and my white trash tattoo on my leg.
I've always felt that my tattoos, no matter how cute, silly, or odd are a representation of where I am at that time in my life. When I am old I want to be able to "read" my body and remember what an amazing ride this has been. So with that in mind, Paul and I talked about it, I threw a few ideas out, and we agreed that it was time to start my 65 Roses Tattoo.
A little background. I think everyone knows that my husband Paul has Cystic Fibrosis. And most folks know that I work for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation as a Director of Special Events. So my whole life is CF...all the time! It really has been since I started dating Paul 13 years ago, but now that I work for the Foundation it is on my mind even more, though I hadn't thought that was possible.
There isn't a waking moment of my life that isn't consumed with a thought about CF. Did Paul refill his prescriptions? Is Paul coughing more than usual? How is my friend with CF doing in the hospital? How is my friend with CF doing with all the snow? Has the FDA looked at VX 809 again yet? Should I look into a live band for the walk in HB? Will I get the permits from the city for the new Long Beach walk? Can I meet my $750,000 fundraising budget this year? Have the latest lab results come back for Paul? How did my little 7-year old friend with CF do with her last surgery? She is such a trooper! What will the brand new CF mom tell me when she calls back, what is her CF story? Is that amazing young woman with CF still with us, or did she already pass away? Why didn't her body accept her new lungs? Will that happen to Paul someday? What will I do if I lost Paul?
Okay, so you get that CF is a large part of my life, but where do the roses come in? Read on, the first time I heard this story I knew I would have a rose tattoo...I just didn't know how many roses I would end up with!
"65 Roses" is what some children with cystic fibrosis (CF) call their disease because the words are much easier for them to pronounce.
Mary G. Weiss became a volunteer for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in 1965 after learning that her three little boys had CF. Her duty was to call every civic club, social and service organization seeking financial support for CF research. Mary's 4-year-old son, Richard, listened closely to his mother as she made each call.
The Weiss brothers, Richard, 5; Arthur, 7 and Anthony, 16 months.After several calls, Richard came into the room and told his Mom, "I know what you are working for." Mary was dumbstruck because Richard did not know what she was doing, nor did he know that he had cystic fibrosis. With some trepidation, Mary asked, "What am I working for, Richard?" He answered, "You are working for 65 Roses." Mary was speechless.
He could not see the tears running down Mary's cheeks as she stammered, "Yes Richard, I'm working for 65 Roses."
Since 1965, the term "65 Roses" has been used by children of all ages to describe their disease. But, making it easier to say does not make CF any easier to live with. The "65 Roses" story has captured the hearts and emotions of all who have heard it. The rose, appropriately the ancient symbol of love, has become a symbol of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
So Paul and Jen and I sat down and talked about it and decided on 65 roses on my left leg. Not the words 65 Roses, not a rose or two and then something abstract...65 whole, individual roses on my leg. When I called the tattoo shop to book the first appointment, I asked Jen how many hours the whole thing would take. I thought she was joking when she said 100 hours. She wasn't! So last month I sat for the first of MANY appointment and I have 2 roses! I go back this Friday for a few more.
Here they are, Rose #1
and Rose #2!
Check back this weekend for the newest roses! A few very special roses will be "in honor" of some very special people that I know and love with CF. Will YOU be the next rose I get?
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