Imagine

Imagine your child has been diagnosed with cancer. It’s something nobody wants to even think about, but just for a minute in the month of September (Childhood Cancer Awareness month) imagine being the parent of a child with cancer. I’m going to quickly take you through a minute of what it could be like if your child does…

Imagine your child is sick. Her belly has a hard mass, she’s lethargic and something is not right. You take her to the ER. The ER sends you to Albany Med at 1:00 in the morning. The next day the doctor comes in and tells you something you never EVER want to hear – your child has cancer. A very bad cancer that has no cure. But were going to try and beat this by injecting poison and hard metals into a permanent hole (port) we put in your child’s body. You will be in and out of the hospital and your child will be very sick. You need to stop working to be with your child. Your child is puking for days after each treatment. Your child is losing weight and hair and is becoming very pale and fragile. The treatments are killing your child… But so is the cancer. You choose to stop the treatment that is painfully killing your child and is not working and instead choose to battle the pain of the cancer itself with drugs. Drugs that take away the pain, but also leave your child in a tired state. Your child starts puking up blood. The pain is very visible when she looks at you. Their breathing gets heavier. You take an emergency trip to the hospital in which the doctor tells you to keep driving even if she dies in your arms on the way. She doesn’t die, but is placed more heavily on drugs and is sent home on Hospice. You hold her as much as possible and listen to the heavy, short, raspy breathes every second. Your child opens her eyes for the last time and takes her last breath as she coughs up more blood. Everyone is screaming and crying and wishing for her breathing to start again. Your child died from cancer. The tumor grew into a major blood vessel and she hemorrhaged. Imagine…

I don’t have to imagine this, I lived it. And what makes me mad and sad is that I am not the only one that has or is living this nightmare. Years ago a child I knew was diagnosed with cancer and I remember thinking this will never happen to my family because childhood cancer doesn’t happen that often. I thought if you knew one person in your lifetime with cancer that would be it. I am so ashamed I thought this way. If only I did my research, was more aware and took action maybe we could’ve been ahead in the fight against cancer. Of course I could not do this on my own, but I wonder how many other people out there think the way I once thought. That’s why I am writing this. That’s why I want you to imagine your child has cancer. It can happen to anyone and the prevalence of cancer in children is higher than it has ever been. Maybe, just maybe if more people are aware we can find more humane treatments and cures for these children, along with more ways to help their families. I had no idea the grim reality of the lack and inequality of funding for childhood cancer until there was nothing to help my child and I did my research.

Take a look at these facts:

• Each school day, 46 children are diagnosed with cancer.
• One in 330 children will develop cancer by age 20.
• Each year in the U.S. over 12,600 children are diagnosed with cancer.
• Although the 5-year survival rate is steadily increasing, one quarter of children diagnosed with cancer will die 5 years from the time of diagnosis.
• Cancer remains the number one disease killer of America’s children – more than Cystic Fibrosis, Muscular Dystrophy, Asthma and AIDS combined.
• 80% of children have metastatic disease at time of diagnosis as compared to only 20% of adults.
• There are currently more than 270,000 childhood cancer survivors in the U.S.
• Late effects of childhood cancer treatment are common in survivors, and approximately one-third are moderate to severe.
• Worldwide, 160,000 kids are diagnosed with cancer each year.

Now, I want you to one last time Imagine… Imagine a world without the heartache and pain that childhood cancer causes for any family or child. I try to imagine this everyday and hope and pray this will come true. I do believe it will come true if we raise awareness and take action. I don’t want anyone to ever feel the pain of losing a child. It leaves you damaged forever. You can move on to a certain degree, but you are never, ever the same. So I urge you to take action before it happens to you or to someone in your family. Please help me -Support Childhood cancer. Become Aware. Take Action.

Here’s how you can take action:

• Make a donation to amazinggraciesgift.org – we have lots of events and fundraisers you can participate in like Night of Grace, 50 States of Grace, Dress Down Days, Golf Tournament and more!
• Make a donation to any research foundation for childhood cancer- The Ronan Thompson Foundation, Alex’s Lemonade Stand or St. Baldricks’s are great organizations whose funds goes towards research.
• Cook a meal or donate supplies to The Ronald McDonald House
• Run a race
• Have a lemonade stand
• Host a dress down day at work
• Host a neighborhood movie night
• Host a Zumbathon
• Write your congressman
• Help a family who has a child with cancer.

Can’t think of anything to do? We’ve created a list of ways you can help us help others. Check out our website under “50 States of Grace” or email me and I can give you ideas.

So many of you continue to show your support to my family and Amazing Gracie’s Gift Foundation. Amazing Gracie’s Gift Foundation is helping many families in their fight against childhood cancer. With your help we have helped over 100 families since our existence! We thank you for taking action. Those who are taking action spread the word and encourage others to be aware and take action too.