Julie's story

I would like to introduce you to Julie's Story today. I find this one to be extremely inspirational and I know that you will too! First, I wanted to share a letter that my mom's co-workers wrote to Oprah. They are in Dawn's words, who also works at the Health and Wellness Center with my mom. The letter was written about three to four years ago. Even though Oprah didn't choose Julie's story, it is still a beautiful memory of a beautiful woman. I feel that this letter really gives the reader a sense of who Julie was and how others felt about her!

Dear Oprah, 

We would like to share the story of  love and inspiration of our angel, Julie Treml.  Julie, her husband Mike, and her two children, Amy and Andy, came into our lives in 2001 when she started working with us as a dental assistant at the Forest County Potawatomi Health & Wellness Center.  Right from the beginning, Julie was the sweetheart in our group of “Dental Chicks”.  Every year, our staff dresses up for Halloween, and with Julie’s beauty and warm personality  it was always easy to decide which character Julie would be.    From an island native for Gilligan’s Island, Glenda the Good Witch from the Wizard of Oz, to Tinkerbell, Julie always fit the part.  Julie was also the “crafty” one in the group and always had fun decorating our dental department. It wasn’t always fun and games for Julie, though.  Shortly after she began working here, Julie fell from a ladder while at home.  What seemed like a minor mishap soon turned into serious health problems.  At times, Julie was unable to walk and was in extreme pain.  After a year of  doctor visits and tests, Julie was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease and immunoglobulin deficiency.  This led to more doctor visits, more tests, and weekly and monthly IV treatments.  Through it all, Julie took care of her family and came to work with a smile and, even on her worst days,  never complained.  In the fall of 2005, she was diagnosed with cervical cancer, and endured numerous operations and chemo treatments.  Initially, Julie continued to work in between hospital stays and doctor visits.  Eventually, the cancer spread, and Julie was unable to work. During this time, her daughter Amy became engaged, and her fiancé was sent to Iraq with the National Guard.  From her hospital bed, Julie helped Amy plan her wedding, and in April 2006, the wedding took place.  Even though Julie went to the emergency room twice that day, her beauty and warm personality hid her pain.
 Julie’s kindness toward others became our inspiration.  As her  co-workers, we all wanted to help our friend whom we loved so dearly.  We set up a meal schedule to bring Julie and her family a complete meal three days a week.  Word quickly spread of Julie’s battle, and soon other Potawatomi employees joined our efforts in bringing Julie meals.  This small gesture inspired people to help in many other ways.  Employees donated their vacation time, gas cards, prescription co-pays, and money as well as their prayers, cards, and kind words.  Julie was  overwhelmed and appreciative of all the love, support, and gifts she received.  She wanted a way to give back to those that gave so much to her.  Being a “crafty” girl, she came up with the idea to make bracelets for her friends and family.  Julie firmly believed in the power of prayer and God’s love; so, when she found some beads called “Miracle Beads”, she knew she had to use them.  Always thinking of others, Julie used different- colored beads to represent different cancers, and a sterling silver  ribbon to honor all cancers.  Her family and friends wore the bracelets with pride and love.  As other people saw the bracelets, they wanted them, too.  Julie decided she would sell the bracelets, with all of the profits going to the American Cancer Society Relay For Life.  A relay team, “Team Julie” was quickly formed.  Members include Julie’s family, friends, co-workers, and of course, the dental chicks.  Julie and her mom, Audri, were kept busy making bracelets, and even made them while Julie was in the hospital.  They were overwhelmed with orders.  As Julie became unable to keep up with the demand, her family, friends, and co-workers started “beading” too.  Julie sold the bracelets from her hospital bed, telling the nurses, “No money, no bracelets!”  Sadly, at the age of 40, Julie lost her battle with cancer on June 15, 2006, with her friends by her side.  In July, “Team Julie” donated over $12,000.00 to the American Cancer Society Relay For Life, and we’re still going strong. To date, over 13,000 bracelets have been made. Members of Julie’s family and the Dental Chicks are getting together to make bracelets at the park, library, at each other’s homes, and even on their lunch break at work.  As the demand for bracelets continues, other friends, family members, and even people that didn’t know Julie have helped get supplies, make, and sell the bracelets.  The bracelets are worn all over the United States and even in some foreign countries.

A local artist, Betsy Popp, who was inspired by Julie’s story created a beautiful watercolor print with a dove holding a bracelet in Julie’s honor.  She donated the print to Team Julie, and plans are being made to use the print for next year’s Relay For Life fundraiser, along with the bracelets.
Through Julie’s love and generosity, we all have been inspired to carry on her legacy.    We are continuously amazed how one person can have such an impact on so many others without even knowing it. It is our hope that others will become as inspired as we did, and together we all can help find a cure for cancer. Julie has taught us all so much in the short time we knew her, and she will forever be our inspiration and our angel!


Sincerely,

Forest County Potawatomi Health & Wellness Center “Dental Chicks”/Team Julie

Here is a photo of the bracelets

Because this letter was written about three to four years ago, I wanted to mention that the 13,000 bracelets has increased quite a bit... So far, Team Julie, which is made up of Julie's family and co-workers and their families, we have donated $64,800.48!!!  It is amazing to go to the Forest County Relay For life and see how her legacy has inspired so many people. Team Julie also uses her Miracle Beads to make pins at the relay where you get one bead for each lap that you walk. You pay $3 for the pin and fill it up as you go. It's a great idea, and a real motivator.

I love what Julie was doing with her bracelets. It just shows that there are so many amazing people in the world who really put others in front of themselves, even when they are in need of something themselves.  I hope you find Julie's story to be extremely inspirational and if you would like any information regarding the bracelets, the beautiful watercolor print or information about Relay For Life, please comment below and I will get back to you!

Here is an order form if you wish to inquire about purchasing a part of Julie's legacy.  You can always e-mail me at projectjubilation@hotmail.com if you would like to ask questions that you think I can answer!

Have a beautiful day everyone, and look out for my last post for my blog series about cancer awareness at the end of the week. We are moving into November, Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month!