Hello Everyone-
There is a petition to have a childhood cancer awareness stamp put in place. Here is a link to the petition, please take a minute and sign it and forward this to all your friends.
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/petition/521710130
Here is the proposal:
As parents whose lives have been forever changed by this disease, we hope that this stamp could be given designation as a symbol for childhood cancer awareness.
By age 20, one child or teen in 330 is diagnosed with cancer. Each year, 12,400 new cases of childhood cancer are diagnosed in the United States. Each school day, 46 children or two entire classrooms of children are diagnosed with cancer. Each day researchers, scientists and physicians come a little closer to finding successful treatments for many childhood cancers, yet approximately 2,300 children and adolescents die each year. More children die of cancer than of any other disease, including asthma, diabetes, cystic fibrosis, congenital anomalies and AIDS, combined.
Motivated by the extraordinary success of the breast cancer stamp, the existence of a "Childhood Cancer Awareness" stamp would serve to promote the awareness of this disease that is plaguing our children.
No parent ever wants to hear the words, "Your child has cancer." Yet one in 330 families in the United States are handed this fate. Please help to promote the necessary advocacy for awareness and research that a "Childhood Cancer Stamp" would provide.
Thank you!
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Monday, January 14, 2008
01/14/2008
The MRI results are in and the doctors are saying the tumor is stable.
They said it was a “mixed bag”, one part of the tumor looked good; and one part showed ½ centimeter of growth but the doctors are considering it “stable”. The growth could be tumor growth or swelling from the new drug. The doctors expect to see some growth in the first rounds of the present treatment -- but ½ centimeter is less than they usually see.
Clinically Caitlyn is good and they are proceeding with her treatment today. Treatment usually takes about 4 hours, so they won’t be home till later tonight. The next MRI will be in 8 weeks.
Thank you to everyone for the extra prayers and positive thoughts. Please continue to pray for Caitlyn and her family.
If you would like to leave a message for the family please sign the guest book:
http://pub41.bravenet.com/guestbook/add.php?usernum=3437245337
Thanks again
They said it was a “mixed bag”, one part of the tumor looked good; and one part showed ½ centimeter of growth but the doctors are considering it “stable”. The growth could be tumor growth or swelling from the new drug. The doctors expect to see some growth in the first rounds of the present treatment -- but ½ centimeter is less than they usually see.
Clinically Caitlyn is good and they are proceeding with her treatment today. Treatment usually takes about 4 hours, so they won’t be home till later tonight. The next MRI will be in 8 weeks.
Thank you to everyone for the extra prayers and positive thoughts. Please continue to pray for Caitlyn and her family.
If you would like to leave a message for the family please sign the guest book:
http://pub41.bravenet.com/guestbook/add.php?usernum=3437245337
Thanks again
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
01/08/2008 - Happy New Year!
Well, we made it to 2008. We spent New Years Eve at CMH getting our Chemo. We made it back to grandmas house by 4:30. This is a record for us to get out of CMH. It helped that we were nearly the only ones there. Caitlyn had dinner at Grandmas with her brothers while Jason and I went out for a quick dinner. The snow was so beautiful that evening that the kids and I had fun walking up and down our block in the picturesque snow scene. We also had fun ding dong ditching a few of our neighbors after we sprinkled confetti on their door steps. ( it was only 9pm). They figured out who did it because Jackson went back to tell them who did it. I will never commit a crime with this one.
Caitlyn continues to do well on the outside. Meaning no physical symptoms. It's whats going on inside that has us curious. Is this new chemo working? Will it be our miracle? Well, we will know on Monday she has her next MRI then. So please send some very strong prayers our way. We need a good report. Things look too good on the outside to handle anything less then good.
Thank you for keeping Caitlyn in your hearts and prayers. I'm sorry I don't update as often as I should. But no news is good news. We hope everyone has a good new year. The words thank you are not enough for all that our friends, family, and community has done for our family this past year. When I think back to when Caitlyn was diagnosed I felt a rush of love and compassion that instantly surrounded our family. This came from people whom we knew family and dear friends. It also came from people whom we did not know. That was the most surprising to us. It is so easy to take for granted our live's and the people in them. We do this without intention. It's normal and we all say we want to Cherish life and our families more but day to day life makes that hard. Until something like this hits you and knocks you out of orbit in your own world. This has opened our eyes to the kindness of the world. It is not always easy to see the kindness or the miracles you just have to look at the world in a different way and it is there.
We are moving forward with a new year and new hope that we will have a miracle. For to look back and feel dispair will only make us unable to move. If we are unable to move then we can not see the miracles that each day brings.
Kara
Caitlyn continues to do well on the outside. Meaning no physical symptoms. It's whats going on inside that has us curious. Is this new chemo working? Will it be our miracle? Well, we will know on Monday she has her next MRI then. So please send some very strong prayers our way. We need a good report. Things look too good on the outside to handle anything less then good.
Thank you for keeping Caitlyn in your hearts and prayers. I'm sorry I don't update as often as I should. But no news is good news. We hope everyone has a good new year. The words thank you are not enough for all that our friends, family, and community has done for our family this past year. When I think back to when Caitlyn was diagnosed I felt a rush of love and compassion that instantly surrounded our family. This came from people whom we knew family and dear friends. It also came from people whom we did not know. That was the most surprising to us. It is so easy to take for granted our live's and the people in them. We do this without intention. It's normal and we all say we want to Cherish life and our families more but day to day life makes that hard. Until something like this hits you and knocks you out of orbit in your own world. This has opened our eyes to the kindness of the world. It is not always easy to see the kindness or the miracles you just have to look at the world in a different way and it is there.
We are moving forward with a new year and new hope that we will have a miracle. For to look back and feel dispair will only make us unable to move. If we are unable to move then we can not see the miracles that each day brings.
Kara
Sunday, December 23, 2007
12/22/2007
Well, December 22nd marks 7 months since Caitlyn was diagnosed. We were told she had 6 to 9 months to live. They say the holiday season is a time to reflect on the past year and be thankful for all you have. Well, I never truly lived those words until this year. I sit back and think of the roller coaster ride we have been on since May 22nd and I am so thankful that none of us has fallen off the ride. It has been trying on our faith, hope, and courage. Of course we are thankful that Caitlyn is still with us however we could not have gotten this far if we had not been given the gift that we were not even aware of needing. That being the strength to continue to live, while faced with the unthinkable. That is truly a gift from God. With out the courage and faith that God will lead us where we need to go we would be lost.
Caitlyn is doing well, we are having a great holiday season. The kids are having fun and the fact that Caitlyn is doing so well makes everything seem normal. Last Monday she had another round of her Chemo and is doing well. Other then a rash on her arm where the injection is and some nausea for a few days after treatment she is handling it well. Of course I always wonder about the drugs we are putting in her body and is it doing more harm then good since it is a trial. However it is giving us precious quality time with her and clinically speaking she is doing great. She will have another MRI January 14th. I no longer look forward to the MRI's as they can only bring your hope down. I look at her and I feel positive, hopeful, and courageous because that is what SHE IS showing me.
All of this has changed the way I listen to the world now. Since cancer has happened into our life's our world is so much quieter now. I can hear things that I did not hear before. I guess that is the gift cancer has given us. It will not beat us and tear us apart it WILL make us stronger even if that is not what it had planed to do.
I hope everyone enjoys their time with their family's this Christmas I know I will. Have a Merry Christmas.
Kara
Caitlyn is doing well, we are having a great holiday season. The kids are having fun and the fact that Caitlyn is doing so well makes everything seem normal. Last Monday she had another round of her Chemo and is doing well. Other then a rash on her arm where the injection is and some nausea for a few days after treatment she is handling it well. Of course I always wonder about the drugs we are putting in her body and is it doing more harm then good since it is a trial. However it is giving us precious quality time with her and clinically speaking she is doing great. She will have another MRI January 14th. I no longer look forward to the MRI's as they can only bring your hope down. I look at her and I feel positive, hopeful, and courageous because that is what SHE IS showing me.
All of this has changed the way I listen to the world now. Since cancer has happened into our life's our world is so much quieter now. I can hear things that I did not hear before. I guess that is the gift cancer has given us. It will not beat us and tear us apart it WILL make us stronger even if that is not what it had planed to do.
I hope everyone enjoys their time with their family's this Christmas I know I will. Have a Merry Christmas.
Kara
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
12/04/2007
The holiday season is here and we started it off in the best way. The day after Thanksgiving, my mom and I took the kids to Idaho. Jason stayed behind in the real world, worked and did many unfinished chores. He surprised us with A LOT of honey-do tasks around the house (ie... He got the Christmas lights up outside, Caitlyn's room got a new paint job, tv room got a new paint job, and the bathroom got some new tile). He worked hard at home and we appreciate it.
We had a GREAT time in Idaho. We visited relatives and showed the kids the beauty of the mountains. For those of you who don't know where Idaho is it is on the west coast between Montana and Washington state (not Washington D.C which I am sometimes asked). The kids had fun meeting all their second & third cousins and seeing their grandparents & great grandparents. It snowed while we were there and the boys loved being able to sled everyday. Caitlyn went out and down the hill a few times too. Patrick even tried sticking his tongue to the flag pole --thank God it didn't stick.
The plane ride there and back was perfect ( No delays and there were even open seats). It was like it was all meant to be. We had to make connections both times so the boys were excited to sit by a stranger. My mom, Caitlyn and I were always behind or across the aisle. Caitlyn said to me, "Mom I thought you told the boys to never talk to strangers." I told her it was ok this time because I was right there. Also I felt more sorry for the stranger. Actually everyone they sat by told me what nice boys I had. Except the last person on the way home, I don't think he liked the water they dripped on his book while they were handing the stewardess their drinks.
Caitlyn is doing well. She did get sick in Idaho a few times but the doctors are not sure what it is because she looks so good. She has no other symptoms so we think it is a side effect from the chemo. She had her third round of chemo yesterday it was a very long day. She looks very tired today and I have finally coaxed her into taking a nap.
We are taking it one day at a time. We Thank God for each day we can live normally and it's what get us to the next day. So back to small steps and little planning. We just pray for a healthy and symptom free holiday. The kids will all be in the Christmas pageant - Patrick one of the Wise Men, Jackson a Shepherd and Caitlyn --what else an ANGEL.
God bless everyone this holiday season and thank you for all your support and prayers. The lives that Caitlyn has touched are brought to our attention everyday in some small way. We would like to thank the Wiltgen family and the Laning family for sharing Caitlyn's story with so many people. Carole Laning touched so many people and that is showing now through the support that Caitlyn is receiving through the people who cared about Carole. Thank you.
Have a blessed and safe holiday season
Kara & The Churak Family
We had a GREAT time in Idaho. We visited relatives and showed the kids the beauty of the mountains. For those of you who don't know where Idaho is it is on the west coast between Montana and Washington state (not Washington D.C which I am sometimes asked). The kids had fun meeting all their second & third cousins and seeing their grandparents & great grandparents. It snowed while we were there and the boys loved being able to sled everyday. Caitlyn went out and down the hill a few times too. Patrick even tried sticking his tongue to the flag pole --thank God it didn't stick.
The plane ride there and back was perfect ( No delays and there were even open seats). It was like it was all meant to be. We had to make connections both times so the boys were excited to sit by a stranger. My mom, Caitlyn and I were always behind or across the aisle. Caitlyn said to me, "Mom I thought you told the boys to never talk to strangers." I told her it was ok this time because I was right there. Also I felt more sorry for the stranger. Actually everyone they sat by told me what nice boys I had. Except the last person on the way home, I don't think he liked the water they dripped on his book while they were handing the stewardess their drinks.
Caitlyn is doing well. She did get sick in Idaho a few times but the doctors are not sure what it is because she looks so good. She has no other symptoms so we think it is a side effect from the chemo. She had her third round of chemo yesterday it was a very long day. She looks very tired today and I have finally coaxed her into taking a nap.
We are taking it one day at a time. We Thank God for each day we can live normally and it's what get us to the next day. So back to small steps and little planning. We just pray for a healthy and symptom free holiday. The kids will all be in the Christmas pageant - Patrick one of the Wise Men, Jackson a Shepherd and Caitlyn --what else an ANGEL.
God bless everyone this holiday season and thank you for all your support and prayers. The lives that Caitlyn has touched are brought to our attention everyday in some small way. We would like to thank the Wiltgen family and the Laning family for sharing Caitlyn's story with so many people. Carole Laning touched so many people and that is showing now through the support that Caitlyn is receiving through the people who cared about Carole. Thank you.
Have a blessed and safe holiday season
Kara & The Churak Family
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
11/20/2007
(11/18/07 - A Princess meets Daisy Duck) Hi Everyone
Just a quick post. The Churaks are going out of town the day after Thanksgiving so things have been a little hectic between daily life, doctor visits, laundry, and packing.
Caitlyn is doing well. She had two very long days at the Hospital this week. Monday she had her second dose of Avastin; and today she had her first dose of Irinotecan -- both via IV drip.
Caitlyn also had a MRI yesterday. It was the first MRI where she was not sedated. Kara sat in the room with her and Caitlyn watched her for awhile -- but then she fell asleep and was able to lay still for the whole 90 minute MRI. Is this not an AMAZING girl!? She is a lot braver than I am that is for sure. She even impressed all the nurses on the floor.
Please continue to pray for the Churak family. Pray that Caitlyn accepts the new medicine without side effects. Please also pray for the other families battling DIPG and other illnesses especially Katie Metz (www.carepages.com "katiemetz") and Natalie Rose Jones (www.caringbridge.org/visit/natalierosejones)
Please also pray for all families traveling this holiday.
Please also pray for all families traveling this holiday.
Have a Blessed & Happy Thanksgiving!
-Margaret Donahue
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
11/05/2007
Today Caitlyn had the first part of her dose for the new trial Avastin. She seems to be tolerating it well. No side effects yet and hopefully not any later as well. On November 19th she will get her dose of Avastin and Irinotecan. The combination of the two of these drugs are or we hope more effective then just the Avastin. Alone we know does not work on it's own. The Avastin is supposed to cut off the blood supply to the tumor and the Irinotecan is supposed to tell the body to not try and repair itself. Let's pray this works.
We continue to live for each day that is in front of us. It is not easy I have to constantly tell myself "be happy for today. Today she is feeling good and is healthy". It only makes the pain hurt more when you think about the future and try and plan for Christmas and Thanksgiving and think "will she still be healthy then?" So that is why we have already bought our Thanksgiving outfit and have already worn it twice. My suggestions to all moms that see this posting. If you already have your children's holiday outfits, let them wear them now and when ever they want to. It is a very freeing feeling to let go of all those restrictions we put on ourselves that go along with planning.
Please continue to pray for our family and all other family's that are going through an illness with a loved one.
Kara
There are two ways to live your life.
One is as though nothing is a miracle.
The other is as though everything is a miracle.
-Albert Einstein
We continue to live for each day that is in front of us. It is not easy I have to constantly tell myself "be happy for today. Today she is feeling good and is healthy". It only makes the pain hurt more when you think about the future and try and plan for Christmas and Thanksgiving and think "will she still be healthy then?" So that is why we have already bought our Thanksgiving outfit and have already worn it twice. My suggestions to all moms that see this posting. If you already have your children's holiday outfits, let them wear them now and when ever they want to. It is a very freeing feeling to let go of all those restrictions we put on ourselves that go along with planning.
Please continue to pray for our family and all other family's that are going through an illness with a loved one.
Kara
There are two ways to live your life.
One is as though nothing is a miracle.
The other is as though everything is a miracle.
-Albert Einstein
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