Nickelodeon "Cancer and Kids" program

Alice Williams, Lexie's mom, has been sharing about a program that will be aired on Nickelodeon on January 24, at 8 PM. It is titled "NICK NEWS WITH LINDA ELLERBEE’S THE FACE OF COURAGE: KIDS LIVING WITH CANCER"

Set your Tivo, DVR or alarm clock to watch it. Lexie will be on as one of the Kids Living with Cancer. Her section was filmed at Camp Sunshine. A Camp where Kids can go and be themselves as a kid should be.

Here is a blurb about the up coming show you can read. Click on the underlined section.

Remember the date January 24, 2010 at 8 PM on Nickelodeon.

You can read more about Lexie on other blog posts and see "Lexie's Jewelry" on my websites. $10 of each purchase goes to Cancer Research.

B

www.bevsjewelry.com and www.bevsjewelry.1000markets.com

New Breast Cancer Bracelet

I love it when my customers give me new ideas. Especially this one.

I had a home party at Melanie's home (my Lexie Jewelry partner) and we decided to display more of my regular jewelry than just the Lexie Jewelry. A percentage of the sales would go to Cancer Research as with the Lexie Jewelry. To make a long story short, one of the ladies saw a bracelet


and suggested that it be made with pink beads instead of the hematite in the bracelet I had there. (above) She wanted to give her sister, now with Breast Cancer, a meaningful bracelet.

After a small search for pink beads, I settled on Rose Swarovski 6 mm beads. Funny thing. My daughter who is not a jewelry person commented while I was making the bracelet: "Hey, that's nice. I might wear that!" Now that is a complement!

Anyhow, I'm thinking that I should add this to my Cancer Research line of jewelry.



What do you think?

B

www.bevsjewelry.com and www.bevsjewelry.1000markets.com

Lexie Williams Part 2

I have no new news about Lexie but thought I'd share part of a post from her Mom, Alice, on her Caring Bridge journal. Alice posts some time most every evening and I usually read it before I go to bed. Last night the Sox were being slaughtered by the Yankees and so went to be earlier than usual. I found her post waiting this morning when I got up and read my emails.

I thought the first part of her post was too good not to share with all of you. Everyone has their own set of problems but those with Cancer seem to have a special set of problems. As with everything, it depends on what we do with the problem.

Alice's quote is from a fellow BT(brain tumor) family member. You can read the whole post here.


"It's called "Medal of Honor" and he describes it as a partial path to earn a 'medal' for living life. Here are a couple from his list: 1) Attitude is the factor in life we most control. 2) Energy and action spring from a positive attitude. 3) Winners regard a setback as a disappointment, not discouragement or despair--just disappointment. 4) The setback is not the test - the COMEBACK is. 5) Embrace life with passion and compassion. 6) Love and be loved."

The above quote is from a BT friend, and it was very helpful to remind Who We Are today- We are BT family- We Are Warriors- We Do Not Give up, and a Setback is only a disappointment, that's IT!!! Thanks, Marianne !!! "


So, let your attitude be your guide no matter what your situation.


B

www.bevsjewelry.com and www.bevsjewelry.1000markets.com

Boston Marathon

Tomorrow is the Boston Marathon. Tonight Lexie Williams' Mom, Alice, wrote in her Caring Bridge journal:

"At the Pasta Party, we saw Hailey and her people, got to hug Jim and Michelle Roderick, which was a Huge gift, as beautiful Erin was among the honorees- Lexie and Melanie sat and ate pasta together to get themselves carbed up for the Big Day tomorrow-

Tomorrow, Lexie will run the final mile of the Boston Marathon with her DMFC runner, which has been Melanie's wish since last year, when Lexie just wasn't capable of running a mile- What a difference a year makes !!!
So it's been a Whirlwind weekend, filled with action, friendship, love and more love !!!! Devon would have Loved this weekend !!!!"

How exciting to hear that Lexie has made such progress.

Go Melanie and Lexie Go for the Dana Farber Marathon Challenge. Go to help defeat Cancer!

B

Camp Sunshine and Brain Tumor Kids

Lexie, you may remember, is the 10 year old girl who has a Brain Tumor who encouraged me to start my Lexie "line" of jewelry. A bracelet, pendant necklace, earrings and choker.

You can see them on either of my web sites for Bev's jewelry.

http://www.bevsjewelry.com/ or http://www.bevsjewelry.1000markets.com/

I follow the blog of Lexie's Mom at http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/lexiewilliams. I usually read it every night or early morning just after I get the email notification of a new post. This weekend they are gathering at Camp Sunshine in MA. This is a very special place for all kids with cancer but this weekend was only for those with Brain Tumors.

The usual comments are what happens in their everyday life. However, everyday life is very different to a Brain Tumor Kid and their families. No matter whether they are in remission or getting chemo or having surgery. They all look forward to and enjoy these times at Camp Sunshine.


Following her list of those in the group who are not doing well and what is going on generally, she normally has something philosophical to say. A meaningful quote or just her thoughts for the day.

Saturday's post had the following, quoting:

"When asked if she had three wishes recently, Hailey, thought, and I quote, 'For the world I would want a better environment. For my family I want happiness. And I don't want anything for myself. I'm really happy with my life as it is.' When her mother asked her, 'But Hailey, Wouldn't you wish to not have your brain tumor ???', she said, 'No. having my brain tumor has taught me a lot. It's taught me to be brave.'

"Those words really give you an indication of how truly Amazing our kids are - Hailey is a True HERO!!! (sorry for the three tries- I had tried to say heroi---, but it got censored) How could the world not be a better place if we just put Her in charge ??? She could ask her BT buddies to help her put it straight, but I know they would succeed !!!

"It reminded me of the time I asked Lexie of her wish for the world, and she replied, 'I need someone to find a cure for my brain tumor, so my friends would stop getting sicker and dying.'
What more can I say ???"


Indeed, what more can I say either?? Keep these kids in your prayers and take their words to heart.


B

Cancer Angels

My fellow blogger, Leslie, posted about her association with Chemo Angels. She has a cancer patient that was assigned to her and she showed the painting (Leslie does beautiful watercolors) she recently sent to her patient partner. You can read about it on her blog: at http://leslielovinlife.blogspot.com/


Chemo angels is an organization that supports patients going through the cancer treatment process. Anyone can sign up to be a Chemo Angel. Your commitment will be to send a weekly letter a long with some little trinket, art, poem, or whatever you feel so inclined, to the person that is assigned to you. You will receive the person's name, a little bit about them, their family, and their interests through an email once you have signed up. It is your job to make sure that you lift them up and provide encouragement as they go through this difficult process.

Right now that is not a committment I feel I can make but you never know, someone reading this post may - or you may know someone who could. Feel free to pass this on.

B

HAPPY NEW YEAR

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2009

Remember "Y2K"? Ten years ago we were (well, some were) wondering if the computers would fail. Lots of things have happened since then. In the world and personally.

I was recovering from the year 1999 with treatments for Breast Cancer. And, Thank God, I'm still here, just 10 years older and retired. I've started a jewelry business that, though slowly, is growing. In the year 2008, our Lexie jewelry was able to donate close to $4,000 to the Dana Farber Cancer Research Institute.

Many, many thanks to those who purchased jewelry and to those who helped spread the word. Lexie is now ten years old and doing well, at last report. She still has hopes and prays that her fellow brain tumor friends will continue to improve. She has lost several friends recently and it seems to be getting harder for her to cope.

Lexie's Mom has a great journal on her Caring Bridge site and she has recently has some great reflective posts about what they have learned from the little kids who have not survived. Check it out at http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/lexiewilliams.

I plan to be adding more sophisticated things both to my web site and blog as well as to my jewelry designs. January always brings the desire to learn a new techinque. Last year it was Kumihimo. This year, I have some ideas but nothing definite yet. Keep tuned.

Any how, what are some of your 2009 goals? I'd like to hear about them and thanks for reading my blog in 2008.

B

Lexie's request

I subscribe to Lexie's Caring Bridge web site updates. I received an update this morning with a simple request from Lexie. (She does not ask for much!)

Here is her request written by her Mom, Alice Williams:

"We are doing well, and Lexie is getting very excited about the upcoming Holiday, as you can see by her choice of backgrounds here- !!! She has a request, if you have a minute- Lexie would like to get a message from someone in every state between now and Christmas Day !!! Could anyone who lives anywhere write her, and ask your friends who live in obscure states to leave her a message ??? I know this a challenge, but she rarely asks for much, so this must feel important to her !!!
Thanks everyone-
PEACE, MY DEAR FRIENDS !!! "

You can read the whole post at http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/lexiewilliams.

You can go to the site and leave a message for her. She has quite a few already but one from every state - not sure.

Thanks to you all. Remember how lucky we are to be healthy.

B

Lexie's Jewelry line

Yesterday, I had trouble adding pictures. (I think blogger gets too busy sometimes) Anyhow, I decided to follow up with the other pictures to sort of finish off the post. This is the choker. About 16-18 inches with a chain to make it adjustable.

Here is the pendant necklace. The pendant is on an 18 inch sterling silver chain. Available in each of the five Swarovski pearl colors in the Lexie bracelet.

Then there are earrings also available in the 5 Swarovski pearl colors.

Melanie asked me to make a matching anklet. I purchased the 4mm Swarovski pearls to do that but so far, I haven't had time to do that yet. Interesting idea, however.

For each purchase $10 is donated to Cancer Research.

B

Jimmy Fund Radio/Telethon Results

Yesterday, I told you that Melanie would be on the WEEI/NESN Jimmy fund Telethon. She was, though a bit later than she expected. She was there with the likes of Mike Lowell (Red Sox third baseman), Dustin Pedroia, Jon Lester and many other cancer survivors of all ages. Their goal was to make 4 million. At noon on the second day, it was only a little over 1 million. But guess what? The goal was reached and even exceeded. 4.8 million. WOW.

There were great stories of survival plus stories of what people did to raise money. Kids sometimes have great ideas for that and even though their donations are not as large as the Donald Trumps, are sometimes are more meaningful. One kid has been giving his birthday money to the Jimmy Fund for several years. How inspiring is that?

Here is a link to the Jimmy Fund web site where you can read more about the whole day.

http://www.kintera.org/faf/home/ccp.asp?ievent=275067&ccp=80892

Because it rained in Boston, the Red Sox vs Toronto game was postponed and Melanie and her kids did not get to throw out the first ball. Maybe when it is rescheduled?? Don't know now. But it must have been a great day for all. Especially that 4.8 million for the Jimmy Fund.

B

Melanie on NESN and first Pitch

I received an email from my friend, Melanie, today. She is very excited. WEEI and NESN are having a telethon to raise money for the Jimmy Fund. The Jimmy Fund is a charity based in Boston, Massachusetts, that supports cancer care and research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Founded in 1948 to raise funds for patient care and the fight against children’s cancer, the Jimmy Fund now supports the search for new cancer treatments and cures for both adults and children at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Between its founding and 2006, the Jimmy Fund has raised more than $500 million.

You may remember, Melanie ran the Boston Marathon in April for her patient partner, Lexie. Lexie (and Melanie) inspired my line of Lexie's jewelry that I've be talking about so much lately.

Anyhow, the telethon is in its second day today. Her message was: Watch for me today, 4:30, NESN. Also on the mound!!!!! Hannah and Zach will be with me to throw out the "first pitch".
Watch out Paplebon,
Melanie

Hannah and Zach are her two kids. So, if you read this in time, watch (on the Boston station NESN) I'll let you know what happened if you can't see it. Just being on the field at Fenway would be so exciting. Wonder who the "catcher" will be?

B