My Personal 9/11

Have you ever had a day when everything was going just perfect? You wake up in a good mood, your plans for the day feel relaxed and you have time to sit down and enjoy your coffee without spilling it on the way out to warm up the car. The sun is shining and even though it's early it's not too cool? I remember a day like this about 10 years ago. It was a day when my wife and I could wake up and go to work without a care in the world. Everything was so much at peace that morning of September 11th, until I heard the phone ringing. It was my mom calling in tears asking if I had the tv on. I had no idea that this would be the biggest tragedy I had ever experienced as I watched the horror of the twin towers in flames, people screaming and jumping from buildings and finally the collapse and the smoke and the news of the other planes crashing elsewhere. The memories still seem so close and the entire country feels the pain still today on the 10th anniversary of our nations greatest attack within our own borders.

While the events of 9-11 cannot be compared, there are many feelings that have reappeared over the last ten years. Only a month after this happened my wife and I went out of town for the weekend to my parents house in Washington. On Sunday morning my wife got a phone call and was struck with emotion as she received the message that our apartment had caught fire starting in our unit. We would find out later that no one was hurt but a lot of property was damaged and we were liable. We tried to fight it but the evidence was too strong and we cut a deal to pay $12,000 in damages. We could only bear the burden and turn to God for comfort. It was quite the blow after 9-11, this time very personal.

The next spring I lost funding for my job and had to take something at minimum wage until I started working at the RV factory. My wife also lost her job and our brand new car payments seemed to big even though it was the only debt we had. My car also died and I had to drive 45 miles a day to work.

These personal upsets would not compare to what would happen the in these last few years. My wife's grandpa passed away after a stroke, her other grandpa would lose his leg, my grandma passed away, two of my aunts had cancer, my mom was diagnosed with  Parkinson's, and to top the list of tragedies my 7 year old nephew Conner would finish his life long battle to cystic fibrosis. These were all the beginning of what I hoped would be the end of a very long and difficult ten years. I tried to convince myself that this curse was over and we would not see anything like it for a long time.

I surprised my wife on her birthday this year by going to a concert of a favorite American Idol contestant, Danny Gokey, and we went out together on June 30th for our anniversary not knowing this would be a little break in our lives until the very next day that our own son was diagnosed with leukemia.

While I have experienced such pain and suffering from my personal 9-11, I know these things are a world away from what so many are experiencing with their kids and cancer. At this moment a little girl is preparing for her angel wings. A little boy who went ahead of her yesterday, is free of cancer and suffering, but his family is reeling from his passing only four months after his diagnosis . A teenager is leaving videos of herself singing on You Tube because her time is short. A grandma  is taking her grandchild in for surgery because the parents have to work to keep their insurance. There are So Many in need today because they are having a personal attack from this terrorist we call cancer. There is No Cure, but there Is a way to get closer to finding one.

On this September 11th, the same month that is Children's Cancer Awareness month, I want to pledge to myself and those reading, that I will fight the terrorism that comes to the families of these children. I will promote awareness, raise money for expenses and I will be a part of the community that Will find the cure to end cancer once and for all.

As September 11th approaches and we remember all those lost on that day, let's not forget that we all fight for our freedoms, but we do not fight alone. There will be many battles and we cannot fight them all, but we will fight for the ones closest to home and we will win if we do not give up. Our kids are our future and we must fight for them first and foremost. Let's begin with the end of childhood cancer.

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Waves and Wildfires

The destructive force of children's cancer is like the tidal wave that overtook Japan's shorelines last year. If you watched any of the footage like I did in the middle of the night, you saw how there was no escape from the mighty ocean waters.

Are You Aware?

September 1st is going to be the beginning of a lot of new changes. Kids are going to school, families are finishing their summer vacations and the weather is trying to cool down. New routines begin and staying up late comes to an end, but for families with cancer all things can change in an instant. September is the month for the Awareness of Childhood Cancer and as I say while playing poker, "I'm ALL-IN!"

This September many will mourn those lost in the attacks on the day of 9/11, but many more will not realize that 46 kids will be diagnosed with cancer and 7 will lose theirs lives each day, everyday, all year long. While there are many efforts to promote the newest TV episodes, reality shows, awards events and movies, those who fight to save their own children will be overlooked. This month you can make a choice by choosing to be ignorant of the fact that kids can be cured of cancer, or choosing go help make people aware throughout the most powerful tool available today, social media and the Internet. There is no time to lose and our children are our future, so why not take the batteries out of the tv controller and save a few bucks from your daily caffeine fix and be a part in making a difference for a family who will spend more on medical bills than they make in a year.

Our children, the ones who fight for their lives daily from brain tumors, blood cancer, sever pain and loss of their ability to just be kids. These kids are superhero's and no one can fight like they do and they deserve all that we can give them. That is why I created "The Red Carpet Kids for the Cure"

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Red-Carpet-Kids-for-the-Cure/168832049858369

 

This is a way you can become aware and dive into their world. Just by bringing awareness you will cause ripples to become waves of destruction for cancer. Just by clicking "like" on a cancer awareness page, you are spreading the word to people who will donate thousands to research. All you have to do is mention someone you know that has a suffering child and people listen for a reason to give whatever they can. Small steps lead to great leaps and we are so close to so many cures that just need your attention for one month. Don't let this moment pass when the moment presents itself to your heart. There are cancer survivors and there are those who barely survive because their child was lost. Pray, give, and don't look back, Today is Your day to Choose and these kids need you.

Like the Page http://www.facebook.com/theTruth365film

Sign the Petition http://thetruth365.org/petition/

Help Talia (T365 preview) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DJmjzCwalM&feature=plcp

Celebrate the Kids http://www.facebook.com/redcarpetkidsforthecure

Speak up to Silence Cancer http://www.facebook.com/speakuptosilencecancer

To My Celebrity Kids:

Today is the end of the longest two weeks of this summer. It has been very hot working outside and is almost more miserable than the cold winter rain. The end of the summer means new beginnings for us though.

Lincoln is on a short break from his daily chemo treatment but still visits weekly for blood counts. He is becoming more familiar all the time with his treatment, even calling the port access his Snakey. Emma has naturally played outside all summer but soon will find herself tired and going to bed early as school begins. Jenny and I are doing well, but we have our moments with Lincoln and feel the stress of the feelings he has.

I have been keeping up with other kids who are fighting like Lincoln and I have noticed a need that could be met. The last thing I would ever want to happen is to let my sons illness consume me. So I want to keep ahead of any potential grief and start giving to others in their time of greatest need.
I am starting a Facebook page the will be like many others dedicated to children and families in their suffering, but with a unique, fresh flavor. I won't announce the name of it until I set it up and launch it into cyber space, but it will share awareness with many other pages about the devastation of a child's disease and how to find hope in impossible circumstances.

Since my blog has had 6000 hits and Caring Bridge has 5000 (relatively small in comparison to many others) I see fit to continue to draw attention to those who need it most. Everyday you hear about celebrities who make millions of dollars and spend it on meaningless things, but its not everyday that you hear about extraordinary children who fight for their lives and deserve to be heard about. When enough people raise these children up, they will be heard from, money will be raised and a cure will be found.

Wouldn't it be great if Every Celebrity would personally sponsor a group of children with specific illnesses until a cure could be found. I hope each child who fights their battle daily would achieve celebrity status because they are the ones who deserve celebrity like attention. For all kids who have fought, who still battle on and who have been laid to rest, your Red Carpet Event is coming and your stories will be heard until your cure is found.

Seasons Change

Lincoln's appointment went very well today. Very well except when he was told he would not get his Snakey (his port accessed) He threw a fit because he does not need medicine for the next two weeks.
I'm just guessing but I don't think he realizes that this is a good thing :)He is happy at home now and doing very well, thanks to everyone who thinks and prays for him. Now that we can all have a little break, we can shift our focus to other matters.

First of all and more importantly I have become Aware of the cancer community in Oregon and around the world. I am also aware of other children's diseases that have recently taken lives and I can't help but do something about it. Before I go on I want to ask You, who have become aware of our story, to help me by doing what you are already doing for us, by praying and thinking about these children as I share awareness of their stories. They need an outpouring of support as they face odds that seem medically and financially impossible. There will be new diagnosis children, kids in treatment and even terminal patients that need all we can give them.
I will do my best to share awareness but I won't have all the answers, at least yet. I want them to see what I've seen through Caring Bridge and Facebook and I want to help families who don't have a Caring Bridge to have one even if I have to set it up and write it for them. Every child with a disease deserves more attention than the latest celebrity gossip. I am passionate about this and I am committed for life but I need your help.

We are now looking into financial aid and discounts because our health care system is at a very challenging time. I am also facing an early end to our season of fencing with up to six months of slow business. I am a manager but I am an installer and my job depends on sales. I'm not asking for handouts, but I am looking for all avenues that are available for aid. Even with the health insurance that seems so relatively now, we will give up everything for our son. We only wish we could help others who need it more. We trust God with everything as He has proven over and over that he provides us with our every need.

We are coming up on the school year and will start a new routine with Emma. We will have more homework time and less play time, early to bed and early to rise. We will need to focus more on family time as we have been pulled in many directions this summer. We also look forward to seeing family and friends we have been missing all summer.

In October Lincoln will be in the hospital for a few days as part of his treatment. I will spend my paid vacation time which will be hard because I am giving up precious jobs that pay well. I do need a break though because last year I waited until November for some days away.

We are all feeling great right now because we know we have your love and support and we need it daily. Thanks again, Brian, Jenny, Emma and Lincoln.