I Get By with a ‘Little’ Help from My friends

“ My head is spinnin’ round, my heart is in my shoes”  about wraps up my feelings for today. except when dressed in super hero costume or just living in my own skin without letting the diagnosis of illness have its way with me.  I am such a healthy person who loves her life, now its just a new way to look at things so I guess and prefer that I learn to rule this diagnosis and take it on with a whole lot of fight, fun and humor.  If you have superhero capes, clothes, weapons, crowns,  that you would like to loan please let me know. I need connections to theater groups that would trust me, the shoots are quick so could have the goods back to them so soon.

I am away for a little R and R before chemo starts but just got word via email that the process will start Thursday at 2 pm and go for 7 or 8 hours.  I am taken off guard by this information but I know that the pain should be relieved maybe with just this first treatment.  Its hard with each new step to grasp that this is now my life.  I love my life and I really enjoy hard work and creativity and right now my energy level so low from lack of sleep due to pain that I haven’t been able to create a thing.  I happily have been doing a few photo shoots and that is working well.  I am sad and sorry to have to reschedule a few shoots on Thursday and Friday but I hope my clients will trust me to work with them in a few days after I have the suggested couple of days of rest after the treatment.  Any votes on the type of warrior outfit that would be good for a day of chemo? 

Soulumination continues to be busier than ever and I couldn’t be more thankful and proud of my crew, the photographers, the volunteers and supporters.  I know our gifts are finer than before with the addition of new labeling.  The reactions from the families upon receipt are so touching and meaningful.  This weekend both Randall and Sarah L completed shoots for new families.  If you are wondering, I had asked for a few months off from the photography part of Soul for a couple months before the diagnosis just so that I could have time to let my emotions settle a bit after all the shoots I have done since the first of the year.  I am honored to work with each and every family but there is no denying that it takes a toll.  So Megan was already prepared to let me have a shoot respite before we knew I had lymphoma.

We are working on moving the office to across the street.  I am so very excited that Pat Fallon has truly taken on the research and communication for this move.  She and Anne Cunningham are currently designing the furnishings and placements so we are hopeful to have the move complete in August.  Pat is doing this work in memory of her mom and we are honored to be receiving this contribution.  Both of Pat’s children have made significant contributions to Soul thru volunteerism and grant writing, her husband one of our go to guys during the artist sale.  The owners of the building are incredible people and great supporters so its going to be a good fit for all of us. T am very excited to be able to have a large art space as ideas are just pouring out of me and I need space to implement.

Our thanks to recent donors for the contributions thru Give Big, the newsletter, Sally’s fundraiser, Cinco do Mayo, those in memory of recent losses and I am most thankful for friends who have given since my lymphoma discovery.  Its humbling to learn to receive but from my heart there is nothing more touching than the gathering of friends in support.

I share today more of the photos of children from the trip to Orlando for the NTSAD family conference.  Enjoy these beautiful faces and watch for their bios on our gallery soon.  I close in love, peace, and gratitude, Lynette