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Many of you have already seen this slide show....but Grandma J is nothing if not repeditive and redundant.....in that order.
So, please humor me and take a minute on this long Labor Day Weekend to watch it. Then you can go back to all those fun things like laundry and yard work. Cuz seriously? Grandma J knows every kid in this video. Some are no longer with us, and some are still struggling, and of course, Andrew is her grandson.
Andrew is a survivor, and the handsome young man, halfway through the slide show (with Andrew on his lap) was diagnosed with his cancer the same day he got his Lacrosse scholarship to University of Siena.
September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, share the message
Especially when it's a picture of Beauty proudly showing Grandma J her gorgeous smile minus her two front teeth. So today I want to share my smile, and Beauty's with you.
This is a picture of my grandson Andrew five years ago, toasting his father, and giving thanks..to be alive. Andrew had just turned three, and was diagnosed with leukemia when he was two. You can read his story here. He didn't even have the "good" leukemia....yes there's a leukemia that they actually call the good one. Try telling that to any parent with a child diagnosed with any leukemia. Tell that to Marey. Marey's teenage daughter Ali, was also diagnosed with leukemia. Fast forward five years and she is accomplishing so much with her life. You can read her story here.
Over the last five years, I have come to know hundreds of children with cancer. It pretty much became my life. I read Caringbridge Sites every night checking on kids. I can honestly say I have been to more funerals for children in those five years than all the ones for adults in my life.
Marey and Postcard Cindy, (a name she was given by a cancer dad she never met in person), have been holding fundraisers every Christmas season to help two families keep their heads above water while there child goes through bone marrow transplant. Even with the best insurance, some families travel cross Country, incurring housing and living expenses above and beyond the norm to save their child's life.
This year, they are holding a raffle over at Marey's blog, ELEMENTO-P . Go on over and check out the items being raffled off. There are some beautiful handcrafted items, and I personally made the one blanket which is similar to the ones I deliver to the Peds/Onc ward here in Central Texas for Christmas.
These are the two children Marey and Cindy are helping this year:
Ivan, a 17 year old man whose relapsed leukemia has sent him to transplant. He is at LPCH and is doing well. He is the oldest of 6 children and we would certainly love to help them out this season.
Austin is another relapsed 4 year old leukemia patient. He had 2 years of treatment, relapsed and is now going to transplant. You can read more about him at his site.
If you are still reading this....Thank you. Now go check out Marey's blog, and check back often for new items to be added. I have a link at the top of this page on the left.
I remember holding you the day you were born, knowing how special and loved you were, and what a joy you were to your mom and dad. 
You moved to a new neighborhood before you turned one, and started enjoying the park and Holiday events. 
When you were two, your sister Christine was born. I remember you and I planted a flower garden for Mommy. 
We went to Target to get flowers to plant, gardening tools and you just had to have this special butterfly to put in your garden. 
You loved your new sister, and the two of you were like two peas in a pod. 
Then in August, before you were even three, you were diagnosed with Leukemia. Who would have known at the time, what a brave boy you were. 
Except for other cancer kids at the hospital, your sister became your only playmate. 
You discovered she had teeth! 
You quickly became an advocate and fundraiser, walking (mostly in a stroller) in the Night the Light about a month after being diagnosed. 
When you were sick, Christine was a comfort to you...
You were there to congratulate him at the finish line! Your Daddy did three century rides....raising money for a cure. 
You had to wait a year to do the CHOC Walk at Disneyland, but you participated three years in a row....and with Mommy's help, raised over $40,000 as the top team! Your Mommy trained and completed the Los Angeles Triathlon that same year! (no picture :( ) 
You had more birthdays.... 
And girlfriends.....
Then another baby sister... 
Soon after, you had surgery to remove your tubes from your chest, and had your first real shower! 
You climbed high mountains.....
Last year, when you turned seven, I took this picture of you for the Austin Light the Night Walk. 
Now you are eight.....in the second grade, with a really nice teacher. 
Tying your own shoes...a feat you struggled with but accomplished.
Going to chapel at school. Becoming such a smart young man,
