Continue Barb's Fight Against Leukemia

Continue Barb's Fight Against Leukemia at http://pages.teamintraining.org/mn/lifetri10/OssyPosse

The Ossy Posse "Team In Training" site is here. Donations to this site will be the same as those sent to the address listed in the previous post.

Barb's fight with cancer ended on December 20th. Her strength and courage during her 8 month battle was amazing. Unfortunately, medical science has not yet found a reliable cure for her type of Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). It was her tremendous desire to live, which enabled her to surpass the average life expectancy of someone with this devastating disease.

Barb's treatment included an experimental round of chemotherapy. She volunteered to participate in the study not only because it could have been the cure that she so desperately sought, but also because she wanted to help continue the fight against AML.

She has been contributing to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society for 12 years, since her sister-in-law died of Leukemia. Now, we have the opportunity to continue the fight.

We are raising money for Leukemia research as members of The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Team in Training program at The Lifetime Fitness Triathlon race July 10th. We will be racing in honor of Barb's life, as a wife, mother, grandma, sister, and friend.

Please join us in our tribute to Barb by helping us meet our fundraising goal.

Thank you for your support!

Darrell, David, Jeanine

Barbara Jean Wilk, July 29, 1945 - December 20, 2009

From Jeanine:

Dearest Friends,
My mom passed away this morning. It's hard to believe over eight months has passed since my mom's diagnosis. This year has consisted of the most life changing events of my life. The year began with so much promise and excitement. I was expecting the birth of our baby girl in July, completing my graduate degree in May, starting my new career in the fall, and planned to escape the dreadful Minnesota winter by spending time with my parents in Arizona. I feel so blessed to have had the opportunity to enjoy one last trip to AZ with my mom last March. I will forever cherish the memories from that trip. I am also so thankful my mom survived long enough to celebrate the milestones that came to pass this year even if it was not in the way we had intended. Her spirit will live on through her friends and family. I am so blessed to have had such a spectacular mother and friend. I will forever strive to be as wonderful to my children as she was to hers.

I realize I've been difficult to contact during the past month and want you all to know how much your notes, cards, calls, and text messages helped me through this heartbreaking struggle. I have been overwhelmed by your generosity. It has been difficult to see the good in this experience and you have all shown me true love and compassion. You have given me a gift, which I will always treasure.

Thank You,
Love to you all this holiday season,

Jeanine

From Darrell:
Barb asked me to let you know that memorial donations are preferred to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) in lieu of flowers.

So, Dave, Jeanine and I are going to participate in a Leukemia and Lymphoma Society program called "Team in Training" where we race in a LLS sponsored Triathlon event to raise money for Leukemia research. If you are interested, please make checks payable to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society at:

The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
8441 Wayzata Blvd, Suite 340
Golden Valley, MN 55426

Please include Barb's name on the check.

Barb has been donating to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society since our sister-in-law, Marge, died of Leukemia 12 years ago. There has been tremendous progress in curing and controlling certain types of Leukemia during this time. Hopefully, some day, others will be spared what Barb has gone through with AML Leukemia.