This time of year is really hard for me

This time of year is really hard for me. This was our second Christmas with cancer as our uninvited guest. 

I know you’re getting a lot of emails and letters from worthy charities right now. I just wanted to tell you why the Pinky Swear Foundation is special. The deep and immediate impact you make when you give to the Pinky Swear Foundation cannot be understated. 

To give you just a glimpse of the unpredictability my family experiences because of childhood cancer, Tenzin’s routine bloodwork appointment was on December 20th. It was our last visit before the holidays. I was so excited to have made it so close to Christmas Day. We brought our cookie trays and gifts for the staff as it would be our last opportunity to see them before the holiday.

Shortly after seeing the doctor, Tenzin’s bloodwork results returned. He was severely neutropenic and needed to be admitted. All I could think about was my other son Paxton in school having to come home without us there.

It always is such a whirlwind of thoughts and worries that come over me when Tenzin is admitted. He was so upset knowing how soon Christmas was. This is the reality.

Thankfully we were able to leave after three days and made it home in time for Christmas Eve. This is not something that I feel we can be prepared for even a year and a half into this process. 

For my family, the Pinky Swear Foundation has been a lifesaver. I’m a single mom. I took a leave of absence from my job so I could care for Tenzin. Our rent is expensive. I don’t want to get in a position where we can’t afford to live. But I don’t want work to get in the way of me being there for my son.

When it comes to outside support, it is organizations like Pinky Swear that make a difference. I can tell you from experience, your generosity will never be forgotten. 

Sincerely, 
Colleen