Hey all!

Ok, so I'm not posting this to be an "oh woe is me" thread. This is to let everyone know what's going on and to explain any short term disappearances on my part. 

This past Friday, Ryan and I found out his mother has breast cancer. And then this past Monday, we found out it is stage 3. Ryan has never been particularly close with his mother *she and I aren't terriby close either*, but this has been hitting him very hard over the past 48 hours. Basically since Monday, I haven't been sleeping much, and last night was the worst with Ryan getting violently ill through most of the night.

I am all too familiar with the devastation this disease can deal out. Most of my living family members have had cancer in some form or another over my lifetime. I also watched *and held* a friend with a very rare form of leukemia die slowly and very painfully. This is not a new thing for me. It is scary, confusing, frustrating, infuriating...and I'm having to be here for Ryan *as this is his first time dealing so intimately with it* and his 9 year old daughter *who probably barely understands what is happening*.

I am in no way quitting HP, nor am I taking a hiatus. I am, however, stepping down as president of Wild Dog Club as I cannot guarantee I will be on daily right now to run my contests, so Sam has received a note informing her of my need to step down. Tickets will still go to those who reserved with me, I will still be doing my breedings on time, and I will be here as often as I can. 

Thank you for understanding. 

omg, abs!

I'll be keeping you in my thoughts < 3

If you need any help with training or any other account stuff, just let me know!

I'd be  more than glad to help!

Also, if you need to talk about anything at all, please message me.

I'm so sorry Abs! If you need anything, please don't hesitate to ask. You all will be in my thoughts!

I'm very sorry to hear that :(. I hope for the best of recoveries and treatment processes for her!

I'm so sorry, Absinthe!

Keeping you guys in my thoughts and prayers. 

Thanks guys. She will be receiving 2 different medications on top of rigorous chemotherapy. That process will begin next week.

I was given the task of explaining to my soon to be stepdaughter what was happening to her grandmother. Fortunately *or unfortunately depending on how you look at it*, I was 9 when my grandfather was diagnosed with kidney cancer and I remember how it was explained to me at that age. So it was easy to tell her and she's taking it very well, understanding that gramma will be very tired from her medicine and might look really sick while it all works to make her better. Ryan is doing better today *went to work for the first time since Monday* so it's a step in the right direction.

The thing that of course is making all of this worse *as if it were possible* is Ryan and I are 2 months away from our wedding and now while we finish getting the boat ready for our big annual pirate festival next month and then for the wedding the following month, we have this to think about too. It is a challenge, but we will get through.

Thank you all again for your words and support