A Day In The Life

No teenager should have to face cancer, especially not during this pandemic.  Those of you who read this regularly, know that I make mention of cancer here often.  My mom died because of cancer.  So many of my other relative and friends have battled various cancers.  This blog though is NOT about me, so today I want to make mention of Josh Cottle, a guy who has fought and is winning.  

First, I want to say that I don't know Josh at all, and my only information about him is what he has shared publicly on social media.  He inspires me though.  We need to be inspired these days!  Cancer sucks.  I am sure we can all agree on that.  This guy though is not only fighting his own battle, he is also encouraging others and I think that's pretty remarkable.  He has a youtube channel and at the beginning of his cancer fight he recorded a video called “Day in the Life of a Teen with Cancer.” 

How many drugs do you need and what kind of food will you eat? Does all your hair fall out like in the tv shows? Does cancer always win? There are so many questions that someone might have and whether you or someone you love has cancer, knowing what to expect can help you cope with the days ahead.  Everyone's story is different of course, but Josh tells his story.  Josh shares a very personal journey and I think this kind of awareness can make a world of difference.

I'm not going to tell you the Josh Cottle story.  That isn't my place.  He does such a great job of tell the story himself and I hope you will check it out HERE.  I haven't even tried to reach out to him.  He deserves his privacy.  I'll keep watching though as he shares more and more and I will keep being grateful that a day in the life of this young man is truly making a difference.

On my soapbox

Some days this seems more like my soapbox than the blog I originally intended. There are also many days when I don't go nearly far enough. Oh and then there are days like today when I post several hours late. (I did have an excuse. I coronary incident sent me to the ED and I only got home from hospital a few minutes ago). Anyway, I try not to talk about me in this space and I also try not to spend too much time on my soapbox, but sometimes things just HAVE to be said.

Over the weekend a gay couple was subjected to homophobic and xenophobic verbal insults on over a parking space dispute in Alexandria, Virginia. In Las Vegas, a woman spewing anti-Asian remarks and punching a 6-year-old boy has been arrested and charged with a hate crime. New York City experienced more hate crimes in the first half of this year than in all of last year, according to data released last week by the New York Police Department. Hate is bigger and bigger all the time.

On top of this there is a greater division in this country than I have ever seen.  I personally witnessed some hate in the past 24 hours.  It was disgusting.  There are people who think COVID-19 is fake.  Yes, even after sixteen months and massive deaths all around the world, some people still think it isn't real.  Oh and the vaccine?  Even more say they won't get the shot and they won't wear a mask either.

Laying in bed in the Emergency Department, I had a lot of time to think.  Why does hate exist?  Why does it seem to be growing?  Why do people seem to care less about each other?  I sure wish I had some answers.  I do know we need to do something.  Good people need to stand up and say "Enough!"  The other blog I write is about kindness and I can't stop thinking that one thing we so desperately need is more kindness.  Are you with me?  Can we put the bitterness and mean attitudes aside and make this country friendlier?  What do YOU think?

Stand up for animals

Abusing an animal is one of the most horrible things I can think of. An animal cannot call the police. An animal cannot send an email. An animal cannot contact a doctor when they are injured. Animals are among the most vulnerable, and yet they are taken advantage of at an alarming rate.

Neglect and abandonment are the most common forms of companion animal abuse in the United States. According to the Humane Society of the United States, the shocking number of cruelty cases reported every day in the media is only a small part of the picture. Most cases of animal abuse are never reported, and most animal suffering goes unrecognized and unabated.

This is one of those things that CAN be solved though. This is a people problem. People can stop being cruel. Of course that is the simple answer. The bigger answer is that we all have to care and we all have to get involved and do our part. At the top of the list: do not tolerate any cruelty to animals!

Know who to contact in your area if you witness or suspect animal abuse. (Your police department is always a good place to start). Teach children how to treat animals and to respect them as living creatures too. The earlier the better. Let kids know that it is NOT okay to abuse an animal EVER.

If you have animals of your own, take care of them. If you don't want putties or kittens, be sure to spay or neuter your animals or don't let them spend time with other animals while they are outside.

Support the local shelter or humane society and get to know the work they are involved in. Donate also, if your are able, to your local shelters, pet abuse organizations or the ASPCA.

Animal abuse and neglect can be ended if only we all just care.

What can you donate?

What can you donate? Well, the list really is endless. Sometimes when we think of giving, we divide into categories such as time, talent, and treasure. The treasure grouping is the one that gets the most attention. Give some money or canned goods (to a food drive) or a car (many charities now look for used cars or even boats). Art work might also be part of this list, and books too.

Donating your talent is a very valuable thing. This is true whether your talent is taking blood pressures or giving tax advice or reading to children.

Donating your time is another wonderful thing. Can you spend a few hours helping out in the office of our non-profit? Can you come in one day and help hand out bags of groceries?

As we say every day here, giving takes many forms. Sometimes we are speaking of the various kinds of donating. What a rewarding thing it is to do!

A Few Notes

All of June I wrote here about LGBTQ matters, it being Pride Month.  You know what?  There is so much more I could write.  Nothing says though that we have to save it all for one month out of the year, so of course some of the things I left out will be coming up in the days ahead.

There has been a lot in the news lately and while I don't usually use this space to give opinions or commentary, I have to point out continued evidence of global warming.  It's been very hot is places that don't normally get that way.  There was also recent news of the disappearance of a massive, icy lake in East Antarctica.  Something must be done NOW.

There have been a number of heroes in the news lately too.  That always make me happy.  Our world needs more heroes.  By the way, if you know of heroic incidents, let me know about them so we can share the information with others.

In just a few days we mark the anniversary of our nation's independence.  The United States was founded on the principle of freedom for all.  Do you have that?  Sadly the answer of course is no.  There are many great people working on it, but until there is real justice for all, we will not have achieved that great American dream.  Think about it.  Please.  Make a difference.