Please Note: My mom was admitted into the hospital early February 27th (as in 2:00 am). By the time this post goes live, she may or may not be home, but everything that had been a concern (and there had been several) has improved and she’s feeling a lot better. I’ll be resting and taking care of her even more in the coming days, so…once again…my replies to comments and return visits to bloggers will be delayed. I will get to it eventually, though. Promise. Thanks for your understanding!
Update: She was discharged last night (February 28th). ❤️
Good Causes:
Causes and Donations - Books, Animals, and People / PART 1
Good Causes to Support / PART 2
I Donated My Hair / Good Causes PART 3
*** *** STAND UP TO CANCER *** ***
Every year, Stand Up To Cancer does a televised event that helps to raise awareness and bring in donations, but every month is cancer awareness month, every month you can donate to Stand Up To Cancer or to any cancer charity/organization.
From their website: Stand Up To Cancer’s (SU2C) mission is to raise funds to accelerate the pace of groundbreaking translational research that can get new therapies to patients quickly and save lives now.
SU2C brings together the best and the brightest researchers and mandates collaboration among the cancer community. By galvanizing the entertainment industry, SU2C has set out to generate awareness, educate the public on cancer prevention, and help more people diagnosed with cancer become long-term survivors.
My mom rang the chemo bell on February 14, 2022 (Valentine's Day). I sat with her during each of her six chemo treatments, and on that last one I wore a SU2C shirt that I bought just for this reason.
I will also wear it when she has her last radiation treatment, when she has a CT scan to check on the progress, and when she sees her doctor to hear the results and hopefully move on to the next phase of her treatment, which is immunotherapy.
During my mom's final treatment, I took pictures to document the moment, created a short video, and shared it on Instagram for everyone to see the details of her journey so far. You can watch it HERE on my Instagram.
Action Items:
- Buy SU2C merchandise and wear it proudly in public.
- Create a tribute placard with the name of a loved one who you stand up for. Check out mine below.
- Donate
*** *** PROTECT TRANS YOUTH *** ***
In Florida and Texas, transgender youth are being attacked by heartless people and politicians.
First off, are you a teacher? Check out the Free to Be Me: A Toolkit to Protect LGBTQIA+ Students' Rights.
Texas:
February 21, Attorney General Paxton said that gender-affirming care for trans youth is child abuse.
It's not.
What is child abuse? Physically injuring a child, sexually abusing a child, withholding food and water and shelter (neglect), psychological/emotional maltreatment (e.g. telling a child their worthless and unloved).
What is not child abuse? Affirming their gender.
Check out Schuyler Bailar's (@pinkmantaray) informative post on this HERE on Instagram.
These politicians who are going after trans youth are committing child abuse by making them feel worthless, unloved, unwanted, and blatantly attacking them and who they are. Their actions risk increasing suicidal ideation.
What's also horrifying is that Texas wants to investigate all parents of trans children as child abusers. Those investigations will harm loving parents and happy transgender children and hurt the children who are ACTUALLY being abused because they will get lost in the shuffle while social services investigate these ridiculous false claims against parents of trans kids.
It's beyond time to take action.
Florida:
February 25, the Florida House passed the "Don't Say Gay" bill.
From Equality Florida: "This dangerous bill blocks teachers from talking about LGBTQ issues or people and undermines existing protections for LGBTQ kids in schools. This legislation is meant to stigmatize LGBTQ people, isolate LGBTQ kids, and make teachers fearful of providing a safe, inclusive classroom. The existence of LGBTQ students and parents is not a taboo topic that has to be regulated by the Florida Legislature."
Action Items:
Send a (virtual) Love Letter to Trans Texans. The date has been extended to March 4th. "Declare your love and commitment to action to support and fight for trans people."
Send a pre-written message through Equality Texas to the Department of Family and Protective Services urging them to listen to medical experts and protect trans kids from politicians like Texas Governor Abbot and Attorney General Paxton.
Sign Equality Texas' Joint Statement Supporting the Care of Transgender Children. "Supporting and providing access to gender affirming care for transgender children promotes health and well-being. It is not child abuse. This approach is recommended by the prevailing standards of care, best practices, and guidelines endorsed by local, national and international professional organizations."
Sign this petition to Demand the Justice Department investigate Texas Governor Abbott for illegally targeting families of trans kids.
Sign this petition: Texas's Governor Wants to Hurt Trans Kids by Going After Supportive Parents. "Texas must prove it truly cares about children by standing up for trans kids, too."
Send pre-written letters to Florida senators through Equality Florida's to Tell Florida Lawmakers to Oppose "Don't Say Gay" Bill.
My Accountability: I have done all of these action items and the additional ones below.
Donate To:
Transgender Education Network of Texas (TENT)
Support queer and trans BIPOC communities through Allgo
Instagram Accounts to Follow:
Equality Florida @EqualityFL
ACLU of Florida @aclufl
Trans Texas @TransTexas
Equality Texas @EquailtyTexas
Allgo @allgoqpoc
Out Youth @OutYouth
Additional Action Items to Protect Trans Kids:
Join HRC’s Count Me In movement for trans and non-binary equality & get your FREE sticker in support of trans equality.
Sign this petition to Tell the Tennessee legislature to stop targeting trans kids.
Download and display a free Trans People Belong Here poster.
*** *** STAND WITH UKRAINE *** ***
Russia is invading Ukraine, risking the displacement of 5 millions Ukrainians, resulting in the largest refugee crisis currently impacting the world. Ukraine is in dire need of life-saving support, aid, and funds while while innocent civilians are forced to flee their homes.
Donate To:
Voices of Children - "Charitable Foundation Voices of Children helps children affected by the war in eastern Ukraine. Thanks to you, we provide psychological and psychosocial support to children. It helps them overcome the consequences of armed conflict and develop."
United Help Ukraine - "100% of all donations go to the cause (minus small transaction fees) and dedicated to help Ukraine."
Revived Soldiers Ukraine - "a non-profit organization dedicated to providing aid to the people of Ukraine so that they may fulfill fundamental rights and freedoms such as right to life, right to appropriate and affordable medical care, freedom of belief and freedom for an adequate standard of living."
Voxtok - SOS - provides "comprehensive assistance to conflict-affected persons and IDPs, promoting democratic transformation and human rights values in Ukraine."
NOVA Ukraine - a "registered non-profit organization (EIN 465335435) dedicated to raising awareness about Ukraine in the US and throughout the world and providing humanitarian aid to Ukraine."
Save the Children - "We are gravely concerned for children in Ukraine, Afghanistan and around the world who might be caught in the middle of armed conflict, forced to flee their homes and exposed to injury, hunger and sub-zero temperatures."
Catholic Relief Services - "CRS and Caritas partners on the ground are preparing across Ukraine and in bordering countries, ready to provide safe shelter, hot meals, hygiene supplies, fuel to keep warm, transport to safe areas, counseling support and more."
The Kyiv Independent - "Ukraine’s English-language media outlet, created by journalists who were fired from the Kyiv Post for defending editorial independence."
My Accountability: I have donated a combined total of $45.55 to two of the above charities.
Get Accurate Info:
Kyiv Post @KyivPost.official
Ukraine’s official social media accounts
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UkraineUA.MFA
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ukraine.ua/
President of Ukraine
Web: https://www.president.gov.ua/en
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ZelenskyyUa
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zelenskiy.official
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine
Web: https://mfa.gov.ua/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MFA_Ukraine
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UkraineMFA
SHARE WITH ME if you support these causes by taking any of the action steps.
QUESTION: Who do you stand up to cancer for?
Thanks for sharing all the ways we can make a difference. I'm so sorry that your mom is in the hospital, Chrys. I hope she can go home soon. And it's so great how you're totally there for her as she goes through this really challenging time in her life.
ReplyDeleteThank you for visiting this important post and for leaving a comment, Natalie!
DeleteFortunately, my mom was discharged from the hospital the night before this post went live. I'd forgotten to update my note at the top. Thank you for your well wishes. <3
Hi Chrys - I'm so pleased to read your mother is improving - long may it last ... and you: take care of yourself. Also all the best to all those causes you are supporting. Thank you for highlighting these. With thoughts - Hilary
ReplyDeleteThank you for your well wishes, Hilary, and for visiting this post full of causes that are deeply important to me.
DeleteI'm glad to hear your mom is doing better. There is just so much going on right now to be outraged about. I can't keep up with it all.
ReplyDeleteThere certainly is a lot to be outraged about these days.
DeleteYay for ringing the bell! Hope all is looking up as you read this.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the list of action items - the world is overwhelming and it's so important to take steps to help.
Mr Rogers always said to look for the helpers. Thanks for being one.
The world is very overwhelming. I find compilation posts like this on social media very helpful in taking that extra step with ease.
DeleteI hope Mr. Rogers would be proud of me and other helpers supporting these causes. I for one believe he'd support trans people and Ukraine.
I always love these posts because you take the time to list action items for your readers.
ReplyDeleteLike Jemi said, thank you for being a helper.
Thank you, M.J.! It's always nice to know these posts are appreciated. :)
DeleteThank you, Chrys. Your blog posts are always helpful in their content and inspiration. Hugs to you and your mom! I stand up to cancer for my friends Nils, Auden and Assima.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, Adrienne! I truly do my best to create posts that can inspire and be of true use.
DeleteSending love and light to Nils, Auden, and Assima.
I am so sorry to hear about your mom. I'm glad she's home now.
ReplyDeleteLots of great information here. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you so much for visiting and commenting, Sherry!
DeleteWe all need to make a difference to others in positive ways. Even one act of kindness can change another's world, sometimes forever.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad your mom is home and doing better.
Teresa
I agree, Teresa. Whole-heartedly. :)
DeleteThank you!
Florida and Texas... wow. Attack children, that'll help make the world a better place... 🙄😒. People talk about compromise and crossing the aisle and that stuff... but if you're gonna treat some people like they aren't people or aren't who they really are, then you can't represent them, and therefore have failed at your job. Sitting around saying, "maybe we should start oppression younger!"
ReplyDelete🤬
Yeah... I should shut up now.
Hope you're having a great day! My latest blog post has my theme for the April #AtoZChallenge (I'm writing speculative fiction and looking for prompts).
At Operation Awesome we have the #PassOrPages query contest going on (friends or enemies to lovers Romance).
Looks like I'll be very busy the next few weeks!
March quote: "Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do." - Mark Twain
Florida and Texas are doing horrible things to innocent children and people.
DeletePlease, don't shut up. Keep speaking loudly. <3
The United States is quickly circling the drain, moving faster and faster the closer it gets to the edge--too bad thsi country is not united no matter our differences. You are right about child abuse--it's rampant. The system doesn't do much to protect us from the attackers, especially emotional abuse as that is very difficult to have stand up in court despite papertrails!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to hear that your mom is feeling better!
Yes, emotional abusers often don't face any consequences. The impact of emotional abuse lingers much longer than physical abuse (the body heals), but it's the mind that can be impossible to heal.
DeleteThank you, Elizabeth!
Thank you for your vigilance with these posts. They are good reminders for the rest of us not to become complacent. I lost my sister-in-law to cancer and wrote about her recently on my blog. I stand up for her.
ReplyDeleteThank you for honoring your sister-in-law, Toi. ❤️
Delete