A Childhood Cancer Survivor Blogging about the World of Childhood Cancer

Posts tagged ‘Taylor Swift’

The Truth 365 Loves Taylor Swift

Taylor SwiftThe Truth 365 is launching a campaign to invite Taylor Swift to be an official celebrity spokesperson for children with cancer. They have been communicating with Taylor’s “team” and believe she may consider helping out. Do you remember the song she wrote for Ronan?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nVBsDP5DoM&feature=kp

Ronan Thompson was diagnosed as a toddler with stage-four neuroblastoma– cancer stole him away just eight short months later.  Maya Thompson blogged about her son’s illness, and her moving story found its way to Taylor. Maya received a phone call from Taylor, telling her she wrote a song for Ronan.

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“I was a blubbering mess telling her how much this meant to me as she was helping me keep your memory alive and helping me to do amazing things. How if I had to pick my dream person to be tied to your name, it would be her because she is full of so much pure goodness, just like you.”

                                                                        ~Maya Thompson, Ronan’s mommy

                                                                           www.rockstarronan.com

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Dear, dear Mike Gillette from The Truth 365 gives us these details on how we can all work together to make this happen:

Announcing the ‪#‎ThankYouTaylor Campaign!

“As a way to thank Taylor Swift for her years of kindness toward kids with cancer we are launching a social media campaign called #ThankYouTaylor.

Here’s how you can participate:

Step 1. Take a photo with a message for Taylor that includes the hashtags #ThankYouTaylor and ‪#‎thetruth365film. Photos can be of individuals, groups, pets or anything that you can think of. Children fighting cancer are strongly encouraged to participate.

Step 2. Upload it to Facebook, Twitter or Instagram

Step 3. Be sure to tag it with the hashtags #ThankYouTaylor and #thetruth365film so that we can find your image.

We will then then choose 1,000 images and print a 36 sq. ft. wall mural for Taylor which she may accept or donate to her favorite charity. The mural will be designed as a mosaic made up of all of the images.”

 Ronan

 The inspiration for Taylor’s song, Ronan Thompson

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Stand Up 2 Cancer and Taylor Swift, Turning Tears Into Hope

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

“And we wept that one so lovely should have a life so brief.”

~ William Cullen Bryant

“One so lovely”…

The attention to childhood cancer in last night’s Stand Up 2 Cancer production was HOPE for my spirit. Stand Up to Cancer has partnered with St. Baldrick’s to create a Dream Team; research means HOPE in so many ways. There are children who need treatment options now, right now.

PAC2 brought me this great news in my inbox today! I could not summarize this or explain it any better:

“Headed into last night’s show, while SU2C had funded some childhood cancer specific research, it had yet not formed a Pediatric Dream Team (i.e., larger, higher-dollar, multi-institutional research projects).   There are seven existing SU2CDream teams.  

But yesterday’s show and the collaborative efforts of St. Baldrick’s and SU2C are going to change that.  It almost seemed like the majority of the show was focused on kids!  Having Julia Roberts caution viewers that cancer “kills a child every four hours in this country.”  Having Justin, St. Baldrick’s Ambassador Kid, featured so prominently, having Taylor Swift dedicate her song to Ronan, and the hearts touched by Avalanna’s story are all giant leaps forward for childhood cancer awareness!!  Reaching a nationwide audience no matter what channel you tuned in!!  Leveraging our ‘normal’ audience an order of magnitude, or two!! 

 Hopefully a prime example of Awareness–>Funding–>Research–>Cure”

Thank you to PAC2 for always bringing us updated news!

Taylor Swift’s song to Ronan:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ITrd7fM6aY

When we see the faces of childhood warriors, the youngest among us who fight cancer, they seem to always, always have a smile, even when their suffering is great. While they suffer, they think of others. They don’t want others to be sad because of their suffering. They don’t want to be their suffering.

“People know me for my happiness. I don’t want people to think of me for sadness.”

~ Jack Bartosz (August 24, 2012)

And so these brilliant spirits among us teach us strength. They teach us about courage and about what is truly important in our lives. They teach us not to be petty, or mean, or frustrated. Instead, their characters lead us to better ourselves. They lead us to the paths of compassion, gratitude, acceptance, and pureness of love.

I love them. I love these children with every speck of my heart. For this reason, I am one very happy Melinda! Stand Up 2 Cancer has stepped up to the plate for the kids!

SU2C, YOU ARE AWESOME!

Taylor Swift…

I keep searching for the words to thank you for your beautiful song, but it’s hard for me to see the screen while I type– and there are no words. If you could see the tears falling over my cheeks, you would instantly know the extent of my gratitude. Tears of the gratitude type speak volumes. Thank you!

To all of my AMAZING nurses, and to all the others… Thank you!

Did you know you can Be a Part of The Cure?!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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What if I’m Not Taylor Swift?

Grace: A Child's Intimate Journey Through Cancer and Recovery

With all of the excitement this past week about Taylor Swift asking eighteen year-old cancer patient, Kevin McGuire, to be her date for the ACM Awards, I hope that our excitement will lead us all to look inside ourselves and ask what we have, personally, to give. I mean, what if our mere presence does not elicit the excitement that Taylor’s does?

What if I am not Taylor Swift?

I am so happy you have asked. We can do plenty. Remember the four-year old boy named Kyle who needs a bone marrow transplant and is looking for a match? If having an opportunity to directly save a child’s life appeals to you, please register with Be The Match. 10,000 patients need transplants, and only one half of those patients will receive one. The very generous woman below is in the process of donating.

Amanda Simas Giving Someone Life


 

This next story will inspire you; I bring you the example of Sean. Sean is not yet an adult, yet he is raising money for St. Baldrick’s in honor of his twelve year-old cousin, Maeve, who is fighting osteosarcoma. St. Baldrick’s funds more in childhood cancer research grants than any organization except the U. S. government.

Sean’s St. Baldrick’s Fundraising Page

For good measure, I am delighted—truly delighted– to bring you the final option I will suggest today.

You can fill a child fighting cancer with pure joy by making it snow!

http://triangle.news14.com/content/top_stories/654306/family-creates-snowy-scene-to-make-memories-with-young-leukemia-patient

How terrific it is to know we don’t have to be Taylor Swift in order to truly bring joy to children fighting cancer.

Time to get going now… to make it snow!

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Blake-Jordans-Miracle/140550415991818?ref=ts

Blake Jordan needs a miracle kidney

 

 

 

 


 

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Taylor Swift, Thank You for the Spoonful of Love

Grace: A Child's Intimate Journey Through Cancer and Recovery

Dear Taylor,

Since I heard the news about your response to the invitation to go with Kevin McGuire to his prom, I cannot stop smiling. It is truly stupendous that, rather than declining the invitation to his prom, you created your own invitation for Kevin to be your date for the ACM Awards!

I want you to know that this gift you are giving to Kevin goes far beyond the actual evening of your date. Each day between now and then, Kevin has the gift of looking forward to meeting you. When treatment times get rough, he has your gift to help heal his body and heart. When Kevin kicks cancer’s rear into remission, your gift will also lead him to help others.

Your heart-gift does not stop there.

Do you realize the impact of your actions on the entire childhood cancer community?

You see, the world of childhood cancer is packed full of suffering and sorrow. Children endure tortuous treatments, and parents crumble as they watch what no parent should have to see—what no child should have to endure. The reality of fighting childhood cancer is that the fight goes on and on. Even when treatment finally ends, 2/3 of children who survive will deal with life-long effects from the medicines that saved them.

Because of all this, it is absolutely necessary to add huge doses of love to the treatment protocol for children with cancer. To these children who are fighting for their lives, every bit of care has enormous meaning. A smile, a warm hug, a laugh, an open heart… all of these are more precious than gold.

How do I know?

I am a seventeen year-old survivor. Moments of love gave me the ammunition I needed to fight to get well. I won’t ever forget.

This is why what you have done for Kevin means more than what you ever imagined, to a multitude of people. Although Kevin is the one who received your invitation, I feel as elated as if it were me who received your warmth and love. Your gift to Kevin is a huge spoonful of love to all of us who work to stop childhood cancer.

Thank you for your loving heart and for the huge spoonful of love,

Melinda

I found this video with your song… 

Taylor Swift “The Best Day”

Believe in Magic Children’s Charity Pirates and Princesses

Creating moments of love!

Reef was diagnosed three years ago today-- Go Reef!

http://www.savebabyreef.com/

 

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Share Dreams and Wishes with Kevin and Owen

Grace: A Child's Intimate Journey Through Cancer and Recovery

As thoughts of Kevin McGuire and his second battle with leukemia raced through my mind today, I also thought of Taylor Swift and her incredible act of kindness in asking Kevin to attend the ACM Awards as her date. I am still awestruck by how fast word spread through Facebook, and I want to thank each one of you who took the time to like his page and pass on the request. I admit that I rarely watch TV, opting to dance every night instead, but I will be sure to have myself plunked in front of the television on April 1st so that I won’t miss a moment of “Kevin & Taylor” coverage!

Along with thoughts of Kevin today, I also thought about Owen McMasters. Owen and Kevin have something in common. They are both in need of the drug methotrexate for their treatments—the medicine shortage we have been so very concerned about.

Owen and his parents spoke with Sanjay Gupta on CNN about their concern over the shortage of methotrexate.

Owen has decided for his Make-A-Wish to wish that children will be able to receive the life-saving drugs that they need to live. What a heroic, loving, and generous wish! Yet, there is something very, very wrong when a child needs to use his Make-A-Wish so that children can get the medicine they need to live.

Shouldn’t this supply problem already be taken care of by responsible adults?

St. Baldrick’s gives us an update on the current shortages of drugs used to treat childhood cancer.

When we are speaking of a child’s life or death need for medicine, we must ask ourselves, who is responsible for making certain that each child who needs medicine will receive it?

Let’s all take responsibility; let’s make Owen’s wish come true.

“But how?” you ask.

Let’s make Owen’s wish come true the same way that everyone helped make Kevin’s dream date come true…

Please speak up and spread the word!

Owen McMasters

 

 

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Taylor Swift’s Surprise Response to Kevin McGuire

Grace: A Child's Intimate Journey Through Cancer and Recovery

There is no end to what we can accomplish when we work toward a goal from our hearts. What Kevin McGuire’s sister imagined would never happen, took a highly favorable turn toward the Even-More-Than-Anyone-Can-Imagine. Thanks to everyone who supported the Facebook Page that Victoria McGuire created for her eighteen year-old brother, Kevin will have something incredible to look forward to, as he battles leukemia again.

Four short days ago, I asked readers for help liking Kevin’s Page…

https://gracemelinda.com/2012/02/22/will-taylor-swift-say-yes-to-kevin-mcguire/

Although the Facebook page asks Taylor Swift to go with Kevin to his prom, Taylor’s response one-upped the request when she found she was unavailable on Kevin’s prom night. Instead, she invited Kevin to be her date for the ACM Awards!

Taylor wrote this response to Kevin on her Facebook page:

 “Kevin, I’m so sorry but I won’t be able to make it to your prom. But I was wondering, the ACM Awards are coming up. Would you be my date? Love, Taylor”.

The news story:

This news thrills me in so many ways. I find it thrilling to think that Kevin’s spirits will remain hopeful and positive through the worst of times in his treatment. It’s thrilling to know there is a young celebrity walking in our midst that has—first of all—responded to this heartfelt request, and–second of all– has responded with utmost kindness and compassion.  

Clearly, Taylor Swift’s talents go far beyond what we have enjoyed musically. Her physical beauty and musical talents have Earthly limits, but she has shown her heart has a beauty and grace that knows no bounds.

Taylor, I will always remember how you have shown Kevin the love inside you that is not of this Earth.

May many others follow your lead…

Kevin is Going to the ACM Awards with Taylor Swift!

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Will Taylor Swift Say Yes to Kevin McGuire?

Grace: A Child's Intimate Journey Through Cancer and Recovery

I learned of a courageous young man named Kevin McGuire today. Kevin was diagnosed with leukemia when he was thirteen. After winning the first battle, Kevin—now eighteen—has learned that he must battle cancer again.

The full story–

Having been diagnosed when I was thirteen, I cannot imagine what Kevin is feeling right now. I do know that every ounce of love and care for Kevin will make a difference for the better in his current fight and in his future recovery. Those who have never known anyone with cancer cannot comprehend the complexity of treatments or the horror that someone’s body goes through while raging war against cancer. I have found that teens face a very different added emotional struggle that goes along with the physical fight.

A fellow teen survivor sent me this message last week–

“I thought no one else knew the hell and loneliness.”

What I want to describe is the deep need for us to give from our hearts to help Kevin. He not only needs methotrexate (thank you again to those who yelled, kicked, clicked, and screamed,) but he needs everyone around him to help heal him by lifting his spirit over and over again. Healing Kevin’s body is but a portion of the battle.

It sounds to me like the very best Spirit-Lifter for Kevin, would be for Taylor Swift to take him to his prom!

Taylor Swift take KEVIN MCGUIRE TO PROM!

https://www.facebook.com/events/338272569549921/

Please like this page, and let’s gather all of the Spirit-lifting medicine for Kevin that we can find. Okay, all together, on the count of three…

Taaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaylor!!!!

I bet she already have a dress to wear…

Please Say Yes, Taylor!

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