WELCOME...
to floydwarriors.com. On December 23rd 2008 my surgeon told me I definitely had cancer. He assured there were a lot of support groups available. My immediate reaction was, "But how will I possibly put food on my table, clean and take care of my family?" He said nothing like that, as far as he knew, existed. "I guess I'll have to start that organization!" I promised.
I saw this mission as a very rare opportunity to share with the world how God is alive and well and living through us. While at St. Peter's Hospital for a bilateral mastectomy I was totally inspired to create a website called floydwarriors.com -an inspirational healing ministry and resource center to facilitate volunteers helping loved ones newly diagnosed with cancer. The day after surgery I drafted all my pages- they're on my desk still.
When I went for my pathology report after surgery, I hoped in a very strange way I would have a large enough tumor so more people than not could relate to me ... I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer Stage 3- an 8 cm tumor with 11/16 lymph nodes involved
and Nothing is a coincidence.
Dinner is Done...
Dishes are Clean...
The Kids are OK!
"MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!"
*2010 Statistics from the National Cancer Society
floydwarriors.com
'Helping families cope with cancer, one household at a time' TM
floydwarriors.com is not a not-for profit currently but awaiting official 501 C3 status...
Sponsorships and advertising contributions are not deductible as a charitable contribution for Federal income tax purposes.
A Very Special Thank You to floydwarrior Supporters-
without you floydwarriors.com would not be possible.
Questions, Comments & Thoughts welcome!
The Cheney Family of Ballston Spa, NY
In Loving Memory of Michael Shay Callen- from Mary Thomas
In Loving Memory of my dear friend Marie Meyers Cooper- from Ellen Tyack
The Richer Family
The Simon Family
Carol & Tom Dooley
Shirley and Fred Renzi
In Loving Memory of Len Kosinski- From the Becker Family
Sharon Urban
Julie & Nick Annotto
Emily Coates- London, England
The Lawler Family- Ballston Lake, NY
Carabba Locke LLP- NY, NY
Kids Club- Ballston Spa, NY
The D'Annibale Family- Clifton Park, NY
In Memory of Violet De Nyse- Judy Miller, Baiting Hollow, NY
House of Creative Soul
Crafter's Gallery
Northeastern Fine Jewelry
Mrs. Beverly Brown
My Journey- story behind floydwarriors.com
It started weeks before I was diagnosed...
The easiest and hardest thing I believe one can do is to totally surrender...
Not to defeat, but to Faith.
ANNUAL PROJECT EASTER BUNNY 2011
Easter Baskets for families coping with cancer
'Preach the Gospel at all times
and when neccessary use words'
-St. Francis of Assisi
floydwarriors.com Speaks
by lisa morahan on 10/03/11
Do you ever drive and after a few minutes have that strike of fear in your heart that time passed while you were daydreaming at the wheel and you hardly paid attention to the road? Driving has a way of doing that, but today I noticed something that snapped me out of that wandering, before my heart skipped. I was driving behind a big, yellow schoolbus and noticed a handwritten sign in the back window. Children on Board. I had to read it a second time, because I always tend to drive behind schoolbusses, assuming there are kids on board. I am always more cautious around schoolbusses, but what this sign said to me was some people need to be TOLD there are kids aboard, the big, yellow bus was not enough. Apparently the driver knew the sign made a difference. Of course that sent my thoughts reeling, thus entering my driving into auto-pilot once again. Cancer, with the bald head and scarfs, cause people to see your sign as Young Woman Dying Tomorrow or Poor Mom Has Cancer!. So invariably people tended to drive a little slower around me. They gave me the right of way. They were nicer. I, like the driver, knew the difference. We are put on Earth in our perfect yellow busses, but we do not see each other through considerate, compassionate eyes always. Is it not enough we are Gods children, already needing a kind word, a helping hand just being a young woman or Mom. No, unfortuately in todays society you need to go that one extra step, as the bus driver had. In this case, cancer hung the sign in my window. As my hair is coming back, my sign is no longer as visible. A lady just yesterday was quite disgusted she thought I cut ahead of her in line. Welcome back to the life of the living Proceed With Caution.
by lisa morahan on 04/09/11
I sit here tonight looking at this picture I have of JC on my desk.
I felt anxious about this great opportunity to be on the radio tomorrow to share what floydwarriors.com is on the air. I wondered why was I chosen to share this message. I was insufferably shy as a child and then in my teens experienced horrible anxiety and severe panic attacks speaking in front of people. I know the message is greater than myself but who is chosen for such an incredible opportunity but the insufferably shy kid, panic stricken teenager.
Noah was a drunk
Abraham was too old
Isaac was a daydreamer
Jacob was a liar
Leah was ugly
Joseph was abused
Moses had a stuttering problem
Gideon was afraid
Sampson had long hair and was a womanizer
Rahab was a protitute
Jeremiah and Timothy were too young
David had an affair and was a murderer
Elijah was suicidal
Isaiah preached naked
Jonah ran from God
Naomi was a widow
Job went bankrupt
John the Baptist ate bugs
The Disciples fell asleep while praying
Martha worried about everything
The Samaritan woman was divorced more than once
Zaccheus was too small
Paul was too religious
Timothy had an ulcer
and Lazarus was dead!
GOD CAN USE YOU TO YOUR FULL POTENTIAL. BESIDES YOU AREN'T THE MESSAGE, YOU ARE JUST THE MESSENGER!
by lisa morahan on 03/31/11
and so I thought, "Lord I can't take any bread for I'm not hungry" and He spoke to my heart and said, "You, though, should because you can share it".
by lisa morahan on 03/15/11
I pray you might read this and come out to support this wonderful cause!
Sunday March 20th at 3pm friends and loved ones will gather for Kristen Shinebarger at the Parting Glass in Saratoga Springs. I hope strangers too will gather- and give. Give in a way, a very basic way the family needs, and in doing so shows them we are not strangers;we are all brothers and sisters of Christ- exuding his unbelievable love and grace, kindness and light. How special, how wonderfully perfect that He walked and fell so we can today- in His direction and in His way.
We are all so miserably short- short of all we can be. Moments though presented to us- such as this- we can embrace His love and give it. Thank you Lord Jesus, for belief and the power -to feel the hug and give it back! xo!
Thank you, forever and a day- thank you!
by lisa morahan on 02/02/11
Come out Friday February 4th to Spa State Park for the candlelight snowshoe and ski and enjoy a hot cup of cocoa and help support our 7 year old floydwarrior Hannah- going to Boston for a bone marrow transplant thanks to her younger sister.
Please be part of the Army of Help that surrounds us and show Hannah your support!
EASTER 2009 -This is Caden & I (left)...
too weak to make just one basket for him. I thought,
"Next year I would make up for it!" and we did!
100 baskets in 2010 and 135 baskets in 2011!
floydwarriors.com is here to help you not take cancer lying down...
but LOOKING UP!
When I was diagnosed...
it threw me into a position I had never been in. I was given something to contend with so much greater than I could fix by myself. It was then I had a vision of a large ocean I was tossed into. I thought I could swim and swim to save myself, struggling against the current and put up a really good fight to live. I thought I could do that a few days without drowning. Reality hit and I realized I could not save myself. I then imagined not fighting; lying back and totally surrendering my need, my instinctive urge to fight. I would float and rely on the great unknown that lie beneath me that I knew would hold me much longer if I simply let it. This great ocean I was tossed into I once thought was my demise, soon turned into a sea that would save me. My position hadn’t changed at all but my perception did. So yes, I guess people do seem to find God when they hit rock bottom that is because people usually choose to swim and nearly drown before surrendering, not to defeat but to faith. This realization the night I was diagnosed was the most liberating moment of my life.
As crazy as it sounds cancer freed me.
OUR RECIPIENT'S THIS YEAR INCLUDE:
CR Wood Oncology Center at Glens Falls Hospital
The Mollie Wilmot Radiation Oncology Center at Saratoga Hospital
The Community Hospice of Saratoga
The HOPE Club & American Cancer Society
NY Oncology Hemotology
floydwarriors.com!
This was the sky the weekend Caden was born and I knew Angels were above me!
Almost two years later...
how blessed!
THESE BASKETS WERE MADE POSSIBLE BY DONATIONS GIVEN TO THE FOLLOWING SITES~ THANK YOU ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Malta Community Center- Thanks Audry!!!
CR Wood Cancer Center at Glens Falls Hospital - Thanks Vickie!
The HopeClub (formerly Gilda's in Latham)- Thanks Rebecca
Tiny Tots Tea Room in Clifton Park- Thanks Kate!!!
DiDonna's Restaurant on Saratoga Lake- Thanks Kirsten!
The Paddocks of Saratoga- Thanks Ellen!!!
Bella Rouge in Clifton Park Center- Thanks Lisa!!!
Hudson Falls High School- Thanks Holli!!!
The Saratoga Regional YMCA (West Ave) - Thanks Lisa!!!
Recipients included The American Cancer Society's HopeClub, The Mollie Wilmott Radiation Oncology Center at Saratoga Hospital, The CR Wood Cancer Center, NYOH, Community Hospice of Saratoga and floydwarriors.com families.
Renee Russell from Mollie Wilmot Radiation Oncology Center- Saratoga
Diane Barker at C.R. Wood Cancer Center
NYOH's Star Patient of the Day Linda Stallmer receives a basket during treatment for her son
Faith Parker Regional Director at The Community Hospice of Saratoga
An exerpt from MY JOURNEY...Written the day I resumed playing after chemo ended September 2009
"The ability to concentrate, block all things out, put your eye on the goal, know what you need to do and make it happen, all with many eyes watching come into play fighting cancer and playing pool. I have to laugh because now people will wonder who in the heck would choose to play such a nerve racking sport. I ask myself that question every match, but every week I go back. Who knows, one day I may be playing in Vegas,"
MY OWN DREAM REALIZED in AUGUST 2011-
APA TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS PLAYED IN VEGAS
Capital District Local Teams Championship WON!!! Poolside with "The Black Widow" Jeanette Lee in Vegas! HOW COOL IS THAT!?!?!
'Strong Enough to Save' by Tenth Avenue North-
For you Ada.
COMING 2012... PURSUE YOUR PASSION AWARD!
Sponsored by floydwarriors.com $1000 Award to benefit annually a woman recently diagnosed so she may pursue her life's passion after a cancer diagnosis.
Application information coming soon...
In honor, the Saratoga Springs Fire Department and Impressions of Saratoga have teamed up to support floydwarriors.com. That's me in front with floydwarriors.com CEO- Caden JB Morahan
THANK YOU IMPRESSIONS OF SARATOGA!
The subject line on my e-mail one morning read "My husband has brain cancer" I thought for an instant "Oh, how did I get myself into this." Then I went to work." I assembled our troops and had the absolute blessing to meet Serg Nolan, hold his hand, pray for him and give his family the help they so desperately needed.
It was an amazing experience and one I will never forget. -Lisa M.
C'
' When I contacted Lisa from Floydwarriors it was at a time when my husband took a turn for the worse. I was the sole caretaker of him and a mother of 2 teenagers. Lisa and her Floydwarriors did not hestiate and took action. Within days I had meals, my house cleaned and most importantly companionship. Having floydwarriors as a support was so important for me, my husband and the kids.' Serg's wife, Shirl
The beautiful Serg Nolan pictured above
Thank you very much for visiting floydwarriors.com. The intent of floydwarriors.com is to provide individuals newly diagnosed with cancer with a with a wide variety of services from real help in the home to basic emotional support. All help gifted by volunteers is purely by good will and with the understanding that the recipient will not hold liable either floydwarriors or its representatives for any kind of conduct, information, services or the like it gives. Our volunteers are not trained, just caring individuals who mostly have been impacted by cancer themselves in some way and want to give back. Others just want to give. Please seek all medical & psychological counseling from skilled trained, professionals.
We believe people in essence are good and that is why we have gone ahead and assembled this Army of Help That Surrounds You!
