Last night I drove an hour and a half, straight from work – in traffic, to pick up Hugo from the boarder. We had to board Hugo for the last week and a half because unfortunately the newest edition to our family, came in heat. At first, Hugo was doing fine, it didn't seem to bother him. But suddenly, around a week and a half ago, he just couldn't stand it. Couldn't eat or sleep, whined constantly, his eyes turned red, and he started humping an invisible dog. It wasn't fun for anyone. Accept maybe for Gamey who seemed to smile through it all and prance around carrying a bone bigger than her head.
We choose to board him at this particular place that happens to be over an hour from our home because it's where he grew up (his real mom still lives there.) The people we bought Hugo from are not only dog breeders but also trainers, and because they breed their dogs very rarely, they also will take your dog for a week or so and he gets to run free on acres of land.
On the way I decided it would be really smart of me to not just jam out to music, but to listen to a book on tape, or I guess they don't call it that anymore since the last tape I bought was when Britney Spears came out with “Hit Me Baby One More Time.” Which was because I had a portable tape player and therefore could walk around without having to miss a beat.
As I scanned through the selection of Audible's books while at a standstill on the Tollway, I decided on “The Fault in Our Stars.” I read other bloggers reviews and without thinking much about it, I decided to start listening. I knew that it was about teens and cancer but I didn't know that it would speak directly to me and give me a different view of how my little sister dealt with her own battle.
I find it really difficult to write about cancer. Everyone's affected by it but we all see it through a different lens. I haven't struggled with cancer. I don't know what the pain and fear is like. I do however, like most people, witnessed cancer through others. Last year around this time I was sitting in a hospital room, watching my Dad in more pain than I've ever seen before. Not just physically, but mentally too. A few years before that I watched my 14 year old sister battle leukemia for 2 and 1/2 years. Both are doing wonderful right now, and our fingers are crossed it doesn't come back. And even the breeder that we bought Hugo from, just passed away after a very hard battle with breast cancer (her husband now runs the business on his own.)
Looking back over the years I have felt helpless. What can I do? How can I possibly help? It's hard to give someone else hope when you yourself feel completely worthless in the fight.
Someone who has been able to actually make a difference is Matt Coulter of The Young and the Brave Foundation. When Ashten approached me about spreading the word about their cause, I didn't give it a second thought. We can't always beat cancer, but we can take a stand and help others and give those fighting and their families real hope.
I have Matt here today answering some of my questions about The Young and The Brave and how to make a difference.
If you're interested in supporting The Young and The Brave I urge you to check this campaign, specifically for bloggers to help support the foundation.
