CALLING ALL ANGELS

REGINA

I have a friend that is recovering from the same kind of breast cancer that I have. I met her on a cancer survivor forum. Her name is Regina, and she lives on the other side of the country. She is young, not even 40, has a loving husband, and 3 young children. Her 18 y/o daughter has just been accepted into surgical training school and will start classes next month. When she graduates, she will be able to work in the operating room at a hospital. Regina badgers her 16 y/o son to 'get your homework done, and, no you can't wear that shirt to school, and please turn the music down, Thank you.'
Her 4 y/o has just started T-ball and the whole family goes to watch little sister play T-ball. Mom works in the snack bar while the little kids are learning the rules of the game.

Reginas little girl was only 18 months old when she discovered a lump in her breast. She took a year off from her job as a cartographer in a small company, had 3 major surgeries and 5 months of chemotherapy during this time, all the while taking care of her baby, with some help from her husband and her older daughter. She is blessed with a loving, supportive family and many friends that also responded to her needs with help. But she did most of it, all the work of surviving, herself.

Now she is helping other women with breast cancer learn how to survive. She has designed an apron with large, roomy pockets for the post surgery drain bulbs. Sometimes a post surgery patient has to have these drains in for 5 or 6 weeks or more. I had 3 drains in for 4 weeks and carried them around in a plastic grocery bag, until my surgeon gave me some pretty little gift bags. But I still had to carry the bag everywhere I went. With the apron you can put the drains in a pocket and youre ready to go. It's a brilliant idea and Regina makes the aprons at home and sells them on the internet. At first she made them by hand and gave the aprons away free. She didn't have a sewing machine for several months, but when she did get one she could whip out aprons quickly. And now she charges for the aprons as she has too many orders to still give them away free. But she would if she could.
She feels as though she is doing something beneficial for the women in the breast cancer community, and I am inclined to agree.
I nominate Regina to receive the Angel of the Year Award.

ANGELS UNAWARE

Life has a way of teaching us what we don't always want to hear or see. Life in this world of today is filled with fear, violence and disasters. It seems the ribbon of fear runs through our daily life and is presented to us on a platter in books, movies, articles, TV, newspapers and every day life. Be afraid, fearful, watch out. That guy over there looks different, he may be 'strange' and get 'out of control'. Be afraid, be VERY afraid. Don't trust, don't let your guard down. But when we are so filled full of fears there seems to be no room for Love, and we need to feel love and send Love out to the world.

My Angel story occurred on a very foggy, dark, and windy night. The wind blows the fog around, swirling it in circles,making it difficult to see . The mountain roads are dirty from numerous snow storms, making the middle yellow line almost impossible to see. I thought, 'Oh God just get us home safely.' I was creeping along the road and had a string of cars creeping along behind me. As soon as I could see a turnout, I pulled over to let the cars all pass and to make sure I had my fog lights on. I turned on my overhead light and was checking out my switches, trying to remember where the fog light switch was.

I noticed a van had pulled out of the line of cars going by, and felt a clutch of fear, when I saw the vans backup lights flick on. Do I need to take evasive action? But the line of cars was still passing by, and I couldn't get in the line. Then I noticed the van door open and a figure jump out and start walking towards our car. I said, 'Oh oh, someones walking towards us.' As the figure approached my window I could see it was a woman about my age with glasses and silver hair just like mine. I would never be able to approach a car with so many unknowns existing, no matter the situation. I had to admire her spunk.
I rolled the window down a bit and she asked if I was alright. I thanked her and said yes, I was just trying to make sure my fog lights were on. She said yes, they were on. She said did I want to follow her? It's easier being the second in line.
I said yes I would love to. She headed back to her van. The line of cars had diminished and we pulled out onto the road and started for home.
I was so struck by her courage and compassion I couldn't get her out of my mind. I knew she was my Angel in disguise.

"Forget not to show Love unto strangers; for thereby some have entertained Angels unawares."
~ Hebrews 13:2

"Always take hold of things by the smooth handle." ~ Thomas Jefferson

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK: "Lifes splendor forever lies in wait about each one of us in all its fullness, but veiled from view, deep down, invisible, far off. It is there, though, not hostile, not reluctant, not deaf. If you summon it by the right word, by its right name, it will come." ~ Franz Kafka