One little poem sums up my feelings now:
Happy moments, praise God.
Difficult moments, seek God.
Quiet moments, worship God.
Painful moments, trust God.
Every moment, thank God.
Wed, Nov 14, 2007
Happy 6 yr cord blood stem cell transplant day to Samantha. It was 6 yrs ago today that she kicked that leukemia out the door and began a new life with a new blood type .. cancer free and nasty philadelphia chromosome free. Thank you God. I pray for another 6 healthy years for Sam.
Special prayers for the family of teen Sherilyn who (after a transplant) relapsed with her leukemia. After a long hard battle and wait to get to Heaven, she earned her angel wings today. Her older sister Veronica also has leukemia and is in remission after finishing her chemo treatments. Please pray for peace for this family.
Hug your children and be Thankful for life and health. Here's Sam as the toothfairy for Halloween this year:
Monday, Oct 8, 2007
The days and weeks and months seem to go by so quick. I am happy to report that Samantha is happy, healthy, beautiful and still in remission. In your face cancer ! Samantha's Mom, my little sister Nancy remains in remission too. How I like the word remission. Thanks God.
I watched a beautiful movie called The Ultimate Gift. I recommend that everyone watch this movie. The meaning of life is to find our gift and the purpose is to give it away. To get to the ultimate gift, we must remember the other gifts:
- The Gift of Work
- The Gift of Money
- The Gift of Friends
- The Gift of Learning
- The Gift of Problems
- The Gift of Family
- The Gift of Laughter
- The Gift of Dreams
- The Gift of Giving
- The Gift of Gratitude
- The Gift of a Day
- The Gift of Love
- The Gift of Hope
- The Gift of Faith
Special prayers to the family of a friend of mine from TX, Debbie, who is now free from her cancer in the arms of Jesus. And special prayers to the kids battling cancer and struggling very hard, especially Sherilyn (leukemia) and Harrison (neuroblastoma). These 2 youngsters are here in NC in desparate need of prayers.
Tues, Sep 11, 2007
How I remember this day 6 years ago. Samantha was at the hospital getting chemo and when I called my sister about the NY plane crashes, she was in her own little world consumed by cancer. I was torn between seeing my precious little 5 year old niece getting all that chemo and then nighmare of the world being changed forever by cowardly terrorists.
Today, I am blessed to have such a safe place to live and to see Samantha now 11 yrs old healthy and so cancer free. She's beautiful, smart and so healthy. Cancer has taught me that we should live for today and be appreciative of every moment we have. We had a wonderful family labor day camping trip at my parent's house. Camping by the river, swimming and tubing in the creek all day, toasting hot dogs and marshmallows over the campfire and having an Aunt Cathy ice cream sundae party is what life is all about !
Thanks to NASCAR for sponsoring the National Bone Marrow drive today at race tracks around the country. Samantha was in the National commercial with the President of NASCAR, the president of Hendrick Motor Sports - Rick Hendrick and race car driver Jimmie Johnson. Hope you got to see it. It's so so so easy to get on the National Bone Marrow registry. It's a simple little blood test. Just go to your Red Cross donor center and donate platelets and you can get on the registry that way too. Samantha needed many units of platelets to help save her life. I did a double donation Sunday and the new machines make it so much easier. Mine now takes about 92 minutes. You get to sit back and relax and watch a movie. I donate about every 304 weeks.
Special prayers to families who need extra prayers, especially Sherilyn who had a transplant and cannot have another until her leukemia is back in remission. Sherilyn's older sister Veronica was diagnosed with the same leukemia AML last year too. Please say special prayers for this family.
Thurs, Dec 28, 2006
How I remember Christmas 5 yrs ago at Duke Pediatric Bone Marrow unit. We spent Christmas Eve at Rainbow Day clinic, Samantha got blood/platelets and IV meds. Then we went back to the apartment where Ken sent the Christmas Eve dinner into flames. Christmas morning was awesome. Nancy plopped on the floor next to Sam to start tray of 18+ medications into Sam's central line. We are so blessed to have a healthy Samantha and healthy Nancy - all cancer free in 2006. Thanks God !
Special prayers to the family of 10 yr old Jenna Witherspoon. Jenna earned her angel wings yesterday after a 2 yr long very brave battle with brain cancer. Please pray for Jenna's parents and her little sister.
I donated platelets 2 days before Christmas then picked up 2 of my nephews who are now in foster care due to some unfortunate circumstances. We had a blessed Christmas and an awesome family time. I gave the boys a great old fashioned family time that included ice skating Christmas night and then sledding the day after Christmas. The worst part of Christmas was missing midnight mass. We stayed up late, got dressed for church and got there about 15 minutes early. There was no midnight mass this year ! We thanked God for the birth of our Savior and headed home to get nestled snug in our beds.
Take a moment to thank God for your blessings. Donate platelets and say prayers for all those dealing with cancer daily. Here's to a healthy, Happy 2007.... cancer free in my family !
Mon, Oct 16, 2006
It's been a long time since update. No news is great news. In one more month, Samantha will be 5 years post transplant. She is healthy and cancer free at 10 yrs old now. She's such a miracle. I could never say enough thanks to the Duke team who saved her life. Nancy is doing great too, gaining weight. Prayers work. Our family is so blessed with 2 miracles !
Thanks once again to Courtney and the Hendrick Marrow Program. They invited Samantha to say the blessing at a Jeff Gordon Foundation dinner and auction. The Jeff Gordon Foundation (race car driver) funds the Hendrick Marrow Program, Make-A-Wish, etc. I am not a racing fan, but I am definitely a Jeff Gordon fan. Jeff Gordon tried to make Sam nervous before the blessing, but what he did not realize is that she loves blessings and loves thanking God. Jeff was great with the kids. Sam told Jeff Gordon's Mom that he raised his son right. She continued to let her know that Jeff Gordon needs to work on his penmanship since she could not read his autograph. The kids also met many other celebrities, including 2 Carolina Panthers football players. Once again Courtney, you rule ! Here are Sam, Matt and Jeff Gordon.
Don't forget donating platelets - it's such a gift of life.
Special prayers for families who have lost little ones the past several months: 5 year old Amazing Jacob Courtney, little Will, 10 yr old Christy and my friend's husband Pete.
Mon, July 10, 2006
Wow, it's been almost 5 years since my sweet little niece Samanatha was diagnosed with a rare cancer. She's now a beautiful healthy 9 yr old growing like a weed almost as tall as her Aunt Cathy. I will be especially thankful when she hits her 5 yr post transplant date in Nov. Her Mom and my Irish twin Nancy has past her 1 year mark and remains in remission too. She still struggles with weight, but they enjoy each and every day.
I have special thanks. For all who support Relay for Life. Millions of dollars in grants from Amaerican Cancer Society go to NC research hospitals. Thanks also to all who ran the Grandfather Mountain Marathon and The Bear this past week, some of those proceeds go to Relay for Life. My hopes are that cures are found.
Special prayers to my friend Linda who completes her breast cancer treatments this week. For my friend Debbie in TX who needs a cure. A friend Chris who's Dad was just diagnosed with cancer. A special 10 yr old Jenna in Rock Hill, SC who is in trials for her brain cancer that has come back. And extra special prayers for the family of 6 yr old triplett Jacob Duckworth in FL who recently lost his battle with cancer and for the family of 3 yr old Will from KY who also lost his battle the same day.
Hug your family TODAY, for we are not promised a TOMORROW !
Fri, Dec 31, 2005
Life is Good, God is Great ! As I spent Christmas with my family, I was amazed at how blessed our family is. Watching my little sister go thru all the suffering from radiation and chemo for the tonsil cancer was the hardest thing that has ever happened in my life. But seeing Nancy at Christmas with no feeding tube, being able to talk and eat and enjoy the kids was just so awesome. And then seeing her 9 yr old Samantha being 4 yrs post transplant and cancer free and so unbelievably healthy makes me realize how blessed I am to have watched 2 miracles unfold before my eyes.
By the way, I thank everyone for pushing your elected officials to pass the new Cord Blood Stem cell bill. The president approved the $79 million for the Cord Blood National Registry and research. Umbilical cords and products that are so packed with pure stem cells and just get thrown away at birth. Samantha is the best proof that the miracle of someone else's birth and that precious cord blood gives life. Thanks Mr. President for giving others a chance at life with this new bill !
Special prayers to the families of Ben and Micah who are now cancer free and in Heaven. They are now leukemia free and beginning their eternal lives. I know my Aunt Fran and Uncle Ed greeted them with open arms. Special prayers also to other people who struggle thru cancer daily, especially to little 5-yr old triplett Jacob, to my friend Linda who begins chemo in January and my friend Debbie.
How about making a New Year's resolution to help us fight this cancer. Donate platelets, join a Leukemia Teams in Training program, doing something for yourself and others, join a Relay for Life team, get on the National Bone Marrow Registry or find another way to donate time or resources. You never know when cancer will hit you or your family.
Have a blessed healthy, safe and Happy 2006 .... in Remission !!!!
Mon, Nov 14, 2005
It was 4 year ago today that my 5 year old niece Samantha was given the greatest gift of all... a cord blood stem cell transplant to help save her from her rarer form of leukemia, t-cell with that nasty Philadelphia chromosome. Samantha is now a happy healthy (remarkably healthy) skinny little 9 year old. I predict she will be taller than Aunt Cathy by the time she's 13 years old. That's her goal too ! Thanks to all the Duke and Brenner's nurses and doctors. Thanks to all the blood and platelet donors. Thanks to all who just gave and gave from the heart. In case you have not heard, Samantha's Mom, my Irish twin sister Nancy is in remission too. Yay God !
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. -2 Timothy 4:7 Here we were 4 yrs ago !
Tues, Oct 25, 2005
It's been a while since my last update, so that should be a good sign. Samantha continues to amaze me. We are only several weeks away from her 4 year transplant anniversary - WOW ! When I watched her last week in the pumpkin patch picking out her own pumpkin, it brought back the memories of all that has happened and how far she has come. She is truly a miracle living with a whole new blood type and still in remission. And speaking of remission, Nancy is in remission. There are still many issues for her, she's having trouble gaining weight, she has hearing loss, she has no saliva glands, she still has throat pain.... but, she is cancer free. So mother and daughter remain in remission together.
Special prayers go to a friend in TX who is really battling her cancer. She has had 2 auto stem cell transplants already. And to another friend at work who was just diagnosed with breast cancer. October is breast cancer awareness month. Have you had your mammogram yet ? I personally know 5 people who have been diagnosed early with breast cancer just from a mammogram.
Mon, Aug 22, 2005
Well, 4 years ago, we were doing blood and bone marrow drives making a plea to see my sweet little 4-yr old niece Samantha make it to her 5th birthday. And here we are 4 days away from her 9th birthday. Samantha is so healthy and happy.
Nancy is hanging in there. She finished chemo/radiation treatments and now we wait for the scans in a few weeks. Please God let this cancer be done with our family.
Special prayers to the families who battle this c-monster every day. 10 yr old Jenna is planning yet another surgery for her brain cancer, 5 year old Jacob D painfully battles the affects of his cancer treatments, my friend Debbie just had her 2nd bone marrow transplant in hopes of squashing out her cancer AGAIN, 9 yr old Cody (who had his transplant at Duke a year after Sam had hers) earned his angel wings last week and that's just to name a few.
Hug your family members every day and enjoy the gift of life you have been given TODAY. Tomorrow has not yet been promised. How about donating some platelets ? It's a great gift of life, used to save a life within 5 days and at the same time a great way to monitor your own health. As part of donating platelets, they do about 8 blood tests on you (including leukemia). Yes, you have to drive to a blood center and yes it takes longer than giving blood, BUT, that's nothing compare to the amount of time cancer patients and their families put in at clinic and hospital stays. AND, ask to be put on the National Bone Marrow registry FREE while they are taking platelets.
Again, Happy 9th Birthday to Princess Samantha on Aug 26. You and your Mom are my heroes !
Thurs, Jul 14, 2005
As we approach the 4 year anniversary of when my 4 yr old niece Samantha was diagnosed with a Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL), t-cell with the Philadelphia chromosome, a rare cancer, I reflect on all the happenings over the past 4 years. Samantha turned 5, had her miraculous cord blood stem cell transplant and remains a beautiful healthy smart 8 yr old. We are so blessed. But I have since lost my Uncle to leukemia, my Aunt to brain cancer, my youngest sister (not to cancer) and now Samantha's Mom, my younger sister Nancy battles a gruesome throat cancer (she has never smoked a day in her life !). She has completed chemo and after today has 5 more radiation treatments. She cannot talk, cannot hear and can hardly eat due to the treatment damage. She does have a feeding tube to help with nutrition. I only pray they got all the cancer and she gets into remission too.
God, where are you ?
Tues, Jun 28, 2005
I had a great weekend with Samantha and Matt. Everytime I look at how healthy Sam is, I cannot believe what she went thru almost 4 years ago. She's miracle. She's growing and I guess will be taller than this Aunt Cathy by age 12.5.
Nancy is almost almost half way thru radiation. Yay. She was supposed to have chemo inpatient this week, but that was postponed due to her weak system. They have also decided that next week will be the end of chemo. Her body cannot handle it. So, with just 3.5 weeks of treatments left, we pray for remission so we don't have to face any more treatment decisions. She does need lots of prayers right now though. Her feeding tube is not working right and she's dropping weight.
The local Blood Sweat and Gears 100-mile bike ride was a huge success for the Red Cross, raising hopefully over $30,000 !!! Next we have the local Bear run (5-mile hill run up Grandfather Mtn, 1000 ft climb over the 5 miles) and the Grandfather Mtn Marathon. Some of this money raised goes toward my Relay for Life team. So I say, keep on running and biking for these great causes.
Mon, June 6, 2005
Well, poor Nancy has had an eventful several weeks. She had the feeding tube put in and due to negligence at the hospital, the procedure set her back 2 weeks and she ended up in the hospital for 9 days. It was horrendous what they did to her. But, she moves on, starting radiation today (7 weeks, 5 days a week) and chemo today (I think chemo is every 3 weeks). So, my younger sister's battle begins. My prayers are for a rapid and lengthy remission. Samantha remains in remission and is 3.5 years post transplant. Is God still on vacation I wonder ?
Special prayers are needed for 10 yr old Jenna. Just a year ago, she was diagnosed with a brain cancer. She fought back, completing treatments and finishing school with all A's. Now her brain tumor, in the inoperable area of the brain is growing. They are working to find a plan of treatment.
I H-A-T-E CANCER !!!!!
Thurs, May 12, 2005
Thanks for all the prayers for my sister Nancy. She is scheduled for surgery Wed, May 18, then start the chemo and radiation together Mon, May 23. Samantha is very sad that her Mom now has cancer too. What I really want is to see Samantha stay in remission and Nancy get in remission. Please help me with these prayer requests.
More sad news on the cancer front: 10 yr old Jenna with a brain cancer had completed her brain surgeries, chemo and radiation. They just found out her inoperable brain tumor had doubled in size. This family has so much faith and your prayers could certainly help them too.
Congratulations to 5-year old Parker who had the same cancer Samantha had. He is now out of the Duke Pediatric Bone Marrow unit, doing well. My prayers for them are that they continue doing well and get to go back home to CA soon.
At work, we have raised over $1000 doing a bake sale, soup & sandwich lunch and biscuit breakfasts. We have 1 more hot dog lunch next week before our Relay For Life . Thanks for supporting such a great cause.
Mon, May 2, 2005
Samantha was a guest speaker and sang Somewhere Over the Rainbow at their Relay for Life. Thanks to all the supports and the luminaries. She's my little hero.
Things in my family are really tough right now. I had the sudden loss of my youngest sister Kelley (35) last month. (Not cancer). And now the most devastating news is that my sister Nancy, Samantha's mother, was diagnosed with cancer. I cannot believe this. I just ask for your prayers for Nancy. I will NOT be updating my website with all her details. I just ask for prayers.
Please please support Relay for Life. The cancer research dollars are so important. And please please donate blood and platelets. So many patients depend of that gift of life. And please please donate platelets at least once and ask them to put you on the National Bone Marrow registry.
Thanks.
Thur, Apr 14, 2005
Whew... it's been a while since I have updated. Samantha continues to be a miracle and remains in remission. We are so blessed. She and her little brother are doing a math-a-thon fund-raiser for St. Judes. Sam was really interested in helping them. She continues to love school so much and is doing really well. Matt too. I guess the secret is find a way to not let kids go to school, then they will want it more than anything.
Special prayers to the family of Benjamin Jones. He was an 8 yr old who had brain cancer, got in remission, went on his Make-A-Wish trip, went back to school and relapsed. He passed away last week. And prayers to 5 year old Parker who has a leukemia similar to Sam's. Parker had his cord blood stem cell transplant a few weeks ago. And his new donor cells are coming in. He does have the dreaded graft vs host disease. Some is actually good. He is getting life-saving platelets now, so please donate those much needed platelets that save lives. I am going this weekend to do mine.
Thur, Jan 6, 2005
Happy 2005. I guess my updates are few and far between because Samantha is doing so great. She had a wonderful Christmas. Sam and Matt made me some beautiful ornaments and cards. I treasure their creative gifts. Sam is so into reading. I think she is on the 4th Harry Potter book. She's doing great in school - 3rd grade now. I am just so thankful for the gift of life for Samantha.
2004 was a hard year - losing my favorite Aunt to brain cancer and having 3 surgeries of my own.
Congratulations in 10 yr old Jenna who is doing wonderful in remission with her brain cancer.
Special prayers to the families who lost children the past month: Travis- leukemia (AML), Ryan S. leukemia (AML), Hunter (Aplastic anemia), Ethan - leukemia (t-cell ALL), Derek (brain cancer), Lexi (brain cancer) and Amanda leukemia (ALL). Amanda and Ryan were buddies and earned their wings a few days apart this week. Please pray for the cancer families who lose loved ones way before their time.
14-NOV-04: SUNDAY
Happy 3 year transplant anniversary Samantha. What a miracle. Sam was telling me Sat. that her 3rd grade class prepared a worship service. Sam got to introduce the meditation. She said it started like this "When I got my leukemia, my parents prayed for me, my brother prayed for me, my grandparents prayed for me, my aunts & uncles prayed for me and even strangers prayed for me. Because so many people prayed for me, God made me better". Thanks for all the prayers. Samantha remains in remission today and is a happy 8-year older.
29-OCT-04: Friday
Samantha is doing great. We went to Carrigan Farms on the hayride ti the pumkin patch and each kid picked out a pumkin. Aunt Cathy has had a rough few months - major knee surgery (and the tibia is still fractured) and last week shoulder surgery. It's nothing compare to Samantha's battle with cancer.
Special prayers to 9 hr old Connor Hunley who has battled cancer since he was 6 years old. He is now home on Hopsice and prayers are being said for him to make it to his 10th birthday Oct 31. Stop by his website a wish his family some prayers Connor
Extra special prayers to the Hendrick family who started the Hendrick Marrow program. They support and fund bone marrow drives as well as help the families of the Duke Pediatric Bone Marrow unit. The loss in the plane crash was a great loss to the team Hendrick Motor sports.
20-Sep-04: Monday
Great news, Samantha had some recent tests that show she has a healthy immune system. And.....she even has tonsils again (I guess the chemo and radiation killed of hers). It's so amazing how an umbical cord that would normally just be thrown away after a babies birth gave some special little niece a life. Why can't they get every umbilical cord and start saving more lives !
More good news... I am finally off crutches, off a cane and no leg brace. Now I just pray the fracture site will heal and the osteotomy will give me a pain free knee.
Special prayers to the families who struggle for life on Duke PBMTU 5200 and elsewhere. Special prayers that all Samantha's 3-yr post transplant studies come back normal.
14-Sep-04: Tuesday
I cannot believe we are rapidly approaching Samantha's 3 yr transplant anniversary and still in remission. She's doing so good in 3rd grade and loves school. She learned how to waterski a few weekends ago (she even got up on the 1st try) and then learned how to skateboard last weekend. After some good scrapes, she has no desire to skateboard at least for now.
Please please keep donating platelets, there are so many folks who need that gift daily.
Special prayers to the Lee family in NC who just lost there 3 yr old son Folden Lee IV to leukemia. He was in the bone marrow unit at Duke. His family has been so unbelievably stong due to their faith. And special prayers 10 year old Jenna who started her radiation in hopes of getting the remainder of her brain tumor that 3 surgeries could not get. Jenna is such a fighter.
ENJOY LIFE FOR TODAY !
26-Aug-04: Thursday
Happy 8th Birthday to Samantha. Wow, 3 years ago she was fighting for her life this day, just starting chemo. Then, we were just praying to see her turn 5 and here we are 3 years and a cord blood stem cell transplant later at 8 years old. I called her bright and early this morning and it made my day to hear those Samantha giggles as I sang Happy Birthday. I just pray every day that she will remain in remission. Samantha just recently started 3rd grade and she loves school. Matt started 1st grade and loves school too.
Special prayers to all the families who lost their loved ones. In these 3 years Samantha has battled, I lost an Aunt and and Uncle to cancer. They really prayed hard for the miracle of Samantha too.
I ask everyone to please give the gift of life - platelets, or if you can't do that, maybe get involved with Relay for Life. Thanks to those who ran the Grandfather Mountain Marathon and the Bear. Part of those proceeds went to Relay for Life.
02-May-04: Sunday
It's been 2 years and 9 months since Samantha was diagnosed with cancer. And yesterday was a milestone in her life, she received her 1st Holy Communion with smiles. Thank you God. Last week, she also walked in the Survivor lap at the Relay for Life. Samantha's life-saving cord blood stem cell transplant got it's origins from a grant provided by the American Cancer Society to Dr. Kurtzburg, a pediatric onocologist at Duke.
Special prayers go to 9 year old Jenna who was diagnosed just before Easter with brain cancer. She spent a month in hospital, went home last week for a day and is back in the hospital. Please keep her and her family in your prayers.
. Presenting 7 year old Samantha Washko in remission, 2.5 years post transplant
23-feb-04: Monday
Sorry for no updates lately, there has been a lot going on in my life. Samantha is doing what I call just ok. She has battled some pneumonia, some headaches and rashes. The rash seems to be a GvHD rash, graft vs host disease where those graft stem cells seem to want to keep battling. In some ways it's good, meaning the fight is on, so cancer probably could not come back. Yet, they don't like to see the gVhd this far from transplant, meaning the poor kid has to suffer. The rash is firey red and itches/burns like crazy. But, Nancy said they seem to be getting control.
Just 4.5 months after my favorite Aunt in the whole world was diagnosed with brain cancer, she lost the battle and began her Eternal Life Monday, Feb 16th. It's puzzling to me how a person who is the most like Jesus (doing so many good deeds for others all her life) has to end up suffering like Jesus. Please pray for her family for comfort and understanding.
Special paryers are needed for baby Cassie, the newborn little sister of 3 yr old Garrett. Garrett (has neuroblastoma) had his transplant the day after Samantha did 2 yrs ago. Cassie was born 11 weeks premature. She was named after 21 year old Cassie who fought so hard against cancer and lost her battle. She too was on the Duke bone marrow unit with Samantha. She loved the little ones so dearly and really was a hero to Samantha.
I only ask each person to take time out and tell your loved ones (Mom, Dad, spouse, grandparents, children, siblings, cousins, nieces, nephews and grandchildren) that you love them. Spend a little more time with family because we never know when that nasty CANCER will hit ANYONE !!!
02-jan-04: Friday
Happy New year everyone. I had a great Christmas seeing all the kids and spreading my Aunt Cathy cheer. My house looked like the North Pole for the weeks up to Christmas. Samantha has been sick, but thank God that new immune system is a fighter. My new years prayers are for another year in remission.
Special prayers go out to the parents of Jacob Courtney. Today would have been his 5th birthday. He became an angel, free from the suffering of cancer, just the week before Christmas. More prayers to my Aunt who needs them so very bad in her battle with cancer.
19-dec-03: I am so thankful for the miraculous recovery Samantha has had and I pray she stays in remission forever. Samantha is doing great and her new immune system is so strong, fighting whatever comes her way.
Special prayers to Chandra and Brian Courtney who lost their little guy Jacob this past week. Jake was a fighter and such an inspiration to so many people, including me. I know he is now an Angel in Heaven, free from the suffering of cancer and an eternal child angel.
Special prayers to my aunt who just had more cancer removed from her brain. I pray they got it all and her recovery can continue again.
C-A-N-C-E-R.....S-U-C-K-S... !!!
Thanksgiving, 2003
Wow, I cannot believe it was Thanksgiving 2 years ago when Samantha was fighting for her new cells to give her life. I remember sending Nancy and Ken off to eat a meal together brought to the family lounge at Duke by a church. Samantha and I were sitting on her bed when she sneezed a sneeze that opened the flood gates. Her platelet count was so low that she sneezed and the blood poured out. Once they finally got platelets in her is when the bleeding stopped. I am so thankful people donate platelets - have you lately
Special prayers to my Aunt who is battling brain cancer and special prayers to another Aunt who is spending her 1st holiday season after my Uncle became an angel, now free from his cancer. Special prayers to my friend Kathie who just completed her chemo and to my friend Margery who is soon to start her chemo. CANCER SUCKS !
Fri, Nov 14, 2003
Happy 2nd Anniversary of Samantha's life-saving cord blood stem cell transplant. A huge thanks to the awesome parents in NY who donated their son's umbilical cord after he was born. That cord was packed with stem cells that gave Samantha a whole new blood type. Samantha is now a happy 7 year old in remission and going to school.
Special prayers to my Aunt who is fighting brain cancer, to my friend Kathie who has just completed chemo for her breast cancer, to another friend who just started her battle with breast cancer, to 4 year old Jacob Courtney who continues his battle with neuroblastoma and to all those families who have lost a loved one.
I do have to share this. Nancy told me that Samantha had to write what she was thankful for on something at school. Samantha wrote "I am thankful to be alive, because I could have been an angel". To me, Samantha is an Angel on Earth !
