A Childhood Cancer Survivor Blogging about the World of Childhood Cancer

Posts tagged ‘Oprah’

Will the Real “Santa” Please Stand Up?

When people tell me, “I hope you get everything you want for Christmas,” I know they mean well and that their words come from love. What I really, really want is not a thing. And I know all of you who follow my blog know exactly what it is that I want. Could it be the same as my Make-A-Wish?

Today, in Panera, I noticed a collection box for Make-A-Wish, and it was stuffed with bills and coins. It made me smile to think how eager people are to support Make-A-Wish for all of the work they do to help children with life-threatening illnesses. It made me think about how there is no amount of money that people can give to Make-A-Wish that will make my wish come true.

My wish depends upon the answer of one person– Oprah.

What I want more than anything is for Oprah to help educate people about childhood cancer. With one show, she could save many children’s lives… it may just lead to a cure.

My “Santa” looks exactly like Oprah. It’s okay that I don’t know what is in the big bag yet.

I am praying… praying for that Christmas miracle to come true.

Cottage Hospital Gingerbread House

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Waiting to hear from Make-A-Wish

I haven’t heard a word from Make-A-Wish… not even one word. I have decided I won’t analyze things, or stress about what this means or doesn’t mean. What is meant to happen will happen. Okay, I will admit that I am a teeeeeeeeeensy weeeeeeeensy bit encouraged because I did not receive an immediate, “NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” As each day goes by, I also admit that I imagine myself as a fly on the wall at HARPO Studios as Oprah’s producers scratch their heads and nod at one another in agreement that a show on childhood cancer would be AMAZING!

Okay… imagination is rolling…

After a information-filled Oprah Show that includes CureSearch, Children’s Oncology Group, St. Baldrick’s, and so much more, then Oprah can announce a great big surprise! Oh my gosh, I can see it now– I can really see it!

Oprah announces that her Angel Network is going to build the BIGGEST, BADDEST (yes, BADDEST!) most utterly powerful Childhood Cancer War Machine ever imagined by humankind! She tells her audience how her heart has been moved to make a huge difference in the lives of children with cancer in our country and throughout the world. Oprah goes on to tell all of us how material things are “of this world,” but helping find a cure for childhood cancer is permanent, lasting, and the most worthwhile of all of her missions here on Earth.

It is, in fact, the mission of a true angel. I am still wishing, still hoping, still praying… for Oprah to be the Angel I am seeking.

Oprah Please Do A Show On Childhood Cancer - Our Kids Need Your Help

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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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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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