SEE WHY WE WALK

Charlie was diagnosed with AML, Acute Myloid Leukemia, on January 30, 2006.  This type of Leukemia is common in kids with Down syndrome.  Kids with AML have an overproduction of white blood cells produced in the bone marrow which prohibit the body's defense against infection. After Charlie's first round of chemotherapy, he went into remission.  After completing all 8 grueling rounds of chemotherapy, our little miracle continues to be cancer free.  We are 4 months post-chemo and each "clear" blood check brings a new feeling of relief.  We have learned so much from Charlie in his 2 years of life.  His courage and spirit have set a wonderful example to his little sister, Madison, who was 5 days old at diagnosis.  Although our road is still unfinished, we are happy to be back together as a family again.  Hanna was such a good friend to Charlie.  She was always showing him new things and helping him learn how to play with all of the toys!  We couldn't be happier participating in this walk in her honor.

Shayna was a bundle of red velvet on her very first Christmas Eve when we noticed that something didn’t look right in her eye. A week later she would have her eye removed to prevent cancer from spreading to her brain and begin chemotherapy for the tumors in her remaining eye. Nothing prepares you for that. After many months of treatment and a new prosthetic eye, she has now been cancer-free for 7 years. We say she is one of the lucky ones, but it has nothing to do with luck. Shayna’s treatment was successful because of research. Determined that no child should have their childhood interrupted or cut short by cancer, our family started CancerFree Kids to fund the critical research that is necessary for every child to be guaranteed a cure. This research benefits not only children, but all of us. Those participating in the walk understand how important it is. We thank you for your support! 

Randy was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor called a medulloblastoma at the age of 11 months, Nov 17, 2005. A team of neurosurgeons operated and removed 100% of the tumor, which was the size of a large plum from his cerebellum. We started Chemo immediately and everything appeared fine. In February of 06’, we found that Randy’s cancer had spread into his spine. This dropped his chances of survival down to less than 10%. We were transferred to Cincinnati Children’s where Randy underwent a triple stem cell transplant, followed by more chemo and now we are happy to say that Randy has been cancer free since July '06.  In addition, this past Nov, a full two years after he was diagnosed, Randy was officially free of all devices and medicine that were remnants of the cancer!!  Today,

 Like Hanna, Mary was just 2 ½ years old when she was diagnosed with a high grade, non-specified, infant brain tumor on March 8, 2006. Four days later, surgeons at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital removed a baseball size tumor from her right front lobe. Here began Mary’s journey. In the months that followed, Mary was given four rounds of chemotherapy, aggressive radiation treatments, and an eight month regime of maintenance chemo. By the Grace of God, her last MRI on January 22, 2008, showed no changes and no return of cancer. Prayers from hundreds of friends and family have so far been answered.  We have hope as each day passes that Mary’s story will have a happy ending, that she will be a lifelong cancer survivor. The Butterfly Walk is an opportunity for Mary’s family and friends to show their support for Mary, and the ongoing cancer research sponsored by Cancer Free Kids.  Mary is a happy, energetic 4 year old because of the outstanding care she has received and the research that continues at Cincinnati Children’s. Please consider joining Mary for the walk this year; she was thrilled to have family and friends by her side last year. We will continue to support Mary, research efforts, and the hospital with strength, hope, courage and faith in our hearts.

    

Parker was 10 weeks old when he was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma on February 4^th, 2005. He was a fussy baby that you just couldn’t seem to make comfortable. We found out later that he had tumors in both adrenal glands, his liver, near his spinal cord and that it had spread to his bone and bone marrow. 6 days after being admitted to the hospital Parker started an intense research protocol at Cincinnati Children’s which consisted of 8 rounds of chemotherapy. After many injections, treatments and trips to Children’s, Parker has remained Cancer Free for 2 ½ years. We feel very blessed to have the researchers at Children’s who worked so hard to save our child. Without events like the Butterfly Walk, CancerFree Kids would not be able to offer grants to these outstanding individuals who work hard everyday to save one more child. Our family is honored to be a part of this very special event.

Jessica Michaela Elam was just a normal 7 year old girl when she was diagnosed with a brain tumor on October 29, 2001. This rare cancerous tumor called EPENDYMOMA (type of cancer that only affects the Central Nervous System (brain or spine)) was successfully removed 3 days later and was followed by radiation. Jessica survived and she was having the time of her life when not 2 years later, on September 25, 2003, she was diagnosed with a recurrence, but this time we were dealing with a spinal tumor. The doctors proceeded with radiation that shrunk the tumor about 25% and another successful surgery followed - the whole tumor was removed and we didn’t have any complications. This was followed by chemotherapy and what we thought was the worst 4 months of Jessica’s life. Jessica survived and we really thought that we had this cancer kicked when another spot was detected on March 9th, 2006. We were very fortunate that we caught this early, but the location of this one in the brain (near the main artery of the brain) was very critical. Radiation was really our only option to give us any hope. This treatment had seemed to work except for the fact that her brain started to swell 5 months later. Steroids followed to reduce the brain swelling along with some setbacks it caused but this strong willed girl just wasn’t about to give up. Jessica survived and then for the fourth time in six years they found another spot on her spine on August 22, 2007. This tumor again was irremovable (in a location housing all the leg, kidney and bowel functions) and the doctors’ only choice was to proceed with yet another set of radiation. Jessica survived and today, Jessica is a thirteen year old girl whose strength and faith in God has made her stronger and even more eager to help find a cure for this awful disease.   Jessica SURVIVED because of ongoing research that organizations like CancerFree Kids provide funding for. Jessica wants to help prevent anyone else from having to encounter the lifestyle of a cancer patient at such a young age so please support our family in the Butterfly Walk for CancerFree Kids.

On February 5, 2007, Hannah, our two year old, had been running a fever for a couple of days and had a strange “rash” on her legs.  A visit to the pediatrician led Hannah to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital for blood work.  What was thought to be a simple fever turned out to be Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL).  In an instant, our world was turned upside down.  Even more difficult news came when we found out that the type of ALL she had was very rare and would require her to undergo a bone marrow transplant in order to save her life.  Hannah’s transplant occurred May 25, 2007.  As of today, we are still in the midst of recovery (which is a long, slow process), but it appears Hannah is cancer free and we pray that she will remain cancer free forever.  We are grateful to God for each day we have with Hannah and for her courageous spirit.  She continues to amaze everyone with her cooperativeness and sweet disposition.  We are also thankful for the outstanding medical care God has provided for Hannah.  Even just a few years ago, they would not have had the knowledge to treat Hannah’s rare leukemia as effectively.  Unfortunately, until this happened, we never really thought about how cancer research was funded.  We now realize that without private donations life saving research, which has benefited Hannah and many others, wouldn’t happen.  We ask that you pray for Hannah and all the other children who bravely face cancer, and consider joining us in supporting pediatric cancer research through the Butterfly Walk.