My reason to fight, have faith, and hope. My reason to help make a difference, no matter how small.
This child/person could be ANYONE. It could suddenly be YOUR child, husband, best friend, mother, father, or other family member. This is Cancer. It doesnt discriminate. It doesnt care how old or young.
This is Alexa. She is my 7 year old daughter. If you read this blog you know already that Alexa was diagnoised with Leukemia February 2006. A day I will NEVER forget.
Today I am volunteering my time to do a project, with anyone who is there to particiapte in THE RELAY FOR LIFE. This is a benefit that raises money for Cancer Research. A cause that directly affects my family.
Alexa has about 1 year and 8 months left of treatment to keep her Cancer in remission.
Treatments range 2 1/2 to 3 years long.
My point of this photo is- THIS is someone who this research is currently helping. Just 10 years ago Alexa would have gotten NO chance to beat this. Now there is hope, now there is a possibility of a cure. Now my daughter is winning the long battle. While that could change we pray for the best. We believe in the best. Her prognosis is very good. 96% chance she will be CURED! 10 years ago we would have been handed a death sentence. Today there is HOPE.
Some people with different types of Cancer still do not have a chance. So we keep fighting! We keep pushing for a CURE, for ALL Cancer!
Alexa since birth has been my reason for alot of things in my life. I just wanted to share this photo of her. It was taken Wednesday during our trip to the park. Given all she has gone through she is still so wonderful, full of life and HAPPY! Look at that face? So oblivious to it all. As she slides down the slide, I internally freak out that she will pick up some awful germ that she may not have the immunity to fight. But I struggle with letting her have a qualtiy of life, and childhood. I take the small risk for this smile.
Reminds me of this poem
What Cancer Cannot do
Cancer is so limited
It cannot cripple love
It cannot shatter hope
It cannot corrode faith
It cannot destroy peace
It cannot kill friendship
It cannot supress memories
It cannot silence courage
It cannot invade the soul
It cannot steal eternal life
It cannot conquer the spirit.
I know I probally go on and on about Alexa and what this has taught me but its hard not to. I truly believe God has done so much through Alexa to get to me. To touch my life. To make me strong, and work hard to make a difference.
So tomorrow I hope my particiapation in our town’s Relay For LIFE will put a smile on ONE persons face. I hope that I will live to see Cancer become 100% curable. I hope a small gesture can make a small difference.
Small note:
Missy B Designs created a stamp set for my daughter Alexa (scroll down to see the set/description on her website) to raise money for Pediatric Leukemia/Lymphoma Research. That is a small way YOU can help. ALL procedes go to the Leukemia & Lymphoma society! We all love stamps right? Well her set is adorable. Check it out.
You can read Alexa’s Story here, and how her stamp set came to be, and a community now known as the PSF’s came together to get me through a difficult time.
People are AMAZING! Thanks for reading.
If you read this to the end, let me know who YOU will give an extra hug or kiss to. Or someone you know who is like Alexa.
All the best!
18 Responses for "My Reason"
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Hey Lauren –
First, I’m sending you and Alexa (and the rest of the family, of course) BIG cyber hugs! I think it is fabulous that you will going to your Relay today, and I know the people there will be touched.
Second – I get to spend the whole day, me and my girl, so when we go to the movies later, I’ll squeeze her extra tight, because, in a day it can all change…you know my story, so I shall not bore you 😉
Way to go Alexa!! Keep fighting, we’re here to support you always!!! What a beautiful picture your Mom took of you at the park…looks like you had a GREAT time!!!
Many extra hugs and kisses to my little ones as it can all change in one very short moment. Sending hugs your way too!
I love reading updates on Alexa. She is a very special girl! My MIL passed away because of ovarian cancer, one of the cancer’s that does not have much hope yet. I am so happy that there is hope for Alexa. A big HUG for her!
Thanks, Lauren. A beautiful picture of Alexa. Thanks again for a reminder to enjoy life and fight for what’s important. Off to hug Thing 1 and Thing 2.
Hi Lauren! I too love to read updates about Alexa. She is such a cute girl and that smile is priceless! That is so great that you are doing the relay for life….it’s such a great cause, one that touches many of us. I too hope that a cure will be found. My mom is a Breast Cancer survivor…for 15 years now! I’m so very grateful that she was able to recover from it. I know there are many that aren’t so lucky.
I’m off to give my little one a hug…and then I’m heading over to Missy B Designs!
Gorgeous picture of Alexa! Thanks for sharing her with us.
Alexa is one beautiful little girl. You are so blessed to have her in your life and she is also blessed to have you as her monther. You are a wonderful, caring person!!! Big cyber hugs for you and Alexa. I’m off to give extra hugs to my son and grandson!!!
You couldn’t have a more important reason to keep up the fight. She is beautiful! I, too, hope that one day there will be a cure and that no one will feel the pain of this decease. You are sooooo special, Lauren.
Big cyber hugs to you and Alexa and the rest of the PSF’s. Like, Pam, I hope no one ever has to know the pain of this disease and live for a day when there’s no more cancer. Will be hugging my teen and pre-teen.
Lauren – thanks for the pic of Alexa! What a beautiful smile! Today, I will be hugging my 3 kids and thanking God for each and every one of them!
Love the card, today, too! I have a hard time with boy cards – this one is too cute. I may just case this using the Little Trucks set by SU! I hope to get to this week’s sketch – will post again if I do!
Lauren, she is such a doll. I love the smile and pure joy in her face. I will give my daughter and husband an extra hug today. I have lost a second cousin to luekemia…he was only 12 years old and I watched what his passing did to the family. Completely heartbreaking! What a world it would be if cancer was cured. The fact that this disease does not discriminate against adults or children make it that much worse. We met a family who was raising money for cancer research by doing the head shaving event. Their daughter was diagnosed with leukemia, under went treatment and I am happy to report cancer free! My hubby participated and raised 700 in just 2 weeks for this great cause…I was so proud of him as this was a choice he made on his own.
Keep up the positive attitude, you are a wonderful person and your family sounds super special!
Hi Lauren, I am sending my extra big hug to Alexa through cyberspace. It is such a joy to see that little smiling face after all that she has been through. And I send a big hug to you too for all that you have endured with her – you are a very special person.
I must say that I think cancer research has come quite a way since I lost my little brother to kidney cancer as now many little children who had this have been cured. It is very good to see that advances have been made but there are still too many heartbreaks and too much suffering.
Lauren – You are amazing … your faith, your hope, your joy … it really is inspirational! Cancer can be so all consuming – I love seeing the pictures of Alexa doing “normal” kid stuff! 4 years ago this week, my mother-in-law was diagnosed with lung cancer and we lost her 4 months later. I know what you mean about the days that you never forget … my hope for you is that there are a lot more days at the park that you never forget instead of days in doctors offices and hospitals! Good luck on the Relay … you are making such a difference!
I will hug each of my family members extra tight tonight. I just found out today that a friend of a friend (also an aquaintance of mine) has breast cancer and has to have a mastectomy. She’s in her early thirties! So yes…things can change in one day…in one hour…in one fateful minute when you get a diagnosis like that… My baby (10 yrs old, too) has a simple ear infection and is hurting a lot tonight and it makes my heart so sad. It just reinforces how much I admire you and with all you’ve been through, how strong you have been and are even now in dealing with it. You make the world a better place! So yes, tonight I will hug my family a little tighter and a little longer… And I offer a big cyber hug to Alexa and you, too!
Hey, Lauren! COOL message and adorable pic!!
I have FINALLY gotten this computer to work at our hotel in South Dakota by disabling the personal firewall (shh! don’t tell the hotel!). Anyway, I’m finally getting to look at a couple of things, but I’ll have to go soon!
Hope you are all well. We’re thinking about you and got you some little souvenirs. 🙂
Staci
Lauren,
I read Alexa’s story to my 9 year daughter, we printed out Alexa’s picture as a visual reminder to keep Alexa and your family in our prayers.
We also purchased Alexa’s Stamp Set from Melissa, just arrived last week. We love it, can’t wait to play with it.
Cancer has also affected my family, I lost a family member 18 years ago. Research has come so far since then. Alexa’s chances of fighting this are great! I believe with a passion that there will be a cure.
Lauren you inspire me, you are simply wonderful and Alexa is a sweet angel. Many Hugs!!
Tracy
Lauren, glad to see Alexa is doing so well. I totally agree with you on how far research has come.I had a cousin who died of Leukemia twenty years ago when they weren’t doing to many BMT’s back then. Eight years ago my son Michael was diagnoised with the same form of Leukemia, our only other child, Ginny was a perfect match (the odds of that are way up there) and Michael recieved a BMT from her and is alive and well. So I’ll give both of my children an extra hug today because I know how special they both are.
Love and Prayers,
Twila
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