PLEASE VOTE ~

Please help us once again by voting for our car, “Nick & Friends 2”. We have 13 days left on this one. We are trying extremely hard to make sure we get at least one car into the top 10 so we can move on to the next round. www.sponsafier.com/share/370029

If you are on facebook, we have an ongoing event you can join SARCOMA AWARENESS - NICK & FRIENDS 2 . This event is done from your computer. It is just a friendly reminder to vote daily for this car. It is going on now through September 6th. With that being said, we have many people not understand why people are saying “NO” to this event. You don’t go anywhere, and I am sure you spend more time reading others statuses, playing games, etc.

But here is my take. Either your friends on facebook don’t understand what we are trying to do, don’t understand what sarcoma is or what it does to our loved ones, they may be too busy, they may of their own set of problems, maybe they don’t need a reminder (wow, I wish I didn’t need reminders), or they just don’t care.

So with that, here is what we are trying to do:
1. We are trying to raise awareness to a horrid disease that affects our loved one, a rare pediatric cancer called sarcoma.

2. Our loved ones go through some very extensive treatment. Sarcoma can be very aggressive and can be disfiguring, painful and often is resistant to treatment.

3. Their survival rate is very low. And if they do survive the first round of treatment and has a chance to be “in remission”, they have an extremely high rate of it returning.

4. Families’ lives are turned upside down, some even fall apart completely. Moms and dads lose their babies, children lose their mommy or daddy, men / women lose their spouse, we lose our friends.

5. If you don’t know what sarcoma is, or if you want to learn more, please visit the Nick & Friends website at www.fightsarcoma.org, ask me or any of the administrators on the event page on facebook.

We are just asking for a few seconds each day. Just a few clicks, click the link, click the vote button and that’s it. If we can get this car through this round and into the next two rounds, we have a great chance of bringing sarcoma and Nick & Friends into the NASCAR spot light.

AWARENESS = FUNDING = RESEARCH = CURE


Thanks and please vote.
Mel ~

PLEASE HELP WITH VOTING DAILY ~

I copied this from Fight Sarcoma.org's facebook page. Please read below and help.

We need to have AT LEAST 10,000 by now if we are going to compete with the top car. If every person who follows this page votes once per day, we should have around 4,000 by now, but we don't. This means that a lot of people who CARE about this CAUSE are not doing anything about it! www.sponsafier.com/share/360505

I don't quite know how to express the importance of this. I think most of you know that sarcoma only has about a 20% survival rate. There is very little funding for sarcoma research. Sarcoma tends to strike children more often than adults. Sarcoma is not like other cancers. It is more aggressive and disfiguring and painful and often resistant to treatment.

Families’ lives are turned upside down, some fall apart completely. Moms and daddy's lose their babies, kids lost their moms and daddy's, and we lose our friends. People have awareness events all the time, and hopefully hundreds of people learn about sarcoma at those events, BUT...

This car winning will mean that hundreds of THOUSANDS of people will see the word sarcoma. They will see yellow ribbons. They will see names of warriors...some still fighting, others whose battle has ended. YOU have the power to make hundreds of thousands of people aware! YOU! Every one of you can personally take credit for doing something big for this cause.

Be a sarcoma warriors hero today...right now...step up to the plate...be activists in this cause...let YOUR voice be heard. Tell those people at Toyota and NASCAR that Sarcoma is the cause they need to pay attention to!!! Vote daily and ask everyone you know to do the same.

We are not asking for your money here...we are not asking for hours of service...we are asking for 2 clicks of your mouse each day for 15 days. That's it. Couple of seconds...couple of clicks... AWARENESS

Now from me, Just think for one minute what this could do bringing sarcoma infront of hundred's of thousands of people. Think of the smiles on each warriors / families faces.

Love ~
Mel

NASCAR VOTING

Yes, it is that time again for us to start voting for our fabulous Nick & Friends NASCAR designed car. We only have 13 days left. So please vote every day from every computer you can log in to. The more votes we get, the better chance of bringing more awareness to Sarcoma.

http://www.sponsafier.com/share/360505

Last time, we were able to get a little ove 23,000 votes, placing us in 11th place. We need to get more votes than this. Please help bring a smile to the face of those families who's warrior is listed on this car. This time, we have over 450 names on this car.

Thanks!!
Mel ~

Latest Update on Michael ~

Sorry for the delay in updating. Since Michael has been in remission, life has gone back into full speed. I would not say normal, I would just say back to the busy schedule I have… Between working full time and helping mom run her flea market; trying to get a business started and off the ground; taking care of the house, cars, animals or other odd jobs; trying to find time to jump in the pool to play with my nieces and nephew, spend time with Michael, spend time with our daughter or just to enjoy life; time just gets away. Days just run together. I cannot believe it is already July.

First, Michael is doing pretty well. He has his days if you know what I mean. He just had his second haircut since completing treatment in October. Before, he would have to get a haircut every 3 weeks, now it’s more like every 3 months. He has lost some weight over the past few months, which is a GREAT thing. He is down 2 pants sizes and still has a few more to go. He continues to work on his weight loss. He still has spells of weakness and overall fatigue. He still has pain on and off in his back, which at times can get pretty severe, and still gets his headaches every now and then. He still has not gone back to work as they will not let him be a mechanic with all his back problems.

He saw his oncologist, had labs and a chest x-ray in April. His counts still are low and the doctor said it may take a while still before they start to climb back towards his “pre-chemo” levels. His chest x-ray looked good. We will go see his oncologist again in October and have labs and another chest x-ray unless any problems arise before then. He’s not schedule for any scans until January 2011. I have been trying to talk him in to going and seeing his orthopedic surgeon about his back pains, but he just brushes me off… Men what are we going to do with them.

Michael has been doing “odd jobs” around the house to keep himself busy. He did finally get his 454 re-built and in his truck (for the second time) and it looks like they are working on another project out in the shop now. He can spend all day and night out in that shop. You still can not get him away from working on cars.

My mother had surgery on her hand about a month ago for the arthritis in her hand and is in a cast for a few more weeks, so on the weekends, Michael and I have been going out to Quinlan, TX to run her booth at the flea market out there. We will continue to help her with is until she gets her cast off and goes through her rehab. That seems to be the only time now that Michael and I get to see each other, which could be a good thing or a bad thing…

July 4th is fast approaching. We wish everyone a safe, happy 4th of July. And remember to thank those serving our Country. Because of these brave men and women, we can continue to celebrate our freedom. THANK YOU! We usually have a big 4th of July / birthday celebration but will put that off once again. We still don’t have a place of our own yet and we aren’t in the celebrating mood lately. I am just looking forward to having the 5th off of work, but I am sure I will be busy that day. This year, most of the nation will get a day off work to celebrate my son’s 19th birthday. How great is that!!

We have a few birthdays coming up in the next two months. Our son Michael will turn 19 on July 5th. Happy Birthday Michael, we love you and hope you have a fantastic day. Time sure does fly, it seems like yesterday he was this cute lil’ guy running around enjoying the 4th with us. Now he’s off doing his own thing. Hopefully you will read this message and know we think of you daily, we pray for you, we love you, and miss you. You have been on our minds a lot lately. We would love to see or hear from you soon.

My brother in Kansas City has a birthday on July 7th. Happy 38th birthday Steve. Wow, you sure are getting up there in age… Kyle, my nephew (one of Steve & Julie’s boy) in Kansas City, has a birthday on July 8th. Also, our nephew, Anthony, will be turning 1 on July 21st. Lil’ Turkey is already walking or should I say running. He is such a hoot and calls his Uncle Mike, Dodge… Yes, Michael has already taught the boy how to say Dodge. He has to teach these kids early of what a real car is. Then August 2nd, my sister-in-law will have a birthday and then I get to turn the big 4-0 towards the end of August. Yes, I am looking forward to it!!

I am working extremely hard to bring our NASCAR Nick & Friends car back. Yes, you heard it right. Be watching here, on facebook, and on twitter. Be sure to watch on Nick & Friends Sarcoma Foundation website or their facebook page. We will be once again asking everyone to vote to help us bring more awareness to this dreaded disease. We MUST get this car into the TOP TEN this round so we can get this car on the track in Phoenix this fall. Yes, that is almost right in the back yard of Nick & Friends!!

If you are on facebook, please go and friend “Fight Sarcoma”. Right now, they have a few other voting contests going on to bring more awareness to Sarcoma. Once is the Chase Community Giving and the other is one of our Sarcoma Mom’s (Ronda) asking for votes for her myown Oprah audition “ Ronda's Recover and Redecorate Audition Video” where she wants to help cancer patients by giving them a little piece of “heaven” while they recover. Go check them out and vote!!!!! You can also find those links on my facebook page.

With that, please continue to keep all these beautiful warriors in your thoughts and prayers along with their families. These warriors go through so much.

Sending everyone big warm Texas hugs and I promise not to be so long before our next update!!
Love ~
Melodie

Latest Update ~

First, as you all know, our NASCAR did not make the top 10. We were only 320 points behind the 10th place car. Well guess what we found out this morning….

We can still vote on the car to keep it the No. 1 spot of the “Most Likes”. Yes, right now our Nick & Friends car is sitting in #1 of the Most Likes Gallery. What does this mean? Don’t know yet. But all I can say is please click the link and give our car a thumb up by saying you “Like this Design”.

www.sponsafier.com/share/201541

Some how, some way, we will find us a way to get a NASCAR Race Car designed like this featured. Please help us find a way!!

Second, Michael is coming up in his next set of 3 months scans. All we are having done this time is just a chest x-ray, lab work, and visit with the oncologist. We will go to the imaging center next Wednesday morning (April 14th), have a nice lunch, go see he favorite vampires (the lab), and then see his favorite oncologist. Not to worried about this visit.

Michael has been trying to keep himself busy. He has an older truck he has been working on re-building. He still has his good days and bad days. His legs and back bother him at times, but I think he just don’t want anyone to know. He just learns to live with it. He knows he will have back pain for the rest of his life. His hands and feet bother him still a bit.

He keeps telling me it’s time for a haircut. If you know my husband, he has always since he was in the military worn a very short hair style. Since he finished chemo last October, he has not had his first haircut yet. I am just in “LOVE” with all the curls that have come back this time. So we like to discuss back and forth whether or not he can get a haircut. I finally caved in this past week so today he went and got his first haircut since it has grown back. It will be interesting to see if he will have to keep it cut as much as he use to. It’s still not as thick as it was.

As always, please continue to keep all these beautiful sarcoma warriors in your thoughts and prayers. Also, please help us help Nick & Friends to bring much needed awareness to this dreaded disease that is taking our loved ones, and invading our lives.

Sending you beautiful warm Texas hugs!!~
Melodie

PLEASE VOTE TODAY, TOMORROW, AND THE NEXT DAY!!!!

Please take a few seconds and vote for the Nick & Friends car and help us bring awareness to this dreaded disease. This car contains the names of that we are aware of fighting or have fought this monster we call Sarcoma. Please do this for the 6 angels we have lost since voting began on this car. Please do this for those still in treatment. Please do this for those in remission. Please do this for each of these beautiful families. We need to get his car a secured spot in the top 10 to make it to the next round.

www.sponsafier.com/share/201541
I have copied this from one of our biggest cheerleaders:
The White Flag Is In Hand
In NASCAR, the officials wave a white flag on the lap before the final lap for the checkered. Folks, the official has it in his hand and we aren't ready for the push. Please, Please, Please....it is time, time for all of us to put the pedal to the medal, to finish strong and place as high as we can in this race. Please make it a point to go to every one of your pages or perhaps send each an email with the link, begging for the vote. Ask them to help, send out the link, do it on face book, do it on care pages, do it on my space, just do it anywhere people will see. We have thousands of people that follow our cause and I just can't tell you what it would mean to all of us if we were to win this race. I want to close by leaving this bit of info with you, pass it on if you'd like. This year, the Daytona 500 drew an 11.3 rating in TV viewers according to ESPN, this is the largest rating they have ever drawn and it relates to (drum roll please) 37 freaking million viewers. WOW!!!!! I would say that’s pretty good exposure, wouldn't you? Good Luck Pit Crew!!!

Yes, this would be a dream come for so many families. Please help!!!

And from the bottom of mine and Michael’s heart, we thank each and every one of you!! Know we could not do this without you!!
Sending you warm hugs!! ~
Melodie

Why this is important to Michael, me and the hundreds of Sarcoma family members!!

First let me say one great big THANK YOU to all my wonderful, supportive cheerleaders we have out there helping get the word out there on this contest.

Second, go and vote, vote today, vote tomorrow, and vote every day from now until the end of the month. We only have 10 days left. Vote from your computer and every single computer you have in your house. Vote at home, vote at work, have your co-workers vote. Even ask your boss to vote. This could mean the world to those hundreds of names listed on this car. The link to the car is:
http://www.sponsafier.com/share/201541

Directly from Nick & Friends:
Why is this NASCAR contest is so important? Sarcoma is rare. Its victims forgotten. There is little research & the survival rate is low. Most people have never heard the word sarcoma. This MUST change. We must make sure that everyone hears, sees and understands the word sarcoma. This car will put that "S" word in front of thousands of eyes... Awareness=Funding=Research=Cure! PLEASE continue to vote

What Nick & Friends mean to Michael and I:
Here you have 2 of the most amazing people in this world that does not know you until they see your story. Then they become one of you closest, best friends. As I can say the same about their volunteers, those fighting their sarcoma, and the caregivers and family members, anyone you meet that know what / who Nick and Friends is.

Cancer is a scary thing, but to hear you have a rare cancer and there just isn't much out there on this, well that puts a whole different scare on it. I have met some of the most wonderful people who are fighting this fight just as we are. And when we lose a precious angel, the love and support is outstanding to that family.

Bring Sarcoma Awareness:
We need to bring more awareness to Sarcoma. We need more research done. We need more answers on the what / why / hows of Sarcoma. Those that know and have followed Michael’s journey or another Sarcoma Warriors journey know how hard these treatments are on these babies, these children, these men and women fighting this disease. Yes, some do become Survivors as Michael, some are still fighting this battle, some have become survivors just to fight it again, and some become our precious angels.

Please help me make this dream come true:
This was just a hey, lets try this and see what we can do idea of Michael and me. But let me tell you, reading the carepages, caringbridge pages of those fighting and asking for help, reading the words that this precious child loves to watch these numbers climb on this car, seeing Michael’s face (yes a big 40 year old kid) when I tell him the numbers, reading all those postings on facebook, seeing all the people on facebook asking to be tagged to the photos of this screenshots going on the car, is just simply amazing and so heartwarming. Please help me make this dream come true. This would mean the world to Michael to actually be part of this car, this race and personally, from my point of view, what better way to celebrate being a survivor then being at the race and bringing awareness to the foundation that helped us and to these terrible disease. As Andrea said, how many people really know what Sarcoma is. And then think of how many of you can watch these beautiful names race around the track.

From one of the wives:
Don't wait until cancer affects your life or the ones you love to start caring, help raise awareness and find a cure NOW! Anyone could be the next one diagnosed. Trust me, we never thought my husband would get cancer at age 22. Take two seconds and VOTE!!!!!!!!!!

Here is what one of our mothers has to say about this:
It would be SO cool to see this car racing around the NASCAR track.. and SO fitting. This disease is like a high speed car race that keeps going around and around and around in circles. Sometimes we ride the high tracks and sometimes the low. And along he way, we have many pit stops. But the pits are ALWAYS where we find our team waiting to fix us up and put us back on the track. You guys are our team!

As you see, this is not only for Michael; this means the world to the hundreds of names on this car and their families, my big family!!

PLEASE VOTE and SPREAD THE WORD TO GET MORE VOTES!!

Want more info on Nick & Friends Sarcoma Foundation, go and check out:
www.fightsarcoma.org
You can also friend Fight Sarcoma on Facebook.