#SEANstrong

Growing up James and our neighbor Sean were joined at the hip.  We used to call them the "twins" cause they looked a lot alike.  They are BFs and the Lee family has (and will) always be apart of our lives.

Sean's older sister, Tamra, is one of my dear friends - we often shared bday parties cause our bdays are so close (May 20 & May 27!  Coming up - woot woot!).   Here's a pic of Tamra and I at her house with our softball team (I'm on the bottom left and Tam's on the bottom right.  Kristina, her older sister, is on the top left.  DON'T JUDGE MY PERM!  I just loved those tiny spirals!)  The other photo is at girls camp when we were like 12, Tamra and I are in the front right corner.  I wish I had better photos on my computer.  I need to scan some in next time I'm in UT.

Here are some more current photos of Tamra and me.  I haven't seen her in a few years cause she was off living in Japan!

Their mom, Lori, was my piano teacher.  I have spent many hours sitting with her in the living room (Don't bounce your head, Jen!  Count out loud!  haha!)  I love Lori!  In fact, one time when I came home from Connecticut for Christmas she and I played a Christmas duet in my old ward's RS!  I love sitting and jamming with her.  During my wedding reception Lori played the piano!  LOVE!  And Kristina helped her.  Kristina is older than me but she's good friends with Jami.  So yes, we love the Lees.  Oh - and their Dad's pretty cool too!  :-)

Anyways, Sean got home from his mission this past February and in March he found out he has a SOCCER BALL sized cancerous tumor in his stomach.  They have to do chemo before they can take it out, just to try and shrink it a little.  YIKES!  SO SCARY!!!!!!

My mom called me and told me that she wanted to do something to show them support, since their family has been such a big part of our lives.  We talked about a bounced a bunch of ideas back and forth.  She wanted to use the slogan "Sean Strong" like Live Strong and I thought - why not do bracelets like them too?  While we were on the phone I found a place that we could order them from and have them shipped to use within 48 hours.  Before placing the order, my mom thought she should check with the Lees to make sure they were comfortable with this and to get an estimate of how many bracelets they wanted.  I don't remember all the details but it turns out that one of Sean's mission companions (?) has a family business in Utah where they manufacture these!  The next day they brought a huge bag of them down to the Lee's house!!!  How awesome is that!!!  Since then the whole #SEANstrong thing has just exploded.  I helped Lori set up a facebook group where everyone can post pictures wearing their bracelets to support Sean.

Sean has been a great sport.  I think it must be hard to process all of this.  He's been blogging his journey at I Can-Cer Vive.  His blog was featured on KSL.com and I think he's probably felt more pressure to write positive and insightful things, probably not how he feels every day.  But it's still encouraging to see him bear his testimony through this trial.  Here'a photo of Sean right after his dad surprised him by walking in the room with a bald head!  I love Brother Lee!!!

Here are the #SEANstrong photos we took.  Sean likes super man and the colors red and black!

Had to rock the piano for Lori!

We will continue to pray that Sean's cancer responds to his Chemotherapy and that they are able to remove the tumor without it spreading.  We love you Sean!!!

Now I just have to vent for a second...
One day Jami and my mom were visiting a friend and some random lady was there (have no idea who she was). Friend was asking Jami how she was doing (she's starting to deteriorate again and she will need another brain surgery soon, but more about that in another post). Anyways, the lady asked Jami "oh, what's wrong with you?" So Jami just told her that she had a brain tumor. The lady asked "was is cancerous?" To which Jami replied "no" and the lady was like "oh good, glad it wasn't cancer." Then she just moved on as if Jami has a common cold. I know that it shouldn't bother me what some random lady thinks, but I wanted to shake her by the shoulders and yell "Cancer isn't the only deadly disease out there! Jami had only a 50% chance of surviving child onset Cushing's!!!! She was so deteriorated by this disease ravaging her body for over a decade her doctor was surprised that she was still alive!!!" I am not sure what that lady was thinking. It's just so naive of her to say that, really. But Jami suffers so privately. She didn't correct her or educate her. Jami is so past that point. When I think of the word "long-suffering" I always think of Jami. She's been battling severe illness/pain/disease for over a DECADE. A DECADE!!!! I know we all have different trials in life, but Jami's have been relentless. But that lady will never know. Jami fights valiantly, but after ten years, her battles are more personal and private than they were at the beginning. She has lost many friends because, frankly, people get bored that you're "still sick." But Jami keeps pressing forward. Cause she's a warrior. She's such an inspiration to me. I hope someday that Jami will write a book and give voice to those that battle with chronic illness and disease. But for now, just know that she's a fighter. She puts on her best face when she leaves the house. But she's still battling her body. And it's not over yet.