Lisa's Letter

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and I wanted to share with you a moving letter I just received from my friend Lisa:

Dear Aviva,

I have been meaning to write to you for a while, but for a number of health related reasons have not been able to sit at the computer and compose a letter. As the leaves change color, and the cool air sweeps in, I realize the seasons are changing again. But one thing is not changing, and that is my appreciation for the Six O'Clock Scramble. You and the Scramble have helped me and my family in so many ways, and this is my way small way of saying "thank you”.

Five months ago, I had a recurrence of breast cancer. So far, I am doing okay, but without the Scramble, I would have had a harder time taking care of my husband and three young children. For months, many friends brought me meals from the Six O'Clock Scramble Cookbook. Recently, out of necessity, we hired a young woman to help us, and she did not know how to cook. I gave her the Scramble Cookbook and print out the weekly newsletter and now she picks out meals for the week, using the planning tips and weekly menus. She is learning to cook by following the directions, and has even improved her English. In these economic hard times, the Scramble is saving us money, and cutting back on my stress as I continue with treatments, sometimes too tired to think about food for my family.

I want to suggest to people who have a friend going through hard times that they make a meal from the Scramble Cookbook or newsletter and bring it over. As someone who has received many meals, and has made many meals for others, it's so nice to have one place to go to, a place that is warm and delicious, where I know I will find a nourishing meal, which can make all the difference in a day of fighting breast cancer.

Thank you, Aviva, for your hard work and dedication, for making a difference in my life. You are a positive force in the world.

With sincere appreciation and gratitude,,

Lisa Flaxman-Martel, author of Glances at Time, A Young Mother’s Journey with Breast Cancer (http://www.musikids.com/glances/)

In honor of Lisa’s struggle and courage, and that of so many breast cancer survivors in our midst, The Scramble will make a special contribution to Lisa’s favorite national breast cancer charity, www.breastcancer.org, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing the most reliable, complete, and up-to-date information about breast cancer. I hope you will also consider making a donation to breastcancer.org or your favorite breast cancer charity this month in honor of our sisters, mothers and friends with breast cancer.