Light the Night

October 3rd, 2009

My mother, Rosanne Scaramuzzo-Shanks was diagnosed with Non Hodgkins Lymphoma, Peripheral NK T cell lymphoma, on July 3rd 2008, after battling with unknown illness for 18 months prior. Due to the large amount of donations from the LLS and the American cancer society, my mother was able to get pamphlets, choose from a selection of wigs, and several other donations including a whole case full of name brand make-up, mouthwashes for chemo side effects, and resources for whatever she may have needed.

Lymphoma took my mother's life on January 6th, 2009, only 6 days after our scheduled bone marrow transplant was to take place. So many people are fighting for survival, for time, for freedom from these diseases that take millions of lives a day. Thanks to Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, so many resources are now available. Although my mother is gone, there is still hope for survivors out there, and I will walk to the end of the world if it means even one person can get financial benefits to pay for medical treatments from the money I raised, along with millions of others.

I urge you to join my team and walk for not only my mother's memory, but for everyone affected with blood cancers.

Please visit my mother's memorial site. Copy and paste the link into your browser.

http://www.virtual-memorials.com/main.php?action=view&mem_id=16276&page_no=1

• A donation of $25 provides patients and their loved ones with FREE booklets that contain up-to-date information on their disease and help them make informed decisions about their treatment options.
• A donation of $50 makes possible a Family Support group with a trained facilitator where comfort can be found and experiences can be shared among patients and family members.
• A donation of $100 helps supply laboratory researchers with supplies and materials critical to carrying out their search for cures.
• A donation of $1,000 makes possible one- on-one conversations with health care specialists who provide patients with information about their disease, treatment options, and helps prepare them with questions for their health care team.

Please make a donation to support my participation in the Light The Night Walk and help save lives. Be sure to check my Web site frequently to see my progress, and thanks for your support!