Queen Kelley

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, so I decided to stop by the blog (it’s been a while) and list significant statistics related to kids with cancer. (I’m grateful to Janice, mother of Holly and Mimi, for this list, which I took from her Caring Bridge page. Also, I took the image from jayshope.org.)

1. Number of children who will get cancer: 1 in every 300.
2. Number who will not survive: 1 in 5.
3. Number of children diagnosed with cancer each school day: 46.
4. Number of children who die of cancer every school day: 7.
5. Number of children currently fighting cancer: 35,000.
6. Number of new drugs developed for childhood cancer in the past 25 years: One.
7. Percentage of cancer research money spent on childhood cancers: 3%.

We all have causes that are close to our hearts. This is mine. You can click on my tab “Childhood Cancer” and read more about why it matters to me. This month, you may see gold ribbons on people’s shirts and cars. We have these ribbons to remind us of the many kids battling cancer and of the ones who are with God now. When you see them, I hope you’ll think about these kids and their families. Go Gold!

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, a month set aside to inform the general public that childhood cancer is a serious disease in our country (CureSearch says it’s “the most common disease-related cause of death for ages one to twenty”). At any given moment, parents and their children face the ever-present nightmare of pain, tests, treatments, separation, isolation, fear, and uncertainty. At any given moment, parents and other loved ones deeply miss a child whom cancer took from them.

I often mention my friend Jenny, whose daughter Catie died of brain tumor complications at age 4. There are hundreds and even thousands of others. Joshua passed away a few weeks ago. Kate is 5, just a little older than my Butterfly, and endures terrible stomach pain from brain tumor treatment. JB, age 8, and his mother live at St. Jude miles away from the rest of their family while he undergoes cancer treatment. (Click on the links to read about them.) These children should run, play, attend school, and have fun. In most cases, they can’t.

No one likes to think about childhood cancer. I certainly don’t. But I do. I am ever mindful that life can change in a moment. If you wish, see Curesearch.org for information on the Virtual Walk for 12,500. You can contribute money. You can give your time at Ronald McDonald Houses and similar places around the country. You can pray for peace, direction, and comfort as families cling to hope, doctors treat these children, and researchers work tirelessly for a cure. I am always hoping for a brighter future for these families and little ones.

This morning, I dropped the girls at their preschool and Mother’s Morning Out programs and drove a mile or two down the road to vote. My precinct was nearly empty, so I happily breezed in and out. Seeing those choices on the screen magnified the significance of the day. As my friend so eloquently put it, I felt humbled and grateful for my right to vote—won by the sacrifices of many through the years, including the women who strongly advocated for a choice at the polls. I also felt a bit guilty that I wasn’t more educated about the various races and the amendments presented on my ballot. Honestly, I’ve found it difficult to keep up with specifics and to discern the truth behind what people say. I suppose that’s difficult for us all. I wasn’t the most prepared voter, but I still accepted my responsibility and made the best choices I felt I could make.

Ultimately, I believe our country will survive no matter who wins the election—at any level. The way it will survive is another matter, of course, and I have my strong opinions. However, I admit that it is comforting to hear highly intelligent and passionate individuals on either side express their preferences. To me, it means that either way, we’re going to be okay.

Catie. Max. Jay. Rayley. Hanna. Hayley. Carter. Ben. Jacob. Shelby. Maddy. Ethan.

Each name belongs to a parent’s precious child who passed away from cancer or complications from cancer treatment. Each symbolizes a grief I cannot fathom, a heroic spirit I could only hope to attain, and a desperate reason why funding is needed for childhood cancer research.

I don’t talk about this often on my blog. But for years, I have been drawn to families whose children are fighting a battle against cancer. These families, like Catie’s, chronicle their journeys in blogs and photos, and reading entries is like being a part of their lives. Their stories have made me a better mom.

There are many ways to minister to these families—volunteering at places like the Ronald McDonald House, praying for hope and peace and healing, posting encouraging comments on their websites, contributing to various funds in honor or memory of a specific child, buying an elf this Christmas, and more.

One way to honor Childhood Cancer Awareness Month is to donate to the CureSearch “Virtual Walk for 12,500.” Please see their website, curesearch.org, for details.

If you need convincing that this is an important cause, think of the names above and know that they are only a fraction of the children lost to the various forms of the disease we call cancer. There are thousands more who endure each day treatments that destroy their little bodies in a desperate attempt to rid them of disease. And know this too: even one lost to cancer is too many.

Is your coffee cup feverish? Has it been shivering lately? What about your hands? Are they weary of clenching a paper coffee cup covered in a paper sleeve that you merely throw away after using? How many thousands of such sleeves do you imagine get tossed each week? Well, of course, I have the solution. For those of us growing ever more eco-conscious and concerned with preserving our beautiful earth, there is a way to save a few trees. Check out coffeecover.net for an innovative product that both helps the environment and makes your coffee cup look gorgeous. 

Those who know me may question my endorsement of this product, as I don’t drink coffee and rarely visit a Starbucks, but I still think it’s a great idea and an interesting find. Also, Erin wanted to support her cousin Mandy, who is co-developer of this new venture. Erin is a former coworker and sometimes reader of my blog, so, as you can see, my endorsement is not entirely selfless.

Now, all you coffee lovers (and hot chocolate lovers and those who simply love to dress up your cups) go get your coffecover (or two or three)!

Buy a Wendy’s Frosty this weekend (June 14 and 15) at participating locations, and support the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. I learned about this on Jim Houser’s website. As manager for Steven Curtis Chapman, Jim has updated regularly about the family and about his own grief over little Maria’s death three weeks ago.

This weekend, I can’t think of a better reason to go enjoy a yummy Frosty (or two or even three) than to support adoption. I hope you will too!