The X Factor

December 14th was the second time in recent history that our country was jolted when the world suddenly stopped turning. As the news broke of the 20 children who's lives were extinguished in a single moment, our country cried out in horror and our government responded within hours about how to reduce the risk of another event of this magnitude. Now one month later people are still aggressively talking about how to make this world a safer place for children by reducing the risk factors in these tragedies.

Mysteriously the government has not uttered a single word about the death of over 200 children who have died since December 14th from pediatric cancer. The President has not cried on national television for the families who have lost their children, and no one in the main stream media has called drug companies out on the carpet who have made very little effort in making new drugs for kids fighting cancer in the last 20 years because of lack of profits.

I don't know what is worse, the loss of children's lives or the refusal to look into the eyes of the innocent and listen to our countries most precious voices. If a handful of horrific incidents over 10 years can spark a national movement to make change, then why don't the lives of an estimated 25,000 who have died, and hundreds of thousands of others in treatment, seem to even make a sound?

I think we know many of the factors that are preventing our kids lives from being saved, but as our kids continue to suffer and lose the decades of life that we have all enjoyed, the children's cancer community will continue to combat against the evil of ignorance by raising awareness through the power of social media. This is our X-factor, our reality show and our desperate cry for help. Please watch and share

 

Follow my Blog on Facebook @ https://www.facebook.com/briansphirstblog

 Speak Up to Silence Cancer @ https://www.facebook.com/speakuptosilencecancer

Reality vs. the Truth

Today I was thinking about reality TV and wondering why people are so fascinated by the countless shows that are running the air waves these days. Just about any channel has one of these shows going at any time of the day where you can pretty much watch people live on camera doing what they do best, being themselves. So what makes these 'people' shows so worthy of our time and why do we place any value at all on giving our attention to the next person to get eliminated from the house, stage or island? I don't know if I can give you the best answer, knowing that some of these shows I love to hate will make me lose sleep wondering who is going to win, but I can surely give you a peice of reality where you can discover the truth about how everyone can win.

I realize that our own lives are difficult in many ways and it feels good to break away from our own realities and just veg, but I'll tell you from personal experience, the last 25 years of veggin' haven't taken me anywhere. To be honest my favorite way of checking out has always been video games. Ever since I got Super Mario Bros on my own Nintendo, I have enjoyed a little fantasy in collecting coins, fighting bad guys with swords made of water, and becoming a military sniper. I logged over 168 hours (literally 24/7) of game play in this Post Apocalyptic game where you go around doing missions and shooting people to survive. The one thing I noticed is that in this world there was absolutely no entertainment and the only hope for something to take a break from survival mode is find a rare book that was not badly burned so you could study a bit of history. Take a second and enter this world with me where there are no reality stars, no cameras, no producers influencing events to raise the ratings on the next boy meets girls show. What would you do if the bomb went off and there was no way of finding out who won American Idol this year? I'll tell you what I would do first and foremost (and I actually did in this game) find and save any children who are our only hope for the future.

In 2012 there were a young boy and a young girl who's reality was challenged as they fought for their lives. Many people had been following their stories for some time but when their stories began to break out of their circle of friends and communities, they became reality superstars. With nearly a quarter and a half million people watching, waiting and wanting to help in whatever way they could, these kids became the face of childhood cancer. Now sadly as they have passed on, the world's attention is drawn away into another reality with little to no value.

Don't you think the lives of kids are More Important than the rumors about some reality stars with no talents? If your not asking yourself what's more important than the next Rose Ceremony, then what are you doing? I've said enough, its time for a reality check: here is the Truth of the matter for our kids fighting cancer. http://www.thetruth365.org/

Unexpected Moments

My son Lincoln had an appointment today at Doernbecher Children's Hospital in Portland, Oregon today.  The appointment was just like many we have been to before where Lincoln would receive chemotherapy after being sedated. He was excited to see his Chemo pal, Dustin from the Children's Cancer Association and the doctor and the nurses would be happy to see him too. Everything we going along very well with the new normal that we have come to know until it was time to go home.
As we were headed to the elevator Lincoln saw a volunteer blowing bubbles in the hall, and after trying to entertain the idea earlier he changed his mind a few minutes too late. This is where I could tell a very graphic story, but even now as the frustration lingers from trying to calm the situation, I still want to express how much I Hate Cancer! The side effects of the chemo are not always those that make a child look weak, sick or in pain. Today they made my son suffer several moments where we were not sure if we were going to make it out without another sedation. Cancer comes in many forms, but so does the suffering of those who are affected and must endure the most unexpected moments.
Please continue to raise awareness and keep a light in your heart for kids like Lincoln, here are a few ways to do that:
LIKE and SHARE
https://www.facebook.com/prayingforlincoln
Celebrate Kids on the Red Carpet
https://www.facebook.com/redcarpetkidsforthecure
Speak Up to Silence Cancer
https://www.facebook.com/speakuptosilencecancer
Join the Truth Squad for daily missions
https://www.facebook.com/theTruth365film
Subscribe to my Blog Page
https://www.facebook.com/briansphirstblog
You will also find some of my friends pages and petitions you can sign when you subscribe to my pages and you can also follow me on Twitter @ricksson33.

Lincoln's Prize

If you were sitting with me in Lincoln's room as I was getting him ready for bed tonight, you may not have been able to sit for long because you would be rolling on the floor laughing out loud at how he was so excited for his appointment tomorrow! With all of the expression that a 4 year old can tell a story with, he was still happy when he said he didn't like shots, but he would only cry a little bit because he had his 'flubber' or numbing cream. He then went on to say that he liked the white juice that makes him shake and makes his eyes go back in his head but when he wakes up he gets to eat and then his friend Dustin will bring him some new toys for Christmas. He always knows he will get a prize when he has to fast and get a pokey in his chest. He says grandma always looks away when he gets his shot but it only hurts a little bit. I think he told the whole story in one breath and then he wanted to go to sleep immediately so he could wake up and get his Prize!

Did you know that most kids don't get that excited about going to the doctor because most kids don't have to live with this life threatening disease? When a boy like Lincoln has lived nearly half of his life with cancer, all he knows is how to be a little boy, and chemo, hospital visits, shots, chemo pals, prizes, sedation's, fasting, crying and the absence and loss of an everyday normal life cannot stop his unbelievable spirit to fight against this unknown enemy.

Lincoln is 1 of nearly 13,500 kids face a monster that many adult don't even believe exists in children, and who have no idea how many lives are extinguished by this silent killer.

That's 36.5 kids a day, 365 days a year, in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015....

Every time a new president is elected 10,000 kids will die because our own government won't even recognize how precious the life of a child is unless there is some kind of national tragedy.

7 kids were lost on the 7th of January, 2013 because the National Cancer Institute won't even give 7% of their $5 billion dollars to research 12 major types of children's cancers.

The American Cancer Society call pediatric cancer rare, because its not an "epidemic" like the kinds of cancers from self indulgent people who smoke, eat or drink too much.

So what do we do with kids like Lincoln? Do we only Hope things get better even though statistically they won't. Seriously, what would you do if it were your baby?  The Truth must be heard by this great nation and we must fight for kids who deserve more than a sympathetic St. Jude's commercial that is rarely seen by the public. With the power that we have in the palm of our hands, we need to take childhood cancer awareness to the next 3 levels before our September awareness planning even begins. We need to be ONE VOICE to bring the Truth which has the power to make change in our country and around the world. I want to ask everyone who reads this blog today to make a new commitment to raise the bar on childhood cancer awareness, by sharing in a very personal way, how the Truth 365 film can make a difference for kids like Lincoln who battle, suffer and sometimes cling to life, even when there is no hope left.

I challenge you to reject the thought that you really need to watch that new show or get that extra hour of sleep tonight and watch this film until your heart is breaking to make a difference.

Remember Lincoln tomorrow during his appointment and sedation for his chemotherapy and remember his true Prize is one more day with his family and people like you who care a whole awful lot. Please Comment on facebook with the word PRIZE if you have shared the Truth 365 with your friends and family, because Great is your Reward. Thank you for your support for Lincoln and this film for kids everywhere.

 

God's______Dead

This weekend has been eventful for our family as we traveled to my brothers house to pick up Emma from my parents who invited her to stay for a few days. We watched some football but left before the game ended so I could get back to watch my Packers play the next game. Today I also watched my second favorite team win and tonight we are watching Hook with Robin Williams.

A fairly normal weekend for us but a lot on my mind as well. My aunt just told us that grandpa is waiting for his angels wings and has mentioned seeing his wife who has been in heaven for 18 years. I was in Idaho a few weeks ago to see him and our time was good seeing how he remembered me. He has lived a full life and is at peace as he looks for the light to invite him to the afterlife.

Ever since my friend Ryan passed away from brain cancer when he was 16, I never was without faith that God was on the other side waiting. In the last 3 years now, 4 of my immediate relatives have moved from this life into the one that we were always meant to have, one without death and suffering. I don't know how people can ask the question, "why do bad things happen to good people" when none of us are perfect and there is no such thing as "good enough" to get into heaven, because it never depended on our own goodness, but on God's perfect will. We all have a world view and many of us struggle with it because we try to fit God in our little box instead of believing He is who He says He is. I don't think anyone can believe 100% God is dead and that we evolved from some other source. If that is that way it is, then there are no laws that apply and we are free to do what we will without guilt.

I pray daily that my children will grow up as I did, knowing God's NOT dead but realizing that we are completely and utterly dependent on his grace to save us from what we are lacking in the presence of His Holiness.

God's NOT dead, He's surely Alive