Tutu Hero: Corey.

I don’t know Corey but through facebook I have seen all kinds of support out there for him. I don’t know if you were aware of the movement there was for Ali when she was in her last days, but everyone changed their profile pic to a white and pink image of a cross that read “praying for Ali.” It was an amazing sentiment that I was overwhelmed with the amount of people who did that for her. In fact, there are still people with it as their profile. But maybe that’s just cause they’re lazy? There was a movement months ago with people changing their picture to an image representing Corey and his fight as well. I would be lying if I didn’t say I was very confused why everyone was suddenly so into the Hunger Games Mocking Jay. Ha. And that’s when I personally learned about Corey. 🙂 And his RISE AND RISE AGAIN slogan.

I’m certain he must feel the love, if not just from fb alone! You look great in that green tutu buddy! I love it!

Name of tutu recipient: Corey Hoover

Age:32

Diagnosis: Non Hodgkins Lymphoma, Chronic Lung Disease Bronchiectasis

Age at Diagnosis: 19, then again at 32

Date of Diagnosis: August 1999, October 2011

Treatment Center: University Hospital Cincinnati

Treatment Plan: Chemotherapy (R-CHOP for short) and a lot of Ass Kickin

Favorite Songs:  Anything Hip Hop (Can you blame me?)

Favorite TV Shows: Reds Baseball

Favorite Books: The Alchemist

Favorite Activities: Reds Baseball, Getting Tattoos!!!!!

Favorite Colors: Green and Blue

Favorite Foods: Mexican and Italian

My Support Team:  Rise and Rise Again Foundation

Inspired By/Role Models: My Family

What else do you want others to know about you? I Don’t Quit, I’m made to get Back up!!!!

Corey and his sisters and nieces.

Corey and friends. I just love that he wheels the oxygen around town. Nothing stoppin’ him! Well done!

Thanks for sharing Corey. You are our first boy who proudly wears a tutu. 🙂 We pray that you are able to heal up and get back on that donor list soon. Keep up the hardwork and positive attitude! God be with you.

Tutu Hero: Holly.

This is a gal whom I’ve never met but I’ve heard so much about. When Ali was sick I heard that she received this handmade “Olivia doll.” It was sewn with much love by Channing and Holly. The concept of the doll came from when Holly was given poor prognosis while pregnant with Sophie. The doll gave much comfort to Channing while waiting for his sister to be born. During the 7 months she blessed their family, she kept the doll with her. When she became an angel, Channing took care of the doll once again for his sister. So Holly wanted Olivia and Ali to have a connection with this doll as well. Ali loved dolls even as an adult (sounds a little creepy, it wasn’t like that) so she enjoyed having the doll at the hospital with her. Thanks to Holly, Olivia has this special little doll to keep now. So sweet.

I try hard to keep up with her witty and inspirational blog. IDon’tKnowHowSheDoesIt. Man, being pregnant is it’s own battle some days, but adding cancer, always the constant grieving over her daughter, and a rambunctious little boy…WOW mama, you are super woman. I told her in an email, “I hate that people like you and Vannessa have to face such uphill battles while others coast through life 🙁 ” Her response, “To me, it isn’t uphill.  Uphill was fighting every minute of every day for all I believed in Sophie.  She, according to the doctors, was ‘not compatible with life.’  They said she’d never survive my pregnancy.  The biggest compliment I was paid during her short sweet life was by her ENT, Dr. Sidman.  He applauded Michael & I for treating her as if she were perfectly healthy until she proved to us she needed to be treated otherwise.  I still take great pride in that.  Our bitty girl, she exuded big love & I know she’s up there watching over her mama.” GAH!!! What an amazing outlook. Here I am complaining to my husband about my whopping 3-4 hrs of sleep I get a night and here is this mom with REAL struggles, acting like it’s no big deal. Talk about making me feel like I need to be kicked in the butt.

You are incredible Holly. I hope we meet one day soon. I can’t wait to hear of the arrival of your sweet baby boy! Too bad you don’t live closer, I would LOVE to shoot that birth! So thankful everything has gone so smooth with the pregnancy! Ali and Sophie better see to a smooth and easy delivery for you!!

We wish you nothing but the best in the days ahead. God clearly has big plans for you and your family. Prayers from our family are always headed your way. XOXO. Love, Melanie.

Name of tutu recipient:   Holly Flynn

Age:  37

Diagnosis:  Breast Cancer/Invasive Ductal Carcinoma

Age at Diagnosis: 36

Date of Diagnosis:  December 2011

Treatment Center:  Piper Breast Center/MN Oncology

Treatment Plan:  Lumpectomy, January 2012, Chemotherapy (FAC), March 2012-July 2012, Double Mastectomy/Reconstruction, ‘When the dust settles’

Favorite Songs: Red Umbrella, Faith Hill – It is the song that popped into my head as Dr. O’Leary gave me my diagnosis.  The Red Umbrella has become the symbol of my journey.  I don’t like pink.  Sorry, Ali.  ; )

Favorite TV Shows:  I watch a lot of Food Network & HGTV late at night or when Michael is on the road.  Secrets of a Stylist-Love it!  Big Bang Theory-Oh how those boys crack me up!  Penny too!!  Grey’s Anatomy.  Yes, I’m still stuck on that old drama.

Favorite Books:  Anything I can read to Channing while snuggling him.  LOVE, LOVE, LOVE snuggling my little man and reading.  Currently, we’re stuck in a rotation of Fox in Sox, Alexander & the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day and Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Sight.  Shaun Tan’s The Red Tree is a good one for inspiring hope, again a children’s book.  Michael & I are currently reading The Hunger Games trilogy.  We read aloud to each other in bed and sometimes in the car, a habit we started before Channing was born.

Favorite Activities:  Sewing!!!  Creating/crafting, Decorating, Cooking & Baking, Blogging  I have just a slight addiction to Pinterest too.

Favorite Colors:  Wagon Red, Apple Green, Robin’s Egg Blue.  No, I cannot just answer with a simple red, green and blue.

Favorite Foods:  Graeter’s Black Raspberry Chip Ice Cream, Cheese-especially Brie & Bleu, Butternut Squash Ravioli, Caprese Salad, Key Lime Pie & Michael’s Grilled Buffalo Chicken-drumsticks, not wings.

My Support Team:  Michael, my husband, Channing, my son, Sophie, my bitty girl & angel, Doug & Meredith Kuehl-my parents, Walt & Kathy Flynn-my in-laws, my siblings, Michael’s siblings, their spouses & kiddies, a whole slew of friends too numerous to name

Inspired By/Role Models:  Michael, Channing, Sophie, Leanne Miller & Amber Johnson, Kelli Bosholm

What else do you want others to know about you? I’m pregnant!!  Michael & I were trying to conceive when I received my diagnosis just after Christmas.  My first question was not, ‘what’s going to happen to me?’ rather it was ‘How does this affect my baby?’  I was so fearful of the answer to that question and almost instantly relieved when Dr. O’Leary indicated both surgery to remove my lump and chemotherapy were ‘OK’ for expectant women.

At the point I was given my diagnosis, it was too soon to know.  The following week, on the very first day I could possibly test positive for pregnancy via a blood test, we learned I was in fact pregnant.  The following day, I had a needle biopsy of my lymph nodes.  It came back negative.  The day after that, under mild sedation, I had a golf ball sized tumor removed from my left breast.  Then, the waiting game began.

Women can be treated with chemotherapy while pregnant.  Who knew?  Certainly not me.  However, it is best to wait until the second trimester.  The plan was FAC-six infusions over a period of 15 weeks.  My first infusion was on March 30, 2012.  Every three weeks, I returned to the infusion suite for another transfusion, Michael by my side.  My last treatment was July 13.

Through Piper Breast Center, I met Leanne Miller, who was diagnosed with breast cancer when she was 19 weeks pregnant with her son.  Through Leanne, I met Amber Johnson, who like me, lost an infant child, and was also battling breast cancer.  These ladies are amazing.  There are not words for their poise, grace and ability to help guide others on this journey.  Talking to them, prepared me for the ins and outs of chemo.

With their advice and a whole lot of support from my team, I made it through.  In fact, I’d say I rocked chemo.  The side effects, for me, were minimal.  I lost my hair.  I was more constipated than I knew was humanly possible.  I was tired.  Yes, it is true.  Taking a shower can be an exhausting task.   My labs rarely fell below normal, if at all.

My friend, Angie, joked that she was happy my hair fell out.  It was proof they were actually giving me chemo drugs.   She teased that she thought they’d been giving me water.

Michael shaved his head with me.  Channing helped.  We made it a family affair.  That was very important to me.  I wanted Channing to understand what was going on, to see my change first-hand, rather than to have the shock of me going out one day looking like me and coming home bald.

Kathy’s stylist came to our house.  We took turns sitting on a stool in the kitchen watching the hair tumble to the floor.  Laura even brought a small electric razor for Channing to use.  He was pretty proud of his work.  It wasn’t too much later in the journey that we were laying in his bed one night, reading.  He was absentmindedly rubbing my head while I read.  His little voice interrupted me, mid-story.  ‘Mommy, I love you when you’re little and squishy and bald and cute.’  Talk about melting a mama’s heart.

Right now, I feel like I’m coming down the home stretch.  Chemo, definitely pre-delivery, but hopefully for good, is over.  The focus, while always more baby-centered than cancer-centered, has definitely shifted.  I’m nesting like mad.  The nursery is coming together.  I’m spending hours in front of the sewing machine.  Channing sits next to me working on his own projects or ‘helping’ me with mine.  He’s getting better at pinning fabric and at keeping the machine going at a consistent speed when I let him be the one ‘to drive.’

My biggest struggle right now is gestational diabetes.  It isn’t fun.  Chemo, or rather the anti-nausea steroid, didn’t help.  It mucks with your blood sugar, something I wish I would have known earlier on.  I have to be very strict with my diet.  I test my blood sugar four times daily & take an insulin shot each night before bed.  I just want to eat.  I don’t want to analyze what to eat or when to eat or how it is going to impact my numbers.

Sometimes, it is hard.  I feel people give me more credit in this fight than I deserve.  I’m just a mom doing my darn best to survive. As Leanne put it, ‘digging in my stubborn heels.’ This is my life.  I don’t know any different.  There’s no ‘how to’ in how I do it.  I just do.

 

 

Rock Pink Tutu Walk= Success!

We did it! We celebrated my sister by wearing a whole lot of pink and tutus! The walk was actually a great success for our very first year. When we woke up that morning it was storming. I said to Ali, you were a terrible bowler here, now is not the time to prove your new skills with the angels up there. Though she mostly listened (was always a selective listener), we still dealt with a few sporadic showers throughout the event. Thankfully we didn’t have any fair weather fans and a good 200+ people attended the walk! Awesome!! After the strenuous, exhausting, one mile loop around the campus, we were all ravenous. We grilled out, had some games, door prizes, face painting, balloon animals and really just had a great afternoon. Mostly, I held up my end of the “don’t lift a finger, let Laura do all the work” bargain. That was fantastic. I’m pretty sure I was busy showing off my pretty handsome little boy dressed in Nori’s pink clothes the whole time anyway.  I mean, I barely even had time to eat 4 flavor ices, a cake pop (thanks Carrie!) and a cupcake (thanks shannon!), much less work!

As far as I know, everything went smooth and as planned, minus the rain. Laura did an amazing job of pulling every little detail together. I don’t even know the half of what Laura had to do to make it happen (even with the countless emails with outline styled things she  accomplished for the day, probably leaves a bunch out). My family is for reals in debt to her, like forever, though she did keep the leftover buckets of cotton candy so I’m willing to call it even. And to alllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll the others who I saw running around behind the scenes, you know who you are, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts. So can you help out again next year? Cause I really enjoyed showing up, walking and going home. Oh and also a shout out to Kerry for hooking us up with the place (and whatever else you did, I’m telling you guys, I was barely involved), it was great!

And I must also say that I was impressed with all the pink and tutus. Next year we plan to make it even bigger and will likely sell tutus there, so no “my dog ate my tutu” excuses will work. Even though I know she could see all of us celebrating her in “Ali fashion”, it still hurts to realize we were walking for her instead of with her. All the extra love and emotional support given to us was appreciated.

Thanks so much everyone. We hope to be highlighting a bunch more tutu heroes soon and you can pat yourselves on the back for being part of such a good deed. Thanks! Did I say thanks yet? I meant to. Thanks friends! xoxo. Peace, Melanie.

Enjoy the IPHONE photos below! I’m not pointing any fingers at anyone Adam Pace, but there was supposed to be a memory card WITH the camera we packed. So thanks to everyone who shared their images on Instagram and Facebook! Total fail on the part of the photographers in the family…ahemm…Adam Pace. Search #rockpinktutuwalk for more!

 

 

Tutu hero: Vanessa.

***There are some graphic images below, fyi.***

 I asked Vanessa to share more than what the form asks. I wanted people to know the truth behind breast cancer and like the Scar Project states, “Breast Cancer is NOT a pink ribbon.” When a women is left feeling defeated and mutilated, she needs to know THAT IS NOT WHAT SHE IS AT ALL. She is still as gorgeous as she was before cancer dared to enter her body. Your hair, breasts, and uterus are NOT what define you as a women. The images of her along with the others are a true testament of beauty and strength. I’m posting them because people need to know under that cheery little smile of Vanessa’s, she’s risen through so much anguish. No matter how many times and places they have found cancer in her, she fights it in stride. And most importantly I know she will continue to be the same bubbly, happy girl I met years ago in college.

As I sit here and stare at the adorable image below of Vanessa as I type, I am bluntly reminded that life is so precious and we should indeed live every.single.day sincerely, just as Vanessa asks us to pledge. This girl has been through more in the last 5 years that I’m not even sure what adjective I should use to describe it. And still she stands so tall and proud, looking more beautiful than ever. Well done my friend, WELL DONE. People who feel like they are having a rough day need to sit and have a little chat with you to remind them of perspective. After we had lunch, I felt so blessed. It wasn’t because I was glad I wasn’t in your shoes, it was because your words made me feel so excited about life. Excited about my kids (even though they were terrorizing the restaurant) and our days ahead. Thank you for you encouraging me.

You are a badass and I pray so hard that you continue to keep up your faith and fight like you have nothing to lose. You rock, Vanessa. I’m so proud to call you my friend. I know no words can take away your pain and I’m sure, anger, but just know there are SO many out there always thinking of you. I know you are helping so many things fall into place in God’s plan and one day we will all understand why some had to go through so much while others didn’t. God be with you the rest of this journey. <3

Name of tutu recipient: Vanessa Tiemeier

Age: 30

Diagnosis: breast cancer

Age at Diagnosis: 25

Date of Diagnosis: March 2007

Treatment Center: OHC Ft. Thomas

Treatment Plan: Chemo, surgery, radiation

Favorite Songs: Tumor by Christina Blust

Favorite TV Shows: Say Yes to the Dress

Favorite Website: Facebook

Favorite Activities: play with my 3 nephews

Favorite Colors: green, purple

Favorite Foods: pasta

My Support Team: Jessica, Christina, Billy, Mom, Dad, Jason, David, Max, Myles, Leo

Inspired By/Role Models: Sona, Jolene, Joules, Emily, Sara, Marci, Michaela, Sylvia

What else do you want others to know about you?

My story begins in November 2006 when I felt a lump in my breast.  I went to the OBGYN for my yearly appointment and my doctor felt it too. He suggested an extensive test so I went to get it tested. But the doctor at that time diagnosed the lump as dense breast tissue. Four months later, with the same lump, the doctors correctly diagnosed it as breast cancer after a mammogram, core biopsy, node needle aspiration and a MRI.

When diagnosed, I was only 25 years old and had only been married 9 months. I was kinda upset and couldn’t believe I had been misdiagnosed at the beginning. I was diagnosed with Stage 3A breast cancer. It was on my right breast, and had metastasized to my lymph nodes, so I had to have a mastectomy and I decided to make it double. I also had to get radiation on the breast area and start chemo. That combo was difficult and left my body so different (in pain and no hair and no breasts). I then had a tram-flap reconstruction using my belly skin and fat as my new breasts.

After all those treatments and surgeries were over, I had another scan, and I was declared NED (no evidence of disease). A little bit later I crushed my finger in a drawer and broke it. After my hand scan, they also did a whole body scan. From that, I learned my cancer had metastasized to my bones and lung, so I was upgraded to stage IV cancer. I first had a hysterectomy/oophorectomy completed to try to control my ER+ PR+ hormone positive cancer, I also had monthly injections of zometa for my bones and 2 shots in my butt with faslodex as an anti-hormone treatment.

The hysterectomy left me unable to ever get pregnant, a fact I am still very much upset about, because I have always wanted (and still do want) kids. It was hard to believe that so early into our marriage, I was infertile. Making it even harder was the fact that we are not permitted to adopt now either, due to my expected life expectancy not surpassing the child’s. To apply for adoption and be accepted we would need to have a doctor’s note I would live at least 18 years.

Next I had many headaches, so I got a scan of my head. Tumors were found in my meninges (brain lining) and were pressing on my brain. I had surgery on my head to put in an Ommaya Reservoir for monthly treatments of methotrexate directly to my brain lining. Most recently, tumors were also found in my brain. I had whole brain radiation on my head daily for 2 weeks to attack the brain mets. I also started steroids to help control the swelling in my brain, which was giving me horrible headaches. The steroids have frustrating side effects like skin rashes and puffiness. This time was terrible because I got incredibly dizzy and felt like I couldn’t exist normally, and I often feel confused and forget things.

My latest MRI after the whole brain radiation showed no growth in my brain mets, but also no improvements. I was nervous to consider stopping active treatment and entering Hospice, but it was at this time that my doctor suggested I do. This was the most horrific thought and I didn’t know how to understand it. To me Hospice seemed like a death sentence at first, but in fact it just means you are not taking active treatments but still have the chance to do things, be capable and enjoy life everyday.

While the outlook is not good I continue to Live Sincerely and work on encouraging myself to do good things and live each day to the fullest. In fact, I had a super Live Sincerely party on the purple people bridge in Newport a month ago with my sister’s band playing, and we had snacks, drinks, buttons and magnets decorated with a reminder to Live Sincerely. We also added the Live Sincerely Pledge to the website my sisters and I made, so you can agree to it and sign up. This concept makes me happy so I continue to share it!

Vanessa had a feature on the news about her Live Sincerely party. You can watch it HERE.

~~~~~

These images were taken by David Jay of The Scar Project. I truly hope you will click the link and feel the strength these wonderful women have. While they are hard to view, they sure inspire me, both as a woman and photographer.

Tutu Hero: Natalie

Name of tutu recipient: Natalie Collins

Age: 4

Diagnosis: Wilms Tumor on both kidneys

Age at Diagnosis: 3

Date of Diagnosis: 4/22/2011

Treatment Center: Cincinnati Children’s

Treatment Plan: Chemo and both kidneys removed

Grade:

Favorite Subjects:

Favorite Books: Pinkalicious, Good Night Train, I Love You Because You’re You

Favorite Activities: Playing games, singing, watching The Little Mermaid and running around really fast since I was stuck in a hospital bed and on the couch for so long not feeling well during chemo treatments.

Favorite Colors: Pink and Blue

Favorite Foods: Skyline/Gold Star 3–ways and chocolate

My Support Team: Mommy, daddy, Noah, Emma

What else do you want others to know about you?

I’ve been through so much more than a lot of people will ever have to go through. I’m a very brave girl who loves Princess Ariel from The Little Mermaid and love spending time with mommy, daddy, Noah and Emma. Like Ali, my favorite color is PINK and always has been! I gave everyone a few really big scares through my journey but am thankful to be feeling so good these days. I went through many rounds of Chemo and lost both of my kidneys due to the cancerous tumors on them. I just had my nine month post-chemo scan and am happy to report the scans were clear. I currently go to dialysis four days a week (Mon, Wed, Fri and Sat) but hope to get a kidney transplant by the end of the year. Mommy has a website set up that she tries to update as much as possible if you’d like to follow my journey or see how far I’ve come: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/nataliecollins. We’re really looking forward to going to Disneyworld for my Make-a-Wish trip once the transplant is over and I can’t wait.

My motto through this journey has been to say “me tough” and I tell everyone all the time when I grow up I want to be a nurse and take care of sick kids like me! I’m very thankful our family and friends have done so many amazing things for us over the past year plus and we can’t thank everyone enough. We are truly blessed and thankful that I’m still here and such a tough little girl!

If you want to help support Natalie in receiving her kidney transplant they are having a benefit at  Jim and Jacks on the River on October 28th.

Thanks for sharing Natalie! You just look cute as can be in your tutu!! I pray this transplant is the end to all this suffering and the beginning of a healthy new journey!

 

Tutu walk!

It’s happening this Saturday, y’all!! If you missed the pre-registration, it’s ok, register Saturday morning. We have a very cool little gift for everyone to rock that day, so don’t miss it! Remember to WEAR YOUR TUTU AND/OR PINK. I’m not saying I will make fun of you (that’s a lie, I will) if you claim to have nothing pink to wear. Be creative. Pink bandana? Accessories? Socks? Wife’s bikini? No excuses.

Things Laura told me to tell you about:

Registration begins at 10AM At the Xavier Yard. If you are unfamiliar with Campus, Park in the Cintas lot and walk towards Bellarmine Chapel…..you won’t be able to miss us. Here is a link to the campus map http://www.xavier.edu/about/map.cfm.
1. If you Pre-Registered: Please come to the registration table and find the sign that says “Pre-Registration”. You will pick up your goodie bag and raffle ticket (and tutu if you ordered/paid one ahead of time).
2. If you Register Day Of: Same as above, please come to the registration table and find the sign that says “Registration” to complete your form and submit your payment. You will also received your goodie bag and raffle ticket at this time.
3. If you have spoken to Laura about volunteering for the day of or dropping anything off, please also come to the registration table and find LAURA. (She’ll likely be the one who has an incredible amount of energy bouncing around, with blonde/pink hair, also wearing a name tag.)
4. Face painting and balloon animals will begin at 11:30am.
5. The raffle will be done at 12pm and you must be present to receive your prize.

I already warned my facebook friends that there will be a large purge come Sunday if at least 1/4 of my friends don’t show. The last thing you want is to be defriended by me and miss out on all the “over sharenting” I do. (Vaca is a valid excuse, I wish I could be on the beach with you.)

Also, I will be taking instagram pics all day. If you are there, then be sure to #rockpintutuwalk on your images so I can pull them to eventually share here on the blog.

Drinks, food and fun afterwards til 1:30pm. It’s going to be SOMUCHFUN. Be there.

Peace, Mel.

Tutu Hero: Madalyn

Name of tutu recipient: Madalyn Grace

Age: 2

Diagnosis: Acute Myeloid Lukemia

Age at Diagnosis: 4 months

Date of Diagnosis: 7/1/10

Treatment Center: Cincinnati Children’s Hospital

Treatment Plan: Chemo & Bone Marrow Transplant

Favorite Colors: Pink & Orange

Support Team: Stephanie (mom), Jason (dad) & Aby (big sis)

****

Mady is one of our first tutu heroes. During her original lengthy stay in the hospital, I was able to visit her a couple times while hanging out with my friend Rachel, who was also battling cancer at the time. Mady is just a bit younger than Nori, so it was always more difficult for me to see her struggle. Nori was able to play with her a few times at Children’s and it just melted your heart seeing them together!! (In the pic, Nori was a couple mths shy of 2, which makes Mady 1.5. This was taken when Mady relapsed and needed a BMT.) When I showed Ali the image below, her response was tears. She said, “Who am I to complain? Look at this baby, who hasn’t even had a life yet, stuck in bed, already relapsing from her remission before 2. I would take this sickness over Olivia any day, I could just never see her suffer. I’m praying for her and Stephanie to beat this!”

So far Mady is doing great! She’s a little spitfire, always keeping Steph on her toes. She’s super brave and mighty tough. She has been through an incredible amount of pain and suffering and she’s not even 2.5 yet! 🙁 Look how perfect she looks in this tutu!!

Mady and big sis Aby! Both SO pretty.

I received this picture text later saying, “She hasn’t taken it off! She’s trying to dance like her sister! 🙂 Thanks again!” LOVE IT. GO MADY!

If you want to help support Mady, she is the upcoming recipient of the 12th Annual “Helping Hands” Golf Outing on July 21, 2012 at Neumann Golf Course. I know they are trying to stay afloat from the last two years in medical bills, so every little bit helps!

As always, we are praying for you guys. I hope your appointments continue to go smooth. No more hospital stays, little girl!! Love, Melanie.

Rock Pink Tutu Walk.

We’re doin’ it y’all. Our first Rock Pink Tutu Walk is officially planned. This will be our one big Rock Pink event done each year. Money left post expenses will be used to donate books and tutus for her legacy. It is just a couple days before Ali’s bday, so we figured what better time to celebrate her! If it is hard to read the fine print, click the image and it will open larger in a new window. Yes, I would REALLY like to see everyone in a tutu and/or pink. I’d hate to think you would do Ali wrong and be LAME. 😉 But no really, how stinkin cool is it going to be to see that many tutus in one place? I CAN’T WAIT FOR THAT! There will be fun to be had afterwards since we are only making you walk ONE mile. Ha! It’s our first year, we wanted to ease ourselves into it. (and we might have started planning about a year too late!) We will post more about it just before the event.

If you click this link, you can print the pre registration form. RockPinkTutuWalkRegistrationForm_Final

Don’t have a tutu? Have questions? Email Laura: rockpinktutuwalk@gmail.com Plus she found something realllly awesome to give out with each registration. Everyone must come!

Peace, Melanie.

PS. Special thanks to Laura and her incredible urge to help our family, be organized like a crazy lady, and plan a majority of this event. The Tracy/Pace/Nunery/Klems love you for all your hard work. I imagine Ali is giving you all sorts of hugs you may or may not feel. 🙂

iPhone recap of phms walk.

Thanks everybody who came out and walked with us!  We had a great time holding up the rear of the walk! At one point I’m pretty sure the cop was 5ft from the soles of our shoes. HA! Big thanks to Purcell Marian for honoring Ali in this event, it’s wonderful to know she still holds a special place in you heart as well.

I guess we better get used to our family posing in front of these kind of signs…:*(

It sure was a tuturific event. Thanks for your continued support. Peace, Melanie.

Tutu Heroes.

We decided to extend Ali’s legacy to more than just University hospital where she was treated.  Since I am all too familiar with Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, we figured why not let them play too! For those of you who don’t know, the girl standing in black in the image directly below is Rachel. She was previously one of my soccer players and is now practically my little sister. She’s 18 and just celebrated her ONE YEAR anniversary of being in remission from her stage 4b hodgekins lymphoma. (She’s amazing, but everyone already knows that!) Anywho, she was in and out of Children’s regularly for a good six months and Nori and I spent a lot of time visiting her during our “Tuesday’s with Rachel.” We thought it would be perfect to add some tutu love to the playroom up there and eventually give them to patients directly. So this weekend we focused on tutus for kids and then people made their own for Saturday’s walk at PMHS.

Then, of course, we had to try them on.I wanted to try ALL OF THEM on. (I’m actually like 5-6 shy here!)

Laura is developing superhero capes for the dudes in oncology units. I have a vision in my head of a photo I want to capture, I hope i can make it happen one day! She made a teeny one for Nico.He loved it! 🙂You’ll have to excuse the quality here. I was busy playing host/babytending/tutu making and I forgot to grab a shot of a completed tutu. D’oh. They are at Laura’s house, so I have some iPhone pics from her. We wanted the patients to know a bit about Ali so I wrote up this little ditty. “Ali believed you can never love too much, dress up too much, wear too much pink, or have too much fun! So dance, twirl & laugh in your tutu and don’t let yourself forget you are beautiful, inside AND out. We pray you win the fight! You got this, girl!!” Then Adam reworked the book label to make it say, “Leaving her legacy in tutus.”

Here is our first official Tutu Hero. Her name is Rachel, she’s gorgeous and from what I hear, she’s amazing and one hell of a fighter. She’s the perfect first recipient, and I’m so glad she let us share a picture of her rockin’ it out for Ali. Rachel was so moved and inspired by this gift, she wanted to help us craft for other patients! Um how sweet of her?! -Rachel, I know you wanted to hang out with us Saturday, and I’m so sorry it didn’t work out. I hope you are feeling better and know that you are ALWAYS welcome to join us in the future. I know you’re incredibly strong and I look forward to meeting you! Enjoy your tutu!

Thanks for stopping by! peace, Melanie.