A Childhood Cancer Survivor Blogging about the World of Childhood Cancer

Archive for October, 2010

Hearst Cancer Resource Center

San Luis Obispo has a wonderful cancer resource center located right next to French Hospital. I have been told that before the Hearst Cancer Resource Center was established, there was no place in the area for support groups to meet. Tomorrow, I’m scheduled to share with a Leukemia, Lymphoma, Myeloma Group. Each time I have the opportunity to speak with cancer survivors, I am blessed by what they have to share with me. Funny how that works.

I visited the Hearst Cancer Resource Center once before (I dropped off a copy of Grace: A Child’s Intimate Journey Through Cancer and Recovery:)) Those who have created this special place for survivors have put a lot of thought, care, time and money into it. How touching it is that there are people and organizations that care… and they do something to show they care!

Talking with Mom on the way to dance today, the subject of meeting with the support group tomorrow came up. Our conversation came around to how there is no such thing as follow-up support groups for children who are cancer survivors. No such thing. At least not anywhere near where I live. I would imagine the follow-up support needs for children are much different from those of an adult.

I heard something the other day that broke my heart in two. A nine-year old girl named Abbey, who is growing her hair back that she lost due to chemo treatments, is mercilessly teased at school about her hair. Wish I could have just a few words with her tormenters. Children recovering from cancer treatments need support too. Lots and lots of support.

One more reason why I need to keep raising awareness…

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Snowy and Oreo

On my tenth birthday, my parents had my brothers and I pile into the car and we headed north. I remember wondering where we were going, and when we passed by the beach and kept going toward San Luis Obispo, they really threw me for a loop. I had no idea what was happening.

Even when we pulled up in front of Woods Humane Society, I couldn’t imagine where we were or what we were doing there. It wasn’t until we walked into the building that I realized I was going to get to pick out two kittens to take home with me! There were quite a few kittens to choose from and one immediately caught my attention. She was mostly black with white paws and a white belly. I call her Oreo because she has a belly that looks like it is creme filling:)

I looked around more and found a pure white kitty. I named this kitty Snowy– for obvious reasons! At first, these two “sisters” slept curled up together, but as they have grown older, they have each developed their own unique personalities and they don’t do any more cuddling. Oreo is calm, cool, quite suave, and loves staying out all night. Snowy is loud (her meows at the door are deafening,) crabby, and cute– what a combo, huh?! She guards the food bowl and chases Oreo off. If she sees that Oreo has come inside, she becomes crazy jealous and bites Oreo’s tail when she comes back outside.

One thing that Oreo and Snowy both have in common is that they both love our dog, Larry. Snowy, when she sees Larry, will gurgle some wild, drawn-out sound, run to Larry and jam her head next to his. Oreo purrs when she sees him, licks his head and rubs her head against his. Pets can be so entertaining. I could watch Snowy’s antics all day long. She certainly has issues!

One more thing: Amazon.com now has a Look Inside Feature and all of the endorsements listed for Grace: A Child’s Intimate Journey Through Cancer and Recovery:)

http://www.amazon.com/Grace-Intimate-Journey-Through-Recovery/dp/0984271201/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1275713324&sr=8-2

Love this!

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Mel Majors and EmpowerRadio Interview

How are you doing this lovely day– at least here on the Central Coast of California!

I am grateful to be living in paradise today:) Mel Majors has posted the podcast of the interview we did together this past Wednesday. I enjoyed talking with Mel; there is something very cool about answering questions that are formulated by a survivor. She has a great sense of humor, and it makes me wonder if she has always been witty or if it is chemo-induced! Just kidding Mel. I will be looking forward to that book you are going to write:):):)

 http://www.empoweradio.com/home/shows/cancer-warrior/367-The-Cancer-Warrior.html

Chemistry test today went well, danced at school today, dancing tonight… life is great, isn’t it?!

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Yesterday and Children for LIVESTRONG

What a great day yesterday! Thanks so much to everyone who stopped by– I loved seeing you and you will be happy to know that we raised lots of money to fight cancer:):):) Awesome!

Becca, I want to thank you for your amazing Emcee job. And Emily, you stepped in out of nowhere and gathered lots of folks to enter the drawing! Cindy, your guitar and harp and beautiful voice added everything. Meghan, Hannah and Teagan, you did a great job with the bake sale; thanks so much for all your time and effort. Becca, your Teddy Bear cupcakes were absolutely adorable!

Sheila from the House of Bread, those cinnamon rolls were delicious; we appreciate your donation for our bake sale very, very much:)

Thank you to the Dutton family and Let’s Party! for the huge bouquet of  yellow balloons! As we cleaned up and began snipping them from their spots throughout the area, we gave them to children passing by and their faces– oh my gosh– you made some children very happy and you made me happy too!

Thank you to Layla from Dolphin Bay Resort for donating Brunch for Two at the Award-Winning Lido Restaurant for our drawing and to Bud Johnson (Hi Poppy– love you!) and Monarch Dunes Golf Resort for donating a Golf Package for 4 with cart. Thank you to Ms. Metchik and Nipomo High School Drama Department for donating 8 tickets to “Nunsense,” Mr. Rodrigues for the adorable Mini BBQ that I wanted to win–but didn’t– to John and Linda Thunen for the wine, to Mr. Claverie for the donation of original pottery pieces, to Peggi Carlock & Ron’s Nursery for the figurine,  to Lyn Moreno for the handmade quilt and table runner, to Gwyn Kelly for the candle centerpiece, and to Yoga Centre for donating lessons to three winners.

Finally, thank you to Mr. Hubbell, Mrs. Furakawa, and the NHS Key Club for your enthusiastic support and dedication to make this event a successful fundraiser. Mr. Hubbell, somehow I know that Lance would be so, so pleased if he knew how you came along beside me in this project and truly lent a helping hand. I am grateful. I am really, really grateful to all of you.

I just realized that I didn’t ride one of the Blender Bikes that Jamba Juice had set up… seemed like lots of fun.

I told Mom on the way home yesterday that Children for LIVESTRONG is going to be so big next year, we’re going to need Mission Plaza!

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Publication Day for Grace: A Child’s Intimate Journey Through Cancer and Recovery

Today is not just like any other day. Sprinkled throughout my normal activities of the day were spurts. You know what I’m talking about! I went to school today like any other weekday, and I went to dance today, like every day of the week, but one– but there were moments when Grace popped into my mind and the spurts gushed forth. They were quite robust I might add:)

I think back to those scribbles in my spiral notebooks that I began just to be able to write. I have always loved writing. Writing was healing to me at that time, and I began filling those notebooks. 

As I was asked to speak and share my story more and more, I realized my story could help people. My mom, God bless her, began typing the 90,000 words that filled those spiral notebooks. I love you Mom… this day would not be without you.

And Matt… there really aren’t any words, so I will say, “Thank you. I will pass it on.”

And Greenleaf Book Group… Hobbs, and Bryan, and Sheila, and Linda, and Jenn, and Kristen, and Katelynn… and Clint:)…  you guys are the best. It has been an honor and a true blessing to work with you.

 And God…  thank you for this blessing of my life. Thank you for this opportunity to share the firsthand voice of what a child with cancer experiences. Thank you for the blessings for your dearly loved children that I know You have planned.

 I love you!

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Let the Awareness LIVESTRONG

Here it is, the final day of September. What a blessing this has been for me to share with you during National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and also to learn more about it myself. One thing I just learned yesterday while reading the stories parents have posted about their children on the Oprah Please Do A Show on Childhood Cancer Facebook page, is that a baby can be born with cancer. I never knew that, did you???????? Another thing I learned is one of the warning signs of childhood cancer. A mom posted a photo of her child before he was diagnosed with cancer and one of his eyes showed a big white spot. She never knew this was a sign.

Imagine if we raised awareness of childhood cancer even one “rung on the ladder.” How many children’s lives can we save by helping adults become aware of symptoms? How much earlier will it be possible for a child to receive a diagnosis? Can we really catch childhood cancer in earlier stages– saving many lives???????????

I say, “Yes!”

If you really want to learn the truth about childhood cancer, “Like” the Facebook page and read the stories.

http://bit.ly/br6Mrg

Each one is unique, yet each story is similar because a child is suffering. One thing that strikes me is how many foundations have been born from a family’s grief over losing their child to cancer. This is such a momentous event in their lives that they need to make a difference for other families who must follow their path. What an unbelievable act of goodness and kindness!

Alexa would have turned eight years old this month. Her mom, Joann Nawrocki, turned the loss of her beautiful two year-old daughter, Alexa, into Alexa’s Foundation. Guess what Alexa just did for the teens at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia? She bought them laptops so they can keep up with their schoolwork while they are in the hospital! And guess what Alexa bought for the younger kids at CHOP? A Slurpee Machine!

I am sooooooooooooooooo excited about the Children for LIVESTRONG event on Saturday! What great support I am receiving from teachers at school! My mom and I met Megan today, the manager of the Jamba Juice where the event will take place and she is excited too. They will have Blender Bikes for people to ride and blend their own smoothies! Now really, is that cool or what?

Get it? Blender Bikes– bikes– LIVESTRONG–Lance– I love it!

I’m ready to hop on my Blender Bike and whip myself up a Peach Perfection Jamba Juice:)

http://www.santamariatimes.com/extra/publications/the_adobe_press/article_8d76c490-cc03-11df-8332-001cc4c03286.html

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