Saturday, June 16, 2012

Happy 3rd Heavenly Birthday

Dear Scott, As your birthday approaches I began to think of how we would celebrate, with ice cream cake of course. Then I began to think of how my world has changed since you received your wings. How misplaced I am in this big old world. How everything familiar ia foreign to me. Skylar is growing so fast. She is such a little girl with so much personality. She has a witty little personality, she is very funny in the things she comes up with. She is going to be in the 3rd grade this year. She picked up the Celebration Of Life book the other day. She never said anything , she looked at each page and then returned the book. I wonder if it was to refresh her mind with your picture. I try to do as much as I can for two of us. You would have been so proud of Kellie and how she stuck by me before and after you left. But, the time has come for her and Blake to have their own life. Kellie is pregnant with our next grand baby,a girl, Chloe Elizabeth. Can you believe that little chubby brown haired, brown eyed, wild little boy that we thought would kill us before we got him raised is going to become a dad. I know how much you loved Kellie and how much you would have loved this baby. I will speak of you to Chloe just as I do with Skylar. Brandi is getting married. After all these years, her and Pat are getting married. I know we didn't like him but, I don't feel we gave him a fair chance because of all the circumstances. I met him and he seems really nice. Skylar seems to like him and I think he is good to her and after all that is what we mostly care about. They will wedd in December. I still cry, I still miss you as much now as when you left. There is so much I want to tell you, so much I would love to show you. You would be amazed with our friends, the way they have stuck by me (even when I was difficult) the way they stepped up to the plate and the things they have done that you would have done. I hope you are proud of the small progress I have made without you, it has been so difficult without you. So as your birthday approaches , how will I celebrate without you? I will think of you as I do each and everyday. I will remember how you blessed my life, I will remember all the memories you have given me. You have given me more life far beyond my years. You have made it difficult for anyone to fill your shoes. Happy 3rd heavenly Birthday!

Monday, February 06, 2012

Drum Roll Please

A "HUGE" thank you to Anthony and Tina who raffled off a gift for Scotty Sacks at their "awesome" Super Bowl party and collected a total of...308.00$ Scotty Sacks is off to a great start. Thank you all who generously gave to Scotty Sacks and remembered what a wonderful man Scott was. I love to hear your stories - all of them, they make me smile. I know I keep saying this but he would be in "Awe" of the love you all had for him.

We will be presenting our first two Scotty Sacks on Saturday after the Miles For Hope walk..sometime during the awards ceremony. I keep getting asked if I am ready for this, my reply is I have to be. What will I say when I stand to present these Sacks? I was going to prepare something but, how do you prepare something that is so close to your heart? Scott and I set out to do Scotty Sacks together, our plan wasn't God's plan. Our friends have stepped in , when Scott had to step out. So with them , I can do this, I have to do this.


Runners are ready to lace up their shoes and hit the pavement in the name of finding a cure for brain cancer.

On Feb. 11, nonprofit Miles for Hope will be hosting the second annual Moving Towards a Cure 5k walk/run and a one-mile family run at Harbor Park in Lake Baldwin to raise money for pediatric brain tumor research.

Last year’s event in Orlando focused on funding research for adult brain tumors and raised $39,923, said Belinda McAbee, fundraising coordinator for Miles for Hope. The goal for this event is to raise $60,000 that will go toward a $250,000 grant for pediatric brain tumor research.

This year’s ambassador is Blake Appleton, an 8-year old boy who lives in Lake Wales and suffers from brain cancer. He’s been in the national spotlight recently, having the opportunity to meet both Dwight Howard and Tim Tebow.

Appleton was diagnosed in January 2008, and after four years battling the disease, he asked his mother, Miranda Appleton, to end his chemotherapy treatments. In a post she put on her son’s Facebook page, she said her son told her, “Mommy, I love you and please don’t be unhappy with me, but I don’t want to do the chemo.”

She honored his wishes. Blake’s doctors told her that he would not go into remission even if he continued the treatments. She feels that sharing her story with others is important.

“It makes me feel good that I can share Blake with so many people, and so many people be touched and inspired by him because of what he’s going through,” Appleton said. “He’s literally been fighting for his life for the last four years, and even though he’s been fighting for his life, he chooses to try and stay positive and he’ll live his life to the fullest and be happy.”

Her son suffers from what is known as anaplastic medulloblastoma, Appleton said. Medulloblastomas account for about 20 percent of childhood brain tumors and have survival rates that range from 60 to 80 percent, according to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. Appleton said he still does most of what he used to do before being diagnosed with cancer.

“There’s really not much that he did before that he can’t do now. There’s some things he can’t do as well,” Appleton said. “Before he got sick, he could ride a bicycle without training wheels, and now it’s difficult for him to ride a bike at all because it takes physical ability to be able to ride a bike. He’ll still go out there and ride his bike.”

Miles for Hope is a nonprofit organization that raises funds and awareness for brain tumor research and clinical trials, and also provides travel assistance to qualified brain tumor patients. Last year’s 5k event was attended by about 500 people, McAbee said. This year, they are hoping to get more than 500 people to participate. There will be a complimentary continental breakfast and local food vendors will be on site. McAbee said they will have access to 911 and other emergency services, should they be necessary for medical emergencies.

Melessia Adams, a 20-year-old junior pre-medical student at the Florida Hospital College of Health Sciences, will be volunteering at this event for the first time. She found out about the event when she was searching online for volunteer work. Adams hopes her involvement will shed some light on this issue.

“I hope it will bring more awareness to others about it, maybe bring in some funds to help those who need money,” Adams said.

Adrienne Kaltenschnee, a resident of Longwood, is participating for the first time. She was inspired to participate due to her own experience with brain cancer. Her son, Christian Kaltenschee, was diagnosed with brain cancer in February of last year and died on Oct. 27. She said her own contribution to the cause of fighting brain cancer began with her son.

“My son was a giver. At his celebration service, we collected hats, and that was kind of the start of what we did,” Kaltenschee said. “Everyone who participated in the celebration service or attended brought in a new hat to donate to other kids that are still fighting cancer.”

She said she collected more than 400 hats, which she donated to Florida Hospital South and New Hope for Kids. She also donated some hats to the radiation department of Florida Hospital.

Appleton said that although her doctors may not necessarily agree with her, she continues to want her son to live as full a life as possible.

“I didn’t ever want to put boundaries on him, on what he was allowed to do and what he isn’t allowed to do,” Appleton said. “They understand how I feel about it and that I didn’t want Blake’s cancer to rob him of his childhood.

“I pretty much let Blake do whatever it is he’s wanted to do within reason. I’ve been close by just to make sure that nothing happens. Blake gets to live a life as normal as possible.”
We will be presenting our first two Scotty Sacks on Saturday after the Miles For Hope walk..sometime during the awards ceremony. I keep getting asked if I am ready for this, my reply is I have to be. What will I say when I stand to present these Sacks? I was going to prepare something to say but, how do you prepare something that is so close to your heart

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Thank You For Wearing Grey For Scott

Thank you all that donated to Scotty Sacks over the Christmas holiday. Your Scotty Squirrel will be on its way shortly. I am offering the, ever so popular, silicone bracelet that say's "I Wear Grey For Scott" for a donation to Scotty Sacks in the amount of $5.00 or more. I designed t-shirts for our team walk coming up on February 11, 2012. So many people have asked me if they could get a t-shirt. I found it easier to open a store at Cafe Press so everyone could order what they wanted. If you are interested in a t-shirt you may purchase them at http://www.cafepress.com/ZechDesigns All proceeds for anything that is sold goes directly to Scotty Sacks.