P. Kelly Smith
Welcome to Freebie Friday! We’re inching closer and closer to summer and I for one can’t wait! In July, my very generous grandma is treating the whole family (20+ people) to a Caribbean cruise. We’ve been planning this family reunion (via ship) for over a year now, so we’re getting excited it’s almost here.
A couple of weeks ago, our plans almost came to a grinding halt when my grandma went in for her scheduled mammogram and discovered she had the early stages of breast cancer. At 76, she’s still very active and enjoys designing wedding dresses and beating me down the ski slope in her free time.
Here's my grandma with her youngest grandchild, Carter, in 2008.
As you can imagined, our family pulled together to offer our support. After meeting with her doctors, grandma elected to have a full mastectomy in her left breast and reconstructive surgery – all in the same day. The doctors give her a 99% survival rate and say she’ll most likely not need chemo.
I’m happy to report that her surgery this week went very well and all signs point to full recovery. She kept telling the doctors, “I need to have surgery right away. I have a cruise in six weeks that I just can’t miss.” Gotta love her can-do attitude, especially since cancer, at any age, is a formidable opponent.
I realize that our family is very lucky and many women have lost their battle with this disease. This Sunday is National Cancer Survivors Day and I now have reason to celebrate. I’m also happy Paper Crafts has joined forces with Creating Keepsakes to bring awareness to our Creativity Heals campaign. The mission is simple: donate your time, creativity and supplies towards improving the lives of others. Whether you send a get well card to a friend, a miss you card to a deployed soldier or an encouragement card to a family member, these small acts of kindness can brighten even the darkest day.
This Believe in Your Dreams Card is in our A Card a Day book (p. 66). Designed by Stefanie Hamilton, Stefanie herself is a breast cancer survivor:
The sentiment says, "Never stop believing in dreams and never stop dreaming of believing."
This next card by Ryann Salamon is in our Creativity Heals feature in the July/August issue (on sale June 15):
I love Ryann's simple, but powerful Hope Card.
In honor of my grandma, I’ve got three prize packages that celebrate her favorite hobby: sewing. Three winners will each receive Hambly Screen Prints’ Couture Paper, Overlay and rub-ons, Cornish Heritage Farms’ Sew Special stamp set and Dimensions’ Handmade Embroidery Kit. Leave a comment telling me someone who’s been an inspiration in your life. Whether a loved one fighting cancer or someone with an indomitable spirit. All comments must be received by midnight (MDT) on Sunday, June 6.
Three lucky winners will take home this fun prize package!
“Sew” grateful for Grandma,
Kelly
P.S. Make sure you check back here on Monday when voting begins for Gallery Idol! Our Top 20 finalists have been given the “Creativity Heals” theme for round one. Voting begins at noon (MDT) and will go through noon (MDT) on Thursday, June 10. Our online community will determine who moves forward in the competition!
My friend Stephanie inspires me. I’ve known her for as long as I can remember (she used to babysit me!), and she’s always been such a good example, someone I want to be like. Now she’s married, has a little boy and lives far away…but I still love her.
My grandmother, Elsie Marie Schofield Bolton was and still is my inspiration. Meshe, as we so fondly called her, lived to be 99 years old. She had the love of God and her fellow man in her heart and soul and she lived it!
My grandma inspired me and she still does even though she passed away 18 months ago. She lived a life full of love, devotion and faith. I think of her often and miss her but I am so very grateful she was my grandma.
Hard choice – I have a couple of friends that inspire me to be more creative and spontaneous but then there is my mom. She has always been the rock in the family and as she has now reached the age of 80 and seems to be losing some of her memory I find myself feeling inspired to ensure that while she remembers I do all that I can to document those memories for all of the grandchildren. She was a wonderful mom as she was so calm and patient and always had time for the kids (her own, our friends and now the grandchildren).
Im so glad your Grandmother is through her surgery and has a 99% survival rate… how awesome!! We are going through the same thing right now, everything came to a halt. MY DH Dad has Liver Cancer and took a turn for the worst. Hes now at the VA hospital and they give him 3-6months. We are trying to do what we can to keep him comfortable till God decides he needs him more than us. Its been scary, emotional, and so hard for the family. And it came in 3′s for us. Our friends Mom passed from cancer a couple weeks ago, our other friends been diagnosed with Stage 4 Cervical Cancer and my FIL has Liver Cancer. Its been really tough. We have to take the bad with the good and stay strong. Im so thankful for prayer and having so many friends and family and God to pull us through.
My mom inspires me. She always there for me. I’m so fortunate to still have her with me.
I have to say that there are many women that I admire, but I have to say my that Grandma Gladys is my biggest inspiration. She hasn’t had an easy life. She grew up in a poor tenant farming family in WI. She only went as far as 8th grade because she went out to be a farm wife helper at age 14. She married at 18 to a farmer. She lost her second child at birth. She lost my Mom when my Mom was only 36. She lost my grandfather to cancer. She helped raise 3 foster kids and one mentally challenged adult. She had triple bypass surgery at age 84 and they guaranteed her 5 years. She is now almost 93 and still lives by herself. He faith in God and her sense of humor have served her well all these years. She is my inspiration and role model. Thanks, Grandma. I love you. And thanks to you, Papercrafts Connections, for the chance to win a great prize.
What an inspirational story!! I hope you and your family enjoy this time with your grandmother. She sounds pretty awesome!! I have an aunt who is pretty inspirational. She has a wonderful love for life attitude. She lost her eldest child when he was a senior in high school. He was struck by a drunk driver. She has another child that is severally retarded and kept him at home as long as they could, and she is also a cancer survivor. She has the best attitude of anyone I know and enjoys everyday of her life!
I love to sew. This is a great way to bring some sewing images to my paper crafting.
My parents and my children inspire me to do the best I can in my life.
My girlfriend Kim is currently fighting breast cancer and I couldn’t be prouder of her or her courage.
It’s a good life!
Terri E.
My grandma was very tough to the end.
Your grandma’s story is inspirational and that first card is so appropriate for her circumstances. My mother is a breast cancer survivor and still thriving at almost 5 years. Yay Mom!!!
Blessings,
Christine
My father has been such an inspiration to me. He has been living with Parkinsons for over 10 years now and still keeps a positive attitude and doesn’t feel sorry for himself. Go Dad Go!
My friend Jo; her now 12 y/o dd who is 3 days younger than my dd was diagnosed w/ leukemia when she was 3. Her youngest dd was yet an baby, and her marriage fell apart at the same time. As her dd was heading into remission and returning from her wishes trip from Disney, Jo’s mom was diagnosed w/ cancer and passed away 6 months later. Jo is an inspiring, gifted teacher. She knows how to connect and “reach” those kids that others cannot. She has been diagnosed w/ bi-polar, been hospitalized, and when she is healthy, is the most +++ person I know. She is an example of strength to me!!
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