Searching for the Right Words

I'm just in shock. You never want to hear about kiddos that relapse. You just don't. It awful, children should NEVER have cancer, and they for sure shouldn't get it twice. When it's kids that we know from our local hospital, or our friends with Ds, we take it personal. They're like family to us.

Today one of our family members have made their way back to their Children's hospital in Michigan. Little Ashlyn is a beautiful little girl who happens to have Down syndrome and has ALREADY fought for her life, but now she's having to fight again. Cancer sucks! It's not fair!

Ashlyn is particularly special to me because she was diagnosed right before Chelsea. Her mama and me were connected via the internet and have followed each others girls through their treatments and beyond. Ashlyn is about a year older than Chelsea, but she had the same type of leukemia, AML, and they were even on the same study protocol. I don't remember any others that I found on the same protocol as Chelsea, so I was particularly interested in their story. AND I was always telling our doctors ... but my friends little girl got to ... I know, we shouldn't compare, but we do! If they got to go home earlier than us, or if they got meds we didn't get, we knew about it!

So my heart is heavy tonight. I'm sad, I'm angry, and I'm scared. There. I'll admit it. Please pray for our little friend Ashlyn.

Cancer Sucks

We have some friends who are in need of prayer warriors, so who better to ask than our readers!!! You can read their personal stories through their caring bridge sites by clicking on their name.

Meet Claire. She's a precious little girl we met towards the end of Chelea's treatment. She doesn't have leukemia, but her cancer was miraculously cured quickly with some intense chemotherapy. We were thrilled to see her parents in October and hear of her good results. They are now facing a possible relapse though as Claire's AFP numbers are on the rise which likely indicates the worst. They had scans done today to check and see what is going on with her, but they won't get results until Wednesday. Please, please pray that her cancer remains in remission.

Also, I've mentioned our buddy Santos before. He is in Arizona with his mother seeking alternative therapies for his second relapse. Santos is one tough, fun-loving, active kid, and we love him! Please pray that these natural therapies will bring him into remission. If they are unable to get him into remission, these treatments should at least give him more time, and he will still be able to keep his energy and have a very high quality of life and feel good. He has spent way to much time in the hospital already and there just weren't any more chemo options for Santos in KC. Also if you live in the area and would like to help Santos and his family, they are holding a fundraiser later this month. If you can, please consider attending, it looks like A LOT of fun!!! Feel free to pass this fundraising information on through your blog or through emails.



Bowling Fundraiser for Santos

WHEN: JAN. 31, 2009
WHERE: RANCH BOWL
5604 State Avenue, Kansas City, KS 66102
TIME: 1:00 PM to 4:30 PM
$20.00 PER ADULT TO BOWL
$10.00 PER STUDENT TO BOWL
$5.00 PER TACO DINNER PLATE (4 tacos and rice)
Everyone that bowls will be entered into a raffle.

If you're interested in going let me know, we're up for the fun! We'll probably find a babysitter for Chelsea (and maybe Logan).