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Cancer x 3

The blogosphere has lost MLO to ovarian cancer.

You know her, even if you don’t think you know her.  She coded the “room” for the blogrollShe is why I give away one of my Purim baskets every year.  She is a long time blog writer, one of the first I read.

She is a ketchup-maker and a vampire-sex-book sender and a crafter and a dancer and comment-leaver and an all-around wonderful woman.  And she’s gone.  I just really can’t believe that she’s gone.

*******

Yesterday, I wore grey for brain cancer awareness.  I lost my cousin to brain cancer many years ago.  Biogirl organized the grey day in honour of her sister, Missy, and it’s moving to see that sea of grey in her post.  Earlier this week, there was also a melanoma awareness day organized for JJ as she went in for more surgery.

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If you are looking for something concrete to do, please consider giving a donation to the Pan-Mass Challenge.  It is different from other cancer research fundraising events because the PMC donates 100% of every rider-raised dollar to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute through its Jimmy Fund.  A lot of other places, when you donate your money, it goes toward paying staff and advertising and other expenses.  And yes, sometimes it’s necessary in order to keep the organization afloat, but the PMC forwards every dollar that YOU donate straight into cancer research.  And that, to me, has a chance to make a difference.

Rest easy, MLO.  We’ll miss you.

16 comments

1 Kate (Bee In The Bonnet) { 05.09.13 at 10:38 am }

Oh, man. I am so, so sad. I *do* know MLO, she of wonder-commenting. Yes, rest easy– I, too, will miss you.

Cancer is just such a fucking asshole. Seriously. Science can cure a limp dick and grey hair, but we can’t manage to get rid of cancer? It’s time cancer got the message and fucked the fuck off.

2 Ellen { 05.09.13 at 10:44 am }

Oh my God. I’m FB friends with her but missed the posts earlier this week.

She was a really kind and generous person. Her IVF cycle that ended in miscarriage, about a year before her cancer diagnosis, was at the same time as my IVF with my daughters, now 4 years old.

This is so sad.

3 Kristin { 05.09.13 at 10:46 am }

What Kate said…I second that emotion!

4 Delenn { 05.09.13 at 10:50 am }

I always donate to the PMC…used to be only because I knew people who were in it…now, regretfully, it is because I know many people who have had Cancer. The Jimmy Fund is a wonderful charity–Dana Farber is a great place. I hate that people have to use them–but glad they are there.

5 luna { 05.09.13 at 11:00 am }

oh wow, I’m shocked. I had no idea. so tragic. so sad.

6 a { 05.09.13 at 11:04 am }

Very sad…

7 Dresden { 05.09.13 at 12:37 pm }

So sad to see how our so many of our friends are dealing with this shitty disease.

I wanted to let you know that JJ is now writing at http://www.bee-the-change.com/ in case anyone wanted to send her words of encouragement as she fights. Her surgery was yesterday and she will begin chemo soon.

8 LJ { 05.09.13 at 12:54 pm }

Not a day goes by where I don’t hear about another friend with cancer, or a friend who has a loved one battling it. We have a fundraiser going for Melanoma research as well – lots of good charities out there.

9 Natalie { 05.09.13 at 1:18 pm }

It is shocking that I know so many people who are now affected by cancer. My aunt and sister have recently battled breast cancer and a second cousin recently died from melanoma. It is so sad that to see it strike down people way too soon. Blessings on MLO’s family.

10 loribeth { 05.09.13 at 3:42 pm }

I was so sad to read her husband’s post yesterday. I had so hoped she would beat this thing. 🙁 I’ve been reading her blog for about as long as I’ve been blogging.

And thanks, Dresden, for the new URL for JJ. 🙂 She’s another blogger that I’ve read forever.

11 Lori Lavender Luz { 05.09.13 at 5:53 pm }

Sad sad sad.

{{{{{{{{{MLO and her loved ones}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

12 Chickenpig { 05.09.13 at 5:56 pm }

I second Kate’s emotion. Cancer can go suck it. It is attacking too many of our best and brightest 🙁

13 Katie { 05.09.13 at 6:52 pm }

And Sunny too! She’s been kicking brain cancer in the tush even while losing her mom to it this year. I wore grey for Sunny and Missy. Love our tweeple!

14 Kathy { 05.09.13 at 8:44 pm }

Thank you for sharing this and reminding those of us who weren’t sure if we *knew* MLO that we did, as well as what she gave of herself to our ALI Community. I love what you remember about MLO and am so sorry for your loss, for her husband’s loss, for her family and her friends’ loss.

Ironically the Time Warp Tuesday topic I picked for this month (this coming Tuesday) is Cancer. I have been working on my post and then saw this. So sad and bittersweet. I clicked through to Biogirl’s post from yesterday and was very moved to see that sea of grey. I am also sorry about the loss of your cousin, even though it was awhile ago, the void our loved ones leave behind never goes away.

This Sunday my family will walk in our neighborhood’s annual Mother’s Day Breast Cancer Walk. It is a tradition that I have participated in for seven of the last eight years and is such a moving and empowering way to begin my Mother’s Day every year. I walk in honor of so many who have lost their battles with breast cancer, as well as those who have survived.

Cancer sucks and it is hard to see so more and more people affected by it the older I get. In the past year my children’s favorite local librarian died of cancer, we didn’t even know she was sick and then she was gone. At the Listen to Your Mother – Chicago show I attended on Sunday one of the women who shared her story talked about losing her four year old daughter to cancer a few years ago. It was heartbreaking and inspiring to hear what she shared.

Rest in peace MLO, I am sorry I didn’t get to know you better while you were here. I believe in an afterlife and if you are there (which I find comfort in), please give my baby girl a hug for me.

15 Sarah { 05.10.13 at 10:11 am }

Thank you so much for wearing grey and for posting about it. My heart is so raw this week. Cancer sucks.

xo

16 Dora { 05.10.13 at 6:07 pm }

I met MLO through IVFC. I remember when she posted about her diagnosis, discovered during infertility treatment. I so hoped she would beat the odds. But ovarian cancer is a particular fucking asshole.

I discovered several authors through her book reviews. She’s been on my mind a lot since I read her husband’s post. My condolences to her family and friends (online and off).

(c) 2006 Melissa S. Ford
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