Wendy watch: a grueling week at Cedars Sinai

Got a nice note from Wendy Wayne, the former First Five chairwoman who's waging a knock-down battle with non-Hodgkins lymphoma. Wendy is spending the week at Cedars Sinai in Los Angeles for four straight days of chemotherapy. Each session is 12 hours long, enough to turn anyone sour, but this is Wendy. She emailed me after Day One typically upbeat, saying "... it has been a very pleasant experience, thus far. A bit surreal. Taking each day as it comes." The real reason for her email was not to update me on the chemo, but to put in a plug for a young college grad who's looking for work. That's so Wendy, working the network for others even as she has her own worries. Send your thoughts southward to Wendy and her family.

Wendy Wayne's courageous battle with cancer

I hear that Wendy Wayne is back at Cedars Sinai in Los Angeles for another round of chemotherapy in her ongoing battle with non-Hodgkins lymphoma. The former chairman of the First Five Commission is commuting back and forth and doing so with her trademark good attitude and courage. Wendy (her husband is political consultant Gene Tackett) has long been one of the more progressive voices of our community. She's a fulltime volunteer and activist who puts us all to shame in her good deeds around our community. She has worked with the Rotary Club International on the polio eradication program in India, done charity work in Africa and been involved in about every community charity of note. (Not to mention her stint in the Peace Corps out of college) There is not a bigger and more gracious heart in town. Our prayers are with you, old friend.