by Katie Kindelan via abcnews.com
When 10-year-old Olivia Ohlson learned that her mom Gini was diagnosed with breast cancer, she jumped at the chance to help. Olivia, a fifth-grader from Evanston, Illinois, made pink lemonade and baked shortbread cookies with her grandmother to sell outside the family’s home. “I always wanted to have a lemonade sale and when my mom got cancer I wanted to raise funds for women like her,” Olivia told ABC News. “I thought that since I wanted to raise money, I could have a lemonade stand.”
She also contacted local bakeries to ask that they donate cookies for her to sell in the shape of pink ribbons for breast cancer awareness.
“It was very touching,” Gretchen Vetter of Tag’s Bakery in Evanston said. “I was very moved by it so I was more than willing to help.”
Olivia has raised $4,500 through one bake sale and online donations made by family, friends and strangers. She is holding a second bake sale next weekend.
Olivia said her favorite part of the bake sale was interacting with her customers. She is donating her proceeds to Northshore Kellogg Cancer Center, where her mom, Gini Ohlson, is being treated for breast cancer.
“I know my mom has lots of family and friends who take care of her but other people don’t so they need more support,” she said. “By giving Kellogg money they can use it … for patients.”
Ohlson, 50, was diagnosed with breast cancer in both of her breasts in March. She underwent a double mastectomy in May and said she is halfway through 16 rounds of preventive chemotherapy.
Ohlson, the executive director of a nonprofit organization, may also need radiation in the future. Her early stage of breast cancer was diagnosed through her annual mammogram.
“My doctor told me that if I hadn’t had my mammogram, we wouldn’t have felt anything for a year to three years and I would have had a very different diagnosis,” she said. “That’s really given me a positive attitude.”
Ohlson described herself as “very proud” of Olivia, her only child. She said she is most impressed that Olivia did all of the hard, behind-the-scenes work that bake sales entail.
To read more, go to: Girl raises more than $4K through bake sale after mom diagnosed with breast cancer – ABC News
Posts tagged as “breast cancer”
Robin Roberts received a standing ovation at the ESPY Awards on Wednesday night as she went up to receive the prestigious Arthur Ashe Courage Award from basketball star LeBron James. As a recipient, the “Good Morning America” host joins the likes of Nelson Mandela and Muhammad Ali, for “possessing strength in the face of adversity.” Roberts went public with her battles with breast cancer in 2007 and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) in 2012 – chronicling her bone-marrow transplant and recovery on the morning show to spread awareness.
“At this moment, I am filled with such gratitude,” Roberts, 52, said, thanking her presenter, and adding that her mother – who died last year – was a big fan of “King James. There are many worthy of holding this honor, others who have exhibited far more courage, strength and resilience, and it’s humbling for me to represent you tonight,” she said.
The veteran TV journalist also thanked First Lady Michelle Obama, who spoke kindly of Roberts in a video tribute. “Robin has inspired all of us with her courage and tenacity as she overcame a life-threatening illness not once, but twice,” Obama said.
“I draw strength from you,” Roberts continued in her heartfelt speech. You give me the courage to face down any challenge, to know when fear knocks, to let faith answer the door.”
article by Chiderah Monde via nydailynews.com
“At this moment, I am filled with such gratitude,” Roberts, 52, said, thanking her presenter, and adding that her mother – who died last year – was a big fan of “King James. There are many worthy of holding this honor, others who have exhibited far more courage, strength and resilience, and it’s humbling for me to represent you tonight,” she said.
The veteran TV journalist also thanked First Lady Michelle Obama, who spoke kindly of Roberts in a video tribute. “Robin has inspired all of us with her courage and tenacity as she overcame a life-threatening illness not once, but twice,” Obama said.
“I draw strength from you,” Roberts continued in her heartfelt speech. You give me the courage to face down any challenge, to know when fear knocks, to let faith answer the door.”
article by Chiderah Monde via nydailynews.com
From The Daily Beast:
Actress Vanessa Bell Calloway couldn’t helped but be moved by the recent editorial by fellow actress Angelina Jolie discussing her decision to have an preventative double mastectomy. In 2009, the veteran of stage, television, and film went in for a mammogram and was told the results looked “suspicious.” The co-star of the Showtime series “Shameless”—who appeared in the original Broadway production of “Dreamgirls” and became a familiar face to fans in the hit films “Coming to America,” “What’s Love Got to Do With It,” and “The Crimson Tide”—shares with Allison Samuels of The Daily Beast her head-butting battle with breast cancer, the lessons she learned about relinquishing control, and her plans for a healthier future for her two daughters.
I can still remember sitting straight up in my bed one morning thinking something’s wrong. I didn’t know what it was and I didn’t know where it was, I just knew something wasn’t right and I couldn’t explain it. I told my husband, an anesthesiologist, about the feeling I had. First he asked if I was in pain and I said no and then he said not to worry, but of course I did anyway. I had that nagging feeling that all women get at one time or another when that little voice in our heads just won’t be silent.
I’d always been very diligent about getting my yearly mammograms, pap smears, and anything else related to my health since I’d become an adult woman. Sometimes I’d even get them twice a year if the spirit hit me. I took care of myself in other ways as well. I’d been a dancer since childhood so exercise was a part of my daily regiment, and because I’m an actress, being fit goes along with the job description. A healthy lifestyle was an attitude I wanted to pass down to my two daughters, Ashley 22, and Alexandra, 18.
But despite all those years of dogged dedication to my well-being and the fact that there is no history of breast cancer in my family, four years ago I heard the dreaded words no woman wants to hear: the results of my mammogram were “suspicious.” In my mind I knew “suspicious” could mean cancer, but as much as I tried not to dwell on that reality, I somehow couldn’t stop myself. I told as few people as possible as my husband and I waited for the doctors to probe deeper.
It was cancer in its early stages in my left breast. Yes, at 51 years old I was stunned, but I had a plan that I put into action quickly. To know me is to know that I’m a “planner.” This would be no different. I would simply have a lumpectomy. Then I’d have radiation to complete treatment. There would still be no need to tell my parents, my husband’s parents, or my two daughters as my youngest was a sophomore in high school and my oldest was a sophomore in college. My girl’s lives wouldn’t have to be turned upside down and I could continue to go on auditions for television roles in-between treatments.