<HTML><FONT FACE=arial,helvetica><HTML><FONT SIZE=2 PTSIZE=10 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" FACE="Arial" LANG="0"><B>Hi Gang. I got this email from a friend today. It is a lovely story and a worthy cause as well. </B><BR>
<BR>
Subj: <B>"I Will Always Love You......" </B> <BR>
Date: 2/4/04 9:19:43 AM US Eastern Standard Time <BR>
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<B><U>I Will Always Love You!</B></U><BR>
<BR>
Like most elementary schools, it was typical to have a parade of <BR>
students<BR>
in and out of the health clinic throughout the day. We dispensed ice <BR>
for<BR>
bumps and bruises, Band-Aids for cuts, and liberal doses of <BR>
sympathy and<BR>
hugs. As principal, my office was right next door to the clinic, so I<BR>
often dropped in to lend a hand and help with the hugs. I knew that <BR>
for<BR>
some kids, mine might be the only one they got all day.<BR>
<BR>
One morning I was putting a Band-Aid on a little girl's scraped knee. <BR>
Her<BR>
blonde hair was matted, and I noticed that she was shivering in her <BR>
thin<BR>
little sleeveless blouse. I found her a warm sweatshirt and helped her<BR>
pull it on. "Thanks for taking care of me," she whispered as she <BR>
climbed<BR>
into my lap and snuggled up against me.<BR>
<BR>
It wasn't long after that when I ran across an unfamiliar lump under <BR>
my<BR>
arm. Cancer, an aggressively spreading kind, had already invaded <BR>
thirteen<BR>
of my lymph nodes. I pondered whether or not to tell the students <BR>
about<BR>
my diagnosis. The word breast seemed so hard to say out loud to <BR>
them, and<BR>
the word cancer seemed so frightening.<BR>
<BR>
When it became evident that the children were going to find out one <BR>
way or<BR>
another, either the straight scoop from me or possibly a garbled <BR>
version<BR>
from someone else, I decided to tell them myself. It wasn't easy to <BR>
get<BR>
the words out, but the empathy and concern I saw in their faces as I<BR>
explained it to them told me I had made the right decision.<BR>
<BR>
When I gave them a chance to ask questions, they mostly wanted to <BR>
know how<BR>
they could help. I told them that what I would like best would be their<BR>
letters, pictures, and prayers. I stood by the gym door as the <BR>
children<BR>
solemnly filed out. My little blonde friend darted out of line and threw<BR>
herself into my arms. Then she stepped back to look up into my <BR>
face.<BR>
"Don't be afraid, Dr. Perry," she said earnestly. "I know you'll be <BR>
back<BR>
because now it's our turn to take care of you."<BR>
<BR>
No one ever could have done a better job. The kids sent me off to <BR>
my<BR>
first chemotherapy session with a hilarious book of nausea <BR>
remedies that<BR>
they had written. A video of every class in the school singing get-<BR>
well<BR>
songs accompanied me to the next chemotherapy appointment. By <BR>
the third<BR>
visit, the nurses were waiting at the door to find out what I would <BR>
bring<BR>
next. It was a delicate music box that played "I Will Always Love <BR>
You."<BR>
<BR>
Even when I went into isolation at the hospital for a bone marrow<BR>
transplant, the letters and pictures kept coming until they covered <BR>
every<BR>
wall of my room. Then the kids traced their hands onto colored <BR>
paper, cut<BR>
them out, and glued them together to make a freestanding rainbow of<BR>
helping hands.<BR>
<BR>
"I feel like I've stepped into Disneyland every time I walk into this<BR>
room," my doctor laughed.<BR>
<BR>
That was even before the six-foot apple blossom tree arrived <BR>
adorned with<BR>
messages written on paper apples from the students and teachers. <BR>
What<BR>
healing comfort I found in being surrounded by these tokens of their<BR>
caring.<BR>
<BR>
At long last, I was well enough to return to work. As I headed up the<BR>
road to the school, I was suddenly overcome by doubts.<BR>
<BR>
"What if the kids have forgotten all about me?" I wondered, "What if <BR>
they<BR>
don't want a skinny bald principal? What if . . ."<BR>
<BR>
I caught sight of the school marquee as I rounded the bend. <BR>
"Welcome<BR>
Back, Dr. Perry," it read.<BR>
<BR>
As I drew closer, everywhere I looked were pink ribbons - ribbons in <BR>
the<BR>
windows, tied on the doorknobs, even up in the trees. The children <BR>
and<BR>
staff wore pink ribbons, too. My blonde buddy was first in line to <BR>
greet<BR>
me.<BR>
<BR>
"You're back, Dr. Perry, you're back!" she called. "See, I told you <BR>
we'd<BR>
take care of you!" As I hugged her tight, in the back of my mind I<BR>
faintly heard my music box playing .<BR>
<BR>
"I will always love you."<BR>
<BR>
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<BR>
<BR>
<B>Breast Cancer Stamp Booklet</B><BR>
<BR>
It would be wonderful if 2004 were the year a cure for breast cancer <BR>
was<BR>
found!!!! The notion that we could raise $35 million by buying a <BR>
book of<BR>
stamps is powerful! As you may be aware, the US Postal Service <BR>
recently<BR>
released its new "Fund the Cure" stamp to help fund breast cancer<BR>
research. The stamp was designed by Ethel Kessler of Bethesda, <BR>
Maryland. <BR>
It is important that we take a stand against this disease that affects so<BR>
many of our Mothers, Sisters and Friends. Instead of the normal 37 <BR>
cents<BR>
for a stamp, this one costs 40 cents. The additional 3 cents will go to<BR>
breast cancer research. A "normal" book costs $7.40. This one is <BR>
only<BR>
$8.00. It takes a few minutes in line at the Post Office and means so<BR>
much. If all stamps are sold, it will raise an additional $35,000,000 <BR>
for<BR>
this vital research. Just as important as the money is our support. <BR>
What<BR>
a statement it would make if the stamp outsold the lottery this week. <BR>
What a statement it would make that we care. I urge you to do two <BR>
things<BR>
TODAY:<BR>
<BR>
1. Go out and purchase some of these stamps.<BR>
<BR>
2. E-mail your friends to do the same.<BR>
<BR>
Many of us know women and their families whose lives are turned<BR>
upside-down by breast cancer. It takes so little to do so much in this<BR>
drive. We can all afford the $0.60. Please help. Have a wonderful <BR>
day!<BR>
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God bless you abundantly today and always!<BR>
<BR>
"Rev. Ev"</FONT></HTML>