September: {Hodgkin's Lymphoma Awareness Month}

September.

It means many things to our family. 

The birthday month of our littlest boy.

Other special birthdays of family members and friends.

An anniversary month for my grandparents.

But it also means that it is the Hodgkin's Lymphoma Awareness Month as well.

If I could - I would forget all about this cancer.

But I can't.

And I never will.

Hodgkin's Lymphoma makes up around 1% of all cancers. 

It also has a very high survival rate.

If it is caught early. 

People constantly ask me what my first symptom was. 

For me, it was a lump in my neck. 

Right above my color bone.

But that is not the only sign or symptom.

And every situation is different.

I am happy to share my story with anyone who asks. 

For now.

I will just ask you to pray.

Not just for my family.

But for the next family that will be diagnosed and doesn't even know if yet.

Pray that God gives them that peace beyond all understanding.

That they cling to Him as the world as they know it is shattered.

Pray that God gives the doctor's and nurses the wisdom to treat them.

And that God gives them the strength to endure. 

Even though I do not know that family by name.

My heart breaks for them.

But all I can do is pray. 

 

I don't know if you remember the banner I designed last year. You can take a look at that here: September Hodgkin's Lymphoma Awareness Month 2011

I actually think I like this design even better. :-)

Please feel free to download and share. 

Spread the awareness.

Spread the love. 

Bless you all. 

Favorite September Moments.....{Part 2}

We had a birthday in the house this month which by far one of the most special moments. Our third son - Creide Jaxton turned the BIG 4 on September 11th. I can't believe it. As a mom I think you always revisit the day of their birth - seeing them for the first time, holding them in your arms for the first time and then you think of how fast it has gone by. 

This year we were on our week long camping vacation on Creide's birthday. But does that stop us Gressman's from celebrating? Heck no! We hauled all of his presents up there and I even made him a peach cobbler in my dutch oven with the campfire. This definitely gave me an appreciation for what the pioneer women went through! (I love my oven.)

Creide's birthday fell on the second day of the hunting season. Jason went out early that morning with his dad and brother but came back to camp early to see if Creide wanted to go out again with him. (Totally earning dad-of-the-year points).  It wasn't five minutes later that Jason spotted his buck and Creide got to be there with him. (Earning him even more dad-of-the-year points.) 

When I asked Creide later what the best part of his day was... it wasn't any of the presents, it wasn't the awesome campfire peach cobbler his mom made for him - it was hunting with his daddy. :-) How cute is that!

I feel so blessed to have been here for another one of my children's birthdays. I have always loved their birthdays so much but now - well, it is just different. I want to ring out every minute of each day with them. Thank you God. 

September: Hodgkin's Lymphoma Awareness Month

September is Hodgkin's Lymphoma Awareness Month and so I changed up the blog look accordingly. However, I saw a t-shirt the other day that really defined this well. It said:

September Hodgkin's Awareness Month

For my family Hodgkin's Awareness Month is also:

January

February 

March

April

May

June

July

August

October

November

December

That sums it up pretty well I think. 

I made up this banner below and it will spend the majority of its time this month as my Facebook profile picture. (The only time it will come down is for my son's 4th birthday this month.) I would love if you would all join me in pasting this banner as your FB profile - even if it is just for a day. 

I found my first symptom of Hodgkin's Lymphoma 8 months before I was officially diagnosed. When I went to the doctor I was told that lump was a cyst. Please do not get me wrong - I am not angry about this in any way. I know that I was diagnosed according to God's timing and I am totally at peace with that. However, I do know that by getting the word out about my story and the symptoms of Hodgkin's that perhaps someone else will be diagnosed that much sooner - and that just may save someone's life.

Thank you all for continuing to read my blog and for support in prayer and love.

Blessings,
Andrea

(In order to use the banner for you FB profile or wherever else you would like to use it just right-click and select "save picture as".)