Stand Up To Cancer

Ron Mutka
Cancer survivor Ron Mutka has turned what some might call an unusual hobby, crocheting, into a source of comfort for cancer patients in his community of Loveland, Colorado. During treatment at McKee Medical Center, Mutka crocheted scarves as gifts for the hospital staff; now that he's recovered, he makes pink scarves for women going through breast cancer treatment. "Just tell them some old fart made it," he told the staff before handing them out. Of the patients who receive his anonymous gifts, he says, "I saw those women lose their hair and thought it must be hard for them. It just makes you feel good to do it."
http://www.reporterherald.com/features/Feature-Story.asp?section=Neighbors&ID=24398

Bits of Myself

Bits of Myself is the blog of a new mom undergoing treatment for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. She details the side-effects of her chemo and the struggle to keep parenting the way she wants honestly, and with plenty of humor. "the nurses are great so far," she writes in one entry. "he pharmacist = FAIL. it took foreverrrrrr to get my pain meds, and frankly they're no better than what i take at home. one likes to imagine that at least while in the hospital, pain might be better managed. ahem."
http://bitsofmyself.com/

Kristi

In a comment on last week's With You, We Stand, a reader named Kristi wrote in to share her story. "At age 24 I was diagnosed with maligament melanoma," she says. At the time I had a 1 year old and a 6 week old baby. I was scared out of my mind and didn't know what to do. Cancer really made me look at myself and do a lot of changing. I no longer fret over the little things and I appreciate everyone around me . . . with the love I had for my kids i was armored with the determination to become a survivor. I have been clear of all disease for about six months. I don't know what will happen five years from now. But I do know I will fight with all my heart and continue the fight against this disease."

Dawn Anderson

After facing basal cell carcinoma two years ago, Dawn Anderson of Gilbert, Arizona decided to fight back - with style. The 35-year-old created a website, SunBling.com, to sell handcrafted sun-sensitive jewelry that changes colors when exposed to direct sunlight. Bracelets are $7, necklaces $14, and a portion of all proceeds goes to skin cancer research. "It's really just an awareness thing," she says. "I don't ever want another girl to have to go through this. That's kind of what prompted me to get going with all of this."
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/142716

As always, we invite you to share your stories with us in the comments below.