Welcome to my web page. After being diagnosed with cancer and going through numerous amounts of treatments, I decided to go onto the world wide web with my story. In May 2005 I was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma Stage IVb. I have had back to back treatments with no breaks. I am now fighting for my life with Graft vs. Host Disease which occurred after having my second stem cell transplant in November 2006.
After being diagnosed, there weren't many sources available for researching. I felt alone and scared. Chemotherapy treatments consisted of getting hooked up to IV poles beside of 70 and 80 year olds. There weren't any blogs or chat groups online to turn to. I couldn't find anyone near my age. Three years later and fortunately we have come a long way, but I'm hoping to spread awareness about Hodgkins Lymphoma, since it affects so many young adults. Many people claim that if you're going to get cancer, Hodgkins is the "good" cancer to get. It is very misunderstood. There needs to be more awareness and more research for this disease. We often think of cancer as an "old person's disease," but that is not true. Cancer knows no age nor race. It doesn't discriminate. We all need to be aware of signs and symptoms and realize that we're not invisible.
My name is Jennifer Willey and I live in a small town in Maine, called Kennebunkport. Maybe some recognize Kennebunkport, since former president George H. Walker Bush has a summer home here. Yes, I've met him and Barbara! I've lived here my whole life. It's beautiful with many trees around and only five minutes to the Atlantic ocean.
I hope to reach out to others that are battling Hodgkins Disease or some other type of cancer, and those that are healthy or living with another type of illness. I believe I've finally found my "mission" in life, that is to help others. I am a wonderful listener and love to talk. I would love to hear from you, so please sign my guestbook.
I would also like to mention my true inspiration, Alese Coco. She was a beautiful young lady who fought a long hard battle with Hodgkins Disease. She has her own web page at: http://fight2win.org/ Please visit her site if you have not done so already. As Alese said, "Fight 2 Win." I have already done the same.
Keep Smiling, Fighting, & Laughing
"ORDINARY MIRACLE"
by Sarah McLachlan
It's not that unusual
When everything is beautiful
It's just another ordinary miracle today
The sky knows when it's time to snow
Don't need to teach a seed to grow
It's just another ordinary miracle today
Life is like a gift they say
Wrapped up for you every day
Open up and find a way
To give some of your own
Isn't it remarkable
Like every time a raindrop falls
It's just another ordinary miracle today
Birds and winter have their fling
But always make it home by spring
It's just another ordinary miracle today
When you wake up everyday
Please don't throw your dreams away
Hold them close to your heart
'Cause we are all a part of the ordinary miracle
Ordinary miracle
Do you want to see a miracle
It seems so exceptional
The things just work out after all
It's just another ordinary miracle today
The sun comes up and shines so bright
And disappears again at night
It's just another ordinary miracle today
It's just another ordinary miracle today
