Three months...90 days...and no - I won't allow myself to count the hours and minutes. But let it be said that Phileas Fogg managed to travel around the entire world in a mere eighty days. July 8th seems like a life time ago, as the last 30 of these days have not managed to quicken their pace whatsoever within my heart.

Since Jessica passed, I have shared some of my inner most thoughts with you. My love, my sorrow and some of my deepest pain have been revealed through my words. And the joy that has reappeared through the cracks of life have also been scripted within. But here today, as we place yet another dash on our individual timelines, is something that was written after Jessica died that came from the depths of another heart, and who has allowed me the honor of sharing their words with you and the world.

As most of you may know, we live in the small community of Girard, which is centered between the Youngstown and Warren area in Northeast Ohio. Although I have blogged in the past about the wonderful community support that we have received on Jessica's behalf, no one has said it better than "YanniBgoode", who's article also appears on our city's website. My profound thanks to "Yanni" along with our deepest gratitude.

Only in Girard

With apologies to the Rolling Stones, please allow me to introduce myself. I'm probably better known in Girard as 'YanniBgoode' so I decided to just keep that moniker here. Like Al Bundy, I'm married with children both of whom are proud products of the Girard School System. And frankly, if anyone cares to debate the quality of said system, I'll be happy to take the "pro" side and lay you ten points. But I digress as this is a subject for another piece. Regardless, we've resided in town for 35 years in two different homes, in two different wards. In other words, we stayed here because we wanted to. One reason is in the title of the entry. "Only in Girard" is a statement when accompanied by an eye roll for emphasis. You know, "I hear they're trying to put another landfill in town." "Only in Girard." Though this may be true, the naysayers often omit the fact that it's being fought tooth and nail by the administration and a citizen's group to which should be added, "Only in Girard".

Which brings me to my point.

As most reading this probably already know, a few weeks ago Girard lost a beautiful and courageous young lady of 24 to Hodgkin's Lymphoma. It was a four-year battle but that cancer had no clue what it was up against. It not only had to deal with a young lady and her family who failed to learn the definition of "quit" but it also had to contend with a town that only knew how to stampede when it heard the word "help".

This particular "Only in Girard" moment started last winter. Hodgkin's Lymphoma is a rarely fatal strain of cancer especially when detected early and even more "especially" when the stricken is young. Both criteria were met in this case only it wasn't going away. Stubborn is way too nice a word for it. Gut stubborn it was. Chemo, radiation...the whole nine yards and she was still taking two steps forward and one step back.

The best chance for her was a bone marrow transplant but no match showed in the National Registry so the family decided to put on a donor drive of their own. Word of time and place spread but it was anyone's guess how many or few would show. After all, it would cost money and the procedure was a bit more painful than a pinprick.

You can imagine the surprise by all involved when hundreds showed up at the Girard Free Library to literally share their body. Friends, strangers, in-laws, out-laws...you name it and they poured in with their unselfish support.

Now, upfront I want to say that if there is a mass outbreak of acne in Girard, you can point a finger at this candy bar sale. These things sold like Willy Wonka's bars when he gave the lucky buyers a chance to tour his factory. Local merchants were selling out almost daily and better yet, it wasn't rare when fifty or sixty dollars was returned for a thirty-dollar box of bars. Brine's Pharmacy was nothing short of a re-ordering machine and the noteworthy thing there is that Paul has a wide variety of candy for sale there himself. He was not only offering the family a sales outlet, he was also sacrificing his own profits for the cause. Only in Girard.

Candy sales alone weren't about to raise the kind of money needed so the idea of a spaghetti dinner fundraiser was the next plan. Yet this could be an expense. Food, drink, a hall...ouch! But again, Only in Girard. The I.F.H. DONATED their hall, their kitchen, their members, and all the support that could possibly be needed. When thanked for it, Myron Esposito simply said, "Hey, this is what we do". God bless every one of them.

All the food and drinks were donated. There was a huge bake sale - the remnants of which was but a handful of crumbs. A raffle of scores of items donated by local merchants, professionals, and individuals alike provided an array of goodies and collectibles the like of which are seldom, if ever, seen under one roof.

By the time all was said and done, there probably wasn't a person in town that in some way, shape or form didn't participate in her fight.

Sometimes all the money, prayers, and outpouring of love can't defeat this despicable monster and, sadly, this was the case here. The agony of her loss is indeed profound but also is the legacy of her spirit, fight, and smile. If everyone who was touched by her during her too short life is a little better for it, what more could be asked for?

The bottom line? The next time you hear someone say, "ONLY IN GIRARD" followed by the requisite eye roll, just turn to them, smile and say, "You got that right, I tellya what"!