A Celebration of Life

This April, we had the opportunity to participate in a fundraiser for a very special lady. Mary is my (Rachel's) aunt and has always been a source of smiles, laughs, and encouragement for our family. She was one of the first outside my immediate family to tell me I "really have a knack for this" when I brought floral arrangements to family gatherings!

Mary was diagnosed with MDS (see below) in 2010, which began a year-long fight involving chemo, a life-saving bone marrow transplant from her sister Amy, and nearly 7 months total in the hospital. While the transplant stopped the MDS, unfortunately the side effects - and associated medical costs - continue. So in April, hundreds of people gathered to celebrate Mary, Amy, and LIFE at a concert, meal, and silent auction benefiting Mary & her family.  We were honored to provide almost a dozen items, ranging from small vased nosegays to avant-garde centerpieces to a gorgeous crystal vase. 

 Kale as a spring flower? Sure, why not!

MDS stands for Myelodysplastic Syndrome. It is a pre-cancerous condition that affects bone marrow, which causes anemia, low blood counts, and often (but not always) leads to acute myelogenous leukemia quite rapidly. The most concise explanation I've heard is that MDS is to Leukemia what HIV is to AIDS.

Read more about MDS here and consider becoming part of the National Marrow Donor Program's bone marrow registry. YOU can save a life!

Photos largely stolen from cousins' Facebook profiles... thanks guys!

Read more about MDS here and consider becoming part of the National Marrow Donor Program's bone marrow registry. YOU can save a life!