I found this story recently and it brought back such memories for me. I wanted to share it with ya'll and at the end I'll add my own comments.

“65 Roses” is what little children suffering from cystic fibrosis call their disease. As the following true story illustrates, the words are much easier for children to pronounce.

…..Mary G. Weiss became a volunteer for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in 1965 after learning that her three little boys had cystic fibrosis.

Her duty was to call every civic club, social and service organization, seeking financial support for cystic fibrosis research.

Mary’s four-year-old son, Richard, listened closely to his mother as she made each call. After several calls, Richard came into the room and told his mom, “I know what you are working for.”

Mary was dumbstruck because Richard did not know what she was doing, nor did he know that he had cystic fibrosis.

With some trepidation, Mary posed the question back to Richard, “What am I working for, Richard?”

“You are working for 65 Roses,” he answered so sweetly. Mary was speechless. She went over to him and tenderly pressed his tiny body to hers. He could not see the tears running down Mary’s cheeks as she stammered, “Yes, Richard, I’m working for 65 Roses.”

For 40 years, 65 Roses has been used by children of all ages to describe their disease. But making it easier to say doesn’t make cystic fibrosis any easier to live with….

….the ugly fact is that cystic fibrosis is the number-one genetic killer of children and young adults in the US today.

I grew up always aware of this disease as I had a cousin who suffered from it. He was one of the most selfless and amazing people I've ever been fortunate enough to know in my lifetime.

When he was 25 he received a double lung transplant and for the first time in his life he could breath easily, he felt great. This is basically the only cure there is at this time for this disease so in a way, he was finally cured. But a transplant brings on other complications. Two years after he received his transplant he went into chronic rejection. One month after his 28th birthday, we lost him.

So in his honor and in his memory, I plan to donate a portion of my gifts this month to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Thanks!!

Violet


…kisses aren't promises and presents are not contracts, and you learn that even sunshine burns…


www.violet-gfe.com