Throwback Thursday and an Update

This Throwback Thursday post is from October.  I'm thrilled to update and say that all of the treatments that Delaney had to endure for many months were successful and that she is now CANCER FREE!  She was able to walk in the victory lap at the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life last weekend and there were countless tears of joy.  Little Delaney still has many challenges  ahead of her, 

but . . .

though she be but little, she be fierce

~Shakespeare

                                            TEAM DELANEY

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A little story to share about a precious little girl...

Many years ago I had a wonderful room mother named Diane.  I became friends with Diane and her family outside of school.  Diane was special not only because she was my room mother and friend, but she had eight sweet, smart, beautiful children, who teachers would fight over to have in their classroom.  One hot summer night, Diane passed away in her sleep of heart failure, at just 43 years of age. Just two weeks later, her husband passed away, of a broken heart they say.   Her eight children were mostly teenagers at that time.  They all wanted to stay together, so they did.  The two oldest children were in their early twenties and were given guardianship.  Janice was one of the two sisters who dedicated her twenties to going to parent-teacher conferences, handling finances, chauffeuring her siblings to sporting events and sleepovers and all of the other obligations involved in being a parent, including ultimately celebrating graduations.  After all of the children became adults, Janice married a local firefighter and they now have three small children of their own.  Delaney, the fierce one they call her, is fighting the battle of her life.  She's fighting brain cancer and thus, Team Delaney has been formed by her dedicated uncle and the community.   Janice and her older sister, Jennifer, helped me make this scarecrow for me about 26 years ago when they were very little.  I thought it would be fitting for him to wear the t-shirt this month.   You can find out more about Delaney and her fight here and here. 

 Victory lap last Saturday!

Now head on over to Second Grade Shenanigan's for more Throwbacks.