I love that you have emailed asking people to donate at least one hour to do kindness. I hope this will put the thought in peoples minds to do more than just one hour of kindness, and to think of it more often than just the month of February.

I have wanted to write to you so often; however, my news is not good, and I did not want to share with you more bad news. Since I have heard from you though, and know that you can handle it, I shall share. My cancer has progressed. I can no longer tolerate chemotherapy and I started hospice in December 2007. (I honestly did not think that I would see Christmas 2007; however, God has spared me longer that I had imagined). I have gotten to enjoy many hours with my sweet baby boy, and my husband... many more than I thought I would. I have been the recipient of kindness unimaginable...through members of our church and community, and family. The hospice group that is caring for me is so very kind too.

Currently, I am still mobile. I can care for myself for the most part; however, bathing wears me out. Spending more than 2 hours alone with my sweet little boy wears me out. I gave up my driving privileges as soon as I started morphine...right around Christmas. This has been hard. Watching my independence slowly "drip" away from me has been hard; however, I just cannot say enough that I have been so blessed to have this time with my family. I feel blessed to have been included in yours and Jerry's lives as well. If not for colon cancer... we would not have "met". It has been my pleasure to be the recipient of your kind e-mails, and before you... Jerry's kind phone calls and e-mails. I too have gotten to be a cancer buddy to an elderly lady in our church. It has been such a pleasure to be here for her. (She has colon cancer too).

I shall spend my "hour" of kindness writing... writing notes of thanks or encouragement; writing letters in a journal to my son & husband; thanking my husband for all of his care; praying for those I love; returning phone calls to encourage others that all in life is well. (It's not much it seems, but it is what I can and shall continue to do until I no longer can).

Take Care,

Vicki Hudgins