COMMIT FOR LIFE

WELL, I HAVE SOME EXCITING NEWS! OUR FAMILY HAS BEEN CHOSEN TO PARTICIPATE IN THE "COMMIT FOR LIFE" CAMPAIGN FOR THE YEAR 2010. WE ARE TO GO TO A PHOTO SHOOT FOR OUR PICS FOR THE CAMPAIGN ON JULY 30! I WROTE A STORY FOR THE SOUTHWEST REGIONAL BLOOD BANK, AND THE LIKED IT AND ASKED IF THEY COULD USE IT FOR THEIR CAMPAIGN NEXT YEAR. THE FOLLOWING IS A COPY OF THE STORY I WROTE:

Bobbie Jo Marie See Rezineck was certainly unique. She was the mama of a 10year old son named Jared. She was tall, blonde, had crystal blue eyes and a determination for life. She was in love with a man named Martin, and every day was a gift in her opinion. She was a baseball mom, never missing a game for her son or any other little guy on the team. She baked cookies and bought gallons of Gatorade, making sure that each little boy had plenty to eat and drink so they could do their best during each baseball game. She is loved by so many.
On September 12, 2008, her life took a dramatic turn. Hurricane Ike blew through and destroyed her parent’s home. Her home with Martin was spared, but Bobbie Jo, in typical fashion, cared for her parent’s welfare. She and Jared, along with her parents, sisters and nephews evacuated in the face of the storm. Because of the extensive damage to the area, it was decided to send Jared and Joselli, her mom, to El Paso to stay with her brother and his family until further notice. Bobbie Jo came home with her dad, also named Martin, to begin salvaging what they could from the wreckage.
The work was back-breaking, but Bobbie Jo was a demon, working , scrubbing and lifting, carrying and moving, and crying over mementos that meant so much to everyone. She did not know why she was so very tired, but attributed it to the work, heat and humidity. Finally, it was decided that no more could be done, and after 10 days, her mother and Jared were brought home to live with her dad in Bobbie and Martin’s home.
As the weeks went by, Bobbie Jo did not feel any better, and kept it to herself that she felt so bad. Close to Thanksgiving, she finally admitted to her mother that she felt tired and nauseous all the time. Concerned, Joselli asked her how long it had been going on, and Bobbie Jo told her she had been feeling badly since the hurricane. “Well, you worked so hard, I guess you have just worn yourself down” said her mother. With all the commotion over insurance claims and recovery, Bobbie Jo put off going to the doctor. She felt she would feel better in time anyway, and didn’t feel an immediate need to go. Her parents moved back to their home, living in temporary housing while trying to get the house repaired.
In the early part of December, the family got another shock. Jessica, Bobbie Jo’s sister, delivered a little boy early and stillborn. Bobbie Jo wanted so much to comfort her sister in her grief, and took upon herself the funeral arrangements. She had begun to feel worse, even vomiting on occasion, but didn’t acknowledge it, as her sister and family needed her help. Once again, she was everywhere, doing everything, and not considering her own condition.
Christmas came, and Bobbie Jo held a Christmas Eve party in her home. She finally admitted to her mother that she felt very sick, and was concerned. The day after Christmas came, and Bobbie told her mother that she could not get up, and needed help. Aaron, Bobbie’s brother was visiting for Christmas, and Joselli asked him to examine Bobbie as he was a doctor. Upon a quick exam, he pulled Joselli into the other room and told her to get Bobbie to the hospital right away. He felt she was very ill.
She was indeed very ill, before long after many extensive tests, and on December 29th, it was discovered that Bobbie Jo had a very aggressive form of leukemia. Bobbie Jo was told that she may have as little as three months to live. The shock was incredible; Bobbie Jo was always so strong. How could this have happened to her? Fortunately Bobbie Jo was able to be admitted to M.D. Anderson cancer hospital for another opinion and possible treatment.
Upon admission to M.D. Anderson, the tests were repeated and the diagnosis came back not leukemia but a very aggressive form of lymphoma. It was agreed that treatment would begin immediately. Fearfully, Joselli asked if Bobbie Jo even had a chance, and was told that she should never give up. Along with the chemotherapy, Bobbie Jo would need lots of blood and platelets, and Joselli could help by getting friends, family and the community to donate as much as possible. Because of the generous supply of blood and platelets available to the blood center, Bobbie Jo was able to be kept alive for the chemotherapy. At first, it seemed that she was improving. She was even able to come home for awhile, returning each day for shots. The family was overjoyed, and they continued to pray and ask anyone who could to donate blood. A friend at church organized a blood drive that brought in 128 pints of blood in Bobbie Jo’s name. Rebecca, her baby sister, organized another blood drive at her corporation and got a large donation as well. At the time, it seemed that we would be able to keep our precious Bobbie Jo.
One day, near the end of January, Joselli and Martin wrapped Bobbie Jo up in her gloves, face mask and yellow gown to keep her from getting exposed to anything, and took her shopping. She whizzed around in a motorized scooter, picking out clothing and having a wonderful time. They didn’t stay too long, and then took Bobbie Jo to her favorite restaurant for lunch. While we were there, Bobbie Jo looked at her dad and told him that she didn’t feel well. She lay down with her head on his shoulder. The next day, Bobbie Jo could not seem to wake up and was taken to the hospital. She was immediately given blood and told she would have to stay for awhile. From there, her condition worsened dramatically. Over the next two weeks, she was given many units of blood and platelets but could not bring up her blood counts. She underwent two more sessions of chemotherapy, but to no avail.
On February 21st, 2009 the family gave Bobbie Jo a birthday party at the hospital. Many friends, family and loved ones attended, and her dad Martin provided a large bar-b-que, as that was Bobbie Jo’s favorite. She was so very ill, and when the Happy Birthday song was sung, Joselli went into another room and sobbed. She felt it would be the last time they would sing Happy Birthday to Bobbie Jo.
Day after day, blood was given, unit after unit. There is no way to know who and how many gave so generously, but because of them, Bobbie Jo continued to live. Finally, it was clear that no other treatment would help her, and on March 3rd 2009, Bobbie Jo was transferred to a hospice center. It was there, 10 days later that Bobbie Jo died quietly, surrounded by loving family, her fiancé martin and her precious son Jared.
We had her for 76 days longer than we would have if not for all the generous donations of blood, given by those who will never know Bobbie Jo, but will hopefully know that their sacrifice did indeed help someone. Our gratitude is eternal for the gift that was given us as well, time to say goodbye, time to love, time to be with our precious daughter, mother, fiancé, sister, granddaughter and aunt. The little baseball boys miss her terribly. We all do. Thanks to those who gave their blood, we had time to be with her for a bit longer.

SO, THERE IT IS, THE STORY YOU HAVE FOLLOWED WITH ME. AS SOON AS I KNOW MORE, I WILL FILL YOU IN. TILL TOMORROW, LOVE, NANASEE