A Childhood Cancer Survivor Blogging about the World of Childhood Cancer

Posts tagged ‘Oprah! Please Do a Show on Childhood Cancer’

KSBY 6 TV Helping “Clicks” to Save Kids Lives

My deepest respect and my sincere gratitude go out to Carina Corral and to my hometown KSBY 6 TV in San Luis Obispo, California for being the very first reporters to air a story focused on the ever-growing “Oprah, Please Do A Show On Childhood Cancer” Facebook page. I have always appreciated the physical beauty of this area I have lived in my whole life, but I have to tell you that this is the first time that I am struck by how blessed I am to live in an area where people truly care for one another.

Carina, you reported exactly what I would have chosen for the most important points!

#1 Childhood cancer is the #1 disease killer of our children.

#2 80% of childhood cancers are found after the disease has progressed to advanced stages!

I truly enjoyed my interview with you, and I cannot even express how much it means to me that you listened with an open mind and heart to this huge problem. Thank you for making childhood cancer important. KSBY TV, I pray you have started a tidal wave of stories across our nation, and I thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.ksby.com/news/local-teen-cancer-survivor-joins-facebook-plea-to-oprah/

Video link:

http://www.ksby.com/player/?video_id=6751&ca 

If people knew what childhood cancer really is, if parents knew early warning signs, if we had screenings, if we had adequate funding for research, if we shared ALL of our information…

If…

We can do it together. No “ifs.”

We better start immediately and kick our steps into Warp Speed. Children are suffering and children are dying. Yes. Now!

Larry!

 

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KSBY 6 Interview– Oprah Facebook Page Movement for Childhood Cancer

When I decided to put all of those scribbles in my spiral notebooks into book form, I was entirely motivated by the belief my story could help others. This belief didn’t come easily. It took several times of being asked to speak at events before I realized how what I have been through needs to be shared. Now that Grace: A Child’s Intimate Journey Through Cancer and Recovery  has been  released, I see even more why God kept tugging on my heart– asking me to pour it into this project. There is nothing that makes me feel better on this Earth than being able to help someone else (okay, dancing is really, really close!) When other kids who are going through cancer, or their parents, contact me to ask for help with something, I gasp with amazement at how God can use something utterly horrendous and use it to bless those He loves. Wow. Double WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!

I feel change today. I feel hope today. My day began with an interview with Carina Corral of KSBY 6, San Luis Obispo, CA. We A Scarf for my Child Life Specialist, Jaynietalked about how this incredible movement has begun with parents, friends, and loved ones whose lives have been affected by childhood cancer. An amazing woman named Christine started the Facebook page, “Oprah Please Do A Show On Childhood Cancer” out of her loving care for her friend and her friend’s son who are both battling cancer right now. There is SO much that needs to change.

Did you know that when adults are diagnosed with cancer, only 20% of them have advanced stages of the disease and when children are diagnosed, 80% have advanced cancer. Many, many times, children are originally misdiagnosed (Hello, me!) and this leads to valuable time wasted and terrible progression of their disease.

Also, childhood cancers are different from adult cancers. Adult cancers are sometimes caused by lifestyle choices such as smoking and diet, but the causes of childhood cancers are largely unknown.

I am extremely grateful to Carina and to KSBY 6 for recognizing the HUGE need to air this information. We MUST do everything we can to put a stop to the #1 disease killer of our children.  My heart is bursting with gratitude, and hope is flying out!

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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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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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21,322 “Likes” on Oprah! Please Do a Show on Childhood Cancer Facebook Page

Please let me tell you again today about how important it is that all of these voices are gathering in one place. I want to thank Christine and her brave son, Braden, for beginning this movement and for working so hard for children with cancer.

Just in case you have missed the link in previous posts:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Oprah-Please-Do-A-Show-On-Childhood-Cancer-Our-Kids-Need-Your-Help/156632377680799?ref=ts

And just in case you would like to do some tweeting, here is the shorter version:

Short Link:

http://bit.ly/br6Mrg

You know, each and every day, I wake up and know that I am a cancer survivor. I could choose to move joyfully forward in my life– never looking back to see those other “wounded soldiers” on the childhood cancer battlefield. But I have to look at those children. They have my heart. They have my deep and passionate commitment to make things better for them.

So I plan to keep going back to the childhood cancer battlefield again and again– to “rescue” my fellow “wounded soldiers.”

 

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Survey… how much do you know?

Childhood Cancer

Childhood Cancer

That Facebook page that I have told you about asking Oprah to do a show on childhood cancer has grown to over 14,000 “Likes.” What is truly heartbreaking is that people have posted story after story after story of children with cancer. As I read the stories, it touches me deeply to know that many families who have lost a child to cancer have decided to establish foundations to help other children. What a truly amazing feat to be able to turn their horrendous grief into a sparkling gift for some child who is suffering greatly. I love this so much! To know that this feat is even possible makes me believe I can find hope in the darkest of situations.

Now, I have a quiz for you so you can learn how much you know about childhood cancer… and how much you don’t know:)

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/XQGLLQS

On this 14th day of National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, I ask you to take the time to learn just one thing about childhood cancer. I ask you to go to the Oprah! Please do a show on childhood cancer! site and read about the heroic children and their incredibly supportive families. For today, just learn.

Oh, there is one more thing you can do… please “Like” this Facebook page as well! I know the author personally:)

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Grace-A-Childs-Intimate-Journey-Through-Cancer-and-Recovery/149423578414076

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Will Oprah Respond to over 10,000 Requests?

As of today, there are over 10,000 “likes” on the newly created Facebook  page asking Oprah to do a show on childhood cancer.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Oprah-Please-Do-A-Show-On-Childhood-Cancer-Our-Kids-Need-Your-Help/156632377680799?ref=ts

If you would, please “like” the page as well. Please take a moment to browse the stories of some incredibly brave children. There are also links on the page to organizations who offer help for pediatric cancer research. St. Baldrick’s Foundation is the world’s largest volunteer-driven fundraising program for childhood cancer research. I understand that there will be some moms appearing on Stand up to Cancer tonight who shaved their heads to raise money for St. Baldricks’s and childhood cancer research.

Why all this talk about raising awareness and research? Because a cure is within our reach. If a cure is within our reach, we need to start reaching now– and stretch as far as we possibly can! Let’s grab the cure and save children’s lives!

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Oprah! Please Do a Show on Childhood Cancer!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgC6YKlrG9A

There is a newly created Facebook page with the title above that I would love to have all of you “like.” Even though this page was just created yesterday, there are already over 2,000 people who have joined in the request.

There is so much that people need to know about childhood cancer. I think that when children suffer, it is difficult for people to see and hear about. I understand. The important thing is, if no one looks, no one sees, no one will help and these children and families who are barely hanging on are alone in their nightmare. We cannot do this– we cannot let these children and families claw and struggle their way through the misery. Yes, it is horrible– but what we can do about this is beautiful.

It’s time for us to take off our “Fuzzy Glasses” and look at the realities of childhood cancer that exist before us. I pray that my book will do for these families and children exactly what I intended it to do… help. I want to thank this “sister” of a 2 year-old cancer patient for sharing this with me after she read Grace: A Child’s Intimate Journey Through Cancer and Recovery:

“My mom bought an early copy, and I’ve been up all night reading (and re-reading) it. It’s indescribable… it’s the first time I’ve ever read/heard of a story that was similar to that of my sister and family. Everything that you went through…. the fighting against this illness, the SURVIVING, even the depression that you went through after remission, was something that my family endured. Your detailing of treatment was what I needed, to hear in words what my baby sister was going through. She was too young to articulate her pain, and your book put into words what I saw everyday for two-and-a-half years. I thank God that she was too young to be depressed about her situation…but I wasn’t. I struggled for years, even after she was given a clean bill of health, with anxiety and depression and God knows what. Your book helped me realize that I wasn’t alone.

I just wanted to send you a message and let you know that you are really one of the most amazing people I’ve met. Seriously. Thank you for putting into beautiful words your experiences with cancer… your book is something that I’ll keep forever.”

There are so many ways we can reach out and help. What a blessing it is to be able to help!

 

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