For a friend and her dude.

Hi everyone, I received this email from a blog friend WAAAAAY up in Canada.  I’ve never met her, but she is one of the very first people who ever read my blog and she’s one of the funniest people on the entire Internet.  She asked me to post a plea she’d written about her dude and I hope you’ll take a few minutes to offer your prayers or good thoughts or crossed fingers.

**

My name is brandy. And I have a blog.

And a plea.

I use my blog to showcase the crazy I meet everyday, share the stories of the kids I teach and document my love for tequila, dairy products and the abdominal muscles of Ryan Reynolds. Rarely do I talk about personal issues on my blog- as personal as the dude that I adore (who I actually met through my blog- single ladies, let that be a very good reason to blog, the possibility of meeting someone as wonderful as my man), but I need your help. And it involves my dude.

He’s a guy who made math comics for my class, so they would love learning about addition. He’s the kinda guy who sends my friends gift cards when they are having hard times, who remembers every story I ever told him, who was the first person I celebrated with when I got a teaching job. He’s the guy who sent flowers to me at school- dozens of my favourite pink roses just because he loves me. He’s a guy who has spent a year patiently explaining (and re-explaining) everything there is to know about football during the important games when silence is preferred. He’s made me word puzzles and comics and stayed up late playing Scrabble with me (even though I beat him almost every time). He’s listened to me cry about school and family and jobs. He is everything I never knew I needed and everything I always knew I wanted.

The holidays have hit us hard. He’s recently been told he may have something called multiple myeloma- an incurable cancer, that gives a person an average of five years of continued life. Though this news has came as a shock, he continues to be exactly who has always been- spending his time worrying about me, rather than worrying about himself. He’s the most selfless individual I know- (he stayed late on Christmas Eve to work, so his co-workers could leave early) and a post like this would never be something that he would promote or encourage but when I’m overwhelmed and feeling helpless, the blogging community has always given me tremendous support and comfort, two things I desperately need at this time.

As I write this, the future is uncertain and we aren’t sure what’s happening. He’ll need to see an oncologist soon, to verify what’s going on in his body. My hope is that everyone who reads this think positive thoughts and if you are a person who prays, could you add him to your list? (You can refer to him as ‘brandy’s hot awesome dude’). If you don’t pray, please keep him in your heart.This cancer is only a possibility and I believe that the prayers and positive thoughts of people can make sure it never becomes a reality.

I want to give a big thank you to the blog owner who scraped their original blog plans and graciously put this up. My goal is to get as many people as possible to see and read this post. If you are reading this and want to help, copy and paste my plea into your blog or send a link through twitter, so more people can keep him in their thoughts. I would be so very grateful (even more grateful than I am to my friend who first showed me the picture of Ryan Reynolds on the cover of Entertainment Weekly. If you haven’t seen it, google it. You. Are. Welcome).

I realize this all sounds dramatic, a Lifetime movie in the making- but this is life. Right now. And I’m throwing away any hint of ego and am humbly asking for you to pray or think kind thoughts. If you are able to pass this on, thank you and if you know anything regarding MM- please email me (my email is on my blog). This isn’t a call for sympathy or a plea for pity. It’s just one girl hoping you can think positive thoughts for the person she adores. If my current heartache provides you with anything, let it be with the reminder that life is short, love is unbending and no one knows what could happen next. Maybe it is silly, but I really do believe that positive thoughts can make a huge difference. Thank you for reading this and if you haven’t already? Please tell someone you love them today.

I did.

19 Responses to For a friend and her dude.
  1. Noelle
    December 28, 2009 | 2:54 pm

    My husband claims that picturing someone surrounded by white light sends positive energy their way. I’ve always been skeptical, but I am trying it today – thinking of Brandy and her hot awesome dude.
    .-= Noelle´s last blog ..Christmas Bling =-.

  2. Bejewell
    December 28, 2009 | 3:02 pm

    My fingers are triple crossed and I’m sending lots of good health vibes your way…
    .-= Bejewell´s last blog ..The Ornament Exchange (Alternate Title: I Suck Big Hairy Balls) =-.

  3. Mad Woman
    December 28, 2009 | 3:49 pm

    Sending up a bunch of prayers for Brandy’s hot awesome dude. I hope that good news comes soon!
    .-= Mad Woman´s last blog ..Bobbly bits bouncing …. but not for long! =-.

  4. amy2boys
    December 28, 2009 | 3:55 pm

    I’m a praying sort and I’m adding him (and you) to my list. I’ll light a candle for him at Mass this week. (Also Twittering and Sharing this post.)
    .-= amy2boys´s last blog ..Bourbon Chocolate Mousse and More =-.

  5. Mary @ Giving Up on Perfect
    December 28, 2009 | 4:55 pm

    Brandy, I’ll absolutely pray for your guy. If his oncologist ends up diagnosing MM for sure, your local chapter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society should have many resources for you, from financial aid to family support groups to information and education. But I’m going to pray that you don’t need that at all…

  6. Brigid
    December 28, 2009 | 5:25 pm

    Sending positive thoughts your way. (MY husband was diagnosed with a different cancer about nine years ago. He was given a 40% chance of surviving five years. Like I said, that was nine years ago.) Believe.
    .-= Brigid´s last blog ..three =-.

  7. Natalia Burleson
    December 28, 2009 | 6:45 pm

    You are both in my prayers! Thank you for sharing your story! Please keep us posted!
    .-= Natalia Burleson´s last blog ..Still feeling kinda groovy! =-.

  8. rachel-asouthernfairytale
    December 28, 2009 | 7:16 pm

    will tweet and share this post and pray because I am the praying sort.

    Jennifer, you’re such a special woman. Thank you for sharing this with us.

    Brandy and ‘guy’ HUGS and prayers from South Texas
    .-= rachel-asouthernfairytale´s last blog ..Holiday Recipes =-.

  9. Momo Fali
    December 28, 2009 | 7:22 pm

    I sent up my prayers and best wishes. I am hoping good things for Brandy and her man.

  10. bridget {bake at 350}
    December 28, 2009 | 7:27 pm

    Sending my prayers, too. :)

  11. Heather, Queen of Shake Shake
    December 28, 2009 | 8:13 pm

    I think a positive outlook makes a difference too. Sending positive thoughts your way!
    .-= Heather, Queen of Shake Shake´s last blog ..Special Holiday Message from St. Pimento Cheesus: Live Between the Lines =-.

  12. Corinne
    December 28, 2009 | 8:26 pm

    Praying and sending positive vibes…
    .-= Corinne´s last blog ..Small, yet heartfelt, acknowledgements =-.

  13. DesignHER Momma
    December 28, 2009 | 9:36 pm

    I have my fingers double triple crossed.
    .-= DesignHER Momma´s last blog ..Stuff that Spartan in the Stocking =-.

  14. Heather
    December 28, 2009 | 10:13 pm

    They are in my prayers.

  15. Sally
    December 28, 2009 | 11:12 pm

    Sending lots of prayers and good thoughts from WAYYY down in Louisiana.

    P.S. Brandy, I agree with you about Ryan Reynolds. Best of luck to you and your hot man. I wouldn’t know what to do without mine.

    Please keep us posted, Jennifer!

  16. anymommy
    December 29, 2009 | 12:23 am

    I will focus my positive thoughts and energy on him. Fingers and toes crossed. Please let us know how he is doing.
    .-= anymommy´s last blog ..Sexiest Man Alive =-.

  17. lilfootsmommy
    December 29, 2009 | 5:50 am

    I will certainly keep them in my thoughts and prayers. My aunt’s boyfriend who is a veteran just beat multiple myeloma. I’m hoping and praying for the same outcome for your dude! {{HUGS}}

  18. Kristen
    December 29, 2009 | 8:50 am

    I will be thinking about and praying for these two as well. <3

  19. MommyNamedApril
    December 30, 2009 | 9:47 am

    sending positive thoughts your way. and ((hugs))
    .-= MommyNamedApril´s last blog ..Please Stand By. =-.