tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38272291709743585302011-12-13T18:25:53.845-05:00A memorial fund for Dr. Eve Bindursky Coleman, in celebration of Jennifer Coleman and Jonathan Leit's wedding, and beyond.Jennifer Colemannoreply@blogger.comBlogger241100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3827229170974358530.post-14916680200373663982010-08-17T17:08:00.020-04:002010-08-18T16:43:01.561-04:00

Today I received some of the best, most relieving news of my life: I am negative for the breast cancer gene!!!! During the last 10 years, I asked every OBGYN I saw if I should be tested for BRCA, and to my surprise, all said no. Not long after Jon and I married, I read a beautiful memoir about breast cancer called Pretty is What Changes, which I was compelled to purchase after seeing the author,

Jennifer Colemannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3827229170974358530.post-1695330819575834802009-02-12T23:48:00.010-05:002009-02-13T16:20:57.052-05:00

Though Jon and I ended up being unable to attend the Roper Hospital Donor Gala after all, I heard from a very reliable source that it was quite lovely. Here's an article from the Charleston paper about it. I wish I could report first-hand -- maybe next year.I always get very sentimental this time of year, as Jon and I near our "first date" anniversary. It's number eight! Our 1-year wedding

Jennifer Colemannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3827229170974358530.post-41044229973483883852008-11-03T01:52:00.005-05:002008-12-18T07:23:59.123-05:00

In January, Jon and I will attend the Roper Xavier Society Annual Donor Recognition Gala in Charleston, with special guest Tom Brokaw. We're so proud and honored to be invited.Jon and I have been married eight months, now -- sometimes it feels like we've just met and are falling in love all over again, while other times it feels like we've been married for decades.I look forward to taking part in

Jennifer Colemannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3827229170974358530.post-90110345298238002322008-08-07T11:53:00.007-04:002008-08-07T14:30:35.045-04:00

August 8 and 9 is the annual Brides Against Breast Cancer event in Charleston. Though I haven't seen my dress since the day after Jon's and my wedding, I decided to go ahead and ask my Dad to donate it back instead of shipping it to their headquarters or waiting until next year. I hope that another Charleston bride wears it and finds the happiness I've found in my first five months of

Jennifer Colemannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3827229170974358530.post-54009092921385260192008-07-25T14:54:00.003-04:002008-07-25T18:03:55.668-04:00

About an hour after I posted the latest donation figure a very special, generous donor wrote that he was going to donate another $100 to make it an even $10,000.When Jon and I started the Fund, our goal was to raise around $2,000. Thank you so much for helping us raise at least five times that amount!

Jennifer Colemannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3827229170974358530.post-3236349584747917452008-07-22T20:33:00.006-04:002008-07-25T14:54:53.341-04:00

As of last week, the Eve Coleman Memorial Fund has raised $9,900!I recently spoke to Teresa Pischner, the Breast Care Navigator at Roper St. Francis Cancer Center, who has developed funding criteria to ensure that the Center continues to honor our intent for donations."The Eve Coleman Memorial Fund is making it possible for us to help our underfunded breast cancer patients at critical points in

Jennifer Colemannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3827229170974358530.post-18368858191160858732008-07-22T20:07:00.003-04:002008-07-23T13:31:26.845-04:00

~Lila~A married mother of three (her youngest child is a year old), Lila is undergoing a heavy chemotherapy regimen for advanced breast disease. She doesn't have health insurance and couldn't afford the drugs that would ease her discomfort. The Fund allowed the Roper St. Francis Cancer Center to purchase anti-nausea medicine for her.~Mary~Mary had breast cancer as a 21-year-old medical student in

Jennifer Colemannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3827229170974358530.post-27390543617665231672008-06-09T15:26:00.009-04:002008-07-14T11:10:58.182-04:00

The address for Fund donations recently changed. It is now:Roper St. Francis Foundation25 Doughty Street, Suite 790Charleston, SC 29403Attention Annette ShepardRe: Eve Coleman Memorial Fund

Jennifer Colemannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3827229170974358530.post-22105040986118267252008-06-09T10:14:00.000-04:002008-06-09T11:14:44.742-04:00

It's officially the season for watermelon now! As of May, the Fund has raised $8,562.Statistics about the money's uses and its distribution should be available next month.Thank you so much.

Jennifer Colemannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3827229170974358530.post-23269630220309409462008-05-09T10:25:00.001-04:002008-05-09T11:31:56.290-04:00

"We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give." -Winston Churchill As of this month, the Eve Coleman Memorial Fund has raised $7,500. Thank you very much.

Jennifer Colemannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3827229170974358530.post-75943597301105102292008-04-02T15:44:00.002-04:002008-04-02T15:47:00.668-04:00

Well, we're married now! Freshly returned from our honeymoon in New Zealand, and, our donation figure is now at at incredible $5,000. Next time I post I hope to have some statistics on how many people your donations have helped already.

Jennifer Colemannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3827229170974358530.post-10344587206294478362008-02-26T18:38:00.005-05:002008-02-26T20:27:59.027-05:00

Just wanted to thank everyone for their contributions. It means so much to us that our wedding (and beyond) will have a positive impact on these patients' lives, and also make a connection between our marriage and Jennifer's mom. It's really exceeded our expectations. Thank you again, and can't wait to celebrate soon!

jonathan leitnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3827229170974358530.post-65055729940958172442008-02-26T11:22:00.006-05:002008-02-26T20:30:13.584-05:00

Only a few days until Jon and I get married, and we got the news today that our donation figure has now reached an unbelievable $4,400.Thank you so very much.

Jennifer Colemannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3827229170974358530.post-58795830789734049512008-02-06T14:42:00.000-05:002008-02-06T15:45:12.972-05:00

Just three weeks now until our wedding, and we've raised over $3,000. Jon and I are so excited that something that makes us so happy (each other!) is also helping others.

Jennifer Colemannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3827229170974358530.post-11429615855693878112008-01-17T23:02:00.000-05:002008-01-17T23:32:54.065-05:00

A Glimmer of Hopeby Eve Coleman, 1992Okay, maybe,Just maybeI’ve been lookingat the shoesall wrong.Perhaps they’reNot worn out.Perhaps once moreI can replace theHeavy woolen socksWith watermelon shoes.So what if the shoesAre a little worse for wear?Fading semicirclesAre barely discernibleTo the casual eye.Few really lookBeneath to seeThe worn out soleAnd those who doAre content to seeA hint of

Jennifer Colemannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3827229170974358530.post-84239273486130690132008-01-08T17:07:00.000-05:002008-01-17T23:33:17.947-05:00

Watermelon Shardsby Jennifer Coleman, March 1994I remember joining your hands together at the beach.I remember hiding under a desk when you fought, which was never very often.I remember Space Mountain, when she was so scared that she hid her head in my lap.We were always together, family and friends forever.Watermelon summers and fall nights passed away into years.I remember the day, it wasn’t

Jennifer Colemannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3827229170974358530.post-45497148345591858192007-12-31T11:23:00.001-05:002007-12-31T11:30:43.418-05:00

In December, the Fund reached almost $3,000 in donations. Every dollar raised will quickly help a breast cancer patient in need.Thank you very much and have a happy and healthy 2008.Love, Jennifer & Jon

Jennifer Colemannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3827229170974358530.post-346181671546428382007-12-27T17:29:00.000-05:002007-12-27T14:00:33.788-05:00

Eve was born an only child in Shreveport, Louisiana in 1947 and grew up in Lepanto, Arkansas. She attended colleges in Missouri and Texas before transferring to the University of South Carolina to be near her husband-to-be, Alan. She and Alan married in 1969 and lived in Memphis, where Eve received a masters in education from Memphis State University.Alan and Eve moved to Charleston, South

Jennifer Colemannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3827229170974358530.post-64011865476525654192007-11-30T22:13:00.000-05:002007-12-02T23:07:44.627-05:00

My wedding dress cost $250 plus a $200 entry fee to the opening night fete of this year's Brides Against Breast Cancer event in New York, yet it feels like a million bucks. Or maybe two.BABC is a traveling wedding dress bonanza that raises money for Making Memories, a non-profit organization that grants wishes to metastatic breast cancer patients. Some dresses are donated new, while others are

Jennifer Colemannoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3827229170974358530.post-53809799750547038952007-11-30T22:00:00.000-05:002007-12-04T22:40:03.206-05:00

In November, the Eve Coleman Memorial Fund raised over $1,600, already surpassing our goals and hopes. Thank you very much for caring about us, my Mom, and the fight against cancer.Love,Jennifer & Jon

Jennifer Colemannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3827229170974358530.post-28407464795720555822007-11-14T15:41:00.000-05:002007-11-14T15:44:18.095-05:00

Dear Jennifer and Jon,May I offer you both my heartfelt congratulations for your upcoming union. You two give renewed respect to the sacred vows of marriage for your decision to honor your mother's memory on this very special occasion.Eve was everything God intended us to be on this earth. Perhaps it is by no accident that her name was the first woman's name to appear in the Book. Eve was quite a

Jennifer Colemannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3827229170974358530.post-54238932116909624432007-11-14T15:32:00.001-05:002007-11-14T15:34:37.823-05:00

I'm stunned -- the Fund received its first donation today, for $1,000. This is an incredibly generous amount, and more than we would have ever expected. Thank you very very much.

Jennifer Colemannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3827229170974358530.post-18077884444295546002007-11-04T01:06:00.002-04:002008-07-23T13:32:22.921-04:00

Some months ago, Jon told me that when we got married he didn't want to register for gifts because he'd prefer the money be given to charity. As many a bride or groom can imagine, I balked. No gifts? But what about all the people who love us and want to give us gifts to celebrate our new life together? But how would we afford all the things that would help us make a comfortable home together, as

Jennifer Colemannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3827229170974358530.post-4793146832285173732007-11-04T01:06:00.000-04:002008-01-17T23:33:38.669-05:00

Watermelon Winterby Eve Coleman, December 1992Yesterday,In the dead of my worst winterI bought shoes...Watermelon shoes.That's what the salesclerk called them,anyway.Magenta snakeskin toes and purple snakeskin healsConnected the flimsiest of light airy net.And just at the place on each sideWhere my arch might be, two watermelon halvesBroke through.Bright green semi-circles with hot pinkSnakeskin

Jennifer Colemannoreply@blogger.com0