Bug and the "free t-shirt" that changed my whole outlook on life.

After reading about an internet acquaintance who was facing a long, difficult path of chemotherapy ahead, I couldn't help but notice his incredibly upbeat personality shining through.

I wrote the following e-mail message:

----- Original Message -----
From: iHope Shop
To: Bug
Subject: cancer sucks
Date: Sat, 24 Mar 2007

I would be honored to send you a shirt from the iHope cancer fundraiser store. Your kind of attitude is exactly what the shirts in the "awesome attitude" section are all about.

Choose whatever message and ribbon/text colors you like, I can customize the ribbon to fit the type of cancer, any color you want.

http://www.cafepress.com/ihope

Just let me know the item # of the shirt or whatever you choose, and what color(s) or what you want it to say.


Now mind you, I'm nice, but I'm not made of sunshine and rainbows. I'm a business-minded person. I also posted a brief version of this message on a public forum, hoping that some of the readers would visit the site and give the fundraiser a little boost. Kinda giving my own halo a little extra polish, you know?

Here's the reply from Bug:

This is the nicest thing anyone has done for me in all of this, thank you! And for what a great cause!

If you would, please send me a white t-shirt with "cancer doesn't know who it's dealing with" on it! And I promise to wear it proudly!

My address is : ...

Thank you again! You're the bestest!

BUG

I created the "awesome attitude" designs to help bring smiles, laughter and a positive outlook to people dealing with cancer, as a patient or caregiver. To spread a little humor and remember what's important.

I didn't realize that I was the one in need of help with that.

I was surprised and pleased to find a thank you e-mail just a few days later ...

Hi!

Sorry I didn't get back to you sooner. I got my shirt the other day and it is a perfect fit!

Thanks again, and I will wear it proudly!

BUG


Isn't it sad that I was surprised to get a thank you note? How often do we take it for granted when a "company" sends a free gift in the mail ... even when it is a small, volunteer-driven office of one?

But I had a lot more pleasant surprises ahead from my new friend Bug. :)

I could not get over how thankful he was for what seemed to me to be just a very small token. There were several public thank yous over the course of his treatment, as he'd update those interested on the message board.

I was always touched that he thought so highly of me for sending him the t-shirt, and always impressed at his happy-to-be-alive attitude. Bug became my friend on Myspace and Facebook, and when my status was usually "grrr" his was often "It's a BEAUTIFUL day!!" That never failed to make me smile and remember those little things (and BIG things) that we take for granted, like our good health when we have it.

AW, sorry to hear you are not having the best of days! It will make tomorrow seem that much better.
All my positive thoughts and wishes are headed your way to maybe help make it a gooder day!
(any day your above room temp has at least a little good to it!!!)

BUG


You've been an inspiration to me, sir.

I was sorry to read that Bug had to go back to the doctor again, with concerns over the cancer returning, a year after the story began. I sent a quick "just checking in" note, and here is the reply:

Hey lady! Long time no hear from!

Hope all is well in your little corner of the world. I have another oncologist appt next Tuesday but it was 12 weeks this time instead of just 6.

I know this sounds funny, but I get nervous before I go there, I convince myself they will find it back again, LOL. Just me being paranoid I guess. Time to dig "the shirt" out again!

Speaking of the shirt, I had a thought the other day I would like to run by you, for this will not happen without your blessing. I am sure I am over and done with my cancer, but it bothers me to see the faces of folks obviously in the oncology department for the first time, scared as hell and not sure who or where to turn to.

I would like to start a tradition of sorts with the shirt. I will sign it, date it, and pass it on to someone I feel it will do some good for, with their promise to down the road sign it and pass it along, and so on and so on, etc. Of course at the top just above my signature will be your name in large print! I would hope others would get as much comfort and reassurance from that shirt as I have!

Let me know what you think. If you don't like this idea, I will gladly keep and wear it to each and every oncology appointment from now on.

Thanks again! (I can't say that enough!)

BUG


Yeah, this one brought tears to the eyes of one sarcastic screw-the-whole-dumb-world lady who went out one day simply fishing for a few more site hits.

From my Facebook inbox, a while back:

Thanks for the "drink"! I needed it on my 46-1 birthday!

BUG

p.s. 46 years by nature and my 1st birthday I get to celebrate that I would not have had without modern meds and friends like you!!!


:)

And, the latest update from Facebook:

Just got my latest PET scan results, the Oncologist is sending me to a vet because I am healthy as a HORSE!

The shirt you sent me (thank you!) has a new home now. I gave it to a young lady here at work. She is 18 years old and about to go back to St. Judes for her second round of radiation (1st was when she was 9). She has a tumor on her brain wrapped around her optic nerve, she is an inspiration, she already has it beat and is planning the rest of her life.

I told her I wanted the shirt back after her 1 year clean so I can find someone else that needs it at that point! Hope all is sooper-d-dooper in your little corner of the world.

BUG