Awareness

Did you know?

• September is National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
• Over 12,000 children in the United States and over 200,000 children worldwide develop cancer every year.
• One in every 330 Americans develops cancer before the age of twenty.
• On the average, 36 children and adolescents are diagnosed with cancer every day in the United States.
• On the average, one in every four elementary schools has a child with cancer. The average high school has two students who are current or former cancer patients.
• Cancer is the leading cause of death by disease in children under the age of 15 in the United States.
• Childhood cancers affect more potential patient-years of life than any other cancer except breast and lung cancer.
• The causes of most childhood cancers are unknown. At present, childhood cancer cannot be prevented.
• Despite these facts, childhood cancer research is vastly and consistently underfunded.

Isn't that incredible? I just can't believe how underfunded children's cancer research is. They've made such great advances over the years - that we are the beneficiaries of. When we were first in the hospital when Elena was diagnosed, the doctors and nurses told us that her diagnosis was a death sentence thirty years ago. Today it is extremely treatable and most ALL kids are expected to go on and live a full, normal life.

But there are lots of families who are dealing with childhood cancer and their outlook doesn't look as good. It seems like we meet new ones every week. This week in clinic, Eric met a lady whose 18 year old son is dying from lung cancer. He looked like he was about 10 years old from how his growth had been stunted from chemotherapy, etc. It was pretty much the end for him. He is going to die soon - his body isn't responding and there's nothing really that the doctors can do for him. So sad.

Awareness is so crucial - so we can raise more funding for research and find cures. I can't imagine where we'd be without all the generous donations of time and money, the talented doctors and researchers, and the selfless sacrifice of childhood cancer warriors and their families as they participate in studies to help advance the treatment. We are so grateful for all who have gone before so that we can be in such a good place now. We have the great opportunity of participating in a study of one of the common chemotherapy medicines, Oncaspar, that is an effective, but touchy drug. You get it continuously throughout treatment and lots of kids have really scary allergic reactions to it that makes it so they can no longer be treated with it. The study Elena is on is comparing Oncaspar to a new medicine. We are so happy to be able to help in some small way.

So, go get your gold ribbons (gold for childhood cancer awareness) and check out some other simple ways you can help:

-Chili's (!!) is donating to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital all month long. You can do several things - 1. go in and buy and color a pepper for $1 to be donated to St. Jude's, 2. text "HOPE" to 90999 to donate $5 to St. Jude's, 3. join Chili's e-mail club (100% free and you get like two e-mails a month) and Chili's will donate a $1 - PLUS you get a coupon for free chips and queso (if you want to do this, leave a comment and I'll forward you the e-mail), and lastly, 4. on Monday September 27th, Chili's will be donating 100% of their profit to St. Jude's. 100%! So, you can go get some freaking awesome food (Chips and salsa and fajitas, is my recommendation. Or maybe chips and salsa and margarita chicken. Or you could use your coupon from the e-mail club and get free chips and queso. See, the possibilities are endless! :)) and support childhood cancer research. Pretty simple. It's basically about as easy as it gets. And as tasty. :) If you can't do anything else, go eat at Chili's on Monday.

-Sonic and Walmart are both also doing the $1 donations this month(hot air balloons you color at Walmart, I'm not sure what the paper is at Sonic). And if you go in to a Walmart in Utah, their donations are going specifically towards our local Children's Miracle Network Hospital, Primary Children's Hospital. So that's even better.

-Visit our "Light the Night" webpage and make a donation!!! (That is our "team" website which is registered under my name - that would be where you would go to join our team, Team Elena..) The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) is having a "Light the Night" walk in Salt Lake City on Saturday, October 9th at Sugarhouse Park. Light the Night is a fundraising event to pay tribute and bring hope to people battling blood cancers, like Leukemia. Come join us on October 9th, if you can, and support Elena and other brave cancer fighters. We are so excited to participate!

-Host an "Alex's Lemonade Stand". Go to alexslemonade.org to find out more.

-Visit the following websites:

http://www.goldthenewpink.net/ (get gold ribbons - donate!)

http://www.curesearch.org/ (look for Curesearch walks near you or donate)

http://www.cookiesforkidscancer.org/ (host a bake sale)

http://www.stbaldricks.org/ (participate in an event near you or donate- they're shaving the way to cure childhood cancer)

http://www.crochetforcancer.blogspot.com/ (cute hats and headbands with 100% of the profit going to Curesearch)

Please help raise awareness and funds for research. I loved this message on goldthenewpink's website (I adapted it a little for Elena):

The end of September is nearing. Have you ignited a fire? If not, do it for warriors like Elena Hoffman. Do it for warriors who no longer fight. Do it for the warriors yet to come. Do it so no more warriors ever have to fight.