Going Gold for September 🎗🎗🎗

Sitting here with just my thoughts and a cup of coffee this morning.  Today and every Monday is a chemo day for us. Childhood Cancer is never far very from my mind. September is childhood cancer awareness month........which I didn't even know existed until last year. I have had a crash course in ALL and pediatric cancer this year. The more I learn, the more my heart breaks. Now I am starting to become angry. Not even angry that my child has cancer. I believe there must be a purpose for his journey and we are doing all we can to support him along the way. I try to be his advocate, mom, and caregiver to the best of my ability. Some days are harder than others, but he is a trooper and I try to be as well. What can be helped though........and what I am angry about is how little funding, research, and attention childhood cancer receives.  I don't think it truly has a face until it touches someone you know........ someone close to you. It didn't for me.  I am not going to preach, educate, or a go on a rant.

I digress....there are tons of events in our area this month recognizing childhood cancer. On a  recent visit to the clinic,  the staff approached me about Caleb participating in an event, Eli's Block Party. At the event, I met the family of Eli Williams, including his younger brother named Caleb. I knew that Eli had a long fight against, Medulloblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer and that he loved cars but not much else.  What I didn't know was that Eli's battle ended so recently......... August 5, 2017. Barely over a month ago.  What I saw at that event was a community of car lovers who were supporting this family, the memory their son, and coming together for a good cause. It was truly touching. Today my thoughts are with Eli and his family and all the other children whose lives have been touched by childhood cancer. Here are some of the faces of childhood cancer in our area that have earned their wings since Caleb was diagnosed.

It's NOT rare! Please help spread awareness and help support childhood cancer research. Wear a shirt, tell someones story, attend an event, run a race, donate where your money MATTERS.......to organizations like St. Jude and non profits organized by parents where the money truly goes to kids.

"If you have healthy kids be thankful......help families that don't have healthy kids." Carrow McClendon mother of Kayleigh age 7, who battled DIPG for 6 months.






To learn more about Eli and his foundation:


https://www.elisblockparty.org/eli-s-block-party


https://www.youtube.com/embed/Jy_006kDLaw


Eli Williams #forever12
12/3/04-8/5/17
Medulloblastoma

Hattie Williams #hopeforhattie
1/18/13-3/23/17
Rhabodomyosarcoma

Little Hattie I met at St Jude. That little girl stole my heart with her sass, her love of pink, and ALL things girly.  After being in remission from an aggressive RMS,  Hattie began having headaches and relapsed in March.

Samuel Harmon
7/13/2007-9/30/16
B cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Sam had the same type of leukemia Caleb. He died from complications related to chemotherapy. We were just beginning our journey and were in Memphis the same time as Sam.  His mother Christie and I attended the same high school.

Leah Siebert
12/1/98-8/30/17
Rhabodomyosarcoma

Leah had just graduated high school. She was a cheerleader and loved softball. In her own words, "I love cows, cats, the color yellow, a guy named Trace, a girl named Emma, and my child named Molly." Leah was diagnosed with RMS when she was 15.

Kayleigh McClendon
5/13/09-11/15/16
DIPG Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma

DIPG is a devastating aggresive brain tumor. The median survival time is 9 months from diagnosis. There is currently no effective treatment and the diagnosis is terminal  Kayleigh fought DIPG for 6 months. She loved softball and the color purple. Many have followed Kayleigh's story through her mom, Carrow's, blog http://prayersforkayleigh.com/ 

Kayleigh' parents talking abour her story and their love of St. Jude.

https://youtu.be/QQ71rUeHRoE