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| Molly Bell |
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In the early 90's my brother, Russ Bell, was diagnosed with Testicular cancer during his Junior Year of College. Overnight, he was transported to M.D. Anderson in Houston, Texas where he stayed for the next year and a half, fighting for his life. The same year my father, Larry Bell, was diagnosed with Lymphoma, and started down his own path as he fought to extend his life for as long as possible.
Ten years later, his fight ended and he died at the age of 57.
My whole family is musical. We all sing, we all play instruments, we literally have family talent shows. My brother Russ, played the guitar and sang for the hospital nurses during his treatment. Cancer free, he now plays across the country in the band The Bell Brothers.
At my fathers memorial, the whole crowd burst into song as a celebration of his life. So five years ago, I came up with this concert series as a way to gather people together and let us experience a world that is better with music & art.
Before my dad died he said to me, "You'll do something a little different with your life. I don't see you behind a computer. I hope that you'll continue down the path of performing and perhaps weave teaching into the journey." Amazing how right he was! I have decided to pick a family each year that needs help from the community as they embark on their journey.
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| Daya Curley |
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I was not intimately familiar with sickness and death. I reached the age of 42 without experiencing either close up. In the back of my mind I knew that shoe had to drop at some point.
I never suspected it would strike my sister.
We were 13 months apart in age. We grew up together, hung out together, had many of the same friends. We had an unspoken understanding of each other. Victoria was small and spunky...a spitfire who glowed with energy and attracted those around her like moths to flame. She was very serious about fitness...was a Yoga instructor...and inspired and nagged those around her to take care of themselves.
In April of 2006 she was diagnosed with AML. I had no idea what leukemia was at that point. But we all buckled in and started the fight.
Victoria lived in San Francisco, so I was able to spend time with her. My mother and father made many extended trips from Michigan to care for Victoria with her husband Noah.
We all thought she would win the fight. We assumed it. She found a stem cell donor much faster than the doctors expected...and one year after her bone marrow transplant, she was on the road to recovery. She gave an amazing speech at Light The Night that October:
Unfortunately, Victoria didn't make it. She started a downhill slide right after this video was shot...and within 6 months she was gone. She fought until the end. Hard. She didn't deserve to be cut off. No one does.
We are grateful that Victoria and Noah had enough medical insurance. She received the best care possible.
The idea that a person and their families have to face this kind of battle without or with not enough insurance stops me cold. It's not right...it's not fair...and it's something we all have to try to correct.
As Victoria believed...we are here to take care of each other...it's something for which we're programmed.
We might ask ourselves: who are we to correct such a big problem? But really, who are we to not at least try.
Please join us.
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| Kurt Kuckein |
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Kurt Kuckein's mother, Carolyn Kuckein, battled stage 4 pancreatic cancer for two years (longer than expected) and lost her battle January 2nd, 2004.
It was amazing to see how gracefully she handled her illness. She even attended a New Year's eve party just two nights before passing away.
Kurt works with Charitable Fabulosity in her honor.
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| Becky Bell |
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Becky Bell is no stranger to cancer. Both her husband, Larry Bell and son Russell Bell were diagnosed within six months of each other.
Larry with Lymphoma and Russell with Testicular cancer at the age of 22.
Thankfully, Russell completed a rigorous year and a half of chemotherapy and is cancer free, but Larry passed away at the age of 57.
A pharmacist for over forty years, Becky helps educate others on the importance of lifestyle design when it comes to taking care of our bodies.
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