Thanksgiving

Tomorrow we celebrate Thanksgiving here in the USA. I love the Thanksgiving season because even though I try to be thankful all year round, it’s a good reminder for me to count my blessings.

With PC Project, my many blessings come in the form of people. I am so grateful for the many PCers who have touched my life. They have given me strength, ideas and encouragement. They’ve also been great role models for my children with PC. If you are a PCer reading this, I hope you’ll know what a tremendous blessing you are to me. Because of you, I do not feel isolated or PC lonely.

I’m thankful for the scientists and physicians who graciously share their time and talents within the PC consortium. I’m thankful for their spirit of cooperation and collaboration in a competitive field. In particular, I’m thankful for the scientists close to this siRNA project that is coming closer to clinical trials. They’ve found something that has a real shot at working. I never thought I’d see the day. I’m still amazed that scientists who are so brilliant they could do successful research anywhere are dedicating their careers to finding an effective treatment for the very rare PC. If nothing even worked, I’d still be grateful because of their tremendous efforts for us PCers.

Part of my thanks concerning the upcoming clinical trial is towards three consultants not associated with our PC consortium who have volunteered their time, talents and expertise. When these professionals whom we’ve never even met realized this is an out-of- pocket expense for a rare disorder, not a pharmaceutical project, they donated all their services free of charge. There is absolutely no way this clinical trial would be at the point it’s at now, or could proceed, without these remarkable individuals continually helping this complicated process.

A little closer to home, I’m grateful to Mary’s assistant at PC Project, Holly, who is the perfect match with perfect skills for a PC Project team member. She is cheerful, happy and competent. Every time I’m around her I am impressed by her abilities and disposition. I know Mary appreciates her very much. The “office staff” at PC Project consists of Mary and Holly so that tells you how much Holly is valued. Last week, Holly went on vacation. I knew for sure she was priceless because of how much she was missed.

Finally, my greatest thanks is for Mary. I think I could just stop typing because nothing I write here will ever convey what her work and her sacrifices mean to me. If there were no PC Project, I would still have an incredible second mom who I talk with and confide in, who helps me with personal problems and cheers me on in life. She would still have my greatest thanks. Everything Mary touches in her life is successful, regardless of what it is, big or small. Mary helps many people and in so many ways. I could make lists of the organizations and people she’s helped and influenced. Mary could have chosen any cause, any project and made it just as successful as PC Project. But she chose PC. Maybe she would tell you PC chose her. Either way, I am humbled, grateful, and still overcome with emotion even after several years of watching her labor with love day after day (and night after night) to help us PCers. She does it without any thought of personal reward or gain. But even without her PC work I am thankful that I have her in my life forever.

Yes, it’s Thanksgiving time here. To all of you wonderful people in the PC world – THANK YOU!