Calling all bloggers...

As I type, I'm sitting in an airport waiting on a delayed flight.  I've had a lot of time to ponder things the past few days...time in airports, time in airplanes, time in the car, time in a quiet hotel room - lots of think time!  I keep thinking of people that I need to thank, chores I need to do, business ideas, ideas for the Jennifer Ireland Foundation, and much more.  My "to do" list keeps growing!  One thing I keep coming back to is the unbelievable amount of traffic on this blog.  Just a few days ago, for no particular reason, there were 8000 page views and I didn't even post.  As we near 400,000 hits since early January of 2006, I figured I could spread the attention.  I have had countless people contact me regarding their own similar situations or stories of friends, family, or acquaintances that are enduring cancer.  Many of these patients out there have been communicating to others via blogs and there are even some that were inspired to start a blog after reading ours.  I'd like to start compiling a list of those blog sites and spread the love, attention, encouragement, and prayers that Jen and our family have been so fortunate to experience.  On the right sidebar of this blog I have set up a "blogroll" called the Cancer Blog Network.  I'd like to continue to add sites to that list as they are brought to my attention.  You are all such great people and there are so many out there that deserve the attention that you have given us.  Something as simple as blog traffic statistics (hits on a person's blog) can be an additional tool of encouragement for those affected by this crappy disease.  I said crappy, but I meant something else!  Anyway, I'll add the blogs to this post and the blogroll as they come...

Cancer Blog Network

Anice Sewell - Anice is a young wife and mother with three small children, Zachary, Kylie, and Tate. Anice was diagnosed with breast cancer in March of 2007.

Colon Cancer Sucks Ass - Christine is a 29 year old diagnosed with colon cancer in August of 2005.

Shawndra Turner - Shawndra is a 30 year old mother and wife diagnosed with colorectal cancer in November of 2006.

Dana Velander (Caringbridge site) - Dana is an 8 year old diagnosed with a relaps of liver cancer in 2004.  She has shown no sign of disease since September of 2005.

Katie Smith - Maintained by her husband James.  Katie passed away in November of 2006 following a battle with pancreatic cancer.

Keith McCord - Maintained by his wife Stephanie.  Keith, father and husband, passed away in December of 2006 following a battle with cancer.

Karen Kisherwood - Karen is a 35 year old mother and wife that was diagnosed with breast cancer in May of 2005.

Wendy Mundell - Wendy is a 41 year old wife diagnosed with colon cancer in January of 2006.

A Journal of Survival - With help from daughter Misty, Donna maintains a blog.  Donna was diagnosed with breast cancer in November of 2006.

Kari Moroz - Kari is a 30 year old mother diagnosed with breast cancer in 2006.

Leroy Sievers - "My Cancer" is a blog chronicalling Leroy's battle with cancer.  He has worked for both CBS and ABC News and is the former executive producer of Nightline.

Nate Barrell  - Nate is a 31 year old father diagnosed with colon cancer in January of 2006.

Jaymun Kaat - Young child diagnosed with a rare form of Leukemia shortly after birth.

Tom Lavelle - Tom is a 39 year old husband and father diagnosed with kidney cancer in June of 2005.  He currently shows no visible sign of disease.

Adam Beldycki - Adam is a 31 year old that has battled colon cancer.  He is currently visibly free of disease.

Sahara Aldridge - 12 year old diagnosed with brainstem tumor in 2006.

Lara Dwyer - Lara, wife and mother of two, passed away in January of 2007 at age 32 following a year and a half battle with cancer.

Kristy Dusseau - Kristy was diagnosed with leukemia at the age of 24.  She is now 26 and fighting like a champ.

Mary Winfrey - Mary, a good friend of the family, was diagnosed with breast cancer in December of 2006.  This wife and mother of one will not let her diagnosis slow her down.

Trent Zimmerman - Trent passed away in April of 2007 at 20 years old. He was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in the summer of 2004.  In January of 2006 he found out the cancer had returned.  His girlfriend Casey McCoy has maintained a Carepages.org site for Trent called TrentZimm.

May Jen's strength and courage be inspiration to those fighting cancer, and may our family's love and resolve to carry on in Jen's honor be inspiration to those that have lost loved ones as a result of cancer.

Comments

[Trevor Birch]

Hey Chris,

I was just thinking about you. I hope that you are hanging in there strong. I'm glad that you have two beautiful daughters to hold on to through all of this.

Let me know when you are coming down to your dad's lake house. I'll drop by for dinner or a boat ride. I really want to use that wave runner.

Your Favorite Cousin,
Trevor

[Misty]

I have a friend, 35 years old, five young children, stage 4 breast cancer. www.kisherwood.blogspot.com

[Jennifer]

I just want to tell you that I admire your strength through all of this. I check your blog everyday because I care about you and your girls (including Princess Belle!)

[Wendy Mundell]

Hi Chris,
I am a 41 year old female diagnoses with stage IV colon cancer Jan 2006. I continue to fight for those who have lost their lives to this disease before me.
My website is www.wendysbattle.com
I am inspired by Jen and your strength throughout her battle.
Thanks for helping us get our stories out.

Wendy

[Jane Rumping]

Hi Chris, Thanks for the continued updates. I still check the blog everyday, and I imagine I will for a very long time to come.
I have mixed emotions about sharing this bit of news with you, but David was alright with it, so I will be too. The day after Jennifer passed away, we found out that one of our nieces on David's side, Hannah Rumping, age 2, was diagnosed with leukemia. She has a very rare type, and must have a bone marrow transplant. She is in Cincinnati Children's Hospital, and her blog is managed by carepages.com. I think that it is wonderful that you are pulling people together that are effected by cancer to creat one big support system. We look forward to seeing you and the girls very soon. Please take care, and all our love, Jane

[valerie]

You just continue to amaze us with your strength! What a wonderful thing for you to set up! I will, just as everyone else, continue to check in on you and your family each day and now I can spread my prayers around! Take care and keep up the good work, at home, work, the grocery store :) and anywhere else life takes you!

[melissa temple]

http://pinkdonna.blogspot.com/

[Jennifer C. Ireland]

Hi...Just happened to stumble across this blog when I googled my name. I lost my mother to colon cancer when I was 15. I just wanted to let you know there is strength in numbers. I pray everyday for those who are battling cancer and those who are holding their hands. Please know that your strength and charisma are an inspiration to many and are holding many more hands than those of your mother and wife. Thank you for creating such a wonderful foundation! Sincerely, Jen Ireland

[Jennifer Teegarden MD]

Chris,

Hope you are enjoying your travels and have a safe trip back to KC. I think it is wonderful that you are reaching out to other families faced with cancer. You & your girls continue to remain in my thoughts and prayers. I hope that you all have a wonderful weekend.

Jennifer

[Gayle]

What a great idea to post all the links to other blogs so people can share their stories, concerns and victories too. The following is a link to an amazing blog by Leroy Sievers called My Cancer. It is updated Monday through Friday with posts and commentaries from Leroy Sievers. A journalist for more than 25 years, Leroy has worked at CBS News and ABC News, where he was the executive producer at Nightline. You can follow his story through this blog, his weekly podcast and his monthly series on Morning Edition.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5497708

You can also sign up to receive daily updates directly from NPR.

[Nate Barrell]

Hi Chris,

I have Stage 4 colon and I post blogs on my myspace page....please add me to your blogroll...thanks

Nate Barrell
www.myspace.com/mixedn8

[Sherri P]

I don't know this family personally, but their story is encouraging and inspiring. Jaymun's Journey

http://www.jaymun.com/family/familyTHREE.shtml

[Alaina]

Chris,

Hopefully, posting these websites will generate more prayers and thoughts to the families experiencing and battling cancer! Your strength and determination remains to be an insipration to everyone who reads the blog.

Have a good weekend!

Alaina

[Dustin Ireland]

Chris,
The music is a great addition to an already incredible site! I know Jen would have loved to log on and jam as she read through all of the uplifting comments. Chris your strength continues to amaze us all as you fight through everyday. Jen was able to move on knowing that her precious daughters were being left in very capable hands. May the Lord give you the continual strength to be the rock that so many have learned to lean on.

Your bro,
D

[Tom Lavelle]

Chris

www.cheeseburgerstogo.blogspot.com

My cancer turned out to bbe only stage II after an initial scare. But, I keep it updated to let people no where I am at. Feel free to link to it if you think it is worth while.

Keep up the fight! This beast will be beaten. And it will happen because of people like you!

[Heather Russell]

Chris-
Thank you for posting this information. You are helping others so much by showing us your strength and courage. I will continue to check your site daily for updates. Be strong.

Sincerely, Heather R.

[Leslie Parkes]

This is my first time commenting. I found the site a few days before Jen's passing when a friend posted the site info on her Facebook page. I was intrigued and read through the entire site in just a few days. I was so sorry to hear of Jen's passing, but I am so happy to see you still blogging away. It is such a blessing to see what a terrible thing can do to pull a family together and continue on, even in the hardest times. I know your girls will have wonderful memories of their mom provided by you, Jan, and all of Jen's other family and friends. I pray for the three of you each day. I got my Jennifer Ireland bracelet the other day and have worn it since. Although she is gone, Jen is still a hero to many. May God bless you and your wonderful little family!

[Dawn]

Hi Chris

You continue to inspire so many of us with your strength. This is a fantastic idea! Just today, I was wearing my bracelet (as always) and someone at work asked me what it was for and I told them and gave them the web page link as well. You have inspired people worldwide and I, like many others, check the blog daily for snippets of information about you, your beautiful princesses, Jan, the family and Belle - how's she settled?

Love from rainy ;-( Wales, Dawn and Glyn x

[Adam]

Hello Chris,

I am also a 31 yr old stage IV colon cancer fighter and have been following your family's story. Yours and your wife's determination has been an inspiration to me.

my website: www.adambeldycki.com

Thank you for your updates,

Adam

[Lauren]

I just wanted to thank you. I recieved the Jennifer Ireland bracelet. It really is fashionable. I still check everyday for an update of some sort. Just to know that you are ok. Your girls are beautiful and you are doing a wonderful job with them. Your wife is smiling down at you. I am sure she is very proud.

[Jessica Stevenson]

Chris

You are a very thoughtful person for trying to help others in your situation. There are alot of people who would not due the same that were in your shoes, for that I praise you. I have looked at the other blogs that you have posted and they to are very touching stories. Have a wonderful weekend and keep doing the wonderful things that you are doing.

[Alaina]

Chris...

P.S. I LOVE the music! It's a very nice touch! (Might have to check out their CD)

Alaina

[Christol]

Chris you continue to amaze me. It's awesome that you can help bring attention to all these other people who also need our thoughts and prayers! I'm moving home next week so if you need any help with the girls or anything at all I will be around! Have a great weekend! ~Christol

[RH]

Everyone is sooo young...this is very humbling... Jennifer's blog along with all the others listed have changed me forever...gotta go and love on my kiddos.
Thanks

[Rylina Danley]

AMAZING!! That is the only word I can think of. As I check this blog and am always amazed at how strong you are and how selfless you are. You are truly an inspiration to so many. Thank you. I sent this story to Opera but I wish some more people would as well as I am not the writer that you are so I am not sure I got their attention enough! You are truly a gift from God.