Taking Off

This recent email touched our hearts and reminds us that the butterfly in Butterfly Kisses and Wishes on Wings has power beyonds the pages of the book.

"I can't tell you how much your book has meant to us. 

(Our son) Benjamin felt very special that it was personalized for him, and it brought tears to both our eyes when we read it together the other night. It certainly answered many of his questions and concerns. For example, I told him about my husband's cancer before we read the book, and his first question was..."is it contagious?"

Tissues
Illustration from Butterfly Kisses andWishes on Wings:
When someone you love has cancer... a hopeful, helpful book for kids
©McVicker&Hersh, LLC

Your illustrations are so beautiful! 

I am so glad that I came across your book, and I appreciate you making a special effort to get it to me so quickly. 

Thank you, again, for everything!

Janet Wilson

Thank you Janet, sending your family and you... wishes on wings.

Ellen & Nanci

Butterflies in the Sisterhood

One of the most powerful gifts that can come out of a cancer experience are the people you meet along the way.  The "C" Club or the "Sisterhood" of breast cancer survivors, is not one that any of us choose, but once initiated, we embraced with open arms of compassion, practical advice or a knowing hug.  Within and without, there are numerous Angels -those wonderful souls who seem heaven sent to help or watch over you, and Butterflies, beautiful kind beings who are with you on your journey, who come to us in all sorts of ways.

Joining the Sisterhood, 2005
Encaustic, collage on wood
©2012NanciHersh

One such butterfly who I have shared my journey with is Maria Carzia Boyes.  I first met Maria - through a phone conversation when I heard from someone close to each of us that she needed a copy of our book to share with her young daughter Eva.  Later, when Maria was going through her treatment, I was diagnosed with breast cancer for the second time. And unlike the first diagnosis 8 years ago, I would be facing chemo and radiation myself.  Maria and I would often check in with each other to see how it was going, what to expect and for some mutual support. We were able to chat easily and enjoyed checking in with each other, on the phone, email and FB- but had never met in person. 

Maria with her daughter Eva at
the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure 2012

UNTIL I was in NY at my surgeons office for a follow up earlier this year.   After my examination I was asked to return to the waiting room to schedule a future appointment.  Lost in thought, I heard my name called and went up and sat at the desk when all of a sudden a woman with an electric smile comes up to me and says, "Nanci Hersh?" Never having met Maria in person I didn't recognize her, but coincidentally we had the same breast surgeon and had an appointment the same day.  Within moments we were hugging and continue to be cheerleaders for each other.  In October Maria was interviewed in Central Jersey. Com and now, you too can meet Maria and see what a beautiful butterfly truly looks like!

Eva, Maria and Jim


Who has been a butterfly in your journey?

Survivorship: Owning Up

This past weekend was the AMC Relay for Life at Unionville High School, PA- (The local paper in this article cited Nanci as the author, not illustrator, and spells Hersh wrong, but- hey they mentioned our book Butterfly Kisses and Wishes on Wings!)

The water and also bead station, where you took a bead
and put it on a string for every lap you took

Survivor

nouna person who survives, esp. a person remaining alive after an event in which others have died : the sole survivor of the massacre.• a person who copes well with difficulties in their life: : she is a born survivor.

It was a first for me. I had been a part of cancer awareness events- either speaking about our book, or on the sidelines- signing and selling copies. But had yet to walk the walk, i.e. take a Survivor's Lap.

Maybe it is the word survivor.  We all face challenges and I didn't think I was really any different. But it has been a heck of a year and I was there because my sons, Griffin and Nate wanted to be there- supporting others- and me.  They were there with their own teams, raising money, and walking and walking- for me. I was proud, honored, and touched, and so I was there, too, owning up.  

The Longwood Rotary did a great job organizing the event; fun activities round the clock and perfect weather to boot!

Had a great time on Friday night meeting some amazing people, talking story as they say in Hawaii, and yes selling books with a portion going back to Relay for Life.  I went home around 10 pm but Griffin, Nate and friends spent the night.  I found a couple of very tired boys in the morning...

Nate's tiny head hidden in plaid

Griffin opted to sleep in the middle of the track field-
with two of his teammates

My buddy Kathy Hrenko, Executive Director of  Kennett After School Association After-the-Bell
and Longwood Rotary member in charge of Survivorship
taking some peaceful morning laps

Shane and Nate at the Community Breakfast
which concluded the Relay for Life

 Pancakes at the end of a long night seem to be the perfect icing on the cake!

Thanks for Longwood Rotary and the American Cancer Society for your efforts in bringing the community together to raise money, awareness and offer support to all of us.

Love Letter

Yes... we LOVE getting these letters...

Backpack
Butterfly Kisses and Wishes on Wings: When someone you love has cancer... a hopeful, helpful book for kids
©2012McVicker&Hersh,LLC

 

"Your book has made a difference for the children of the patients.  We give them out so that they can read the story and relate to it.  We are getting more and more children and grandchildren here to visit or stay with their loved one.  We have a special program that is dedicated to the children and give each child their own backpack with age specific activities and books in each one.  We know that each day can seem like a week when you are waiting around for all the doctor’s appointments."

Kind regards,
John

 

John WilsonMaterials Management/Purchasing Agent

Cancer Treatment Centers of America®

 

 

 

Sue Miller Day of Caring

Last week, Ellen brought Butterfly Kisses and  Wishes on Wings to the Sue Miller Day of Caring in her home state of Colorado- Making our first appearance at this event to benefit breast cancer awareness.

Ellen at our table... butterflies abound!

The need for our book and the heartwarming response I received at the event continues to remind me why Nanci and I created Butterfly Kisses and Wishes on Wings.  The biggest hit was probably our new note cards with the image of the Nanci's Butterfly Kiss on it.  

Butterfly Kiss Notecard
Sold in set of 6
$8.00 set

Meeting all the other wonderful organizations that work together to raise awareness, educate, or supply products for cancer patients  made the day memorable.  My very favorite part was seeing Dr. Sami Diab again.  Dr. Diab was my friend Jennifer's oncologist (she is my friend who told me not to be sad when she passed.... that each time I saw a butterfly, it would be her.  That's when the butterfly came to be in our a story.)  


How pleased I was that Dr. Diab remembered me... and our book.  


I am truly blessed with all the many people I have met through our book.... yes indeed, truly blessed.

Just Like Me

This is from a card that was forwarded to us by someone who had gifted our book to a friend and her children following her cancer diagnosis.

Snuggle Me
Archival digital print
20" x 16"
from the book
Butterfly Kisses and Wishes on Wings

Thank you so much for the beautiful book. 


I had read a couple of books to the boys but the one you gave us was by far the most beautifully written and most appropriate in every way for Jack to identify with.  As I read it to him on every other page he would say "that's just like me, Mommy!"


                                                                                                                             Sally 

Sally went on to say " We are certainly in for the battle of our lives, but we are feeling blessed..."


Thank you for sharing our book.  Ellen and I also feel blessed to bring some comfort to others, as so many have done for me, and for us.
                                                         Nanci

Never an Easy Conversation

Pages from
Butterfly Kisses and Wishes on Wings: When someone you love has cancer... a hopeful, helpful book for kids

This second time, I was not so delicate.

The phone rang, I heard the news - all three sites from my axilla (armpit) were malignant.  I may have blurted the news right out to Griffin, who is now 13 (he was 5) the first time.  He immediately went and told Nate who is now 11.  His eyes, immediately, began to well up.

I'd like to think I handled it more gently in the moments following. It's never an easy conversation, even with a prior history and all the work I have done with my cousin Ellen.  But we continue to work through it - Together.

That was just about 2 months ago.  Finally, I have a plan.

Make that Plural

The other day my mom went to the doctor...
from Butterfly Kisses and Wishes on Wings: When someone you love has cancer... a hopeful, helpful book for kids

Make that Plural in many ways.

I have to use Ellen's words again. sigh.

It's never just one doctor. This time, it was my gyn that sent me for the Breast MRI after I showed her some lumps under my right arm. And that, was only the beginning.

Navigating through doctors and tests is no easy feat. Finding the best course of action, the doctors that you want to - and can (Hello, PPO's, HMO's, EMO's - another world for sure) work with, is mind bending. and nerve wracking.

Now, two months later from this second diagnosis for breast cancer. I have a clear direction- malignant nodes and possibly small tumors in residual breast tissue on the right side where it was originally 8 years ago. A ruptured implant on the left. ug... and Sloan Kettering wants one more biopsy before they schedule my surgery.

Hopefully soon, to get this part over with, but the truth is why do I want to rush it? I feel GOOD and I have my wonderful support system, my hair (!) and am giving thanks that it is a beautiful sunny spring like day!