I don't know how many here get the Facebook updates I get from Meghan's Mountain so I thought I'd share this:



Sunday, November 14, 2010

CLIMBING ANOTHER MOUNTAIN
UPDATE ON OUR MEGHAN

My last email indicated tests showed Meghan's body clear of
leukemic cells after chemotherapy. That stands as of today. Unfortunately Meghan
went back in the hospital due to severe headaches following a spinal tap.
She is now home resting, getting out when possible, but still trying to
recover from her original hospitalization. Fighting cancer is not easy no matter
how strong you may be. Meghan has asked that I devote the rest of this
email to what she loves the most...touching those climbing mountains like her.

Meghan says..."Cancer or no cancer..I can never stop lighting
mountains for my brothers and sisters in there fight for life."

OUR 2nd 2010 DISTRIBUTION TO LIGHT MOUNTAINS

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE

JAMES GRAHAM BROWN CANCER CENTER

$18,000.00

Meghan has always had a deep appreciation for Dr. Roger Herzig and his
staff for there work in stem cell transplantation. Unfortunately there is
never enough money available for direct patient care. So at Meghan's
suggestion, a group individuals met at the Brown last week to see how we can best
serve the patients, many of whom are indigent and lack sufficient
resources in there fight for life against cancer.
One of the 'items" for bidding at our fundraiser was to help the
patients and there families at the Brown and Kosair Children's Hospital.
Meghan explained that there was no item to bid on, just the knowledge that
children and adults would benefit from the monies raised and explained how she
had used funds in the past. Two wonderful families, the Trager foundation
(Republic Bank) and the Unruh family (Unruh Charitable Foundation) each bid
$15,000. While we had that amount of money for each institution we added
$3,000 more to the Brown in order to cover immediate needs.
At the meeting besides myself...Dr. Roger Herzig, Chief and Director
of the Blood & Marrow Program at the Brown and member of our advisory
board...Mary Casey, member of our advisory board..Shelley Trager Kussman on
behalf of the Trager family and member of our advisory board, Jeannie Unruh
(the Unruh Charitable Foundation) on behalf of the Unruh family....Heather
Falman, Asst Director of Development, Ashley Nelson, Brown Quality
Coordinator and member of our advisory board, Leslie Lauterwasser, RN, BMT Program
Clinical Manager and Barbara Steele, RN, who works hand in hand with patients
who are financially unable to meet the needs of cancer treatments. We are
so thankful for there input and help...without these wonderful people we
could not achieve Meghan's dreams.
With Meghan's approval , because she understands the needs of cancer
patients, we are buying a much needed blanket warmer with mobile dolly
($5886.00)...two wall mounted otoscopes ($1400.00), three recliners for "all
day" clinic patient rooms where patients remain for treatment all
day($6000.00), money to be used for gas cards, cab rides and lodging (there is an
agreement worked out with two places) for those who cannot afford such but whose
needs must be met in order to receive needed medical care ($3000.00), pill
boxes with 7day/4 time slots to assist cancer patients in proper
medication when home ($1410.00) and digital themometers to be given to patients to
monitor body temperature while at home ($305). All of these expenditures
will directly benefit patients in there fight for life.
This is our second distribution this year. Our first was to Indian
Summer Camp ($15,000.00) so that kids fighting cancer can have one week of
free camp to be kids once more. Meghan has requested we continue to make
distributions so that her brothers and sisters will find there way to the top of
there mountain.
Remember..over 90% of our money raised stays in Kentucky...when you
donate always check to see what percentage of money raised is spent in
Kentucky on those fighting cancer.

YES, MEGHAN, THERE WILL BE CHRISTMAS AT KOSAIR

While at the meeting I was asked if Meghan was going to do Christmas
at Kosair. Each Christmas morning Meghan took Santa and Mrs. Claus to each
child at Kosair and presented them with a present. Meghan then went back
to Kosair in the evening for a special Christmas dinner for the patients,
their families and the nursing staff on the oncology floor. I told everyone
that because we do not know where Meghan will be on Christmas (Louisville or
Seattle ) or how she will feel, we could not plan that day. Mary Casey
(who always handled the dinner part), Shelley Trager Kussman and Jeannie Unruh
decided that yes, Meghan's Christmas will continue even if Meghan cannot
be there. We just contacted Santa and Mrs Claus who will also be present.
So the children at Kosair will have a special Christmas this year as they do
each year thanks to some wonderful people whose hearts are filled with
love like Meghan's. Thank you Mary, Shelley and Jeannie..maybe it will be a
special Christmas..let us all pray our Meghan will be there also for the
children she loves so much.

DO YOU REALLY KNOW HOW TO LOVE A CANCER PATIENT ?
MAKE THIS HOLIDAY SEASON SPECIAL FOR THEM

Often we don't know what to do when our close friends are going
through cancer. Let me give you the needed answer. A phone call of love to see
how they are doing. And if they are up to it, just ask if you and/or some
other friends can come over to spend an hour or two with them. Ask if they
are up to going out and if so what they would like to do. Cancer patients
during treatment don't always have limitations 24/7. There are times when
they can use that visit or that company to a movie, coffee house or
restaurant. So think about how you would feel if you were in their shoes....make this
holiday special for you and for them...pick up that phone and light the
mountain for the one whose friendship you cherish. The one who can use your
love and friendship this holiday season. No cancer patient should ever have
to climb their mountain alone.

WE ASK FOR YOUR CONTINUED PRAYERS

Meghan and I ask for your continued prayers for our good friends,
Josh Sweitzer, son of Dr. Steve & Helen Sweitzer, and Patrick McSweeney,
who continue to climb there mountains against cancer. We would be happy to
include someone's name in our upcoming emails asking for prayers...just email
Jerry at _jrstei...@aol.com_ (mailto:jrstei...@aol.com) .

*******************************************
I will keep you posted on Meghan's treatment in the days ahead. Thank
you for your love and prayers.

BELIEVE
Jerry