Incredible Support

Carl has been going through a lot, obviously.  One thing I have not really gone into on this blog is the incredible amount of help and support we have received from many sources.

Our church family, friends, relatives, Carl's coworkers, and even complete strangers have helped our family in many ways throughout 2010 and 2011.

Carl and his Pricing Analyst Co-workers.

People have helped our family by watching our children, transporting our children,transporting Carl, praying for Carl and our family, bringing us meals, visiting Carl at home and in the hospital, giving us treats and gift cards, helping us with yard work and home repair, fixing our cars, and more.

I want to say a big Thank You for all the support. 

I remember a story about Saint Patrick - were one of the most powerful ways of saying Thank You was to say "Thanks be to God";
so I say "Thanks be to God" to all of you.

In September 2011, Carl's co-workers held a golf tournament fund raiser, which I blogged about here.  I never wrote about another large fund raiser picnic that Carl's co-workers organized and held on June 3, 2011, and so today I wanted to rectify that.  Both events had many things in common, but both days stand out as days of exceptionally nice weather;   "God Blessed" Days.

Chris, Carl and Scott, the Pricing Analysts
(Pricing Analyst is Carl's Job title)

It was very odd to be half of the focus of the fund raiser like the Arandell folk held.  I remember trying to gear up to not cry at the picnic.  I never thought that I might someday be the recipient of such goodwill, assistance, charity?  It was an unfamiliar situation.  I don't know if I was too unemotional, if I was shaky, if I seemed too party like.  Suddenly you are at the center of attention, where people are giving generously of their time and money and support.  The Arrandell event was even more emotional - many of the people there were strangers to me, but good friends of Carl.  I had heard stories about some of these people over the years.  I wanted to make a good impression, and convey gratitude, remember people's names, and not cry.   

Usually I take pictures at an event, happy to enjoy things from behind a camera lens.  It didn't seem right to snap a lot of photos at a fund raiser for our family, so I only took a handful of shots at the end of the picnic.

I'm going to tell my children Carl flies kites at work.

Here are Carl and his co-workers, flying kites.

Chris, Carl and Scott, the Pricing Analysts

This photo makes me laugh. It reminds me of taking pictures of my children.  People goofing off and only one person is looking at the camera.

The money raised at the fund raiser picnic really helped my family financially and with medical bills.  The money raised at the golf outing was raised for my children's college education.  For both fund raisers, I want to say, "Thank You, and Thanks be to God".

I want to say Thank You as well to the people who spent a ton of time organizing both events.  I don't have a photo of you - but I really want to say THANK YOU for all the effort both events required.  I have volunteered for many things over the years and know how a small project grows and doesn't always fit seamlessly into a schedule the way you hoped it would.  Thanks again, and Thank you to everyone who has been helping my family, in any way, big or small.

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Sunny Day (Sunday) Golf

It's been a busy month since I last updated with blog.  I'll try to give a partial update on September.  

The children were back in school and getting into multiple activities.  Miranda joined cross country and has practices or meets 4 days a week, and Anthony is in the Drama club, stage crew and the first play.  The three boys are in Boy Scouts, Tom is in best buddies, and Nathan has to get up the earliest of all the children in the morning.  All four children are involved in religious education.  Three of the children take piano lessons.  All of the children have lots of school work, and multiple field trips are pending and etc. etc. etc.  

On Thursday, September 8, 2011, Carl finished a 24 hour infusion of a new (for Carl) drug - Trabectedin, (brand name Yondelis).  This was his 17th course of chemotherapy.  He stayed overnight at Froedtert to get this infusion, and came home Thursday.  On Friday September 9, 2011 Carl was back at Froedtert to get a Nuelasta shot.   

Carl at the Golf outing

Carl basically slept most of the days that followed, until Sunday.  On Sunday, Sept. 11, 2011, the whole family loaded into the car to go to the Ironwood Golf Course, where we attended a golf event put on by some of Carl's coworkers from Arandell.   

Anthony Golfing

The weather on Sunday was perfect.  Beautiful blue skies, green grass and trees, and a warm day really made for a wonderful day on the golf course.  We were watching the golfers and snacking, when Anthony spotted three of my brothers golfing.  He went over to join them, and soon Carl and I and the other three children followed.   

Tom Golfing

We 'helped' my brothers finish golfing their last four holes.  My four children and I had never golfed even one hole of golf, so the entire family had an adventure while Carl watched from the golf cart.  We had a great time, and none of the golf carts broke... 

Thank you Scott, Stacie, Elle and Stef, for setting up this event.  It was a great day for our family.  Thank you also to the other 30-40 golfers and friends who joined us.  I hope all had as nice of a day as we did. 

Carl and some of the golfers

The money raised from the Carl Grisa Open was raised for and will be used to fund the children's college education.

[By the way, Carl's work (Arandell) held another very successful fund raiser for Carl at the start of summer.  I don't want anyone who helped with that one to feel that I am not grateful for that event.  I hope to post photos and blog about that event soon.  It is so easy to get behind on a blog.] 
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