"Mommy what happened to you head?"

This week is Sarcoidosis awareness week which was kicked off this past Saturday at the 11th annual K.I.S.S. (Kick in to Stop Sarcoidosis) event thrown by the Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research. Its always a fun time with great music, plenty of top shelf liquor (Grey Goose is usually a sponser) and fun activities like a silent auction, wine roulette, and photo booth. One of the most fun activities is the Kissino where attendees buy chips and play blackjack and craps in order to cash them in for raffle prizes. This year we even had a all female KISS cover band called Slutter (costumes and everything). The people watching is always fun too as you have people from all walks of life attending the event.

Herbie and I have been going almost every year for the past 7 years. Dealing blackjack and helping with the silent auctions and raffles. We were able to help raise an additional $600 by donating a weekend at our timeshare which was kind of exciting for us. This year however was the first year that we had to find a babysitter.

Saturday I had gone to get my hair cut and colored because at 29 the hair that I have that is changing colors is not just gray but stark white and I was starting to blind myself. My son had not seen me prior to me descending the stairs in my party dress, full make-up (he hadn't seen me in any. Ever.) and my new do. As I picked him up to say goodbye he looked into my eyes and said, "Mommy? What happened to you head?" as he patted my hair.

Oh sweetheart you have no idea how loaded that question is! Or how many times I knew I would be explaining it that night. Of course I told him I got my hair cut and he seemed to accept this answer as he wiggled down to go play. But for the adults that asked why I was a volunteer at the event (and in away asked me what happened to my head) my answer was a little longer but probably just as simple. I volunteer because something happened to my head (and lungs)and this foundation is the only one that had information to help me. And my time pails in comparison to the generosity of the people who support the foundation and support the goal to find a cure (and a cause) for this disease. This wretched, dibilitating disease that makes people become candidates for lung transplants and pace makers, and robs them of their abilities and their lives. So I do what I can so that perhaps I will not be listed amongst those from whom so much has been stolen.

While Sarcoidosis has been a royal pain to have, I do need to also recognize that it has given me much. For example the moment with my son. And while he may not be my son beyond this year he is a light in my life. As is his sister. Neither of them would be in our lives if Sarcoidosis hadn't shown up too because we probably would not have traveled down this path of foster parenthood.