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A special Friend ~ Hannah Donahue...Some extra prayers, please!

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Posted 3/28/2008 12:57 AM (GMT 0)
My sister made me aware of this little cancer patient while we were visiting last week in California.  My sister used to live up in Willets California and was friends with the parents.  Like me she has a Caringbridge patient website.  Unlike me, her family has to post for her.  I ask for extra prayers and well wishes for her as she can use them.  Warning...Her site will touch you deeply...

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/hannahdonahue

Tony

 

Posted 3/28/2008 2:03 AM (GMT 0)
Whenever I start to feel sorry for myself, reading stories like hers make me realize just how fortunate my life has been. That sweet little angel has my heartfelt best wishes.
Posted 3/28/2008 2:35 AM (GMT 0)

Hannah is a real cutey.  She has my prayers and thoughts...

Jim

Posted 3/28/2008 2:00 PM (GMT 0)
That is one special little girl. Hannah will be in my prayers.

 

Posted 5/16/2008 4:48 PM (GMT 0)
Hi team,
I reach out again for the prayers and well wishes for this little baby. She is in need of prayers and I know this group has hearts a mile wide. I ask that you visit her site, and if you can, send positive energy for her and her family. Her family has to be completely consumed right now, and our strength here is in numbers. I know that they will accept your well wishes. After all we are a special group of people, too. God Bless you all.

Tony
Posted 5/16/2008 10:16 PM (GMT 0)
When this old coot looks at Hanna's site those smiling eyes are full of tears. I have been there often and as a Paw Paw to 12 grand kids and expecting my first great grand child, always come away with those same tears. My heart goes out to her and her family. I have lost both a child and a grand child so I know the pain involved when it is our children. I lift them all up to the Lord in prayer
Posted 5/16/2008 10:57 PM (GMT 0)
OMG!

I've written about the six year old girl I met on the plane the first time I went to M.D. Anderson. She was on her way there, too, to begin proton therapy.

You guys know I'm not religious - what I believe in is being kind and helpful to my fellow humans and the animals. At the risk of starting WWIII, I have to ask - as a religious person, how do you explain what Hannah and Mia and who knows how many other innocents did to deserve their fate?

I ask this question innocently and am truly grateful for those who have prayed for me.

-Les
Posted 5/16/2008 11:38 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Les,

From what I have observed, **** happens in a purely random fashion, it sometimes gets on those who deserve it but more often hits innocent bystanders. I too appreciate the prayers of our fellow survivors. It makes me feel better because it makes them feel better - and better is good.

I follow Hannah's story because I have great grandchildren her age.  Her innocence and the hope in her eyes brighten my day and give me hope.  She is truly a gift to an old codger.

Hang in...

Jim

Posted 5/16/2008 11:42 PM (GMT 0)
Jim-

That's exactly what my wife said when I asked her read my post before I sent it.

I'm hangin'. Hangin' is better than the alternative.

-Les
Posted 5/17/2008 12:58 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Les,
I fully understand your question. I will stay in the spirit of this site to limit the religious discussion. I can say that I was "mad" at my God when we lost our baby 10 years ago. But that I only grew closer to Him with the Hope that our baby was brought to Him because heaven needs babies in His plan. When you have Faith, you believe that there is a better place than here. The grief we felt, is turned to joy when you change the perspective around. Les, I can tell you more of what we felt and how we feel today (without any attempts to convert anyone, that is not my role), but I don't know how I could. i guess I offer my email if you would like to know what goes on in my head when these challenges come about. My email is here and at my website, too. But take notice. If we ever spoke, and never mentioned our religious preferences, I would still like that. You are a very special man here. And your new you is so much a very kind man.

No chance you will start WWIII with me. And pardon me for this. But God Bless you.  That's one of my favorite prayers.  And Jim is right.  It makes me feel better... tongue

BTW.  What did you mean by OMG?  tongue tongue tongue

Tony

Posted 5/17/2008 1:33 AM (GMT 0)
Just a figure of speech Tony, just a figure of speech. I did hesitate before I typed that, but thought it would emphasize my horror at these kids' plights.

Thank you Tony - you're a special guy.

-Les
Posted 5/17/2008 5:29 AM (GMT 0)

Hi Tony,

God Bless You! and Thank you for sharing little Hannah with us. She is now in my prayers as well.

Your Friend

Diana 

Posted 5/18/2008 9:53 PM (GMT 0)
Hannah will be in my prayers. Here we are, lucky enough to have so many good years...

I honestly believe that if the drug companies and the governments put their minds to it, there would have been better results on most of the nasty aliments,specially cancer where most of the current treatment routes are good money spinners for vested interests, that changes towards proper cure are slow in coming..that's a bit of politics for the day..
Posted 5/18/2008 10:20 PM (GMT 0)
Positive-

My memory isn't what it once was, but I think the last time I checked, The American Cancer Society has 2.7 billion (BILLION) dollars in assets and has been in business since 1913. One would think that's enough money and time to effect a cure, wouldn't one?

-Les
Posted 5/18/2008 10:24 PM (GMT 0)
And the last major disease that was cured was Polio in the early 50s. There's more money in treatment than in cure.

Those folks that make the decisions on where to spend the money should all have Hannah's picture on their desk...

Jim
Posted 5/18/2008 10:29 PM (GMT 0)
What Jim said!
Posted 5/18/2008 11:20 PM (GMT 0)
Couldn't agree more. There is huge money to be had in stretched out treatments ,which spans a longer period of time and more drugs; very little money to be had in a finding a cure. The analogy to polio is excellent.How long has cancer been around? Most of the research itself is sponsored by vested interests. The pace of improvement in treatment itself is laughable, compared to many other areas of science like telecommns etc. If none of the treatments ever worked, a cure would have been a result by now. Its all about money. My personal opinion only.
Posted 5/18/2008 11:25 PM (GMT 0)
apologies that i have digressed from the topic of conversation which is a young Hannah and her well being.
Posted 5/19/2008 12:09 AM (GMT 0)
Food for thought...

This is a thread I started for a little baby, a friend within my family, fighting for her life. In the unexplained part of this thread IS us. And those parents. I can relate. We lost a baby. The pain is still in my heart. It was over ten years ago. But I will never ever shake it. Can I blame God...I did. Can I blame politicians...I did. Can I blame the institutions and their people...I did. What I had the hardest time doing was looking in the mirror. Because there I also found the image of blame. I would rather have fired up my RV and drove to the prettiest places I could find than volunteer my time to help a brother in need. I would rather have donated a buck than tried to help get that buck donated. It is my belief that God gave us the means to cure cancer from the start. We, all of us, did not respond and we do not stand the test of time in our efforts. Only when we needed as individuals for the cure did we respond. Was that enough?

Imagine that everybody was taught to give time. Time to help cure. Imagine that we all volunteered to help those in need. Would it solve the problems? No individually. But in concert, before I would blame God, before I would blame the politicain, before I would blame the researcher, I would ask that you ask...Have you done enough? I volunteer and give time to my charities. Enough....no. Not as long as there those in need. But don't count dollars....Count effort, your own effort. Have you saved our brethren? Have you saved Hannah? Blame God? Not me. I pray for forgiveness. And I try to help instead. I want to see my baby...

Imagine we ALL cared proactively...unfortunately.

I am very sorry for this outburst.


 

Please pray for little Hannah...

Tony

Posted 5/19/2008 12:21 AM (GMT 0)
You never have to apologize for speaking the truth, Tony.

Thanks,
Susan
Posted 5/19/2008 1:22 PM (GMT 0)
Dear Tony

Again, my apologies for deviating from the topic. I started reading about Hannah; I couldn’t finish because I felt upset & angry. I hope that’s what started me ranting about lack of cure for cancer.

When I first heard about my biopsy results, I was alone, did not know anything about cancer and thought I had only a few months or a year or so to live. I was upset; not because I was worried about myself, but for my children, who is going to look after them? Now I realize that I am amongst the lucky ones, what did I do to be so fortunate?

Your wise words keep us sane at HealingWell. Thank you for everything you are doing for us at HW. As you rightly say it is for each of us to count ‘our own efforts’ before we start blaming others.

I pray for baby Hannah, her parents, I pray for you and your family and I pray for all others at HW.
Posted 5/19/2008 9:04 PM (GMT 0)
No apologies needed. I still agree that the funds don't go far enough or are not directed to the right resources. But it's our own faults. I have started getting letters to our local politicians but I am not far enough down the road to criticize them. But I do donate time to charity and that is the best way to help. I was jumping in with what I have learned over the last year and a half. If every one of working America volunteered for one day of work a YEAR, roughly 200,000,000 Americans, and it saved the cancer organizations 50.00 <conservative> for that one day the budget would triple for that entire year. If we all gave an hour a week, it would quadruple. Way more value than a Senator, President, Congressman could accomplish with a bill laden with beauracracy.

I spend time in a soup line feeding homless and needy people. It takes a few hours and 300+ people eat a solid meal for each day. Our lovely jurisdiction is trying to run these folks out of Las Vegas. I get angry when I hear that. If me and about 13 people working at the mission can do this each day, then why can't people try to help these people instead of complain about them, they would leave on their own. To a home, breaking their own bread.

I am glad you, Les and Jim brought up this discussion. But I truly believe that someone opened the door for us to cure ailments and hunger but we did not answer. Instead this little girls life hangs in the balance. And way too many others with her.

Maybe what we can do? Go to her site. Leave her family a message in her guestbook. Warm their hearts for just a few moments. I am certain they are very worn out at this time and can use a moment like that. Just a guess.

I apologize if I was terse before. I'm glad I said what I said though. It's right to help others. But words seldom get it done.

Tony
Posted 5/19/2008 10:27 PM (GMT 0)

God may have already sent us a cure, maybe, just maybe it was aborted as millions have been for the last 50 years.

Agree with Tony about volunteering, although not as much as I would like to, volunteer time, $$ and home with some of the abused children in a area home for them.  As I once was one of them, all they want is  your time, they won't remember the physical abuse, but will never forget the verbal and mental.

I pray for Hannah and her parents, having a child with so much life in from of them, must be heartbreaking.  It brought a tear to my eye just seeing her innocence, looking at her photos.

Posted 5/20/2008 12:51 AM (GMT 0)

Les,

My dear friend. As I started on this path with PCa, the one thing that entered my mind was, for what purpose has this been brought into my life? I will never ask why. I don't need to. The same can be said for Hannah, for what purpose? We all have a purpose. Some will change the world, some will change one life, and some will help to save a soul. I know your beliefs and I hope that you understand mine. I just know that no matter what I go through He went through so much more. Just for me and just for you. I can not explain why Hannah and Mia are going through this. I just know that God loves them. He loves you and He loves me, and I am so unworthy. As I read the posts by Hannah, I cry sometimes and pray everytime. As see fights her battle, she gives me strength and makes my trials so much less. Maybe she and Mia have a purpose to give us strength and hope. I just have faith that we all will be healed, one day.

I hope this helps. I will keep up the prayers. You have always helped me and for that I can call you brother.

Love ya, man.

Walt 

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