A Toast to Jodi

My sister, Tracy, sits on the board of her children’s preschool with a friend named Jodi.  Last year, Jodi found out she had breast cancer.  Her sister suggested that during her weekly chemo treatments, she should have a “theme” and have as much fun as one could possibly have during such a stressful time.  Jodi and everyone around her ran with it and she became known in the St. Louis area as The Crazy Chemo Lady.   Click on the link to see the news story that KSDK did on her.  Very inspiring!  She is still fighting her battle but winning a little each day!

The preschool board wanted to pay tribute to her (she was still an active member throughout her treatment) so they had a little surprise party for her last night.  In keeping with Jodi’s spirit, they had a Dr. Suess theme.  My sister composed this poem for her in Dr. Suess-ish rhyming.  I can’t read it without crying, can you!?

Congratulations! 

Hooray for you!

You made it through chemo

And radiation too!

Let’s jump up, let’s shout

Let’s have a party and let it all out!

From the beginning, your story we’ll tell

And what a great story!

A story good enough to sell!

Things started a bit rocky back in June

Cancer they said, could it be true?

Would you have to change your life so soon?

Would you have to start marching to a different tune?

No need to be glum your sister said

Let’s celebrate life, let’s paint the town red!

She had an idea to spread joy to others

It would take lots of work and plenty of druthers!

So take charge you did and what a blast!

We’ll recap it right here, we’ll make it real fast

Sixteen weeks of chemo

Wow that’s a lot!

A different theme each treatment,

Every week a new plot

A beach party started it all—what a hoot!

In good ole’ Texas style you gave cancer the boot!

There were pirates and princesses and clowns

Even the fun of Mardi Gras came to town

You had two parties, a birthday and garden tea

And did everyone have fun at the fiesta? Si! Si!

You decked out in red in support of our Cardinal birds

And had a safari with hats, but thankfully no elephant herds!

You took a bite out of cancer at the Halloween party

Your friend sent kimonos and fans for a Chinese soiree

Who could forget the luau with fruity drinks and lei’s?

And to finish it all off? Of course it was Pajama Days!

In the midst of it all, you organized a collection

Can you imagine their surprise when they saw the selection?

Over 400 jammies for kids in need

What an amazing person you are, what an awesome deed!

Your spirit was contagious, you helped others heal

You met interesting people, their stories so real

You touched so many lives in your own special way

Mike Bush even did your feature on KSDK!

Next stop was surgery to remove that stubborn lump

Just a kink in the chain, in the road a small bump

Recovery was tough, but you were a champ

With friends and family, life continued like a smoothly run camp

When the results came back with a spot on a lymph node

Would that get you down? Nope! Just another curve in the road

So what was up next, where was the next detour?

A chance to become a Super Radiator!

Once again you astounded us all with your spunk

When you’re around, happiness and joy are a slam dunk!

You saw it as 33 days to spread cheer

And encouraged others to do nice things far and near

Finally the month ended at long last

And you can now say cancer treatments are a thing of the past!

Now that part of your journey is over

I bet you feel like Horton after he found that special clover!

But we are the ones who gained the most

It’s all because of you that we throw up this toast!

You taught us how to look at our life

You showed us how to see good in strife

We learned from you that each day is a gift

No need to get down, someone’s always there for a lift

Watching you, we appreciate everything more

Every day is a blessing, life has so much in store

You leaned on God and he took care of you

We see His face in all you do

We don’t always understand all His plans

You told us don’t worry, He’s the Man!

Your journey will come full circle at this year’s Komen race

You’ve led by example, you’ve shown only beauty and grace

They are honoring you as this year’s Team Leader, and we all think

There is no one more deserving to be wearing all Pink!

You are lots of things and all of them true!

A wonderful mother, wife and great friend through and through

You’ll have lots of labels as you go through life

From “Crazy Chemo Lady” to Emily and Mia’s mom and Jim’s wife

A preschool board member, past exec and minivan driver

But best of all, you can say…

I

AM

A

SURVIVOR

!!!!!