Childhood Cancer

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Childhood Cancer Awareness Month!

by 5 Comments
Sep
08
2011
Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month!  Do you know what that means??  It's time to take action in the fight against pediatric cancer!  This month, I want to share some important statistics and resources about childhood cancer and how to become an advocate for all of the kids who have, are, and will fight.  It doesn’t take much but a heart for kids to make a difference! First, here are some major childhood cancer statistics…you can raise awareness simply by sharing these facts! -Cancer is the #1 cause of death by disease in kids -46 children each school day are diagnosed with cancer -7 children die each day from cancer -40,000 children are presently being treated for cancer in the United States -2/3 of childhood cancer survivors will suffer some type of long term effect resulting from treatment -1 out of 5 children diagnosed with cancer dies and in some types of cancer, 1 out of 5 lives -When diagnosed with cancer, 80% of children are diagnosed … [Read more...]

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The Do’s and Don’ts of Cancer Kid Gifts

by 14 Comments
Aug
01
2011
Doing origami!

Do you know a child with cancer?  Are you wondering what kind of gift to give them?  As one who was on the receiving end for quite some time, I’m hoping to give a little insight on giving get-well gifts.  There are do's and don’ts- some are quite obvious, while others perhaps only someone who’s gone through it can realize.  But all hope to ease that “what do I get them” feeling and create a better giving/receiving experience for both the patient and the people who care about them. DO: Soft Coming home from the hospital after a tough round of chemo, I’d slip on my fuzzy socks, grab my softest stuffed animal, and snuggle beneath my coziest blanket in my most comfortable pj’s.  Comfort….it’s all about comfort.  That’s why anything plush or fluffy goes over big with anyone who’s ill, especially a child.  Whether it’s a big stuffed bear to hug during chemo or a pillow to jam your face in on hard day, the level of comfort that something soft can provide … [Read more...]

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One Who Should Not…

by 12 Comments
Jun
13
2011
Melinda Childhood Cancer LR

A soft beanie slips over the small head of one who should not be hairless A needle plunges into the hip bone of one who should not know that kind of pain A single word scares one who should not yet know true fear Thoughts beyond this world float in the mind of one who should not have to wonder what it feels like to die Memories of a past life escape the conscience This is normal, right? Everyone gets chemo… Everyone must fight for each day… Everyone must endure the acrid taste of Prednisone as it skims the back of their throat… Everyone must search each cell in their body for the energy to turn over in bed… It’s impossible to imagine that the world goes on lives go on… while yours crumbles beneath your shaking feet Why have you been chosen? Only God knows… How hard must you fight? There is no certainty in the mouths of doctors… What will happen? Only time has the ability to speak those … [Read more...]

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The Battle Against Childhood Cancer

by 3 Comments
Apr
28
2011
Me and Braden, the Inspiration for Braden's Hope Foundation

In the battle of childhood cancer, we see kids and their families, nurses, and doctors who are on the front lines every day.  It’s important, however, to recognize and acknowledge those behind the scenes- those out of the direct line of fire who make the fight possible.  Although overlooked in importance and, I believe, underappreciated for what they do, childhood cancer organizations are utterly passionate about helping kids like me.  They bring a personal and sincere quality to what they do and ease the cancer journey for kids and their family. Backing up the children on the front lines are organizations that offer direct services to families affected by childhood cancer.  An organization that is near and dear to my heart is the Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation.  TBCF provides immediate support to families and has impacted my life personally.  Through every step of the way- both during and after treatment- they were always there to provide us with what we needed.  The mission … [Read more...]

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Visitors Welcome! Well…It Depends.

by 3 Comments
Apr
04
2011
Party in Melinda's room! February 12, 2008

During my journey with cancer, visitors who appeared at my bedside delivered an array of reactions- no two were the same.  It taught me a lot about what to tell someone going through cancer and how to treat them.  What I really didn’t want was to be treated differently because of my condition.  Cancer patients strive to be “normal”, and I was no exception.  I wanted my friends and family to be how they had always been towards me- to make me feel like I was still myself.  However, there was a fine line between treating me normally and denying the fact that I had cancer.  I suppose that it depends on whether or not the patient is in denial, but turning a blind eye to what has overtaken a child’s life can leave them frustrated.  No one should let their personal inability to deal with another’s illness prevent them from helping a cancer kid through their journey…although for some, the best help may be no help at all. Communication with a child going through cancer … [Read more...]

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The Pre-Battle Battle

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Mar
02
2011
Pre-Battle Battle

When an ill child is brought to the doctor, cancer is the last word on everyone’s mind.  Kids are known for being energetic, youthful, and healthy…which means many narrow down symptoms to simple ailments.  But when a sick child reappears week after week through the doctor’s office door, it is time to face the fears of what may be wrong.  So often when hearing the stories of other cancer kids, it begins the same- a frustrating series of misdiagnoses.  It is not surprising then, that 80% of children who are diagnosed with cancer are already in stages 3 and 4 compared to 20% of adults.  By that time, pediatric oncologists must issue harsher, more intense treatment to put the cancer into remission.  Two-thirds of those that endure treatment face lifelong side effects from the potent treatments. It is therefore, extremely important that we acknowledge and recognize symptoms that may serve as a red flag for childhood cancer.  However, the difficulty is that most symptoms of … [Read more...]

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My Childhood Cancer Experience

by 5 Comments
Jan
23
2011
My Last Chemo Day at Cottage

I am often asked if I get tired of telling my story…the answer is no.  Each time there is a different perspective to view it from, different lessons to learn from it, and new words to describe it.  But most importantly, someone is hearing it for the first time, making me feel as though I’m sharing it for the first time.  Despite the multitude of times I’ve told it, I always seem to have difficulties pinpointing where to begin- I cannot remember when and how I began feeling ill.  It seemed somewhere in my conscience, I knew that my incessant coughing, sickly complexion, and unimaginable fatigue was something greater than the everyday ailments my doctor diagnosed me with.  It was the fall of 2007…I grimaced as another needle drew another blood sample for what I was certain would be another misdiagnosis.  The initial hope of being diagnosed with something “easy to fix” morphed into desperation for simply a diagnosis.  Some nights I would lie in bed, fearing that I had … [Read more...]

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