| It�s 8:30 p.m. today March 31, 2004. When I started writing this thank you letter (the Spanish version) my mother had a needle in her arm, doing her fifth chemotherapy session of the treatment. About 15 years ago, my mother was still trying to assimilate the meaning of being a woman with breast cancer. About 15 years ago my mother was probably thinking and suffering, trying to figure it out who would take care of her little daughter, who she had always longed for in her life � who was only 5 years old. Her three sons had giving her plenty of head aches and all that good stuff, and for her to see her little girl full of life, and my mother wanting with all her heart to be her guide through life, and wanting to teach this little girl, who was just starting to live, about life. During THAT episode of the life of the Melendez Monterroso Family, and to be honest my memory of those days is a little unclear, but as a family we didn�t know of the big challenge that was awaiting for all of us right ahead of us. A lot of visits to all kinds of doctors, all those dreams that took different paths, life itself totally changed its direction. I will never forget the wise words that my mother always says, �Son, my breast cancer is a gift that God has given me, it has given me strength to become stronger, and has made me enjoy my life to a incredible plenitude, to see life in a whole new perspective and very different to the one I had before I knew I had breast cancer�. To be honest, I remember that my mother never told us directly anything about her having breast cancer, it was my father who sat us over by the table, the three boys � Sergio, Herbert and Julio (I) � and he told us that our Madre was sick, and had breast cancer. I can�t speak for my brothers, but in that moment I really didn�t have a clue of what my dad was talking about. It took me a few days to assimilate the fact, and realize that what one hears on the news or on TV. happening to other people and never to oneself, was happening to us, as a family. I remember my Madre's doubts and confusions, she didn�t know what to do, whether to have her breast removed or not. Since the doctors wanted to do a mastectomy on her, and weren�t so positive about the whole thing. My Madre felt like her whole world was caving in, and in all this my grandfather Lencho (RIP) was a big influence in my mother�s decision to not get the mastectomy done, and to choose the alternative medicine instead � she became a vegetarian, and even us became about 75 % vegetarian too�.. maybe that is the secret of me being so skinny and healthy� hahahahahahaa�. The fight against breast cancer started then, and like Soraya would say, with BODY AND SOUL (Colombian Singer � who has helped me a lot and even educate me to understand cancer, she is such an inspiration � and a breast cancer survivor, her mother, aunt and grandmother died to breast cancer). If I would start telling you all the treatments that my mother has gone through and all the effects they had on her and on all of us around her, I would have to write a book about it, and maybe one day I would get to do it, but ONE THING I can say with all my heart and easy to explain: The best medicine and what has kept my Madre through all this time is HER STRONG FAITH. The huge faith that makes her want to live with intensity, and smile to life, enjoy the love of her children, grandchildren, parents, brothers and sisters, husband, and the whole big family around her. And the friends, friends who make us smile even in tough times like these and we feel sad, friends who are always there for you unconditionally. I always, in my ways to explain myself and find answers to the questions I have, I have always thought�. that the best way that God has shown me his love and how he transmits his love to me, is through my Madre. My Madre, who has also become my best friend, the one who walks right next to me on this road called �life�. Of course, I know that God shows me his love through the rest of my family and friends, through the sunrise I see in the morning, through a beautiful sunset, through the rain, through that natural high I get when I ride my bicycle or do windsurfing in the lake, through my job, or even through my tears when I cry with all I�ve got. But, my mother and I have this special connection that is really hard to describe and very intense, and I feel her so close to my heart, and so true like the air I breath. And the only thing I can say to you God, with all my heart: Thank you so very much !!! Now, in this moment I want you (reader) to close your eyes and think that I am in front of you, and I�m giving you the biggest bear hug, and I am saying THANK YOU for helping us to pay my mother�s treatment which is still in process, the chemotherapy sessions. The doctor said that he was hoping my Madre would make it to the third one. The breast cancer has advanced a lot, but he said: We have to be aggressive to fight it, we have to fight the cancer with all we�ve got. I think that we have the most powerful weapon that anyone could wish to have: God�s help, and my Madre�s faith and love for life, and your unconditional love and friendship. I won�t mention any names, but you all know that I will always be grateful to you for all the love that have shown us with your kind help. I am also sure that you guys must be very curious as to find out if we made it to the original amount - $3,000.00 � that we needed? Well� what do you think? Well the answer is Yes !! by the first week and a half we had already come up with $2,000.00, and that was sent to my mother immediately. Now, one month has already passed since I sent the original message, which was sent on: Date Wed, 25 Feb 2004 20:57:36 -0600 (CST) From my cousin�s home, Janira and Ryan. I still remember the nervousness I felt when I pressed the SEND button. I wouldn�t have been able without the help and moral support of Becky, Chris, Maco and Lavita, they told me, come �on Julio ask for help, send an e-mail !!! but I was too shy to do it !!! Now, I will never forget the feeling, and happiness to see the SUPER POSITIVE response of so many people that I love, here in The United States, in Australia, Germany and Guatemala. My love goes to all of you� Man !! it was so cool to get to my place and open my mailbox and find envelopes with contributions (still arriving as of today), people at work would shake my hand and there was a bill in between, and I didn�t even know how they found out (Thanks so much Lavita) and that�s how �Se rego la bola� � a Guatemalan way to say that the news were spread � that I had asked for help. I can only ask God to please give you back the contribution multiplied by one million two hundred fifty five times� hahahahhaha�. And one thing is for sure that I will NEVER forget how cool it feels to be sure that the people I love, love me back. Today, March 31, 2004, so far we have raised almost $6,000.00, and all that will be sent to my mother, and I am sure she will use it as she needs it, and I hope that money would not be something else she has to worry about, since in Guatemala things are a lot different than here in the United States. Mother�. If you are reading this, please, you have to worry about your health, and keep up that good faith you have and share it with us, and NEVER forget all the love that we all have for you, and look how many people loves you Madre, even people who don�t even speak your own language love you so very much Madre !!!! hahahaha�. You are way too cool Madre !!! To that one person who didn�t use his name (Secret Smiles) and contributed with this cause of love�. Thank you. I would really love to know who you are. It was an anonymous contribution. Thank you with all my heart�. During this past month I have been experiencing so many different feelings, and something that I was telling Kerstin and Jay, and other friends, was that the word �Thank you�, kind of had lost its meaning when it came to express how I feel, to express this enormous and intense feelings of gratitude that I have been feeling during this past month that I will always have in my heart and my greatest memories of pure love. Well, the only thing is that I don�t know any other word, not even in a different language to say it, so here it goes�. THANK YOU !! It�s 10:23 p.m. and my mother is probably trying to go to sleep, or I would hope she is sleeping, and all she�s got is the love of God, her faith and all of our love that we can provide to her, so she can get all the energy that she needs this week to overcome the terrible side effects of the chemotherapy . Today March 31, 2004, my Mother keeps her continuous fight to survive and enjoy this beautiful life� and that fear she felt 15 years ago, now has become strength, and this unbelievable faith and love for life, that only God knows how strong it is. Today, March 31, 2004, my Mother sees my sister who will be 21 years old in November of this year, a grown up woman who has learned the strength of my mother, the wisdom and the modesty to say THANK YOU Madre !! and to be a mirror of her great example of love and perseverance, who will soon become a school teacher, just like my mother. And those three boys who demonstrate in every little thing they do, and in every word they say, the strength and the example of love set by my mother. Sergio Armando (1st. Son), married to Gilda, and have two super cute kids, their names are: Sergio Alejandro (11 years old � not sure) and Gilda Alejandra (5 years old). Herbert Estuardo (2nd. Son) married to Any, they have two beautiful daughters, their names are: Ana Lucia (5 years old) and Ana Maria (1 year old). Julio Florencio, sitting down on this chair in his first apartment in Chicago, the most wanted single man of the moment (hahahahaha�.), following his dreams (don�t ask what they are) or maybe just following his heart. All of us are the living example of her legacy of love, it�s so cool to see that even the little ones have this strength and love towards life and the �Abuelita�, and their little eyes show all the respect and love they feel for her. During THIS episode of the life of the Melendez Monterroso family, we go on wrapped by a stronger faith than ever, trusting that only God knows why things happen the way they do, and we are certain that we can say with modesty: Thank you life, and like one of my favorite poems by Amado Nervo says: �Life, you don�t owe me anything�. Life we are in peace��� |
| Son las 5:47 p.m. de la tarde hoy 31 de Marzo del 2004. En este preciso instante mi madre tiene una aguja metida en su brazo tomando su QUINTA Quimioterapia del tratamiento. Hace aproximadamente 15 a�os, mi madre estaba tratando de asimilar el significado de ser una mujer con C�ncer de Pecho. Hace 15 a�os mi madre pensaba y sufr�a imagin�ndose en quien cuidar�a a su hijita que tanto hab�a deseado en su vida � la cual tenia 5 a�os. Sus tres hijos varones la hab�an ya dejado agotada con tanto berrinche y dolores de cabeza, y ver a su reto�ito ah� tan lleno de vida, y mi madre queriendo ser la gu�a de los pasos de esa patojita que empezaba apenas la vida. Durante ESA etapa de la vida de la familia Mel�ndez Monterroso, que para ser sincero es un tanto vaga en mis recuerdos, no nos d�bamos cuenta del gran reto que nos esperaba de ese momento en adelante. Tantas visitas a doctores, tantos sue�os que cambiaron de direcci�n, la vida en si cambio de rumbo, en su totalidad. Nunca olvidare las sabias palabras de mi madre que siempre suele decir, �Mijo, el c�ncer fue un regalo de Dios, me ha hecho ser fuerte, y me ha hecho disfrutar mi vida a una plenitud incomparable, a ver la vida en una perspectiva muy diferente a la que ten�a antes de saber que tenia c�ncer de pecho�. Para ser honesto, yo recuerdo que mi madre nunca nos dijo nada directamente, fue mi padre el que nos sent� en estilo mesa redonda a los hijos varones � Sergio, Herbert y Julio (yo) � y nos dijo que nuestra mam� estaba enfermita, y que tenia c�ncer. No puedo hablar por mis hermanos, pero en el momento yo realmente no sabia de que estaba hablando mi padre. Y me tomo unos d�as para asimilarlo, y darme cuenta que lo que uno escucha en las noticias y en la televisi�n y que solamente puede pasarle a otra gente y menos a uno, nos estaba pasando a nosotros. Me recuerdo de las confusiones de mi madre, no sabia que hacer, si operarse o no. Pues los doctores tendr�an que removerle el pecho, y no le daban muchas posibilidades, y mi madre sinti� que el mundo se le venia enzima, y en todo esto mi abuelito Lencho (QEPD) influyo mucho en la decisi�n que mi madre tomo de no operarse, y optar por el camino de la medicina alternativa � Se convirti� en vegetariana, y de corbata se trajo a la familia entera� jajjaajaja�. Talvez es por eso que soy tan flaco y saludable !!!!! jajajajajaja. La lucha empez� pues, como dir�a Soraya, con CUERPO Y ALMA (Cantante Colombiana � que me ha ayudado tanto a asimilar esta etapa y me ha educado tambi�n, una inspiraci�n esa mujer!!! � sobreviviente de c�ncer, su madre, t�a y abuelita murieron de c�ncer de pecho). Si me pusiera a contar todos los tratamientos que mi madre ha hecho y contar los efectos en ella y todos nosotros al rededor, necesitar�a escribir un libro para hacerlo, a lo mejor alg�n d�a me anime a hacerlo, pero ALGO si puedo decirles con el coraz�n en la mano y muy sencillo de explicar: La mejor medicina y lo que ha mantenido a mi madre durante todo este tiempo es SU FUERTE FE. La Fe tan grande que la hace querer vivir con intensidad, y sonre�rle a la vida, disfrutar el amor de sus hijos, nietos, padres, hermanos (as), esposo, todo el famili�n en general. Y los amigos, amigos que nos hacen re�r en momentos en que nos sentimos tristes, amigos que est�n ah� siempre incondicionalmente. Yo siempre en mis formas de explicar cosas y encontrarles sentido, he pensado�. Que la mejor forma que Dios me ha demostrado que me quiere y me transmite su amor, es por medio de mi madre. Mi madre, quien tambi�n se ha convertido en mi gran amiga, mi compa�era en el camino de la vida. Por supuesto, yo se que Dios me demuestra su amor por medio de toda mi familia y amigos, con el amanecer, un lindo atardecer, con la lluvia, con la emoci�n que siento cuando manejo mi bicicleta, o surfeo en el lago, por medio de mi trabajo, o hasta cuando lloro con toda la gana. Pero con mi madre hay una conexi�n muy profunda y rara de explicar, la siento tan cerca de mi coraz�n tan latente como el aire que respiro. Y lo �nico que puedo decirte Diosito Lindo !!! con el coraz�n en la mano solo te digo Diosito: Un mill�n de GRACIAS !!!! Ahora pues, en este momento quiero que usted (lector) cierre los ojos y piense que yo estoy enfrente suya, y le estoy dando el mejor abrazononononon de oso, y le digo GRACIAS por habernos ayudado ha pagar el tratamiento que a�n esta en proceso, las aplicaciones de quimioterapia. El doctor hab�a dicho que el esperaba que mi madre pudiese llegar a la tercera. El c�ncer ha avanzado mucho, pero el dijo: Debemos ser agresivos para combatirlo, tenemos que luchar contra el c�ncer con mas agresividad, y yo pienso que tenemos el arma mas fuerte que se puede tener, la ayuda de Dios, la fe y amor por la vida de mi madre, y el gran amor incondicional de todos ustedes. No mencionar� nombres, pero ustedes saben que yo les estar� eternamente agradecido por el amor y el cari�o que demostraron con su ayuda. Y por cuestiones de curiosidad, yo se que se preguntaran que si pudimos juntar los $3,000.00 que originalmente se necesitaban? �Que creen? Pues bien� la respuesta es un rotundo SI !!!, hab�a pasado apenas una semana y media y ya ten�amos $2,000.00 y eso fue enviado inmediatamente. Ahora ya un mes despu�s del mensaje original que fue enviado exactamente: Date Wed, 25 Feb 2004 20:57:36 -0600 (CST) Desde la casa de mis Primos Janira y Ryan. Me recuerdo el nerviosismo que tenia de presionar el boton de ENVIAR. No lo hubiera podido haber hecho sin la ayuda y apoyo moral de Becky, Chris, Maco y Lavita, ellos me dec�an, vamos Julio pide ayuda, env�alo !!! pero a mi me daba demasiada pena hombre !!!! pero nunca olvidare el sentimiento de alegr�a que sent� al ver la positiva respuesta de tanta gente que tanto quiero. Ac� en los Estados Unidos, en Australia, en Alemania, y Guatemala. Mi amor va para todos ustedes� Vieran que excelente cuando llegaba a la casa y me encontraba sobres con dinero adentro (todav�a llegan), gente que me estrechaba la mano en el trabajo y me daba dinero, y yo no sabia ni como se hab�an enterado (gracias Lavita) y as� se reg� la bola (decimos en Guatemala para decir que la noticia se propago) de que yo hab�a pedido ayuda. Solamente le pido a Dios que les devuelva a todos su colaboraci�n multiplicada por un mill�n doscientos cincuenta y cinco veces.. jajajajaja� y t�nganlo por seguro que yo NUNCA olvidare lo lindo que se siente de estar seguro de que la gente que uno quiere, le devuelven ese cari�o y amor a uno multiplicado. Hoy 31 de Marzo, ya llevamos reunidos casi $6,000.00, y todo eso ser� enviado para mi madre y para que ella lo utilice en lo que necesite, y que el dinero simplemente sea algo de lo que ella no tenga que preocuparse, ya que en Guatemala las cosas son tan diferentes. Mama�. Si estas leyendo esto, por favor, ten�s que preocuparte por tu salud, y por mantener esa fe en alto y NUNCA olvidar el gran amor que todos te tenemos, y mira que si te quieren bastante, hasta gentes que ni tu idioma hablan madre !!! jajajajaja� sos demasiado buena onda mama !!! A esa persona, que utilizo su nombre como �Secret Smiles��.. Gracias. Realmente me gustar�a saber quien sos. Fue una contribuci�n an�nima. Gracias de todo coraz�n�.. durante este mes pasado he experimentado mil tipos de sentimientos, y algo que le comentaba a Kerstin y a Jay, y otros amigos, era que sent�a que la palabra �Gracias� ya como que hab�a perdido su significado para expresar los sentimientos tan intensos que he sentido durante este mes tan intenso que llevo en mi coraz�n, pero bueno, no se otra palabra en ning�n otro idioma para decirlo, entonces aqu� les va�. � GRACIAS ! Son las 7:47 p.m. y ahorita mi madre ya no tiene la aguja metida en su brazo, y solo le queda su fe y todo el amor que le podemos brindar para que esta semana que viene sea fuerte y sobrepase los efectos secundarios de la quimioterapia. Hoy, 31 de Marzo del 2004, mi madre sigue su lucha continua por vivir y disfrutar esta linda vida� y ese miedo que sinti� hace 15 a�os, a trav�s del tiempo se ha convertido en una fuerza incomparable, que solo Dios sabe lo fuerte que es. Hoy, 31 de Marzo del 2004, mi madre ve a mi hermana que ya cumplir� 21 a�os en Noviembre de este a�o, toda una mujer que ha heredado la fuerza que mi madre le ha heredado y la sabidur�a y la humildad para decirle GRACIAS MADRE !! y ser un espejo de su gran ejemplo de amor y perseverancia que pronto ser� una Maestra de Educaci�n Primaria, tal como mi madre lo hizo. Y esos tres hijos varones que demuestran en cada cosa que hacen, en cada palabra que dicen la fuerza y el ejemplo para hacer las cosas con amor como nuestra madre nos ense�o. Sergio Armando (1er. Hijo), casado con Gilda, tienen dos hijos lindisisisisisimos, sus nombres son Sergio Alejandro (11 a�os creo..) y Gilda Alejandra (5 a�os). Herbert Estuardo (2do. Hijo) casado con Any, tienen dos hijas lindisisisisimas, sus nombres son Ana Lucia (5 a�os) y Ana Maria (1 a�o). Julio Florencio, sentado en esta silla en su primer apartamento en Chicago, el soltero mas codiciado el momento (jajajja�) siguiendo mis sue�os (no me pregunten cuales son) o mejor dicho, siguiendo mi coraz�n. Todos nosotros somos el ejemplo vivo de la legacia de amor que nuestra madre nos ha heredado. Es tan bonito ver que hasta los chiquitines tienen una fuerza y un amor grande a la vida y a la Abuelita, y la admiran tanto. Durante ESTA etapa de la familia Mel�ndez Monterroso, seguimos en pie con nuestra fe mas fuerte que nunca, confiando en que solamente Dios sabe porque las cosas pasan, y tenemos la certeza de que podemos decir humildemente gracias a la vida, y como uno de mis poemas favoritos de Amado Nervo dice: �Vida nada me debes�.. Vida estamos en Paz��..� |
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| This message has been written in Spanish first, then in English. I tried to transmit the same idea in both languages, but it's a little hard for me, but I just hope they make their job as of to let you know how thankful we are for having you in our lives.... Thank you so much. (Scroll down to the English Version) |
| Este mensaje fue escrito en Espa�ol y en Ingles, y se me hace muy dificil transmitir la misma idea en dos idiomas, asi que a lo mejor cada carta exprese mi perspectiva en dos puntos de vista diferentes, pero ojala este pueda lograr su cometido de agradecerles a todos por ser parte de nuestras vidas...... Muchas Gracias. |
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| La Abuelita Feliz con sus nietos - Sergio Alejandro, Ana Lucia, Ana Maria, y Gilda Alejandra. The happy grandmother and her grandchildren - Sergio Alejandro, Ana Lucia, Ana Maria, and Gilda Alejandra. |
| La Esposa y Madre Orgullosa - Armando Melendez, Sergio Armando, Herbert Estuardo, Amparo Beatriz, y Julio Florencio. |
| Las grandes amigas - Yoly y Zoe. |
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| Mi Madre con sus papas - Abuelito Miguel y Abuelita Elvira. 10 hermanos de 12: Gustavo, Yolanda, Andrea, Marco Antonio, Matilde, Maria Elena, Aracely, Jovita, Janeth, Lucy. Ausentes: Gudberto y Marielita. |
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| Mi Madre bailando con su padre (Abuelito Miguel) - Siempre sonriendole a la Vida !! |
| My Mother dancing with her father (Grandpa Miguel) - Always smiling to Life !! |
| Una nota de mi madre, escrita para usted con todo cari�o y amor. La escribio con su propio pu�o y letra. Le costo mucho, pues le cuesta escribir, pues su brazo lo tiene muy d�bil. A note from my mother, writen to you with all her love. She wrote it herself, having a hard time, since her whole arm is very weak, because of what she is going through - But she did it baby !!! - CLICK ON THE MESSAGE TO SEE IT IN ENGLISH (translated by me). |
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| Click on this imagine to go and click on the pink button to help raise funds for mammograms. Haga un click en esta imagen para ayudar a recaudar fondos para mamogramas para gente necesitada. Lo unico que debe hacer es que cuando llegue a la pagina, haga click el boton rosado, y con solamente eso que haga, ya estara ayudando a gente con cancer. |