A little over 3 years ago, a spunky little blonde girl showed up in my yard, and has been here just about everyday since. most of you know how special Addison is to me, but what you may not know is how near and dear to my heart the rest of her family has become. Carmen and Wayne, (Addison’s grandparents who are raising her) have been my saviors the last few years. Whether Wayne is getting me a coffee or brushing the snow off my car , running to the store to get glitter and glue or whatever supplies we need to make the crafts we Impulsively come up with, or saving me from all the spiders , he’s always doing it with a smile.

Carmen, Im not good at telling people how much they mean to me, but i hope you know how much i appreciate you. She listens to me rant,helps me pick up toys,  came to my house 3-4 times a day when i first had Remy and David was on the road. She came over so i could shower or bring Oliver to school or just sit and hang with me so i didn’t go crazy. She runs errands with me , did my laundry when my dryer broke . I can’t tell you how many dinners we’ve had together and hearing Wayne tell us stories of how Carmen and him met on the base in Germany over three decades ago, the funny stories of their wedding and all about their life in Germany while he was stationed there.

Last week our worlds were turned upside down when Carmen had to go to the hospital and we found out she has cancer. The days have been a blur since. Words like terminal and end stage keep ringing in my ears and stinging the same as when i heard the news the first time. No one ever deserves this, but i keep asking why. Carmen goes to work at stop and shop and comes home to go for walks with us or take her dogs daisy and peanut out to get some sun. She never complains or asks for anything, she doesn’t bother anyone and would do anything for you.

Everyone keeps asking me what they can do, and the answer is i have no idea what to do. Wayne and Carmen are very proud people and i hope they don’t get mad that i made this, i just feel helpless so maybe we can help ease their minds with one less worry for when Carmen starts chemo in a couple weeks.  if you want to help, donate , if you can’t donate , say a prayer to whatever god you believe in.