To the friends and family of Doug Cloward

Saturday, April 26, Doug was admitted to the hospital for a severe case of pneumonia. Later he was diagnosed with mantel cell lymphoma leukemia.

We have been receiving many emails and phone calls expressing love and prayers in behalf of Doug. We have set up this blog for updates on Doug's progress. Thank you all for your overwhelming support and care!

Sunday, May 11, 2008

Sunday

Greetings and Happy Mother’s Day to all you wonderful Mothers!

I continue to recover from the rituximab fire storm and anticipate being released from the hospital tomorrow. Not certain how the weeks and months ahead will transpire but have great hopes and faith that energy and health will be sufficient to carry on. Continued clarity is developing on the simplicity of life and its many blessings and those things that challenge the simplicity and recognition of those blessings is becoming abundantly clear.

How vitally important it is for us to inoculate our children with an awareness of who they are, their values and heritage to protect them against the enemy of all families. And then we must help them remember, remember, remember that they are loved, loved, loved. So such is our goal, our challenge and our opportunity and we will carry on, carry on, carry on. Until tomorrow… Onward and Upward!

Doug

10 comments:

Unknown said...

Dear Doug,

This is Teague. I have some advice for fighting that sickness. Just think of Heavenly Father and just BELIEVE and just think everything will be alright.

Love, Teague

You are in my prayers.

Julie R. said...

Dear Doug,
The power of remembering is indeed great! One of the first books I wanted to publish was a Roots book for my husband. When we married I asked him where his ancestors were from. He guessed Germany based on a story an uncle had told him. I let that go until I met Heritage Makers. Then I realized to ask his Grandma. She gave me all of the information she had which was mostly from memory and was incomplete. I gave a few names to a friend who does Genealogy research. At Thanksgiving, a year ago, I was happy to inform my husband's family that they are Austrians who spoke German and lived in the Northern tip of Italy, which used to be Austria. They were grateful and thrilled! It was a powerful moment for all of us! Then yesterday Grandma who is 84 came for dinner and brought some pictures to enlist to my keeping. There were many and written on the back were names and dates! She proudly gave me an 8 x 10 that the edges and corners are breaking away. It is so beautiful! It is of her grandparents! As I looked at it I felt them come out of the picture and seemingly say, "Remember us."
My book will be complete when I find the picture to one more relative.
Thank you for establishing a company, a product, and a desire in me to connect with family, even my husband's, to remember our roots and connect my children with their family.
Remember that you are loved and many are praying for your health and recovery at this time.
I am mother, I am love, I am Heritage Maker!
Be well.
Love, Julie

memories2books said...

Doug,

Your strength and commitment continue to amaze me! I sign on to read you remarkable words daily and pray for you and your family each day. I did not think that it was possible for me to learn any more about myself than I already have through Heritage Makers. Heritage Makers has truly changed my life in so many positive ways. However, just reading your amazing words each day has changed me. I have hugged my loved ones more and only wish that I was not so far across the country so that I could share those hugs with you.

I cannot imagine all that you are going through physically, but I only pray that passes for you soon. I am so happy that you may be able to go home soon.

You have helped to realize so much in my life through Heritage Makers and now you have helped to strengthen my faith and love.

You are in my thought and prayers!

Love, Kelly Murphy

Melissa said...

Dear Doug,
This is Melissa Skocypec from Arizona. I just said a prayer for you that our Lord will give you the strength to persevere through all of this pain that the cancer treatments are inflicting on you. I know you have strength of will, but a person's will can only do so much. At some point, it has to land in the hands of God to keep our physical body going to match our mind's will to stay alive.

God has a plan for you, and I hope for all of our sakes that His plan is to keep you here to guide us along this path of Heritage Makers. I just think about Dream Team and how magical that time was with you and your family. Many of us consultants were saying, "In what other company would the president of the company and his family serve you food and clean up after you?" You do not take the attitude that you are above us, but that you are one of us. You are an amazing man and my life is better because I know you.

I have a new "I am" statement for you Doug--

I am ALIVE.

In thoughts and prayers,
Melissa

Momlee said...

Dear Doug and Judy,
I thought I had written a truly amazing reply to you both, then I went to send it and I started all over again. Maybe it wasn't so amazing:)

Thank you for such a great example of charity. You both have shown me such a clear example of how christlike people lives It gives me strength in those times I feel weak. It always helps to have "living examples" around.

I hope I can be a Judy for my husband when he faces challenges and trials.

Thanks for your great example. You have a fantastic family to be proud of.

Janet Lee

beviinyyy said...

Hi,Doug. This is Jake Knight, son of Jennifer Knight. I hope you get better soon, and make sure you do exactly what Teague said.
Get better soon,
Jake

Barbara Jack said...

Dear Friend, Keeper of the stories, Superman to many and Teacher to us all.....You are in God's hand!


Norm and I left Arizona at the time you entered the hospital. We blissfully toured national park after national park as we headed back to Washington and spoke of you often. Beautiful spots would remind us of your mountain top home. The 600 pictures I took started many discussions about the upcoming books. The road to Price as we went from Bryce to Moab almost called us. All the time we had no idea of all you and the amazing Clowards were going through. Please know how you are in our prayers. And I might have guessed you would find a way to encourage and inspire the rest of us as you go through the toughest battle of your life. We are all blessed to be your friends. The word is spreading and you have no idea how many people hold you in their hearts and prayers. Tonight we are in McCall Idaho and we will be back in our mountain home by tomorrow night. We look forward to the day you and Judy will be there with us.

I want to comment on Marshyl's messages, too. Marshyl, you are truly a gift to all of us who read this blog. The humble and powerful way you share your struggles and joys is a wonderful example that "the apple doesn't fall far from the tree!" With a dad like Doug, it could be easy to wonder if you would ever measure up and all of us who read your messages know it is already a done deal. Thanks for sharing with us.
We love you and your whole family, Doug.

Barbara and Norm Jack

Kathy Grove said...

WORD.

Unknown said...

I have tried to respond three times but don't seem to do it right. I will try again. We have been out of town but have been following your blog closely for reports on your condition. Thank you so much for your words of inspiration at a time when you are going through such trials. You have brightened up many of my days. Randall and I hope that you are now home with your family. He will be contacting you soon to continue your discussion. Ours prayers are with you and your family. Keep the faith!
Love, Renae Harward

Marshyl said...

Dad,

Wow... another wow moment. This week has been a struggle to say the least, but I continue on with my chin up and my optimism high that the tough times in my department are soon to be overcome by the increase in team numbers, reorganization of the departments, and refocus of roles. The highlight of each day is seeing you walk by with a smile on your face and the comforting shoulder squeeze. Working with you is a rare privilege and each day I wake up excited to continue the work forward.

I would have liked to have added my comments to this on Sunday, but I feel I've been running full speed ahead despite running a little lower on fuel.

I found some time tonight to sit and read the blogs. You truly must have had a glimpse beyond the veil as it seems your spiritual eyes are more astute than ever. You have renewed purpose, compassion, love and peace. Your words help me to understand that we have one life to live, one chance to make a difference in other's lives and one purpose for true happiness--love, forgive and serve.

I am also inspired and touched by the many heartfelt comments left by so many dear people--lives touched and improved by your example. So many eloquent and passionate examples of love and faith.

I continue to pray for your strength and healing and thank the Lord each day for the great blessing of being privileged to bear the Cloward name and being your son. I'm so proud of all you've done for me and my family over the years and proud to call you MY father!

Looking forward to fishing, forcums and forever with dad,

Marsh