Update On Joanne

Hey Joanne, and Daquano family,

I've known the Daquano's for about 6 months now. And it's like I'm apart of their family. The very first time I met Joanne was a night when Dylan invited me over, maybe 6 months ago. Her and Mike were going out to dinner and a movie. I had absolutely no idea that Joanne had cancer, or had been battling cancer for so long. But after a while I started to wonder why they had so many things around the house with the breast cancer ribbon. Tawny's collar, the door mat, fridge magnets, etc.

During a conversation with Dylan, a friend of mine, and I, Dylan mentioned his mom had breast cancer. But because she looked so healthy and was so lively I thought maybe she had overcome it. She always looked happy and upbeat (when I saw her) and made everyone around her feel the same.

One day when Mike dropped me off at home, as I left the car he called me "Jennibear." And a couple days after that, he called me Jennibear once again. And now, not only Mike, but Poppa, and even my mom call me Jennibear.

The first time I saw Joanne in the hospital was when Dylan and I went to visit her in Credit Valley. She still looked upbeat and happy. Well, after Mike put on Saturday Night Fever, or Staying Alive. Some John Travolta film. And I remember Joanne saying something along the lines of "Burnin' burnin' hunka love". Ha ha.

As I got to know the other Daquano's, I realized how loving this family is. After 3 or 4 months, I knew most or all of the cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents. There is so much love in this family. I've never seen a family so close before, and brought together because of this horrible disease.

Joanne has touched my family and I deeply. She is so strong, and keeps fighting. But she really doesn't deserve this. Why does an amazing, smart, wonderful woman deserve to be diagnosed with cancer? Why is it that the innocent people have to get the worst? And the bad people don't get what they deserve. It simply isn't fair. It's not fair to Joanne. And it's not fair to her family.

There's not one day where I don't think, see, talk about, or mention Joanne. Her strength is an inspiration to not only me, but my family. Now I don't want to end up writing a novel, so I'll end it on this note.

We're all praying for you. And remember: God works in mysterious ways.

Love,
Jen(nibear)