There are a few benefits coming up (or happening now) that Team Yarn is connected to.

BREAST CANCER SURVIVOR FIGHTING NEW BATTLE

The sister of Team Yarn member Stephanie Griffith has been fighting quite the battle in California. In May 2013, Stephanie wrote this:

"A month ago everything seemed to be going right for Kenzie Alexander. She was a vibrant young mother, fiancée and business owner who had finally beaten the two bouts of aggressive breast cancer that had taken so much from her in the three years since her first diagnoses. She went to the emergency room with leg pain and numbness expecting, like most of us, to spend a few hours in the waiting room and come home with a prescription.

"Instead, by the time she went to bed that night, she had lost complete use of her legs. Over the course of the next week, she also lost use of her arms. A month later she is still in the hospital recovering from this attack of Transverse Myelitis.

"Now, her entire life has changed.

"The doctors are telling us that with a lot of time and hard work she may one day regain the use of her arms, but her leg function is most likely gone for good. As you can imagine, the effects of this are very far reaching. She and her family need our help.

"The costs they are incurring from this challenge are staggering. They will need to relocate to a more disability friendly home, they need to buy a van that has been fitted for a wheelchair and they need to pay for her everyday care when she comes home. We are asking you to be her hero. No amount is too small or too large. Whatever you can give will make a difference."

Click here to donate: http://www.gofundme.com/32bcm8

AMY'S COUSIN

Deanna and Sapphire have both been treated at the Mayo this summer for the genetic blood disease they share.

Team Yarn is setting aside a few hats for the Spaghetti Feed Benefit for Deanna and James Angstman. Click here to view Facebook Album.

Deanna Angstman, Amy's cousin, planned a benefit for her brother Danny that Amy and I and our families attended in Webster, S.D. in June 2013. (Click here to view Facebook album.) We brought some Team Yarn hats then for the silent auction. Danny was diagnosed with leukemia last fall, and his daughter Sapphire got a bone marrow transplant this summer.

Well, Deanna also opted for a transplant this summer in order to address the issue before it turns into leukemia.

As you can imagine, it's been a tough journey, and she could use your support!

Deanna was diagnosed with MDS (pre- leukemia) in March 2013. She started chemo on July 15th, 2013 and had a bone marrow transplant July 24th. 

Deanna & James relocated to Rochester, MN on July 7th, since Deanna would have to stay there for the next several months to do her treatments and hospital stays at Mayo. 

The Saturday, Sept. 28 fundraiser will include a silent auction, as well as live auction, basket raffle, door prizes, pie auction AND spaghetti feed. It will be held at the Masonic Hall in Mora, MN. Everyone is welcome so please spread the word. If you would like info. Or to make donation of any kind feel free to contact Deb Anderson (Deanna's Mom) 1 320 679 4522 or Donna Anderson (sister) 1 320 438 0417.

MY COUSIN'S DAUGHTER


Meet Madi.

There will be a pancake breakfast fundraiser for my cousin Jami eMevissen's 4-year-old daughter, Madisyn , the same day, Saturday, Sept. 28 from 9:30 to noon at Northern Light Church, 6701 Highway 10, Ramsey.

Madi was born with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). SMA is a group of inherited diseases that cause muscle damage and weakness, which get worse over time and eventually lead to death.
Spinal muscular atrophy manifests in various degrees of severity which all have in common general muscle wasting and mobility impairment.

All proceeds from this benefit will go towards a home addition and handicap accessible bathroom. The breakfast is $5 a person and that will include 2 pancakes and a beverage. There will also be a silent auction and bake sale. Madisyn has to play her favorite game which is the cake walk. 

We will be donating a few Team Yarn hats for this silent auction, as well.

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THESE BENEFITS THAT ARE CLOSE TO OUR HEARTS!