One of the activities we do in our Angel Care Retreats is to make a positive affirmation board and choose a group name. We do this after lunch after many participants have had time to share their stories.  This is a good time to let our food digest and focus on the caregiver.  During our morning session we’ve heard and shared many of the challenges that face us while caregiving someone with cancer.  The goal of this exercise is to empower the caregivers to find balance, strength, and rhythm in their often chaotic and stressful lives.

Since, as I’ve said often before, we become our thoughts, it is vital that we monitor what we say to ourselves.  Positive affirmations are statements that are strong, loving, optimistic, and without doubt or question.  They most often start with the very powerful, “I am.”  Other affirmations can begin with phrases like: I trust, I believe, I can, I have, I dance, I support, I see, I feel, I let, I love, and many other verbs. There can be no “I will,” or “I am going to…”  The affirmations must be stated in the present and with absolute certainty!  That is where the strength and needed shift becomes life changing and crucial!  Also, they may not be totally true at that moment.  They may be a desire, wish or goal. That is perfectly fine.  Remember, we become our thoughts!

What is something you say to yourself when you first wake up?  Hopefully, it is something kind, happy, or complementary.  Can you think of some statements that are critical, self-loathing, or mean?  Many of us are so used to listening to our inner critic that we forget to nurture our inner parts.

The most effective way for me to teach you about positive affirmations is to share with you the Angel Care Retreat affirmation boards.  They span the years 2001-2017.  There are 33 boards from 34 groups.  Unfortunately, one board was left behind many moons ago.  My hope is that someone who needed to read it got the message J

Speak to yourself in kind, loving, positive ways; the way you would speak to your child, spouse, Mom, Dad, friend, or other loved one and reach for the stars! Enjoy these magnificent boards in living colors!

 

 

Volunteering with Angel on My Shoulder is a family affair for Michelle and Jon Perry and their two children. Michelle and Jon serve as bus chaperones/supervisors for both summer and winter Camp Angel, while daughter Alayna is a Camp Counselor and son Reece joins as a camper.

A veteran who works as a commercial heat and frost insulator, Jon is also an avid hunter and fisherman. Michelle is an Educational Sign Language Interpreter for the Milwaukee Public School District.

Alayna is now a Senior at Rufus King in Milwaukee, with a passion for theater she’ll be pursuing in college. Reece is a 5th grader who’s involved in baseball, soccer and who recently went from a Cub Scout to a Boy Scout.

“Once we get to camp, we hit the ground running,” said Michelle. “We both help in whatever is needed to keep camp moving along.  I usually meet with Lolly and discuss how the trip has been thus far.  We load/unload the bus.  Jon is involved with making sure the camps are stocked with everything the kids need.  We offer support, take pictures, help facilitate activities and crafts.”

The Perry family first became involved with Angel On My Shoulder when Michelle was sick and undergoing treatment for APL (Leukemia). It’s been a family affair ever since.

“We wanted to be able to pay it forward after I was in remission,” Michelle said. “When Alayna went to camp, we met the bus chaperones that volunteered before us and decided it was an opportunity we would like to know more about.  We loved that we could do it as a family.”

Michelle and Jon pack everything needed for the bus on the way to Camp Angel and back. “This means we make sure there are snacks, meals and movies for the ride,” explained Michelle. “We connect with the parents beforehand, reassuring them of the experience (as this may be the first time away from home for some). We make sure they know about pick-up and drop off, what their child should expect while traveling with us, etc.”

Reece is a camper but will most likely become a counselor as he grows older. Alayna is currently a senior counselor and, along with brother Reece, helps with prepping before going to camp and upon their return.

When asked what some of the greatest benefits were of becoming involved with Angel On My Shoulder, Michelle said, “We have lost Jon’s mother, my uncle and several dear friends to cancer. My grandma was also a two time breast cancer survivor with mesothelioma. It has given our family an opportunity to have this time together and share our experiences first hand with others that are dealing with a cancer diagnosis in their family.”

“I like to think we have given other families hope that life can return to “normal” again,” she said. “Knowing firsthand what the children are dealing with gives us a unique perspective and opportunity to connect with them.”

Added Reece, “When we go to camp it takes our minds off of the sadness of our loved ones that are sick.  I like that you can have a happy time in your life even though sad things are happening at home.”

According to Alayna, “I used to, and sometimes still, feel quite alone at school and among other people because of my experience with cancer.  Camp Angel was a chance for me to learn that I am not alone when I was a child, and so now as a counselor I really try to enforce that mentality on my campers: they are not alone, we are all struggling together and genuinely understand what’s cancer is and can do to a family.”

Michelle said she remembers a young boy coming up to her and thanking her for doing what she does do and telling her he was thankful his grandfather had finally passed away.  He shared with her  how difficult it was to see him suffer.

Reece recalls the Saturday night of summer Camp Angel when they do the song at the end: “Calling all Angels” (a song Alayna likes as well, causing her to tear up when she hears it outside camp).

“My favorite camp activity is before my girls are winding down for the night and we all sit together in a circle and share why we are all at camp,” said Alayna. “This usually happens the first night of camp.  Before this the girls are a little shy of each other, but the next day they are inseparable.”

Asked what advice she would give to anyone looking to volunteer with an organization like Angle On My Shoulder, Michelle said, “I would advise for them to do it!  It may mean you have to step out of your comfort zone at some point but there are so many opportunities to help.  Something can be found for anyone’s level of commitment.”

“It has become a part of our life, a tradition if you will,” she added. “We have certainly gained more from these experiences then we have given and will be forever grateful for the opportunity to connect with some amazing and resilient people.”

Sometimes, when we look at all we have, we look for ways to pay it forward, with charitable intent. Doing so not only benefits the charity, such as ANGEL ON MY SHOULDER, however the donor receives tax benefits as well particularly when the gift is appreciated securities such as stocks and mutual funds.

Over the past few years, ANGEL has appreciatively received donations of stock from a couple in Milwaukee. Their gifting of stock motivated us to establish an account in which we can accept securities from donors like you who can also take advantage of the tax benefits while supporting our mission.

 

Dick and Amy Lemke have a genuine passion for helping kids, a passion they’ve shown through their involvement with summer and winter Camp Angel. Happily married for six years, Dick has two sons from a first marriage—Cody, who lives in Madison, Myles, who lives in Milwaukee, and daughter Taylor from his second marriage, who lives in Chicago with grandchild Ava, now three.

Dick works for Superior Diesel in Rhinelander and has been involved with Angel On My Shoulder since 2000, when his first wife Dawn was diagnosed with stage four breast cancer and he decided to sign up for the first Polar Bear Plunge.

Amy became involved almost eleven years ago with her co-worker from the local radio station.  “Mike Wolf came up with the idea of the Polar Bear Plunge, and when he started working at WRJO he had an idea about doing an extended on-air fundraiser prior to the Plunge to help raise more money for Camp Angel,” Amy said. “And that’s when we decided to embark on our first Pledge-a-Thon!” Mike introduced Amy to the frigid January waters with her first Polar Bear Plunge and they have continued the Pledge-a-Thon ever since. Amy joined the crowd of jumpers for the next few years, then transitioned into the role of MC for the event and is still doing that today.

Dick met with Lolly during the plunge and she asked if his sons would be interested in coming to a summer and winter camp.  She was also looking for volunteers who had snowmobiles to give rides to children for the winter camp.  Both Dick and Dawn gave rides until her passing on 2008.  Their sons have been campers and have volunteered as counselors over the years. Myles continues to volunteer and is the head counselor for the winter camps.

As Co-Campsite Directors of the summer and winter Camp Angel, Dick and Amy coordinate the activities with each camp location, set up the food process, arrange for special needs for the campers, and all other details for the camp, including coordinating volunteers and the transportation needs for all the children.  “We also oversee any issues that may come up like weather, injuries, illnesses, etc,” said Dick.

After Dawn passed, Lolly asked Dick if he would get more involved with the camps. Then, when Dick and Amy got married, Lolly asked if they would like to become the directors for the winter camp and they accepted.  “After the annual newsletter for AOMS came out Lolly wrote that we were the winter AND summer camp directors,” Dick said. “Well who can say ‘NO’ to Lolly? “

Amy and Dick have been the directors for both camps ever since.  First and foremost in memory of Dawn. The camps meant very much to her, so the Lemke family wants to carry that on.  Also because Amy and Dick love to help these children, having seen the benefits first hand, not only through their own children but with all the campers over the years.

The Plunge holds a very special place for the couple: Not thinking what would happen if Amy said no in front of a thousand people, Dick proposed at the event, and the rest is history!

They’ve met many great people over the years who they consider a whole new family, everyone giving their time and love to these children.  Dick said it’s been a great benefit having his family involved, from his boys to his sister’s family and even his Mom, who plays a big part with the camps. Over the years these kids have stayed in touch, not only with each other but with Amy and Dick. “Being involved with Angel On My Shoulder not only changes a child’s life… it changes yours!”