Canadian Gardening: NEWS FROM VALLEY K LILY RANCH, 1 by annabell52

annabell52 wrote:
HI ALL
I have been given permission by Lynnette of Valley K Lilies to let you all know how things are going with Cas her daughter.
After the shocking news that Cas was diagnosed with Acute Leukemia in June chemo started the next day. And so began the steep learning curve of anyone who is thrown into a Cancer diagnosis.
Slowly the news spread and the Daves crew got to work. Many have offered their personal support, some have thought it best to support Valley K with orders and some have got together to offer financial assistance.
Here are some excerpts of Lynnette's emails to me:

"I have seen very strong internet sales, which was a blessing considering not even half my regular customers received print catalogs. Some were done already and then this happened, when we returned home after the first few weeks I mailed what was done then revised the catalog and started it to print again and then the printer died. It was a hefty bill to fix it, but it returned home last week and at this point I thought it a waste of money and time to print and send them since our order deadline is the end of the month, and internet sales were keeping me afloat anyway. I have received many orders from new customers with a note about Cas, so I think those must be coming from your forum - I always knew gardeners were a generous bunch but this is truly amazing, and the concern I see too is overwhelming!"

"That is nice feedback to learn people are pleased with our service and what we ship, I am so concerned about destroying that reputation with our situation now, but if it happens there isn't much I can do about it and I have to quit thinking about it."


"I just read and answered an email from ************ in MB, and she told me how much you have collected and I absolutely cannot believe it - it is truly unbelievable that people are so generous! She also suggested gas gift cards, and I think that is a fantastic idea, next to the meds that is the biggest expense for us due to the distance we have to travel. I would think you already have enough to keep us in gas for the rest of this winter, and if all goes well then we go down to treatments once a month I think, starting in February. By my calculations it cost me 50 per tank and it takes almost a full tank each trip"
To be exact this Canadian group has contributed $750.00!!!! Some are bank drafts, cheques,cash and gift cards. Even more with all the internet orders that have been placed from a lot of Daves folks! Lynnette has said that more than that, the gardeners have fed her spirit giving her strength to know that she is not alone and that we care.
Lynnette has also been offered two places to stay in Edmonton should she need it. She is currently camping in her trailer as Cas prefers to think of the trips as a holiday and then she has more privacy than at Ronald McDonald house. She often is not well enough to see other people and didn't want to be in the hustle and bustle of the R McD house.
So as we go forward my family is looking to meeting Cas and Lynnette sometime next week when they return for another round of two weeks of chemo.
I will keep you all posted.
Ann