Welcome to the Message Corner


March 1 2010
Hey everyone!
Well first off I would like to thank all the amazing volunteers that made the Vaughan Mills event such an amazing event and so very successful.
I am told that our total numbers were close to 800 swabbed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We were lucky enough to meet Jessica. What an amazing woman who is a survivor and has had a bone marrow transplant. Jessica was at the event all weekend selling wooden roses and has generously donated $1500 to Shari's Mission. Jessica, you and your family are so amazing.
Your words of encouragement and support will not be forgotten.
The entire Ichelson family and the Shari's Mission volunteers look forward to seeing you at future events.
I have to say that I think this is the very first post where I am not sure what to say.
I know that in a few days Shari will be readmitted to Princess Margaret Hospital to undergo chemo and her transplant. As the days grow shorter and as March 4 2010 approaches the families feelings, anxieties, stress and worries are reaching the boiling point. As a family and as a group we are all trying to stay positive and only focus on the good times to come. But what remains clear is that as a family, we are entering the most difficult challenge we have every faced. Since this is difficult enough to post, I encourage everyone to say a pray nightly for us.
Keep those good vibes and well wishes coming.
Please continue to post on the facebook group, as Shari will be checking it.
Shari's Mission now has its very own blog where you can follow us and send well wishes.
As we momentarily step away from events to focus on the road ahead, we remind all volunteers that more events are coming up. Information will be released shortly and volunteers are always needed.
Thanks to everyone.
Jonathan and the Ichelson family


Thursday, November 12, 2009
Shari's Mission and the numbers
As you all know by now, Shari needs a bone marrow transplant. In the last month, there have been four drives to help Shari and others like her find their match. In less than one month, Shari's Mission has helped add close to 1400 people to the bone marrow registry in Canada. That may seem like an amazing number, and of course it is, especially to the over 800 people currently waiting for their bone marrow match to save their life.

This adventure is all about the numbers. For Shari, numbers relate to her levels when they are down, and she is neutropenic (An abnormal decrease in the number of neutrophils in the blood). That means it is very dangerous for her to catch any germs, infections, etc for her body is not able to fight off any infections, which is bad for anyone in her situation. But, when her numbers are UP, it means she has engery, can go for walks, can see her friends and family, can go out for sushi (yay for sushi), and means that she is getting stronger every day. Numbers....when Shari was in PMH (Princess Margaret Hospital) the numbers are put up every day after chemo, and we all waited...to see them start to climb which showed us that she was coming out of the bad times.

But now, the numbers means something different. These are the numbers that have been thrown around to me the last six weeks: - about 27 million eligable Canadians in Canada, and only 250,000 are on the bone marrow registry. - over 800 people are currently waiting for bone marrow matches - there are many different types of cancers that need and require bone marrow for a patient's survival.

The question is: how can we raise awareness to the need for people in our community, the city, the province, and beyond to step up and get tested to see if they can save a life.

One Match, is the arm in Canada for this. Once you are in their website (http://www.onematch.ca ) you can read about the who, what, where when why and how about blood services, stem cells and bone marrow. Why should I donate, How can I donate. It is very simple, you do it on line, and they mail you a kit, swab, and send it back....simple...BUT there are other ways as well.

I should also stress the importance of giving blood and platlets. I have a friend who is a regular platlet donor, and I can tell you that he is helping saves lives as well. Shari has had to have lots of blood and platlets to survive. So, every small part, is HUGE to someone else. More than I ever imagined.

As I said at the start of this post, Shari's Mission (http://www.sharismission.com ) has been holding bone marrow drives and will continue to do so, until we find a match for Shari, and beyond, to help all the others.

Our next MAJOR event will be on Monday November 23rd from 4-9pm at Hava Nagila Banquest hall (1118 Centre Street in Thornhill). Shari's brother Rob, is challenging the community at LARGE to support this event. Everyone needs to 'pay it forward' and come out to register. Plain and simple - PEOPLE NEED YOU!

I know that many people are already on the list from past drives for others in need. I understand that. But many of you are not. What YOU need to do is just pass this on, and let everyone you know, know about this. Let them decide if they want to help save a life.

I hope that you can do this. I hope that you agree that you can do your small part to help someone else.

I know that I am probably starting to sound like Jerry Lewis with my pleas for help for Shari and others like her, but it is all true. It is probably easier to help with a bone marrow drive, than it is to help find a cure for Muscular Dystrophy. I am not comparing...I am just sayin'.....

Please feel free to contact me at any time if you have any questions, concerns, want to volunteer, want to know more about....whatever....if I know the answers, I will tell you. If I don't, I will try to find out.

Contact me at: lisa@sharismission.com


December 27, 2009

A Message from Shari
It's been awhile since I have written anything, so here it goes. This year has been horrible for the most part and I will be glad to see it over. The year started off so great. I was happy, had a great job, my niece was born, we moved into a great condo then I got sick. These last six months have been complete hell
I lost my ability to sleep as I am scared I will not wake up. I lost my hair, my confidence, my courage, my love of sushi. I have learned to eat things all baked as raw food carries bacteria. I have learned a new math, numbers which tell me if I have an infection, if I am in remission, if I have an immune system, and if its safe for me to go out, numbers that will tell me when I will feel better and when I will start feeling sick again. Its all a numbers game. I have lost many friends who I thought were friends. However, I also found out who my real friends are, the ones who I no longer consider friends but family. You all know who you are. I have learned how to live through pain, heartache, and how to keep striving for tomorrow. I have lost friends from this disease, seen them no longer in remission, readmitted into the hospital for infections, or worse. I have heard it all. Now I am in the race of my lifetime. For those of you reading this, I cannot urge you enough to go get swabbed, donate blood and platelets. You could save my life. I want to see my daughter grow up, get married and have kids. Those of you with kids will understand that. My wish is to get my transplant, get healthy, kick cancer in the ass and LIVE! The hair is starting to grow back now, although I know I will lose it once again. My appetite is back, and I know that will be gone again soon as will my freedom. My parents have been my backbone, my strength and courage when I don't have enough on my own. They fight for me when I want to give up. They are my words, my tears, my chauffeurs, my everything and without them I am nothing. My brothers are such strong individuals. Jonathan and I have always been close and best friends (ok since he was 19) and Robbie and I have a relationship again that I have yearned for so long. I am so happy that I have them both in my life. Yifat has become a sister to me. My nieces and nephew continued lifeline that brings a smile to my face whenever I get the chance to see them. Ashley is the beat of my heart. Although hormones have taken over her 11 year old body there is nothing I cherish more then...spending time with her. I cringe to think of when I will have to be back at the hospital and not be able to see her. I love hearing the gossip of grade six, hear laugh, seeing her smile. And at times wish I had all my hair back just so I could pull it out. I wish that all you smokers would use me as your "excuse" to finally quit!!! I wish that no one should ever have to go through what I have gone through, and what faces me ahead. This road has been long and torturous and I still have a long road ahead of me. This is may be G-d's plan but not my fate. I will conquer and live on, through my words and through Shari's Mission. To all the volunteers who have devoted their time and energy at the drives, I cannot thank you enough. You are all G-d's workers and are all very special. We will find matches. For me, for strangers who already have this disease and for those who don't even know they have it or will have it. I love you all.
Happy holidays and happy New Year.
I hope this year brings happiness to me, my family and yours.
Keep spreading the word.
Get swabbed, donate blood, and donate platelets. It's in you to give!