[weese17]

Thank you, you guys. You have no idea how much this means to me, and to my family.

Dad is (or was) the primary breadwinner for my family. He's a long-haul truckdriver, and obviously cannot work while he is undergoing chemotherapy. Although he's responding well to treatment (after a close call early on where he was so dehydrated and sick that he nearly died), he's developing muscle failure and paralysis in his feet, ankles and now his hands as a result of the chemo. Unfortunately, this side effect is permanent. He's already getting fitted for leg braces, but if his hands end up totally paralyzed, he'll never be able to drive a truck again. Obviously, financial concerns are looming large (although my Dad, in his usual cheerful way, says he'd rather "drag his leg behind him like Igor than be six feet under.")

I've tried to help my parents out financially, but they are both really proud people and refuse almost everything I offer because they don't want to be getting "handouts" from their daughter. Having a benefit, however, was a different story -- their pride isn't at stake in the way it is when I try to pay for things for them -- although I'll be donating things to the silent auction to help bring funds their way anyway. ;)

Bless all of you for doing this. I am really, really moved by your generosity and love.

- Lucy