A Note from Alison Strobel

I'm commandeering Sandi's blog for the day to make sure everyone is aware of something we're trying to do to help the Rogs as Sandi embarks on a new treatment for her stubborn cancer. We've launched a fundraiser in conjunction with GiveForward.com, where we've already raised 25% of our $21,400 goal. And as an extra little incentive, we've amassed over six thousand dollars' worth of prize donations that we've grouped into packages that we're raffling over the next week. Author autographed books, hand-sewn/-knit/-crocheted items, jewelry, gift cards, chocolates, hand-dyed yarn...the variety is incredible! Nearly all the items have been previewed on the blog; come check them out, and after you're done drooling and you've chosen your favorite packages, done to the fundraiser through the GiveForward.com widget in the sidebar. Every $5 you donate gets you a raffle "ticket"--to read all the details of how the raffle and tickets work, check out this post on the blog.

We know that the economy is tough right now, and that most people don't have a lot of disposable income. But for most of us, situations like Sandi's fall into the "it could be worse" category. You may have stopped eating out, like we have, or are shopping at WalMart instead of the big supermarkets because it's cheaper (also like us!). You may be cutting back on your holiday decorating or Christmas gifts. But you can spare five bucks, or even twenty, for a one-time "it takes a village" moment to link arms with the rest of us to help make it possible for Sandi to receive the treatment she needs in Arizona.

So go check out your bank account, figure out if there's a pumpkin spice latte you can skip this week or a lunch out that you can forgo, and join us in blessing Sandi and her family this holiday season. Thanks for hanging with me--hope to see your name on the donor list!
-Alison

author of "The Heart of Memory" and "Composing Amelia" and others
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***alisonstrobel.com***

Sorry I haven't posted much

It doesn't mean I don't think of you all, or thank God for all of you. I've just been overwhelmed with . . . everything. A lot of good things are happening with my book YAHSHUA'S BRIDGE which is now available. So, I've been busy with that. But also with doc appointments and just feeling tired. I'm looking forward to seeing Dr. Brown again. I was my "old self" when he treated me, and I want to feel good again.

I finished radiation a week ago Tuesday, and it completely wiped me out. I had yucky side-effects when I wasn't supposed to have any--I won't give you the details, e-hem. This tells me that chemo is NOT a good idea since it would be 5 times worse. Thankfully, my doc hasn't brought up chemo--maybe because I already told him "NO WAY, I don't want to do it" when he did bring it up (I wasn't that harsh; but I was pretty clear about it via our nurse coordinator).

Anyway, it's nice to know I can actually "read my body." I told him before the radiation that I really didn't think I could handle the chemo, or recover from it. And after seeing how I've reacted to radiation, I know I was right. If I wasn't supposed to have any side-effects from the radiation, and the chemo is worse, then there's no way I can handle chemo right now.

I should be going to see Dr. Brown at the end of this week or the beginning of next. He's supposed to call tomorrow morning.

Anyway, enough about that.

I wanted to write to you all about crying myself to sleep (lol, an even "better topic!"). But that usually occurred when I was supposed to be TRYING to go to sleep. So, I didn't get up to write. I just can't count how often I've cried myself to sleep. It amazes me. There were other things I wanted to write about, but I've just been too tired. And I'm tired now, so I think I'm gonna end.