Those Purple Wristbands

(Yiddish) "Ahz mir tracht goot, vet zein goot."

(Translation) "If you think it is good, it is good." -Auntie Rivian

Derek and I have been blown away by the response to the purple wristbands that my aunt, Nancy, ordered for us to share. What began as a simple way for our family and friends to show support for Derek has grown into a fundraising opportunity for pancreatic cancer research that we are proud to endorse. Increased funds toward pancreatic cancer research will make a difference in the treatment options of patients just like Derek, and together, we believe that our community will make a difference in the future of this disease. We hope many of our local friends will join us at Michael's Hot Dogs in Highland Park on January 19th where a portion of the evening's proceeds will be donated to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) and the Rolfe Pancreatic Cancer Foundation (Rolfe Foundation). Special thanks to our cousin Susie and aunts Nancy, Barbara, and Gayle for helping coordinate this event.

It's funny how something so small can signify something so big. Those purple wristbands stand for much more than our love for Derek and our goal of increasing the pancreatic cancer survival rate; they symbolize a shared hope that Derek can win this fight! Earlier this week, our visit with Dr. K left us feeling overwhelmed and afraid, but slowly, as we began putting one foot in front of the other, we reclaimed our belief that Derek will beat this disease. As my brother, Jeff, reminded me the other night: "Someone has to beat the odds. So, why not Derek?"

Today, Derek received his port so that chemo can begin on Tuesday. We will try to post an update next week to keep everyone informed of his treatment. Don't forget to join our text group to send good vibes to Derek and receive mini updates by texting @BigDFaust to 81010. Thank you for all of your good wishes and messages of strength! Keep them coming! You make a difference!