Who is Luke??

It just dawned on me that maybe you might like to be introduced to our brother Luke and learn a bit about how this project came to be! 

We, the Gyomory kids, come from a family of 9...2 parents, 2 sisters, and 5 brothers.  We have since expanded to include 2 daughter in laws, 1 son in law, 3 seriously adorable girlfriends, 3 granddaughters, and 4 grandsons!  I am the oldest and Luke is next in line (from there it goes...Paul, Lance, Joel, Kim, and Andrew).  6 years ago, Luke was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Disease, a form of Lymphoma.  Prior to his diagnosis, there were 3 other very close family members also diagnosed with various forms of cancer who had lost there battle.  Speaking only for myself, hearing the word cancer, associated with my brother was both terrifing and heartbreaking.  Luckily, as a family we have a strong Catholic faith and the ties that bind us are unbreakable!  Luke also has an AMAZING wife who stood by his side and fought the battle right along with him and I know how much that helped him through.  So...before Luke started chemotherapy my Dad and brothers and hubby all decided to show their solidarity by shaving their heads to varing degrees!  My Dad is the only one who actually went bald along with Luke.  It was interesting that their heads are actually quite similarly shaped...random fact!  After Luke completed his treatment, he, PRAISE GOD, went into remission!  The day he gave us that news is a day that renewed my faith and the tears of fear finally stopped for me. 

Well our Dad decided that he was going to keep the bald look.  You see, he is very much a "Jack of All Trades" and a "Man's Man", he is also quite the comedian these days and calls his act "Jack Not in a Box" (yes his name is Jack)!  I believe, it was the Christmas after Luke went into remission, Dad asked us to get him hats for Christmas to keep his poor head warm.  So I did but decided that I wanted to make them personal for him.  In that spirit, I bought some fabric paint and put phrases on each one...some funny, some sentimental, and always one with the names of everyone in our family.  I remember that first Christmas, I did one that said "My son's a cancer survivor" and he wore it often!  Since that Christmas, these hats have been his Christmas present and I think he looks forward to them because they always get a reaction!  This year, we were talking about them after Christmas and started to brainstorm this idea of making them for children going through chemotherapy.  We decided that it made sence to send them to the patients at Mott Children's Hospital at the University of Michigan because that is where I went to college and spent most of my free time volunteering (on the pediatric oncology unit).  My Mom made the first hat donation!  Dad has provided me with multiple ideas for hat phrases when I run blank, which happens often!  Kim has taken the lead on designing hip headbands and hats for the girls!  Luke agreed to have his name used in this project and gives me ideas on who I could go to for donations!  It is indeed a family project and one I am so proud to be a part of!! 

There you have it, the birth of Luke's Lids for Kids!  It is a labor of love...love for Luke, love of a family, and love for the kids who have to endure what no one, especially a child, should have to endure.  I think, ultimately this project is a testiment to the way that our parents have raised us to know what is important in life, so Mom and Dad...Thank You and We Love You!

If you have a story about how cancer has touched your life, we would love to hear it!  If you know of a child who might like a hat or headband, please contact me tanyalg30@hotmail.com so we can get something to them!! 

Hope you have a peaceful night and a joyful tomorrow!