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.

It's All about Showing Up

Some have talked the talk and some have walked the walk. 

There is also something to be said about Running the Run. There are any number of events that raise awareness, generate financial contribution and bring community together to support an individual or collective in need. There is power- and fun in showing up.

 

This year, thanks to my son Griffin and his friends who signed up for ACS Relay for Life at Unionville, HS on June 8 & 9th, and my friend Kathy Hrenko who's coordinating the event, 

I have decided to show up and take a lap with other survivor's.

I will also be there with wings, wishes on wings that is, signing and selling Butterfly Kisses books to benefit American Cancer Society.

Margaret Zuccotti
holding her record
Susan G. Komen
Philadelphia Race for the Cure

Margaret Zuccotti, creator and founder of Reading for Reassurance,  has crossed the finish line FIRST for the survivors division in the Komen Philadelphia Race for the Cure- for 4 years in a row.  This Sunday she will be going for her 5th!  A woman with a big heart- and strong lungs and legs- and some fierce determination thrown in.

Running for Maria
Ava, Maria Boyes & Jim
Race for the Cure NJ, May 6, 2012

Daughter, Ava and husband, Jim Boyes showing off their pink for mom and wife, Maria Boyes.

Who are you running for this year?

Open House for Butterflies

Strolling through downtown Kennett Square last weekend, a small book in the window of RLD Books

lured me in to the shop.

A page from
Open House for Butterflies
by Ruth Krauss
pictures by Maurice Sendak
Harper & Row, Publishers ©1960

Open House for Butterflies written by Ruth Krauss and illustrated by Maurice Sendak.  I loved the title, of course,  the work of Maurice Sendak is incomparable, and the simple childlike insight of Ruth Krauss with phrases like "Lapkin is a good word to know," was all I needed. The book came home with me.

So glad it did.

Maurice Sendak passed away today.  We will miss you Maurice.  May you find peace where the wild things are...

Where DID Your Mojo Go?

This post is for the women and moms out there wondering... Where'd My Mojo Go?

Last week I attended a lecture with that title at Christiana Care as part of their Celebrating Women's Health Lecture Series.

   The evening began with a performance by Tapestry Tribal, 
                   a belly dance troupe led by Bonnie, one of 
Dr. Whitney's staff nurses

Gynecologist Estelle Whitney, M.D.  was the guest speaker for the evening. Her talk began with a short story reading of erotica (definately set the tone) followed by a slide show that offered everything from the benefits of sexual activity to the physical and emotional factors that affect our ability to enjoy an active healthy sex life. She ended with a guided meditation for relaxation.  It was informative in an open, relaxed, fun setting.

Where ever you are with your treatment, or your life it's good to know that you are not alone and when you are ready, there are wonderful resources out there.

Here's a good place to start:
Seven Weeks to Better Sex  by Domeena C. Renshaw
Pleasure: A Woman's Guide to Getting the Sex you Want, Need and Deserve by Dr. Hilda Hutcherson
American Association of Sex Education Counselors and Therapists
Passion Parties
Hot Movies for Her

You go girl!

Save the Dates - May Calendar for BK WOW

April Showers bring May Flowers...

Happy May Day!
This month brings two new events for Ellen and I to sign and share our books both on May 12.

Look for Ellen at the Sue Miller Day of Caring for Breast Cancer Awareness
in Denver, CO

Saturday, May 12, 2012

Denver Marriott Tech Center

4900 S. Syracuse St., Denver, CO 80237

8:00 A.M. – 2:00 P.M.

Find Nanci at Hockessin Book Shelf
7179 Lancaster Pike
Hockessin, DE
302-235-7665
hockessinbookshelf@verizon.net

Buy a Butterfly Wish in honor or memory of someone you love...
and pay it forward

Ellen will be at the Sue Miller Day of Caring in Denver, and Nanci will be at the Hockessin Book Shelf signing books and selling Butterfly Wishes for $1.00 to benefit Christiana Care's Cancer Special Needs Fund at the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center.