Vasculitis Awareness Week

As you know, I've been boring the pants off everyone this month writing about Vasculitis and Wegener's in anticipation of Vasculitis Awareness Week, which is this week.  But I'm now half way through the week and I haven't posted at all about it.  Not so on the ball I guess.

Last week I took a bit of a detour from the medical facts and actually wrote from the heart.   It was hard for me to do because I'm used to being all stoic - always telling people "I'm fine" when they ask.  But I wasn't feeling fine at all, physically or emotionally and decided to "own it" as my therapist would say. 

I have to say that I am pleased and humbled by the outpouring of support I got through emails and comments.  Not to mention 10 new followers.  Thank you all.  You really gave me that little boost I sometimes need to keep going.

So now for a reminder.  At the beginning of the month I announced a giveaway to encourage people to share information about Wegener's and Vasculitis with others.  In exchange for doing any of the following, you get a chance to win the Hope Necklace, pictured above.  It is made with copper clay and precious metal clay, which I riveted together.  It's hung on a thin double cord of of sterling beading wire and has a sterling silver clasp.

So here's what you have to do to get an entry:

• become a follower of my blog,
• tweet about a blog post,
• post information on Facebook about one of my blog posts,
• become a fan of my Willow and Me Facebook page, or
• mention my giveaway and Vasculitis in your blog. 

Several people have done those things, but I haven't been able to keep track of it all.  I need you to pop me an email to blog@willowandme.com each time you do one of the things on the list so I can be sure your entries are included?  I just need your email so I can notify you if you win, but I will not share it with anyone at all for any reason.

You have the end of the month to make sure I have all your entries.  My plan is to draw for the winner on May first, but that is also my baby's 15th birthday (no so much a baby anymore!) and I don't know how busy I'll be that day.   I will do the drawing by Monday, May 3rd at the very latest.

You also have until the end of the month to have any purchases you make at my Willow and Me Etsy shop go towards my donation of 10 percent of my sales in April to the Vasculitis Foundation.

Thanks again!