An Amazing Woman

I hope Shelli doesn't mind me doing this but wanted to do a post for her to let her know how amazing she is. Make sure you click on the link to see the makeover.

This morning I was watching the Today Show. The segment Ambush Makeover came on and I recognized one of the ladies getting the makeover. It happened to be a good friend of mine who I think is the most deserving person in the whole world. Here is the story of how I know her and how we became friends.

At the beginning of this year an announcement was sent out at church for a family that needed a mother type figure to help with 4 young kids who's mother was undergoing chemo therapy for stage 4 colon cancer. When I got this email I quickly went on to the next one, but didn't delete it, because I was already tending 3 other kids 2 days a week. Later that night I was checking my email again and reread that email for help with the 4 kids. I don't know what made me reread that email but the 2nd time I read it it kind of tugged on my heart strings. For those of you that don't know, a year before my mom died she battled lymphoma which is a type of cancer found in her intestines. So, not only did I have a mother that had cancer and was there for most of her chemo treatments, I was a mother of a young child about the same age as this woman's youngest. As I sat there looking at the computer screen, I contemplated back and forth making the call. I asked myself if I could do it with my schedule and also take care of Elley. I had the feeling to call to see if it would work out for both of us.

That night I talked to this lady's husband John and we arranged for the next day to meet at their house. This was the first time I met the AMAZING woman named Shelli. To make a long story short she was diagnosed at the age of 30 with stage 4 colon cancer. She has had 2 operations and 12 rounds of chemo and starts radiation in a few weeks. They asked me if I would help at times with the kids while Shelli had her sick weeks. I fell in love with the kids and love every minute I had to spend with them. And Shelli has been such an example to me for the past 6 months of not letting "life" get the best of you. She always has a smile on her face and is just the sweetest woman you will ever meet. We have become great friends! She has survived cancer!!!! She has survived for herself, her husband, her kids, her family....she is a fighter!!

I thought I was just helping out a stranger but really I was making new friends. Thank you Shelli for your example, determination, and your strong faith in your Heavenly Father.