Cards 4 Cancer Day: April 10th, 2010
Spirit Jump is extremely excited about an outreach program we created called Cards 4 Cancer Day. On April 10, 2010 we hope to deliver over 100,000 uplifting cards to cancer centers around the world. Our mission is to bring hope and comfort directly to those who are suffering as well as much needed awareness. We would love to have millions of people join us on this mission.
For those who would like to participate we have created a website at www.cards4cancer.wordpress.com with the details of the event. We are currently looking for Team Leaders, Team Members and sponsorship. So far BloggersUnite is onboard and has set up an event page for this event at http://www.bloggersunite.org/event/spirit-jump-cards-for-cancer-day. They will help us get the word out to the over 250,000 bloggers they are connected to through BlogCatalog. We are very excited to see who will join us in this life changing mission.
Meaghan’s Story
I was a young, healthy vibrant 28 year old attending law school in the winter of 2006. During my second year of classes I began feeling ill. I went to numerous doctors looking for help. Each doctor suggested it was all in my head; maybe I was depressed, mentally ill or over-stressed. Because I was young and had always been healthy the doctors assumed nothing could be seriously wrong. Enduring extreme pain, bleeding and exhaustion I kept returning to my doctors looking for help. Still no one did anything to address any of my health issues. My symptoms became worse with each passing day. Because no one believed I was ill I continued to attend classes and tried to live a normal life. Eventually the pain became so unbearable I drove myself to the ER.
The doctors at the Emergency Room also suggested my pain was in my head. However, due to the symptoms I complained of they were required to give me a CT scan. The CT showed the pain was NOT in my head. I had a large tumor on my cervix. The tumor had grown so large it had crushed my ureters causing my kidney to rip open.
In February 2007 I was finally diagnosed with advanced cervical cancer, stage 3b. The same doctors that had assured me I was fine were now telling me and my family that I would not survive.
I decided not to give up but rather to fight. After two weeks of hospitalization and blood transfusions I was flown to Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston Massachusetts. Teams of doctors attended to me in an effort to diminish the pain and save my life. I underwent chemo, internal and external radiation, placement of nephrostomy tubes as well as numerous surgeries. With little chance of surviving I fought hard against cancer. In July 2007 I had won my battle and was cancer free.
Even though I had won my battle with cancer I continued to struggle against the secondary effects of my treatments. Every three months I was flown to Boston for PET scans and surgeries because of the damage to the kidney. I returned to law school and with the help of friends and family I graduated in December 2008. I went on to take the Florida Bar exam and passed. Then in March 2009, during one of my surgeries, the doctors discovered my left kidney was failing and would have to be removed. Two weeks later doctors removed one rib and the failing kidney.
Spirit Jump Is Born
Looking for a way to reach out to others I had started a blog called I Kicked Cancers Ass where I wrote openly and honestly about my experience. Many people began to find me on my blog and I was able to provide some answers as well as comfort. Realizing I was helping others began a healing process of my own. Wanting to make more of a difference I thought hard about what else I could do. Finally the answer came. Remembering all the cards and gifts I had received during my battle and how they lifted my spirits during a desperate time, I decided to match those who wished to give with those who needed support. Thus began SPIRIT JUMP.
Our members sign on to send cards and small gifts to those still battling cancer. The experience is very powerful for both the giver and the receiver. Many have had life changing experiences. Our numbers and our outreach has continued to grow and we have touched lives as far as Singapore, Australia and more. It has become my passion, my addiction if you will to run this organization. Along with the help of my boyfriend Bryan Power, my good friend Dominique Miniaci and avid Spirit Jumper turned full time volunteer Lillie Hobson we continue to run Spirit Jump.
