JOIN THE FUN AND GET A SHAVE - THE KID'S WILL LOVE YA FOR IT

St. Baldrick’s Foundation

CHILDHOOD CANCER & NEUROBLASTOMA FACTS

Leukemia - Leukemias are the most common childhood cancers. They account for about 33% of all childhood cancers. Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) and acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) are the most common types of leukemia in children.

Brain and nervous system cancers - Brain and other nervous system cancers are the second most common cancers in children, making up about 21% of childhood cancers.

Neuroblastoma - Neuroblastoma is a form of cancer that starts in certain types of nerve cells found in a developing embryo or fetus. This type of cancer occurs in infants and young children. It is most often found during the first year of life. It is rarely found in children older than 10. This tumor can start anywhere but usually occurs in the belly (abdomen) and is noticed as swelling. It can also cause bone pain and fever. It accounts for about 7% of childhood cancers.

Wilms tumor - Wilms tumor is a cancer that starts in one, or rarely, both kidneys. It is most often found in children about 3 years old, and is uncommon in children older than age 6.

Lymphomas - Non-Hodgkin lymphoma and Hodgkin lymphoma (sometimes called Hodgkin disease, Hodgkin's disease, or Hodgkin's lymphoma), are cancers that start in lymph tissues, such as the tonsils, lymph nodes, and thymus.

Rhabdomyosarcoma - Rhabdomyosarcoma is the most common soft tissue sarcoma in children.

Retinoblastoma - Retinoblastoma is a cancer of the eye. It is rare, accounting for just under 3% of childhood cancers

Bone cancers - Primary bone cancers (cancers that start in the bones) occur most often in children and adolescents.

Osteosarcoma is uncommon, accounting for almost 3% of all new childhood cancer cases in the United States. It often causes no pain or symptoms until swelling starts, but sometimes there is bone pain that keeps getting worse. .

Ewing sarcoma is a less common primary bone cancer which can cause bone pain. It is mostly found in adolescents. It accounts for a little more than 1% of childhood cancers
.

Neuroblastoma:

• Approximately 500 to 1,000 children are diagnosed with neuroblastoma in the United States each year.

• Doctors have known about neuroblastoma for approximately 35 years.

• Neuroblastoma is primarily diagnosed in children ages 14 and under, with most cases in children younger than 5 years.

• The cause of neuroblastoma is unknown, and it is more likely to occur in males than females.

• Neuroblastoma is difficult to diagnose in small children, and its progression is often rapid and painful.

• Neuroblastoma accounts for 8 percent of childhood cancer cases, but is responsible for 15 percent of all childhood cancer deaths.

• One in 330 children will develop cancer by age 20.

• Each school day, 46 children are diagnosed with cancer.

• Each child in the U.S. diagnosed with cancer receives approximately one-sixth of the federal research support allocated to each patient afflicted with AIDS. Yet in 2004, 48 new cases of pediatric AIDS were diagnosed vs. more than 12,000 pediatric cancer cases.

• Although the 5 year survival rate is steadily increasing, one quarter of children will die 5 years from the time of diagnosis

• Cancer accounts for the greatest number of disease deaths of children in the United States and kills more children per year than cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy, asthma and AIDS combined

Sources: American Cancer Society, Band of Parents, Texas Oncology Group

http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/CRI_2_6x_Children_and_Cancer.asp http://www.bandofparents.org/neuroblastoma.html
http://www.texasoncology.com/about.aspxid=2750&terms=neuroblastoma

C.O.L.E.'s FOUNDATION

C.O.L.E.'s FOUNDATION
Caring Openly, Loving Eternally

In need of prayer, please click picture to go to C.O.L.E.'S

Grandpa John's Prayer for His Little Buddies

I hear no voice, I feel no touch,
I see no glory bright;
But yet I know that God is near,
In darkness as in light.
God watches ever by my side,
And hears my whispered prayer:
A God of love for a little child
Both night and day does care --- Anonymous

Angel's Honor Roll- A Forever Dedication

- Our Angels -

Austin Melgar, Courtney Saunders, Cooper Riley Proscia, Emily Adamson, Victoria Houston, John Eric Bartels, Kathy Ann Wilkinson, Alara Curran, Spencer Dolling, Marissa Monroe, Olivia Weber, Alexa Aigner, Joe Daily, Ryan Willians, Janie Kashino, Dustin Cobb, Alyssa Chappell, Addison Whipple, Amber Mastey, Katie Krize, Gustavo-Alexis, Kelvin Harper, Maggie Achuff, Kristin Hope, Kahlilla Blyss, Arden Quinn Bucher, Douglas Swift, Max Mikulak, Eliza S, Brandon Loose, Kody Edwards, Brody Hurt, Jay Jay LeBoeuf, Kyah Milne, Nicholas Pagano, Trooper Dante Tareboreli, Carter Wax, Zachary Finestone, Cora McClenahan, Little Roy Gutierrez, Chloe Smith, *Cody Johnson*, Emilio Gravez, Jacob Stovall, Noah Tyler Bell, Shu Qinpet (pet name Xinxin), Jenna Mussolini and Owen Lea, Carson Clark, Juan Santiago Wall, Erik Ludwinski, Layla Grace Marsh, Samuel Thomas Hutchison, Sydney Marie Dudley, Sophie Atay (And Our Big Warrior hero 1st Lt Joseph Helton, USAF - 8 Sept 2009),

-Race Dedication-

  • In Memory of: Samuel Thomas Hutchison, Layla Grace Marsh, Sydney Marie Dudley and Sophie Atay.
  • In Honor of: Jessica Trotter
  • Next Race - TBD
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Gj's Buddies & Angels - Lighting the Way

SAVE THE DATE AND JOIN ME


For more widgets please visit www.yourminis.com

Circle the Lake for the Cure

Circle the Lake for the Cure
Houghton Lake MI - 36 hours for the Cure

Email Grandpa John

Thursday, August 7, 2008

Meeting Some of My Little Buddies, Angels Honor Roll Update, Setting up Camp and Supper & Sleep, & The Race


Meeting some of my Little Buddies - Right after the race on Saturday, Missus Gj & I had the pleasure and opportunity to meet 3 of my little Buddies actually more when you count family :) This was the most wonderful day ever for Ol' Gj. I just have to tell you that I LOVE ALL OF YOU Here are a few pictures to enjoy. God Bless


Gj's idea of what Heaven will be like









Angels Honor Roll Update: Over the last weekend I became aware that our heavenly Angels Honor Roll choir was on hand to greet its newest members: Katie Krize, Amber Mastey, Kristin Hope and Gustavo-Alexis sing a sweet angelic melody for us to hear. Set free from the bonds of earthly existence rest pain free in His gentle arms for eternity as we wait our turn to reunite with you in love when our day comes

Setting up Camp and Supper & Sleep - Friday afternoon saw Missus Gj and Grandpa John setting up camp at Sleepy Hollow State Park. Bordering a line of tress with a really big walnut tree just off center of our lot and just across from the camp showers and bathrooms our camping site was beautiful, if not to say convenient (which for us old’ guys is really appreciated J First, we unloaded the Trailblazer and then proceeded to set up our sleeping area, the tent; next, up went the screen room which was our cooking and eating area. By this time, it was almost time for me to go and pick up my racing packet for the morning race.

It only took a few minutes for me to get my packet and by the time I got back, Missus Gj had put the finishing touches on our camp site: swept the tent, made the bed, set up our collapsible chairs by the fire ring and even readied the stove for he evening meal (She is really a great help). It was then we noticed that we had forgotten to pack several needed items, especially the bug spray, so it was off to the local Wal-Mart about 10 miles away.
Ready to wear race day
After getting our necessities at Wal-Mart we noticed an Applebee’s just across the street….well, by this time it was getting close to 6pm and we really didn’t want to eat too late. So in we went and ate our fill of glorious carbs and proteins….

Arriving back at camp, Missus Gj and I settled by the fire ring and gazed off into the fire I had just started, all too soon though it was bed time. The slumbering world of dreams had called on us. Sleep although interrupted several times by nature (and the noisy kiddies) was restful and all too soon race day morning had arrived.

The Race: It was really a fun race and a very beautiful day for running. The temp was about 65 degrees at starting time (0800), a slight breeze was blowing off the lake, the humidity not too bad. We started on a little hill overlooking Lake Ovid which is located in Sleepy Hollow State Park, about 15 or 20 miles north of Lansing MI. As we went down the hill we round a little bend and started to head towards the trail we’d all too soon be running. About a quarter mile into the race we entered the forest trail which would be our home for the next 10 miles or so.
Everything was going very well, not too many muddy patches and by mile 4 we had crossed only 1 little stream with little mud or for that matter water (I really wanted a big stream with lots of mud and ooze to play in– must be a guy thing). Then like a sudden thunder storm, things turned dark rather quickly.

First, I happened upon a fellow runner who had just fallen and was limping along. Being a couple of miles from help, I asked if she needed any assistance. Like a true runner, all I heard her say was Nah! I’ll be fine, go on. Turning to run again I immediately saw a runner hobbling along, hardly at a walking pace. Stopping again, I asked if he needed assistance, help of any kind. My inquiry was not well received. After a few choice words he indicated that he was OK and would make it on his own…Then it was my turn.

About mile 4.5 I was running down a hill when all of a sudden my trail shoes dug into some soft soil (soft soil on a heavily traveled trail? Surely sabotage) which because of momentum threw me forward rather awkwardly. To avoid tumbling and to slow down I stated to bound, or weave from side to side. Well, on my second step a broken tree limb jumped out of nowhere and smacked me really hard on my right leg, about 2 inches below my knee cap. Ouch!!! Not seeing any blood nor immediately knowing the extent of my injuries, I trudged on. Every so often though I felt a muscle pull or a stabbing pain just below my right knee, but looking down every s saw nothing.

It was around mile 7 or so that I finally noticed that I had been bleeding quite a bit from my injured leg. Was my race finished for the day, was this the race wherein I’d have to wear the DNF (did not finish) tag the rest of my running career? NO! This would not stop me: I had promised my Little Buddies this race was theirs and I was not going to let them down. Besides it was at my weakest moments like these several times before that my Little Buddies and Angels came through; they never let me down they gave me the courage and strength to carry on.
Angelic voices filled my mind and soothed my body .First it was my “Forever Heroes” carrying me forward: Austin Melgar, Courtney Saunders, Cooper Riley Proscia, Emily Adamson, Victoria Houston, John Eric Bartels, Kathy Ann Wilkinson, Alara Curran, Spencer Dolling, Marissa Monroe, Olivia Weber, Alexa Aigner, Joe Daily, Ryan Willians, Janie Kashino, and Dustin Cobb singing a song I never heard before; it was beautiful. Not really a song or spoken refrain, rather thoughts of love, beauty and pain free acceptance flooded my spirit. Like a lark on high and not remembering much I flew down the trail. Then as I near an exhausted state my Little Buddies with me in spirit all chimed in a melodic chant. Well not so much a chant, but a loud roaring cheer: Justin Gaudineer, Jackson Boyd, Nick Franca, Kerry Leary, Serena Lambert, Sammy Klimas, & Melina Riniolo all with me in spirit were hollering Go GJ! You can do it, you’re almost there, just around the bend and up the hill and you’ll own the 10 miles. Sure enough as I round the bend I saw the small hill; up I went striding all the way. As I crossed the finish line I knew we did it! The 10 miles was ours!!!

Race day Pictures

Getting Close top the Finish














Crossing the Finish Line


Want some Water?













Till Later, God Bless

Gj

2 comments:

The Preister's said...

God Bless...keep running GJ - you are amazing as always :-)

Meegan said...

Thanks for the update Gj.
Keep on running and ne'er give up.

Keeping your buddies in our prayers.