Awareness Works!
I have mentioned repeatedly how little knowledge people have of lymphoma. In spite of famous celebrities being diagnosed with lymphoma, it rarely catches the attention or inspires any movement toward a cure. Funding for research barely exists because of the belief that it is better to fight the bigger cancers believing that once that victory is one, finding cures for the little lesser known cancers will be sure to follow.
In other words, patients and survivors of blood cancers – lymphoma and leukemia – we are on our own. But we have it in us to create a movement to find our cures. Look at the success of the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. Susan G. Komen did not just happen over night.
I have told my story here over the last year and a half. And once I started sharing stories of other patients and survivors, viewership picked up even more. “Paul’s Heart” was being shared across multiple sites. Even “Stephanie”, the subject of “Stephanie’s Words” posted last week was shocked when I told her that her story reached over 4500 people between my blog here, and the “Paul’s Heart” Facebook page. This is not something to be taken lightly. “Paul’s Heart” has momentum with stories like this.
And with more stories, as I approach 10,000 views on this blog alone, more people will become aware.
I had several goals when I started “Paul’s Heart”:
* more awareness of lymphoma
* inform survivors and comfort survivors that the late effects they are dealing with from their treatments are very real
* improve protocol of treatment surveillance before, during, and after treatment
* eventually write my story into a book and other projects
Here’s how you can help. Do you have a story about a journey through cancer that you would like to share? It can be from the patient, caregiver, or survivor point of view and any aspect of the journey itself.
If you are interested to tell your story like I do, or like the stories from Michael and Stephanie, please email me at pedelmanjr@yahoo.com .
And from my heart, I thank you for all of your support.
Paul's Heart 