Our very dear friends have been kind enough to share these thoughts about ViVA for Life, an Evening of Celebration...
ViVA for Life Gave Me Encouragement and Hope!
by Teresa Wesoloski
When I was first diagnosed with breast cancer in April of 2006 I was overwhelmed with very negative feelings and thoughts. I had lost so many people close to me from cancer...my Mom at 47, my Gram at 61, my uncle at 51...All I could think was I am 38 years old and I’m not going to live to have kids and see them grow up.
I had my surgery and started going through my chemotherapy and then on to radiation. In September of 2006 my family said they bought me tickets to go to a fund raiser at Romanello’s South for breast cancer. The last thing I wanted to do with my bald head was go to a fancy function but my husband and whole family was going for me and I did not want to disappoint them.
This turned out to be one of the best decisions I made...Finally I started hearing some positive outcomes from people who have had cancer and survived. It is an awesome event that gave me encouragement and hope! There are incredible people there willing to share their stories or just listen to yours. And to top it off, this event raises much needed money necessary for the WNY Breast Resource Center at Roswell Park Cancer Institute. Russell Hurlbert, owner of Viva Hair & Spa in Orchard Park and Coordinator for "VIVA for Life” does an amazing job with this event. As do all the caring and generous people who volunteer their time, make donations...everything that makes this event what it is.
I can’t say enough good things about Viva For Life, but don’t take my word for it...come see for yourself!! I am a breast cancer survivor and would not miss this for the world!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
It is with great excitement that we extend our congratulations to
Teresa and her husband Dale on their
NEW BABY BOY, GRAYSON!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
My experience with, "You Have Breast Cancer"
by Laura Molino
In September of 2008, I was given the news, "Yes, you have breast cancer." I was home alone, and the doctor gave me the news over the telephone. "OK," I said to myself, "be strong, and this too I will fight." I waited for my dear husband to walk in and gave him the dreadful news. We cried in each other's arms. He is my rock. We went through something challenging like this 23 years ago. I lost my left leg in 1985. He stuck with me then, and I was certain he would be there for me again. That is the strength of our marriage.
For three years prior to getting this devastating news of my own, I had received invitations to ViVA for Life. For some reason, I did not find time to attend. Prior to my diagnosis in September of 2008, I received another invite in the mail from Russell, my hair stylist. This time though, with good intention, I kept it in my desk. Then I heard the news of my own breast cancer. Oh, how anxious I was to attend this year. This time it was about me also. Before I went to the ViVA for Life Celebration, I was confused, depressed and very worried my life would be shortened. I wanted to see my grandchildren grow up; I wanted to be there for all their achievements and goals. My sister had bilateral breast cancer and passed at 50 years of age. I miss her terribly.
I started a journal of all that my family should know about after I was gone. I was afraid and worried, and it was very depressing. However, one week before my bilateral mastectomy this year, I did attend ViVA for Life. I was part of this wonderful evening with my daughter, my husband and a friend. I did not cry, I was not sad or scared. I felt I was alive, and I had great hope and courage with all these beautiful people fighting for us and giving us hope for the cure. Russell Hurlburt gave me hope and dreams of my future. ViVA for Life gave me the strength to fight this cancer, to have hope, and to help search for the cure. This year, I am a survivor at the ViVA for Life Celebration. Thank you.
Russell received a wonderful note via email that we would like to share with you...
"Hey Boys-
I hope the event was a smashing success last night. I am so sorry we did not make it.... i was there in spirit. I wanted to share a story i just heard at my moms.....she was telling my grandma that she talked to Laura (our lifelong family friend who was recently diagnosed with breast cancer) today and that she was feeling 1,000,000 times better today because last night she "felt like a queen at the event she was at. They had her on stage and dropped balloons and for the first time she felt like she was part of a family." When I asked my mom if Laura was at ViVA for Life, she said "YES!!!" I guess until last night she was having a really hard time with what was happening to her.
What a wonderful thing for you to be able to do. You totally changed her life....
Congratulations! Love you!"
Messages like these inspire us to continue our efforts and we thank all of you who join us, contribute and halp to make it all happen!!!
It is with such great pride and honor that we announce the fund raising efforts of our dear friends Allie and Kim, creators, designers and craftsmen of ViVA la Bracelets...
