So it is now 2017 and once again, I will be shaving my head on March 10, 2017 at Fado's Irish Pub to raise money for Pediatric Cancer Research.  This will be the 3rd year of shaving and the 4th year being a Team Captain for Melting Pot for Cancer.  I have raised $15,742 as an individual member over the 3 years and my team, the Melting Pot for Cancer, which consisted of only 11 members in 2016, has raised a total of $33,437.  That is serious money that I know for a fact goes to some of the Physician's, for their research, that I work with at Children's Hospital Colorado.

Every year, I say this is the last year shaving.  The 1st year I did it because I wanted to be a part of an amazing organization that brings in money for the patients I treat every day.  The 2nd time I shaved, I was inspired by one of my patients that had just relapsed in 2014 and I promised I would let her shave my head in 2015.  She passed away 9 days before the event, in 2015, and her dad and sister shaved my head because she was not there physically to do it.  Again, I thought 2015 was my last year.  Last year, 2016, my wonderful dad decided to shave his head and that was such a touching sentiment for him to fight with me for an organization that I hold true to my heart.  He has been razzing me for the past 2 months, since he signed up to shave this year, wondering weekly, how much money I have raised compared to what he has raised. 

So with the weekly annoying question from my dad, I started debating if I should shave again, knowing the grey hair was going to come in worse than ever!  What made me decide to shave again was the 4 week time period at work between Thanksgiving and Christmas.  For most people, the holiday season is a wonderful and joyous time but for many of the families that we treat in the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, holidays mean celebrating with you child what may be their last holiday or grieving and just trying to get through the holiday season because their child has passed away and the holidays don't mean the same thing anymore.

The decision to shave again was easy after we had 8 patients from our workroom pass away in the 10 days prior to Christmas this year.  I alone had 9 patients pass away this year that were on my primary patient team.  I made the final commitment after going to my patient's house the week before Christmas to deliver his hand print to his parents.  He had passed away a couple days prior after a 2 year fight for his life.  In my wildest dreams I never imagined what happened next that night.  His parents took me down into his room and I could feel his energy the minute I walked into his beautiful sacred safe space.  Every precious thing that was of the most importance to him for the past 18 years was there strategically placed.  Books from when he was a baby, trophies, clothes, shoes, his keys, pictures and many other special things.  It took my breath away and I knew, as I stood there crying, that I needed to continue the fight to raise money for a cure!

Please donate even it you think it is just a small amount!  Any amount builds up and is a gift for extra time in each of my patient's lives!  Love to all my patients who are cured and living life to the fullest, who are fighting the greatest battle at this time and to those who are now my angels.  Love to the families of my 2016 angels:  Chase, Dalton, Delaney, Jared, Jordan, Miguel, Rachel, Rayleigh and Sam!  I also want to raise more money than my dad so he will shut up and stop the razzing!  Last year our team was 6th of 78 teams and this year we want to be in the top 3!  Thank you for your support!