It is Valentine’s Day, a day filled with love, and one of the greatest love stories I read this year was Donna’s Cancer Story.
Donna was a bright, spunky little girl who died of a rare brain tumor called papillary meningioma shortly after she turned four years old. To know her –even if only through her mother’s words – was to love her.
If you haven’t read the incredible series written by my dear friend and fellow blogger, Mary Tyler Mom, please set aside some time (and tissue) to do so. Donna and her family will amaze you with their strength and their ability to choose hope time and again.
Some people protest that the series is too sad, and many of you who regularly read Portrait will recall that I wrote about why it is important for people to read Donna’s Cancer Story, despite the heartbreaking subject matter.
Today, as I celebrate Valentine’s Day with my loved ones, I am also carrying Donna in my heart. Donna, who loved to eat mac-and-cheese from Noodles & Company. Donna, who lived for her ballet classes. Donna, who preferred to wear sophisticated black.
Even after her cancer diagnosis became terminal, Donna kept living. As Mary Tyler Mom so poignantly put it, “Donna lived until she died.” I think of Mary Tyler Mom, sitting on her bed and showing my daughters photos of the cemetery where Donna is buried, because my four-year-old wanted to know, “Where is Donna now?”
“I love talking about Donna,” Mary Tyler Mom told little Annie Rose. “I am so glad you asked.”
“I am sorry that she died,” replied Annie Rose earnestly. “I wish I could play with her.”
“I wish you could play with her too,” Mary Tyler Mom said with brimming eyes.
Mary Tyler Mom now honors Donna’s memory through a charity that she and her husband established called Donna’s Good Things. The charity works to provide joyful opportunities for children facing adversity and also creates an online supportive community for afflicted families.
And now there is something YOU can do to help!
How can I help Conquer Kids’ Cancer, you may be wondering?
One of Mary Tyler Mom’s readers has initiated a St. Baldrick's event to both honor Donna and raise some hard core cash for pediatric cancer research. St. Baldrick's, the largest private funder of pediatric cancer research in the US, has raised over $120 million since its creation in 2000.
Donna’s team is hoping to smash their goal of raising $20,000 in a day for St. Baldrick's. Please consider doing one or more of the following:
1. Sign up as a Shavee or Volunteer at a St. Baldrick’s Event near you. (Once you find an event, click on the blue box that says ‘participate at this event’. If you want to join the Donna’s Good Things team, when prompted, say you want to join an existing team, and filter for “Donna” at other events) Again, here is the link to Donna’s team. On a VERY HAPPY NOTE, an anonymous donor has offered to match every dollar donated up to $2,000 from February 14-February 18.
2. Can’t find an event near you? Organize your own event. The St. Baldrick’s Foundation www.stbaldricks.orgwill coach you every step of the way. In particular, they are looking for new events in Maine, Mississippi, Alabama and Utah.
3. Have questions about getting involved? Visit www.StBaldricks.org or contact Heather@StBaldricks.org.
Happy Valentine's Day to the Mary Tyler Mom family. Sending you comfort and sweetness today. Thank you for your friendship and for sharing your story with us all.
Filed under: Donna's Cancer Story, Uncategorized
Tags: Donna's Cancer Story, Donna's Good Things, mary tyler mom, St. Baldrick's
