Thursday, September 1, 2011

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month ...

Just some facts. And, can I please say that sometimes it feels beyond surreal that we, and especially my little love, are members of this unwelcomed and unasked for, admission into this club? But, here we are, and this month I will be posting things from time to time, but mostly I will be remembering all our little warrior buddies, that are no longer with us. For their journeys, their battles and the grace by which they lived their lives, have left indelible marks upon my heart and changed me forever. Some for the better and some, for the absolute worse.

Childhood Cancer Facts

  • Cancer claims the lives of more children each year than AIDS, asthma, cystic fibrosis and diabetes combined. It is the leading cause of death by disease in children and adolescents. ^
  • Each year in the United States, approximately 12,400 children and adolescents younger than 20 years of age are diagnosed with cancer. Approximately 2,300 children and adolescents die of cancer each year. ^
  • One out of every 300 males and one out of every 333 females in America will develop cancer before their 20th birthday. ^
  • Childhood cancer does not discriminate, sparing no ethnic group, socio-economic class or geographic region. ^
  • About one in 500 young adults is a childhood cancer survivor. Nearly 2/3 of the survivors later experience significant and chronic medical problems or develop secondary cancers as adults that result from the treatment of their original cancer.
  • In the past 30 years ONLY ONE new cancer drug has been approved for pediatric cancer.
  • The causes of most pediatric cancers remain a mystery and cannot be prevented.
  • Researchers estimate that 51% of moms and 40% of dads who have a child with cancer meet the criteria for “Acute Stress Disorder” within two weeks of the cancer diagnoses. ^^


Here is my fighter girl. In all her remission glory. This is the face of 2 years of remission. And not a day goes by that I am not acutely aware of how blessed we are. How blessed she is.

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And everyday I am reminded of those we lost. Like precious Pablo.

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Who stole my heart from day one. Who sported skull and crossbones apparel like no other, which I can never resist of course. A child who's beautiful spirit, lit up a room and who's voice, was that akin to a man. This deep, indescribable voice, that you didn't expect from a child of six.

6  years and 6 days, Pablo graced us with his presence in this world. Far, far too short. Wilms Tumor is the beasts name and today I ask you to pop over to Pablove Foundation and donate to Pablove Across America, where his Papa and some other amazing riders, will take on year 3 of peddling across this country to raise awareness for not only Wilms Tumor ,but all childhood cancers. We miss your love and light sweet P but it and you, will live within us always. For always.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thank you Heather for those alarming facts. The one that struck a note with me is: only ONE pediatric drug has been created in the PAST 30 YEARS! Blows me away.......

Remembering Pablo & I love this photo of Zoey Grace taken at her favorite spot: near the ocean

Bluebelle

Becca said...

Absolutely staggering, and heartbreaking. I would like to repost those facts, if you don't mind. Really makes you think, and looking at that beautiful, sweet face of Zoey's, it's just so unbelievable that it could ever happen at all. I love her spirit, her drive and definitely her *remission!!!*

Thanks for a very informative post!

The Annessa Family said...

What a staggering fact about pediatric cancer medications...my goodness! I had no idea!

Praying every day that your sweet sunshine continues to shine bright :)

Brooke
www.TheAnnessaFamily.blogspot.com

Lacey said...

Who can forget sweet Palbo? His sweet face that lit up the room. Knowing so much about childhood cancer now, it makes me nuts that not more is being done to try and cure it. Its high relapse rate, thank God for St. Jude's, they are doing some fantastic work on childhood cancer!

The VW's said...

So sad!!! Thanks for sharing these facts. Prayers and thoughts going out for all those precious children having to travel this difficult road! Hugs to you and Zoey!!!

Cheryl@OntheOldPath said...

Thank you for sharing this, I just posted a very similar post our son finished treatment the end of May for a Medulloblastoma. Blessings to your sweet girl.

Reagan Leigh said...

So sad. When I think of all the little ones you've watched pass away, I can't help but think...it's no wonder you've been in a funk!!! You know, Mitochondrial disease is a degenerative disease without any cure. There's NOTHING they can do to stop it. I try to not dwell on that. It's just too much to handle. I try to not think too much into the future and just appreciate the day at hand. I wish that for you my friend!

Peter Olson said...

We are blessed by you, your family, and that beautiful little person, Zoey.
Thank you for sharing your life with us. :-)

We can not give up in the fight against cancer.

There has got to be a way to win this fight.

Elizabeth said...

Thank you for the facts, for bringing awareness of this terrible disease to all of us. I had a friend named Annie who died when she was fourteen of childhood leukemia -- I was seventeen and still remember how she suffered, how broken her parents were when she passed away.

Your little Zoey is a testament to strength and courage, as you are.

Stephanie said...

I don't know if I'm feeling better, but definitely feeling grateful and blessed. Thanks for your comment my friend!

btw, still waiting for a copy of that pic of Miss Z!! it's my all time favorite.

Team Carter Jay said...

Wow, I am speechless over those facts. Thank you for sharing.