Month: September 2017

Two years ago today.

My house, my heart and my LIFE were so full of love I could’ve burst. I was truly the happiest I have ever been in my entire life. Family and friends in town for a celebration of life, victory and health….two years ago today was Kate’s “No More Chemo” party.

I will never pretend to understand why we were given this remarkable gift only to have it ripped away. While selfish, I know I could have handled her cancer again. I could have handled her relapse. I could handle anything thrown our way…but not this. Not what happened.

“I’m here at Target so I’ll be home a little late. Tell Katie I’m on my way. I’m picking up the prescription and anything they sell that will get her better. Enough is enough.”

I asked my mom whether I should buy the cute little elephant humidifier or the one that you can use with those Vicks vapo tab thingies.

“Cute is cute, but get whatever will WORK!” she replied. She then added “get those pads you put in the shower to steam up her bath time, too!”

It was “some day” in January and I’d been logging Kate’s symptoms, eating habits, bowel movements and sleep patterns for days. We’d seen the oncology team and pediatrician and thought we were onto something when he prescribed nebulizer treatments for likely asthma. That cold she caught in November hadn’t gone away.

I didn’t know that on that “some day” in January, Target didn’t sell what she needed.

Continue reading “Sick Day, PTSD…and Target”

Kegs & Corks for Kids’ Cancer is very quickly becoming our favorite. It was SO. MUCH. FUN. Lots of work? Definitely. Totally worth it? Without a doubt.

Beer + wine + great friends + football + cute kids + a good cause = one amazing way to spend a Sunday.

Kegs & Corks for Kids’ Cancer started four years ago and was founded by Kate’s beloved nurse, Sarah. Never one to sit back and watch the world of childhood cancer pass by without being ACTIVE, Sarah found a need to give back (as if her contributions to our kids and families wasn’t enough.) This year, Sarah decided she wanted Kate’s Cause to benefit from the monies raised and the dream partnership of Sarah + Lindsay was created and Kegs & Corks for Kids’ Cancer Benefiting Kate’s Cause was born. Continue reading “A Kegs & Corks Recap”

I so wanted to come to this place after a weekend of awareness and activism with dozens of photos of the events that unfolded and new friends we’d made. I wanted to feel I’d made a difference…raised my voice. I wanted to make Kate proud – so many of these organizations there are just overwhelmingly awesome with what they accomplish and how they raise awareness.

But. I didn’t.

I failed at CureFest this year.

Continue reading “Why I Failed CureFest”

I shared most of this post a year ago today when it had been one year. Today is mind-numbing to me that it has been two. A friend shared a post of her own last night that said “September is my season” referring to the season of way too many emotion-flooded days relating to special anniversaries, memories and of course, childhood cancer awareness month. I told her that September is my season too, and today is really the reason.

Continue reading “I’m Sorry it Didn’t Stay Gone”

So this downright boggles my mind, friends. Children are the future, eh? Not judging by these figures!

What people often fail to realize is that there is no “trickle down” effect when developing drugs for adults, assuming that kids will benefit. We cannot continue to keep treating our children as just little adults. They are different! They are developing! But it’s not even just that!

In almost every instance, the types of cancers that develop in children are different from those that develop in adults. Childhood cancers are often the result of DNA changes in cells that take place very early in life, sometimes even before birth. Unlike many cancers in adults, childhood cancers are not strongly linked to lifestyle or environmental risk factors.

A few days ago, I shared a statistic about ALL being the most common type of pediatric cancer. I shared about how I was made aware about childhood cancer before it came beating down our door. I want to tell you all how grateful I am to YOU for sharing your own stories and am humbled by how many of you stay with us here to learn and to share.

Continue reading “Childhood Cancer Awareness Month – Day 4”

I became (truly) aware of childhood cancer on August 15, 2013 when my baby, my beautiful Kate Olivia was diagnosed with high-risk pre-b acute lymphoblastic leukemia at the age of 2 years, 2 months and 10 days old.

I have to say that I “knew” of childhood cancer before that…my sister’s friend had a daughter that had battled cancer before (and had been re-diagnosed just days before Kate.) I’m sick over the fact that my reaction was something to the effect of “oh no, how sad” and “I’ll pray for them.”

Today is September 1st and the first day of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. I know that for many bereaved parents (those in treatment too) struggle with this month. Screaming, shouting, turning everything in our lives as gold as we can possibly make them…we feel frustrated at the lack of movement. The lack of awareness.

Continue reading “Childhood Cancer Awareness Month – Day 1”