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had ear phones on with books on tape going. Since I couldn't sit still, I combined the two and got to 'read' books and sew. Sad it all didn't work in the end." "Sitting in the stands watching the kids sports games I met Melissa Mullins (Braunstein), another sports mother. Melissa was looking for someone to help run the new Medal Club at the Blenheim shows and my dear husband Les volunteered me because he said I 'wasn't doing any- thing!' I took it on for extra spend- ing money, to keep my mind busy and to help Melissa, or so that was my excuse!" "Between us, and our dear friend Patty Nelson, we all had a great time
and Les was really worried about it when he volunteered me to Melissa. I will say that with the Blenheim Medal Club to keep me busy, it kept me from falling into the depths of a dark place I probably would not have escaped from. At first I kept telling myself working was because of my promise to Mark, but I soon realized it was a gift sent to me in a time of my own personal need. The work, meeting all kinds of new friends and the never wavering sup- port of my husband put me on a path to daylight again and life was good." Julia then dropped her voice and
spoke in a soft, pensive but grateful tone as she talked about the most re-
every day, without my permission. I never knew how I would feel when I woke up and sometimes I was afraid I wouldn't. My feelings were a yoyo as plans were always put on hold de- pending on how much trouble I was having with chemo. Les says that in a hundred years we will all look back at how barbaric chemo is, but for now that is all we have so those of us who have to, just make do! I learned patience beyond belief, ac- ceptance, to let go and let other peo- ple help me. And mostly I learned that there really aren't any 'big deal
but determined this would be the cure and I would be cancer free at the end of it." "I got so used to things changing
and became a sort of threesome al- ways together. Believe it or not Patty soon died of Mad Cow disease, and Melissa's husband Mark died after a long battle with cancer and I fell deeply into a depression, something I still struggle with if I'm not care- ful. I was so totally devastated, but in the end her passing away, and me promising Mark I would take care of Melissa, is what literally saved my own sanity and life in a way." "Only a few people have someone
come into their life that are connect- ed to our very souls, and to lose one of those, Patty, shook me up pretty badly. I was drifting into a darkness I couldn't get past over her passing
cent life altering situation that land- ed, unannounced, in her lap. "June 9, 2009, I got in the way of 45lbs that hit my foot and broke it. While I was at the doctor for a routine checkup, he found a small hard lump on my belly button and scheduled surgery to repair what they believed was a hernia. I wasn't scared or anything till I heard the report......Adenoid Carcinoma and the cells showed up as colon cancer cells, stage four. The initial location was the colon but it had spread to my ovaries, liver and lungs. The doctor insisted we start chemo therapy July 4th, with a four day treatment every other week for twelve weeks. I was a bit devastated
traumas' in our lives and life is pretty good. I learned to say "OK Lord" on a daily basis. Early this year life sort of returned to normal, what- ever that is." "The most amazing thing to me is the people who have crossed my path and stayed to help me and my family. It has always been MY job to take care of people, to meet their needs. When I got sick and the roles changed it was a big adjustment for me and it was hard to understand. A disease, especially cancer, makes you feel like something is wrong with you and you believe people will not want to come around anymore. It has been a terrific learning experience
Above Left to Right: Patty Nelson and Julia; The family in Cave Creek, Arizona; Melissa Braunstein and Julia.
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