A Childhood Cancer Survivor Blogging about the World of Childhood Cancer

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BookPageXTRA Ad for Grace: A Child’s Intimate Journey Through Cancer and Recovery

Happy Monday!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I want to share with you this BookPageXTRA ad for Grace: A Child’s Intimate Journey Through Cancer and Recovery.

BookPageXTRA Ad:

http://bit.ly/b3rcbm

I am looking forward to sharing at an expressive writing class tomorrow afternoon for cancer survivors called Lifeline. Susan, the lovely woman who teaches this class, extended this invitation a couple of months ago. It seemed like it was so far off when she invited me, but lo and behold, time flies once again! This will be great fun to not only be with survivors (I call these folks “My People”,) but also to be able to share the process of writing and creating Grace.

I had asked Bryan at Greenleaf a few months ago if I could keep the first page proofs. For some reason, they had to keep them for awhile, but last week, I received them. I will love adding these to my collection of Grace: A Child’s Intimate Journey Through Cancer and Recovery  building blocks. I plan to bring my spiral notebooks with all of the scribbles that my mom deciphered and typed into book form. I plan on bringing the very first proof copy of my first edition of  Grace.  And then, I have to bring an ARC…. oh, and also I should bring the eight different cover designs Greenleaf designed for me to choose from.

I think I better get out a big box and start piling these things in it!

Grace has Arrived!

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Amy Grant and Grace: A Child’s Intimate Journey Through Cancer and Recovery

Hi everybody:) Do you like my new WordPress “look?”

I am feeling very colorful these days!!!!!!!!

Last night, a new-found friend whose name is Karen handed Amy Grant a copy of Grace: A Child’s Intimate Journey Through Cancer and Recovery  at a “Meet-and-Greet” backstage after her concert. Karen’s son is fighting cancer for the third time, and she– like me– is on a mission to get help for children with cancer. Every drop of awareness and every drop of our efforts will gather together in a river that will lead to an ocean of hope. It makes me think of a quote from my book:

To get through the hardest journey we need take only one step at a time, but we must keep on stepping.

– Chinese Proverb

And so…

We will keep on stepping.

And stepping

And stepping

With people like Dr. Joshua Schiffman receiving new grants for research, and with dedicated people like Karen who “step” daily, we will reach our goal of eradicating childhood cancer (and all cancer) from the face of this planet.

I believe.

 

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Max Nunn

Can you imagine needing a medicine for your child that is the last resort? Imagine that everything possible has been done for your child, but there is this one drug that just might offer hope? Would you do everything possible to get that medicine for your child?

Max Nunn is that child and his family and his friends are doing everthing possible to help him.

http://maxnunn.wordpress.com/

Please read this story and do whatever you can to help Max.

Guess what?

Grace: A Child’s Intimate Journey Through Cancer and Recovery is #45 on the:

Amazon Bestseller in Living with Cancer & Other Illnesses:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/bestsellers/books/759250/ref=pd_ts_pg_3?ie=UTF8&pg=3

What I pray is that my story will help children like Max. Why does there have to be so much “red tape” and rules and regulations when we are talking about the life of a child?

Cut the tape. Get Max what he needs. If his parents and doctors want this, no one and no thing should stand in the way.

On your team, Max.

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Oprah Please Do A Show on Childhood Cancer FB Page Hits 35,328

Will you be the one who makes the page show 35,329 “Likes”?

http://bit.ly/br6Mrg

There are rumblings… the media is beginning to take notice. I wonder how many local  news stories will have to air before national stories air and then, finally, I wonder when Oprah will hear about our plea. I wonder what her response will be when she hears it. Please help all of us who are passionate about helping children with cancer to grow this Facebook page.

My time speaking with a cancer support group today at Hearst Cancer Resource Center was uplifting for me. When I meet survivors, I am always struck by their enthusisam for life. It never fails. What we all share with each other goes far beyond chit chat to a whole new level of awareness. Survivors are seriously amazing people. If you know a survivor, have they inspired you to “go for the gusto” in life? Have they taught you that each day is a gift we are given and taught you how we can choose to share our daily gift?

Can you see God’s light shining straight from their spirit?

I can. Thank you God.

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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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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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Who will be our Danny Thomas?

My mom posted something on the Oprah! Please Do a Show on Childhood Cancer Facebook page, and I want to share it with you. She feels like I do– we need to help the children who are still suffering and the children who will one day hear, “You have cancer.” Most of all, we need to make it possible for those brilliant researchers to have everything they need at their disposal so they can proceed rapidly toward discovering a cure. If you are a cancer researcher, this great big hug is for you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

From Melinda’s mom:

Where is our Danny Thomas?

As the month of September rolls to a finish, my heart aches more with each day that passes. Although 27,666 people have “Liked” this page and joined together to raise our voices, our desperate pleas to the media for National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month coverage have gone virtually unanswered. (Thank you WDAF Fox4kc.com!) Our media feeds us a daily barrage of celebrities behaving badly, but just one—one– television station in our nation responded to us with compassion and care???? This is why we need our Danny Thomas! Danny’s huge heart for children and his ability to inspire others with his integrity and compassion led many to follow his footsteps in support.

Oprah, what we are asking is, “Will you be our Danny Thomas?”

To other influential celebrities who may be listening, “Will you be our Danny Thomas?”

We need as many Danny Thomas’ as we can get! My arms are reaching to heaven right now with a great big hug for Danny! Please, someone, someone come forward to help. Our children need you.

… written as only a mother could write.

And I ask, “Who will be our Danny Thomas?”

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