The Hardest Post I've Ever Written

Ugh. I don't want to write this but I need to. It's one of those things where you keep thinking you don't want to say anything, but you feel like you've come to know people and you should. Plus if you keep using 'life' as an excuse for neglecting your space then maybe you should say what 'life' is... OK, here goes.

My sister Rachel (A-train's mamma) has cancer. Do you know how hard that is to say? Probably not as hard as that day she sat in the doctor's office and heard it herself (PROBably not...I have a flair for understatement), but still. Things have been a whirlwind and standing still all at the same time. The day we found out I had Z-man out to dinner when my other sister called me, and spent the rest of the night trying not to be sick in front of him (I was watching him while my brother was at work and everyone else was at my sister's house). We had all resolved not to say anything to anyone until we had all the info. That's quite a thing to keep from people. But the word's out and people know, and I figured I'd share since I'm the worst secret-keeper since Rubeus Hagrid.

So, it's Hodgkin's Lymphoma, and she, thanking-all-things-holy, has a really good prognosis. She still has to undergo chemo and all of the associated BS, but I feel really positive that she'll be A-OK. We all do. But here's the thing. You know how health insurance in this country is in that special place of suckitude, as costs rise and employers want to offer it but affordability becomes a problem? So, yeahhhh.....there are going to be some big bills coming her way.

In addition to a fundraising event my cousins have in the works, they've also set up an online funding event here at GoFundMe. Every single teeny bit helps as they all add up to a big bit of something (kind of like how all those stolen calories of cookies and candy here and there added up to my big butt, hahahaha). Anyway, if you feel so inclined to donate the link is right there and I'd be grateful more than you can imagine. If you'd like to donate something for us to raffle off at the fundraiser I'm not going to turn that down, either. Just leave a comment with your email address (if it's not linked to your account) and we'll figure it out. If you can't do either (which, believe me, is fine and understandable--I'm not always so inclined to do such things, either, for what is essentially a stranger--no matter how much we bond over fabric and yarn) happy thoughts and prayers are also willingly accepted.

I don't want to have this be the world's biggest downer of a post. So I'm going to share with you this video my sister Alicia took on Christmas. A-train is giving some very sage advice to my mom, who assures him she understands. Enjoy.