.

Mila, you have a lot of people praying for you, honey. I just joined the ranks.

Andi, I will let everyone I know learn about your wonderful little angel. You keep doing what you need to do. You are a wonderful mom to Mila, and you are giving her what she needs the most: Love. Total Absolute Love.