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9/20/2006 Sad Day at AYS :-(What do you say to someone who tells you they are dying of cancer? This is what happened this past Saturday at AYS. The Center director, Shari, told me that the cancer she has, has now spread throughout her body. The experimental treatments she has been having are no longer working. She is having a lot of trouble doing the things that were once so easy, like coming to and from the center. Now even the short bus ride is difficult and painful.
She has tired to tell others, but they tell her she will be fine and not to worry. I know you are suppose to encourage those who have cancer so they do not give up, but Shari knows what she is feeling and knows this is much more serious than before. The most I can do is listen to what she says and what she feels. I feel helpless because I know there is really not much I can do, except to keep helping where I can. What has touched me most is that her thoughts are only of the children she helps at AYS and not for herself. She provides so much for them and she is more of a parent to them than most of their own parents. She provides them dinner, clothing for school, school supplies, and so much more. She instills in them a sense of how important school is when their own parents do not. She gets them out of the public schools and into private schools where they are safer and will get a better education. She is the only form of stability that most of them have in their lives and cares for each of them as if they were her own children. As we talked on Saturday, she began to cry, not for herself, but of what would become of the kids if she did pass away. The very sad reality is that most of them would return to public schools and become lost in the system and who knows where they would end up. Drugs and gangs are a part of the life in where they live. I can only hope that the values that Shari has given them, will remain somewhere in their hears for as long as they live.
So for now, life continues for her and for me as a simple volunteer. It seems now I’m witnessing the fading of a great woman. I hope her strong will and determination allows her to continue to be the best thing in the lives of all those she helps. Sarah's BrochureSarah had to do a brochure for her school project, and I think it came out great! Please enjoy. 9/3/2006 Sarah's 14th surprise birthday partyTwo months ago I was contacted by 2 of Sarah’s good friends, they wanted to do a surprise birthday party for Sarah. I though the ideas was great! During the past two month, they have been planning and it’s been great because they did everything. On Saturday, at 4pm, four of her friends came over to decorate the house. They brought many different types of party decorations and they were SO EXCITED to be doing this for Sarah. They had one hour to decorate and did a great job. When it was time for Sarah to come home, all but 2 of the girls hid in Sarah’s room. Two other girls met her outside and took her into the house and had here wear a blind fold so that she could not see anything. They took her up to here room and all the girls yelled SURPRISE! Sarah was completely surprised and happy. One of her friends, who she had not seen in a long time was there and that a nice surprise too. They all came to the kitchen and were laughing and having a good time. Sarah was still in shock and couldn’t think of much to say, but had a very big smile on her face. It was so cool. They played a few games while I went to get pizza. When I got home, they took some blankets and sat outside to enjoy their dinner and talk. With nine girls, there was a lot of talking. After dinner they came in for cake, sang Happy Birthday and enjoyed that. Of course, then it was time to open gifts. Sarah got some very nice things. They spend more time outside walking around the neighborhood and having a good time and singing. They came in around 9:30pm and spent the ending listening to music and talking and having so much fun together. I’m not sure when they finally went to sleep, but I closed my door so that I could sleep. Haha. I had my Taichi lesson in the morning and when I got home, they were just waking up. I made them breakfast and they enjoyed that until their parents came to pick them up. Sarah told me she was so surprised and that this was one of her BEST birthdays. I was very proud of her two friends that organized this. Sarah is the best daughter and all of her friends are just the greatest girls. Of course, most of them are in her Girl Scout troop and I’ve known them since they were in first grade. It was a great weekend for Sarah – and of course, for me. |
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