Team Jeanine

For about a month and half or so, my sister-in-laws and I have been keeping a secret from someone we love very dearly. It's been hard, but we were able to finally share our secret yesterday for the first time.

At the end of July, Jeanine sent an email out to our family about the Making Strides for Breast Cancer charity walk in October. She asked if any of us would be interested in joining her in the charity walk, and she received an overwhelming response of YES. The day after she sent that email, my sister-in-law, Meredith, asked me and Kristie, Jeanine's older sister, if we thought getting t-shirts and hats made for the event would be something Jeanine would like. Meredith had a contact at her children's school that could print a design for us at a really great price. Kristie and I thought it would be fabulous surprise for Jeanine, and Meredith and Kristie wanted me to create the design for the t-shirts.

Initially, I drafted two design concepts. The first design concept was one of Jeanine riding in her new convertible. She had once joked with me that when her hair started falling out because of chemotherapy, she was going to ride in her convertible with the top down and let the wind just swish all the hair away. It was that conversation that gave me the idea to draft the following sketch and t-shirt mock up:






My husband came up the second design concept. He described for me his idea of a silhouette with sparse hairs sticking out from the scalp that spelled out words like love and hope. Together we came up with the messaging for the t-shirt and ended up with the following sketch and t-shirt mock up:






When I presented the concepts to Meredith and Kristie, they fell in love with Jason's design concept. With the design chosen, we began collecting orders for friends and family. The t-shirts arrived just in time for Terry and Jeanine's 60-40 Party. Before the guests arrived for the party, we presented Jeanine with our surprise for her. Needless to say, she was verklempt.

Jeanine hugging Meredith

Jeanine posing with the official Team Jeanine gear

Jake and Jeanine promoting Team Jeanine

It was a very special moment to share with the family. The further Jeanine progresses with her battle with breast cancer, the more I am in awe of her and our family. I am so proud to be a part of something so strong and so special despite the circumstances from which it was derived. It is true what they say about blood being thicker than water. I think Jeanine explained it best last night when she said that she feels the love around her each and every day and is thankful for it. There's just no greater gift than the bonds of family.

"Families are the compass that guide us.
They are the inspiration to reach great heights,
and our comfort when we occasionally falter."
- Brad Henry