An example of patience

The following post is written by Jill Williams a mother of two beautiful princesses and a handsome prince and they all have smiles that will melt your heart.  She and Charlotte have spent many hours running together in preparation for one race or another.  Jill is also the organizer of the 5k and 1 mile Fun Run which will be held October 15th in Cache Valley.

Tonight I stopped by Charlotte's house to drop off some dinner. I found her sitting at the kitchen counter with her youngest son, helping him with homework. He looked frustrated. I know she has a cold right now, and she looked tired. But patient. That's one thing about Charlotte that's always impressed me. She is so patient. She never lets things rattle her.

I've witnessed her boys climbing like monkeys all over the playground, making me bite my nails with nervousness as I worry they may fall. Charlotte keeps her cool, and assures me boys will be boys and I will soon see now that I have my own little baby boy.

I've seen Charlotte at 4:30 am as we boarded a bus the morning of the Bear Lake Marathon. I had been training for it for 6 months, and was anxious about the miles ahead, worrying over the weather, if I was overdressed, if I was underdressed (I would have been if Charlotte hadn't let me borrow an extra jacket she had brought along, just in case), if I had enough water in my water belt to last me between aid stations, if I was trained enough, and many other things. Charlotte had been training for the half marathon, but since it was filled up decided to sign up for the marathon instead. Although she hadn't been training for it, she kept her cool, knowing she could finish, and just her presence calmed my nerves.

Now I've seen my dear friend Charlotte learn she has cancer, calmly explain her situation to medical personnel over and over again, humbly accept meals and financial assistance from friends, family, and strangers, and continue to uplift everyone with her beautiful smile and sweet spirit. And she patiently waits to discover what the Lord has planned for her, trusting him with infinite faithfulness. I am so thankful to have Charlotte as such an example of patience in my life.

Why I am helping with Lottes of Love

This guest post is written by Cynthia Mikesell. She is a mother of 3 boys, two of whom attend Thomas Edison Charter School where Charlotte taught before her diagnosis. She has a degree in Educational Interpreting for the Deaf and has worked in that field for over 10 years. Currently she is a stay at home mom who is dedicating herself to helping with the organization of events for Lottes of Love.

 

I've been thinking of the post Charlotte wrote last week about her experiences at the Cancer Treatment Center while receiving radiation and chemotherapy treatments.  Then this morning while I was doing some housework with the radio blaring there were two separate songs played in the time it took me to clean the bathroom that were about receiving a cancer diagnosis and living every moment like it was your last.  And I realized that being diagnosed with cancer is becoming so prevalent in our society that most of us know at least 1 person who either has just received a diagnosis, is fighting it or is in remission.  I know that I can think of over a dozen friends, neighbors, teachers, or family members who are either fighting or have lost their battle with cancer.  I'm sure you can too. . .  That's when I start to feel overwhelmed.  

Cancer is big. Cancer is scary.  When I start to focus on how big and how scary it is I start to feel helpless.  Nothing I can do will heal the bodies of any of the individuals Char has met at her treatments or the people the music stars are singing about.  That thought both frightens and saddens me.  So what can I do?

I've started to feel that giving to some foundation who is doing research is all well and good and maybe the easy way out to feel like I'm doing something or have done something. In the past I've supported the American Cancer Society, the Pink Ribbon Campaign, and the Huntsman Cancer Center.  But I've learned through Charlotte's journey that most of those foundations aren't really designed to help those who are diagnosed. They are researching and doing clinical trials but the patients still have to find a way to pay the astronomical costs associated with the experimental medications. Which makes me start to feel helpless again. When I give to the big research foundations most of my money is going to researchers and scientists. 

I agree that what they are doing is important work. It is necessary work. I hope and pray that one day they find a cure. However, more must be done to care for financial needs of  those who suffer from this devastating disease now. To get the treatment they need as early after diagnosis as possible. The science and technology exists to save a lot of lives, but the access to it is guarded by massive expenses that many (especially those without medical insurance) simply do not have the resources to overcome on their own. Had Charlotte been able to have surgery within a few weeks of her diagnosis, before the cancer began to spread to her lymphatic system, her chances to beat this disease would have significantly increased and the treatment needed to save her life would have been less complex. I don’t have statistics on how many people won’t survive their fight against cancer because they lack the monetary resources to get the treatment that could very well save their lives. But that number should be zero.

Don’t stop donating to cancer research foundations—they do important work! But next time you hear that someone has been diagnosed with cancer, remember that they will likely need much more than your prayers and well wishes to beat it. Their successful fight against cancer may require your time, talents and whatever funds you can give. I can't fix Cancer. I can't make a difference in the lives of everyone diagnosed with cancer who lives in Cache Valley. For today I want to be able to help someone, just one person in a way that makes a difference in their battle against cancer. For me that person is Charlotte.

My daughter, Charlotte

Verla Hall, Charlotte's mother is the author of this post.  Verla lives in Wendell, Idaho with her husband John.  They are the parents of nine children who have all grown and begun families of their own.

Charlotte Elaine is our fifth child and first daughter. We decided to name her Charlotte, after her Welsh great grandmother, Charlotte Morris; and Elaine, after her English great grandmother, Elaine Hobbs. The baby books say that the name, Charlotte, means “strong woman.”  The name, Elaine, means “bright light”. We didn’t know at the time how well the names would fit our beautiful daughter.

As Charlotte grew, she began to show her strength of character and her willingness to work hard at any job that needed to be done. She worked with her brothers to milk our small herd of dairy cows morning and evening. One summer she painted the entire outside of our two-story house by herself. Several years ago, she decided to tile the kitchen and bathroom of her home in Logan. She had never laid tile before, but she studied the job out, asked questions, and worked hard to lay each piece of tile perfectly. Then she laid wood flooring in her living room. The floors are a delightful addition to her home.

Charlotte lights up the lives of those around her. A number of years ago, just before Charlotte left to move to Logan, she decided to put a black rinse on her hair. It was supposed to wash out after a couple of shampoos. It never did. As her hair grew, her blond roots formed a golden “halo” above the dark hair. Her husband, Les, says he fell in love with Charlotte because he had never before met anyone who had an actual physical halo.

Charlotte’s spiritual halo shows as she teaches those around her. Each day when she returned home from Kindergarten, she would sit down with her younger brother and teach him everything that she had learned that day. She taught him so well that he learned to read before he entered Kindergarten. She loves to read long stories to her two small boys. For Charlotte, the biggest disappointment in her battle with cancer is that she will not be able to be with her Special Education students at Thomas Edison Charter School this fall.

When Charlotte was a toddler, her grandmother worked at the JC Penney store in Rexburg, Idaho. Her grandmother often walked by the rack of cute little girl clothes and wished that she could afford to buy them for her granddaughter. Then the Teton Dam broke, and water rolled through the streets and buildings of Rexburg. The weight of the water collapsed the floor of the store and all the merchandise washed into the basement.

When the clean up began, the manager of the store allowed the employees to salvage what they desired of the ruined merchandise. Grandma knew exactly where to find the little girls’ clothing. She waded through the rubble and dug through the mud until she found what she wanted. She took the clothing home, washed it, and packaged it up to send to Charlotte. Her grandmother found something beautiful in the midst of a disaster, and used it to bless the life of her granddaughter.

Charlotte is so grateful for the kindness and generosity of her friends and neighbors. With tears in her eyes, she talks about her dream of getting well so that she can help others as she has been helped. Like her grandmother, as Charlotte wades through the calamity of cancer, she is looking for something beautiful that she can use to bless the lives of others.

Charlotte is truly a strong woman and a bright light to all.

By Verla Hall

Mrs.Gardner

The following post was written by Trina. She has worked with Charlotte at Thomas Edison Charter School in the Special Education Department. The two of them have also successfully run the last 4 book fairs for the school. She has been instrumental in planning and organizing all of the events for Lotte's of Love fundraising and has put everything together for the Pool Party.

I HATE MATH! Just hearing the word Math males me cringe and get uncomfortable. Charlotte on the other hand LOVES Math! We worked together at Thomas Edison Charter School in the Special Ed Department. She taught 2 different classes of Middle School and Junior High Math. There were several times when I would be in her classroom preparing other lessons while she taught and I would have to giggle at her excitement over a concept she was teaching. I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone talk about Math with such Joy. I know, it sounds odd. But she truly loves Math and she excels at helping others understand it.

She and I were talking the other day about how we ended up as teachers. It was never planned for her. In fact, she changed her major in school because she DIDN’T want to teach. Then she came to Thomas Edison and started volunteering in the classrooms, which evolved into substituting. She was so good with the students that they offered her a position in the Special Ed. Suddenly she was a teacher and a darn good one! I think that Char has found her calling. She has so much patience and really cares for the kids. I think one of the hardest things for her with this battle with cancer, is knowing that she has to take a year off from teaching. I’m sure in her mind, she feels that the cancer has won in a way because it takes her away from what she loves. But what Char doesn’t realize is that this Cancer battle is her chance to teach SO many others!

I know that in the 6 months since she found out she had cancer, her friends and family have learned many lessons from Charlotte. Her patience with the billing and medical run around she was put through, he courage when facing surgery, her overall positive attitude about EVERYTHING. She is one of the most positive people I know. I feel so blessed to have become her friend and feel that she is an anchor for so many people. It is about time that the rest of us get a chance to serve her for once instead of the other way around.

I don’t have ANY pics of Charlotte teaching. So I figured I’d give you dum dum dum daaaaaa

My running Partner

 The following post is written by Jill Williams a mother of two beautiful princesses and a handsome prince and they all have smiles that will melt your heart.  She is also the organizer of the 5k and 1 mile Fun Run which will be held October 15th in Cache Valley.

Jill and Charlotte running in the Blacksmith Fork Freedom Run 2010

Like Charlotte, I’m a runner. But I wouldn’t be half the runner I am if it wasn’t for Char. She’s helped me train for 2 half marathons and a full marathon, and I always look forward to running with her. Her pace is steady, and she pushes me, especially on hills, which seem to be her favorite type of terrain. I hope Charlotte gets well soon. I want my running partner back!

Just like her running, Charlotte is steady in her friendships. She doesn’t get overly excited about situations that some of us tend to blow out of proportion. She helps people to focus on the important things in life, to climb that next hill, achieve that next goal. And by example, she teaches us how critical it is to support each other through the trying times in life. The large group of friends organizing all these benefits for her do it because we know she would do the same for any of us if we were in that situation.

We have Lottes of Love for Charlotte!

Jill

We invite all of her family, friends, neighbors, and members of the Cache Valley community to attend a Lottes of Love Benefit 5k/1M on October 15, where proceeds will go towards helping Charlotte with her medical expenses. The races will start and end at Thomas Edison Charter School (where Charlotte works in the Special Education department) in Nibley, Utah.

Prizes will be given to the top 3 places in each race, as well as through a random drawing for all participants. Entry fee for the 5k is $25 and all entrants will receive a t-shirt, and start time for the race will be 9 am. The cost of the 1 mile is $10 without a t-shirt or $15 with a t-shirt, and families can register for $40 (families registration does not include t-shirts, but t-shirts may be purchased by registrants for $5 each), and start time is 10 am. Parents who want to run in the 5k may also assist their children with the 1 mile run at no additional cost. All entry fees will increase by $5 on October 1.

Click here for more information about the 5k and Fun Run and for information about how to register. 

Download Registration Form here

I remember the day we met.....

The following is a guest post written by Karen Kelly. She is a mother of five beautiful children and has been instrumental in the organization of benefit events for Lotte's of Love, including making many of the yummy treats at the bake sale table during the Yard Sale we held in early July.

I remember the day we met.....

Photo by Karen Kelly

My husband and I and our three kids had just moved into a Blackhawk Condo. Boxes were everywhere. We knew no one. There was a knock at the door one afternoon. I was confused at who it could be. I opened the door to a woman about my age. She apologized for bothering me and said they had just returned from camping and she was wondering if I had some milk she could borrow for her 18 month old little boy. She told me they lived just through the parking lot from us. She told me her name was Charlotte. And we have been friends ever since.

She has been there for me in every aspect of my life. When I feel my world is crashing down around me. Her arms are there to hold me up. When great things come about for myself or my family, her smile is there to cheer me on. We are often asked if we are sisters and I want to wrap my arms around her and yell, "Yes!" because she is that close to my heart.

Charlotte is strong. Strong body. Strong and clear mind. Strong values. Strong feelings for what she is passionate about. Strong in the face of adversity, from many angles. Strong, raw love for her family, especially her two young sons. Strong faith. When I am with her I pull from her strength. Whether we are playing at the park or on a late night shopping trip. She makes me strive to be better, hold on for longer and trust that the Lord will pick up the rest. I find peace in her testimony and love listening to her speak of the things she knows are true.

I can't believe she has cancer. I just can't grasp it. Not Charlotte!! When I look at her I think, "No. Please, no." I am still in denial some days. Then she talks of the treatments she will need and the side effects and I am sick to my stomach. A quiet acceptance comes over me. And I know it is real. She does have cancer. It's very serious. I could lose her. And I don't think I can handle that right now. Not ever. We are supposed to grow old together and go on Cruises when we are in our sixties. (Well, not a Cruise. We both get motion sickness.) But a mountain retreat somewhere.......

All my love and sincerity,

Karen