Lunch For Life............Dec. 30, 2006

Last winter, I was contacted by a woman who was looking for a Cavalier for a child who had had cancer, but who was now in remission.  This woman, Jill, was a friend of Maggie's breeder, which is how she got my name. 

This little girl, Morgan, was hoping to get a dog to do junior handling with and wanted a Cavalier more than any other dog.  At the time, I was going to keep the puppy that I currently had to show myself and did not have any other puppies available that I felt were nice enough for a child to compete in the ring with, so I referred a few breeders to her.

Some of you may remember the little puppy, Bibbity who I was going to keep here.  As she grew, however,I knew her markings would hold her back in the ring, but she had just about the dearest temperament ever, so I went back and forth.  Should she stay or should she become someones much loved pet?  These are very hard decisions for a breeder. 

On one of those days when I was going back and forth on what to do, I got another call from Jill.  She had bad news.  The little girl, Morgan's cancer had come back and this time the prognosis was not very good.  More than anything in the world, Morgan wanted a blenheim cavalier girl.  The family was going to visit a black and tan puppy that was available, but Jill wanted to check one more time with me and to get a reference on the breeder with whom she had spoken with (who btw, is a wonderful breeder as well).  This call clinched it for me.  Bibbity had a mission in her sweet little life and it was to be a much loved companion for Morgan.  Can you believe that they even threw a "shower" for Morgan in preparation for Bibbity, who is now Izzy.

Morgan's Mom has a website which goes through the ups and downs of what their lives have been like since Morgan was diagnosed with cancer.  I had linked to her website asking for some prayers.  Last week I spent the week going all the way back to the beginning of her Mom's blog and was so touched at what this family has endured, only to be faced with what they are now facing.  Today I receved an email from Jill, who is now my friend as well, and these are her words.........

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"One of Morgan's wishes was to be home for Christmas.  At the time, it wasn't looking like she'd get that wish. Days later (the week before Christmas), she suffered a very serious setback. She made it home for Christmas, but not quite as she had hoped.

Morgan is in the final stages of battling her cancer, neuroblastoma, and is under the watchful care of hospice, but is still enjoying her visits from friends and family

Every year, the Children's Neuroblastoma Cancer Foundation has a special holiday fundraiser.  This fundraiser challenges us to give up the cost of one lunch to help fight this cancer.  They have figured that:

"If just one of us told five friends to give up lunch today, and asked that the next day they asked five of their friends to do the same...and those five friends asked five of their friends to do the same on the next day and so on for the next ten days...Do you know how much money could be raised?........At just five dollars per lunch that would raise $9,765,625.00 in ten days."

I'm hoping that, in this season of giving, you'd consider skipping a lunch to add an ornament onto a Christmas Tree for Morgan

As little as $5 adds a virtual ornament onto a Christmas tree for her.  The hopes are to fill it all the way!!

Every donation (and all of the money) goes to help fund neuroblastoma research and support for this devastating children's cancer.

I have made a donation, and, if you chose to make a donation, each ornament you add to the tree can be doubled.

Their website is:  http://www.lunchforlife.org

To make a donation and have your ornament(s) doubled, use the name of Morgan Betz and then the code#24085.

[This organization is 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and the family endorses it.]

Regardless of whether you can contribute, the family is asking for prayers.

Their request is "Please, if you could, please send up a prayer or two that Morgan is able to make this transition as pain-free and peaceful as possible."

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I too have made a donation to this organization that hugely benefits these children and their families and I am hoping that some of you may want to join me in skipping a few lunches a month too. :-)

Click here to see Morgan's personal tree.  Let's help fill her tree up with our ornaments.......she would love that!

I have added a link to my side bar as well.  I can't think of a better cause to donate my money to.  These children are our future.....let's do what we can to help them.

Comments

[Isela]

Done :). Thank you for allowing us the chance to help.

[margene]

It is so sad to see children suffer with cancer. She was a lovely spirit and you were so sweet to give her your dear Bibbity. May her family find peace.

[Diane E.]

Thanks for letting us know a little way we can help.

[Annie]

I'm sorry. I said "Megan" not Morgan.

[Annie]

Thank you for the link. Megan and her family are in my prayers.

[Rachel H]

Done. And thank you.

[Teresa C]

The whole family gave up a lunch for Morgan. Thanks for keeping us up to date.

[Ann]

Thanks so much for the chance to help.

We too visited the website and will put her in the prayer book at church.

Have a happy and healthy new year.

[Jean]

I will hit the donation site as soon as we get back from Mass where I will say a little prayer for Morgan, her family and your sweet heart. I'd give anything to have seen that little girl's face when she was told "Izzy" is on the way!

[Manise]

Donation done, prayers continue. What a sad story for this family.

[--Deb]

Done.

[Carole]

Done. What else can I say?

[Cynthia]

I have not been in blogland much lately (my own health) issues but I went right away and made a donation for Morgan (and in honour of my niece Grace, 5, who is currently in remission). Thanks so much for letting me know. She is in my prayers.

[Cary]

Thank you so much for reminding us of Megan's story and sharing the update. We have visited the link you sent and are sending prayers as well...God bless you for sharing this with us!

Cary at Serenity Farms