Monday, August 22, 2005

Are you in Los Angeles? Want to win your angel wings?

Hello, kids.

I'm reaching out to you Los Angeles folks here. I know you're out there. You come via the link on April Winchell's blog and then you stay here for all of zero seconds. Please stay for a couple seconds more this time. Read on...

A few months back, when I was first joined Blogspot, I came across a blog by chance, using the "next blog" feature: Kevin's Dead Cat. I have no idea what the meaning of that title is, but I found the blog to be very compelling. The author is a young, newlywed Los Angeles woman named Laura, and she developed advanced throat cancer, from which she lost 1/3 of her tongue. She blogs because it's difficult for her to speak.


The cancer went away, but is now back with a vengence. Laura is very honest about what's she going through (feeding tubes, clinical trials, missing eating food, considering her possible death). Sometimes, it's tough to visit her blog, but it's impossible to read it and not want to cheer her on and hope for the absolute best.

Right now, she's in the hospital, fighting a lung infection. Her friends and her sister Celia, another L.A. blogger, have organized a blood drive for her in Los Angeles on August 26th. With the blessing of Kaiser Medical, the blood drive is being held at a friend's apartment -the same place where she and her husband James were married just a couple of months ago. They are hoping for 200 to sign up to give blood. Her friends have even arranged goodie bags for the blood donors - a lottery ticket and a free beer. (And lord knows, nothing's better than a pint of beer to replace a pint of blood!)


The details of the blood drive are noted in this entry on Celia's blog.

For the record, I don't know these folks at all. I've just been reading Laura's story and have been drawn in. It resonates with me in a very personal way. My mother was a three-time cancer survivor. My father died of cancer. One of my sisters just had her cancerous thyroid taken out two months ago - she's absolutely fine, thank god. And one of my brothers is suffering greatly from a combination of cancer and heart disease. (Is it any wonder I actually have a cancer-specific insurance policy?)

I just wanted to pass word about this along to the L.A. folks, in case you might, in turn, be able to share the info with your other friends in L.A. Were I not 3,000 miles away, I'd be there with bells on.


My very best to you all. May you be blessed with good health, happiness, and contentment.

-- Merujo

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Beautiful post. I'm going to surf over and see how I can help.

Merujo said...

Thanks, AJ! I'm sure these folks will appreciate any support you can offer. The last thing I'd read, they weren't even close to their 200 donor target.

Really wish I could help out - guess my big mouth will have to do. :-)

Anonymous said...

I passed it on to Sean Bonner over at blogging.la

Hopefully he'll repost.

celia said...

Thank you for posting this information and spreading the word. If you want to donate blood but can't make the date, you can still donate blood another day/place and come to the after-party.

If you need a ride, we provide shuttle service to downtown and back for donors, free of charge.

If you can't donate blood, please ask a friend to donate for you - Laura really needs our help.

For appointments on other days/locations, please call:

Mariliz B. Triggs
Blood and Platelet Program Coordinator
Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center
Blood Donor Center
Tie Line 363-7069 or (323) 783-7069
Cell (323) 868-1870
Pager (323) 341-1799
(Please make sure to mention Laura Esguerra and Ali Mazarei Blood Drive so that Laura gets credit)

Thank you all for your help, support and kind words.