As an adhd mom, working fulltime, with an add husband and 2 adhd kids, I am always running here and there, doing this and that, worried about money and bills, and upcoming high school tuition, and car repairs, etc...

I am sure that many of you on this forum have it just as tough, if not tougher. I thought I would break up the add/adhd worries for you a minute and share this story. Here goes.

My good friend of over 15 years was divorced two years ago. Her ex was a deadbeat, drug/alcohol abuser, with major anger management issues and was very physically and mentally abusive to her. I was very glad when she finally divorced him. She does not get any child support because he signed the house over to her which included equity. She said good riddence.

She has 3 kids. An 18 year old daughter, a 16 year old daughter, and a 12 year old son. (We had our sons on the same day, just different hospitals.)

Last June (2004), we were all out at our local bar enjoying the evening and my friend told us that she had gone to the doctor because she had a big pimple in between her breasts that she was hoping they could just lance off easily for cosmetic reasons. While there, they discovered a lump in her breast. She had gone back in so they could take a sample of the lump.

It turned out that it was cancerous and they scheduled her first chemo for the very next week, June 28, which was her fricking 43rd birthday. When she told me and my two sisters this that night, we were very understanding and supportive. She said we were the sisters she never had.

We immediately went into action for her upcoming chemo. We got all kinds of literature for her and her kids to read. We made her a big basket with a bunch of doo rags (Harley of course), hats, a hot pink balloon, a hot pink bear, mints, a snow cone machine with all different flavors, gel stuff for cotton mouth tongue and several other things. We took it over there on her birthday. She loved it. (Her family never really celebrated birthdays like our family does.)

Anyway, she went through her weekly chemo. When she started worrying about her hair falling out (her eyelashes already had), I went to the local wig store and got her 2 super cute wigs. This gave her the courage to go ahead and shave her head so that she didn't have to worry about it falling out when she least expected it.

Everyone at work pitched in and got her tons of gift cards for restaraunts in addition to a gift certificate to get a really expensive wig. Plus everybody at work took turns bringing dinner over to her house on the night before her chemos.

She is such as strong person!!!

Her daughter had just turned 16 and was looking for a car. My friend only had $500 to spend, if that. While she was driving one day, she noticed a cute convertible car for sale at a local auto body shop. She called her dad so that he could check it out for her cause she didn't know anything about cars. He called and it sounded good, so she and her daughter, along with her mom and dad met up with the couple that had it for sale at the auto body parking lot.

Her daughter really like the car and they took it for a test drive while her mom stayed with the couple chatting. My friend didn't know it, but her mom was telling the couple her life story. About the deadbeat ex, no money, breast cancer, etc... (on that particular day, she was only wearing a doorag).

When they got back from driving the car, my friend told the couple that she really didn't have $1500 for the car but she would contact the credit union on Monday and would get back to them.

On her way home, the couple called my friends cell phone and asked if she and her daughter could come back to the parking lot. They did and again she said that she really couldn't buy the car until she could see if she could get a loan on Monday.

The couple proceeded to tell her that they had talked at length with her mom and knew everything that was going on.

The couple said that all their lives people have helped them. They have their own very successful business, 2 wonderful daughters, a nice home and they are grateful to everyone that has helped them along the way. They wanted to pay it forward by helping my friend.

They said "What would you do if we sold you the car for $1?"

My friend and her daughter freaked out. The man pulled out the title to the car and handed it to her. The daughter pulled out $1 and gave it to them with a big grin on her face.

They drove the car home in total amazement. She is still in amazement everytime she tells someone about the car deal.

She reiterated to her daughter about paying it forward. Immediatley following this, her daughter was in line at a local store and the person in front of her didn't have enough change. Her daughter went ahead and gave change to the person. She felt great.

So...just wanted to share this with you all. Just when we all think we got it so bad, it could be worse. If you have not seen the movie "pay it forward", it is so good. I have not seen it for quite some time but I think I might rent it again.

P.S. My friend finished her chemo. Then finished her radiation and is now cancer free. A bunch of us Harley enthusiasts that hang with her are going to the Susan Komen Race for the Cure in June with her. The Harleys are the security for blocking the streets downtown. It is amazing to watch on tv. I am sure I will be blown away in person.

stop it; you're making me cry, and i NEVER cry (except when my kids were born).

OMG...that's bought a few tears to my eyes...what a wonderfully touching story! Thanks for sharing it...

Susan

Stop it. You're making me cry too.


That's such a precious thing to share...thank you. I also have a 43 year old friend just diagnosed with breast cancer. Hits home.

my best to everybody,
Annie

Every time I think about the story, I get goose bumps up and down my arms. Every time I tell someone the story, they too get teary eyed. You should have seen me when my friend told me in person. I was a fricking balling baby. Seriously.

It's a great thing that happened to one of the nicest people I know. She had been through so much prior to her diagnosis. Like they say, when it rains, it pours.

She was strong before but she is even stronger now.

We hear about so much bad stuff that happens all the time. Murders, rapes, carjackings, gangs, etc... It is nice to know that there are some real sincere people still out there.

The other day I saw my friend in the cafeteria at work and I told her that due to the high price of gas and my having an awd Mercury Mountianeer gas hog, that I was looking for a cute convertible. I told her to tell her daughter that I would pay her TWICE AS MUCH for her car than she bought it for. EVEN THREE TIMES AS MUCH :)

Ha...that's cheeky!! :p lol!

Susan

Thats an awesome & inspiring story. It really does make you believe that there are still great paople in a world that seems destined to destroy itself.

Thanks for sharing that I dont feel so bad now ;)

I kind of had an "OK" Mothers Day. No big deal. Oh well. Whatever kind of day.

When I woke up, I had to put the breakfast dishes in the dishwasher, eventually did a few loads of laundry, had to hand my kids the tissue paper and tape for the present I bought myself.

Then my husband started his "hounding" as to when we were going to go to his mom's house. He (MR ADD USA) does this on every fricking holiday. We only live 5 minutes away from his parents house. He could go there any day he wanted but he likes to pin me down to a certain "time" we are going there.

I wanted to scream "Hey-it's my Mother's Day. I don't want to make any definite time scheduled plans".....but this only gets him "going". After I did say a few choice words, he quickly left to run to the store to get me an "ADD I forgot" Mothers Day Wife card. :)

After running to his moms, and then meeting my family at the park, I called my friend (the one that is mentioned in my above post), to see how her Mothers Day was going. She then tells me her mom is in the hospital for her back and she's been going to and from the hospital for a few days to visit her mom.

After hearing that, I realize that my problems aren't that bad. I really need to start counting my blessings more.

Ya know what I mean?

Hi Addxyz--

Thanks for your BC story. As you know, I too, am a BC survivor. Your story reminded me of how kind and considerate people were to me when I was going through the process. I am on a breast cancer listserv and there are many wonderful stories out there. I am just grateful to be here another day to experience the kindness and goodness of people.

I loved the fact that you got your friend some wigs. I wear them, too. My hair has not grown back but I do enjoy wearing the wigs. They really do make you feel wonderful.

Your friend is so lucky to have such caring friends.

Thanks again, Ann

Thanks so much for sharing this story. You have really made my day alot brighter thanks again Tracy

Last Saturday was the Susan Komen Race for the Cure for Breast Cancer. There were over 60,000 walkers.

My husband and I, along with over 200 Harley Davidson riders, volunteered to block off the streets downtown for the walkers. The weather was nice and the experience was very rewarding.

As the walkers went by, on foot, in wheelchairs, and pushing strollers, they all said thank you to us for volunteering. They made us feel like the heros even though they were the survivors, the real heros.

The survivors wore pink, the walkers wore white, and the volunteers wore orange. You wouldn't believe all of the pink survivor tshirts. It made me really think hard about the fact that withhout the walk and all the contributions from the walkers, there wouldn't be that many survivors tshirts going by.

I just wanted to share this with you and remind you that it doesn't matter what color you are, what nationality, or definitely, not what age you are. Breast cancer will effect your life one way or another. Whether its a friend, family member, neighbor or yourself. Breast cancer awareness is a must.

P.S. My good friend mentioned in my original post was diagnosed this very week last year. Her 44th birthday is next week, a year to the day that she started chemo last year. She's so strong. She went through chemo, surgery, radiation, and the whole 9 yards. She is doing very well.

Anyway, we went over to her house last night because she wanted my husband to look at her pool because she didn't know what chemicals to use for her greenish water. While there, I offered her daughter 1000 times more than she paid for her car. She still turned it down. :)

The other day my husband, my son and I were driving down the road and it was pouring down rain. I looked across the busy 4 lane street toward the bus stop and saw this lady waiting for a bus and she had several plastic grocery bags over her head trying to keep her hair dry. It was raining so hard that the bags were not helping much.

I was driving at the time and I quickly turned into a parking lot and whipped it around so that I was going the other direction. My husband and son said "What are you doing?" I was on a mission.

I pulled into where the bus stop was. I could barely roll my window down because it was raining so hard. I motioned the lady toward my car and handed her an umbrella.

First her face looked like she had seen a ghost and then it lit up with a big smile. She took the umbrella, said thank you, and we were on our way.

Even doing something that small is worth it. I felt great. My husband and son felt great. I know that the lady felt good and I know she will pay it forward too. Whether it's just sharing the experience with someone next to her on the bus or when she gets home. She will no doubt do something nice for someone else.

It's that easy to do, but it's so easy to forget to do little things like that.

Just wanted to share.

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