Hello friends – it’s almost time for the monthly donation day by my good friend YOYO from Topstitch.org and let me tell you why the upcoming donation day is so very important to me:
If you haven’t heard me speaking of her yet, let me familiarize you with our benefactress. YOYO is one of the most talented, crafty people I know. She has a passion for sewing and maintains a shop online of many items she hand sews. In addition to being so skilled and passionate, she is also one of the most selfless people you will ever come across. Once a month (usually on the 2nd day of the month) YOYO donates all sales of items in her shop to a worthy cause (for a list of all organizations and how much she’s sold, click here). This coming month, YOYO has chosen to donate 100% of the sales in her Artfire Shop to Delaney’s Dream.
Who is this Delaney I speak of? Only one of the strongest, most resilient human beings to walk the face of the earth. AND SHE’S JUST ABOUT TO TURN 4 YEARS OLD.
Delaney Brown was diagnosed with neuroblastoma in February of last year. It’s a rare form of childhood cancer, with only 700 cases or so diagnosed each year. Since diagnosis, she’s been through radiation, chemotherapy and 3F8 (an aggressive antibody treatment for high-risk neuroblastoma). And we complain when we have to roll out of bed on a Monday morning, right? (me = GUILTY!) So how about that for some perspective.
The important facts right now are these: Delaney has responded well to her course of treatment. She has been declared NED (no evidence of disease) which essentially means she is in remission, or has beaten cancer. While relapsing is a serious concern, Delaney is now taking part in a trial vaccine to try and prevent this from happening. I think what this all translates to is the Brown family will remain diligent but makes it a point to enjoy all the wonderful things in life that are so easily taken for granted. The good news is that they are able to live a more normal life these days, and Delaney has even started school 
Like I mentioned, YOYO’s donation days are usually the 2nd of the month, but a little birdie told me that Delaney is turning four on 11/1 so YOYO has decided that this will be the big day instead.
So here’s the deal – on Monday November 1st head on over to YOYO’s Topstitch Shop on Artfire. Take a look around and buy a superior handmade item, like a zipper pouch, headband, crayon roll, card holder and more. Every last penny from every purchase in her shop will be donated to the Brown family through the Delaney’s Dream fund.
Thank you in advance for reading this and for considering purchasing on November 1st. Oh and by the way, my affiliation with this story is as such: Delaney’s mom Courtney is a former coworker of mine, and her best friend Danielle is my shy, quiet cubicle buddy. Thank you Danielle for helping spread the word, and thank you Courtney for allowing us to direct our efforts towards your beautiful family. Thank you YOYO for choosing Delaney’s Dream and inspiring me every day.
Extra credit reading: Delaney’s CaringBridge site (includes her story, pictures, journal of updates, etc.)
Here’s Delaney all ready for school with friends Zachary and Lindsay Wittner:
