Some months back Sharon and I went down to Port Charlotte for a charity auction benefiting a friend of ours, Rena Dalva, that was diagnosed with cancer. I had donated a manatee painting that I had created for the auction and plus Sharon’s sister Rachie was throwing a baby shower for her so we drove down. Our good friend Scooter even built a boat and raffled it off with proceeds going to her. The community really rose to the occasion, they showed up and all in all $18,000+ was generated. It was a great day.
Well this past week Rena’s cancer had grown a tumor near her heart and no medicine was able to save her. She struggled to hold on until Christmas and to see her family one last time. She lasted until Christmas Eve morning when her body finally gave out and the world lost a good soul. We will all miss her but her spirit will surely live on. She made many friends and there are many hearts praying for her.
I dedicate Shoe #271, which I found just 30 minutes or so after she passed. May she be at peace wherever she may be, and maybe, just maybe she will meet Noah there. We may all meet again someday, but until then, goodbye Rena, and God bless your wonderful soul.
One way I would like to make her passing count and help others is to use get more exposure and knowledge out about a sinister killer many just attribute to older smokers–Lung Cancer. Here is a link to an article ABC news did to shed light on this very prominent and deadly disease that kills tens of thousands of non-smoking young women, more than from breast, ovarian, and uterine cancers combined >>
click on a photo to enlarge.