World Cancer Day is 1 week away! Are you ready to wear your pjamma's all day on Friday, February 3rd or Saturday, February 4th? World Cancer Day is February 4th and we have lots of people Pjammin for Kids with Cancer. Please feel welcome to join us. On Friday, February 3rd Jorja's elementary school is wearing their pjammins to support Pjammin and children with cancer. Also several elementary schools from my home town are supporting this. My aunt and uncle work in one and my friend works in another and they all have spread the word about Pjammin and have received lots of support. I can't tell you how exciting this is! It is about spreading awareness of Childhood Cancers. If you can't wear your pjamma's wear a GOLD Ribbon! They are really easy to make. The GOLD Ribbon is the ribbon for childhood cancers.
"Help us give the childhood cancer community a voice on World Cancer Day! This is a global cancer event, and we want everyone to remember that KIDS GET CANCER TOO!
World Cancer Day is hosted by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), a collaboration of over 300 cancer organizations in 100 countries. As a member of the UICC, the American Childhood Cancer Organization is trying to host simultaneous childhood cancer awareness events at schools across the country.
Why pajamas?
Children with cancer spend months to years on treatment; a considerable amount of this time is spent in pajamas. "PJammin" is based upon participants wearing pajamas, a symbolic way of reflecting on the amount of time that children with cancer must spend in their pajamas. This is a fun event, which requires little effort to organize, and it helps schools become supportive, cancer-aware places in the community. In spite of improved treatments, childhood cancer remains the number one disease killer of America's children. Awareness needs to be raised regarding the impact of this disease on our nation's children, and funds need to be raised to provide treatment information and research that will lead to cures." From the American Childhood Cancer Organization
Introducing Raylee and Jorja.....sisters! Raylee is our cancer baby and Jorja is her sister's keeper.
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Bald Barbie is Beautiful!
When Raylee's hair started falling out we knew we had to shave it. She didn't want to. Jerry tried to talk her into it but she refused. At this time she was still 2-years-old (almost 3) but she was still self-consious about losing her hair even at this young of an age. Jerry grabbed a Barbie doll which both my girls absolutely love! They get that from me :) He showed Raylee the Barbie and asked her, "Is Barbie pretty?" Raylee said, "Yes." He shaved off the Barbie's hair and held her up and asked Raylee the same thing, "Is Barbie still pretty?" Raylee said, "Yes." Jerry then explained to his little daughter that Barbie is still pretty with or without hair and she too will still be pretty. Only after seeing the Barbie without hair was Raylee okay with shaving hers off.
There is a lot of talk about Matel making a bald Barbie to support all those girls who experience cancer. I am hearing about several mothers (especially ones who have experienced a daughter, or sister, or friend with cancer) are for this, where other women are rejecting it. I've been told some mothers are against it because they don't want to have to have that difficult conversation with their child why there is a bald Barbie. This is really frustrating to me and I am really upset about this. If you really think having a conversation to your child why there is a bald Barbie is difficult, try having one with your child that they may die because they have cancer, or with their sibling explaining their little sister could die! That is the most difficult conversation I ever had to have with Jorja or Raylee. I figure now, anything will be easy to talk about compared to "Raylee could die!" It wasn't just one conversation either. Jorja had a lot of questions and this conversation happened day-after-day for months; because she was concerned and scared for Raylee.
To all those non-supporters of a bald Barbie I would like to say, Cancer is real and real in Children!! The more awareness that is out there, the better, why not!?!? If you don't think your child could get cancer, guess what? They can. Cancer isn't a disgusting thing to avoid talking to kids about, it doesn't have to be scary, and it doesn't have to be shameful, it doesn't have to be something to avoid. The more we know, and our children know, the more support there is for those children and their families who are experiencing this. I never thought one of my children would get cancer, I didn't really know it was possible. I wish there was a bald Barbie to give Raylee when she was in treatment and lost her hair. It would have made it so much easier to explain why it was falling out and why she was bald instead of talking a Barbie a shaving her head. Guess what? That conversation about her losing her hair wasn't an easy one to have with her either.
Someone on a news report said, if Matel makes a cancer Barbie they might as well make a drug addict Barbie. Really?? Are people that uneducated they are comparing having cancer to having an addiction to drugs?
The entire point to having a Cancer Barbie who is bald, is showing baldness is beautiful. Because so many women, teenage girls, and little girls experience chemotherapy and lose their hair, there needs to be a bigger voice then just those around them telling them they are still beautiful! Why not Barbie who is a popular icon for girls? I love and support the idea! If you don't like the idea, just don't buy the Barbie--and count your blessings if you don't ever have to, or if YOU don't ever have to have those difficult conversations with your daughter because she is experiencing cancer!
There is a lot of talk about Matel making a bald Barbie to support all those girls who experience cancer. I am hearing about several mothers (especially ones who have experienced a daughter, or sister, or friend with cancer) are for this, where other women are rejecting it. I've been told some mothers are against it because they don't want to have to have that difficult conversation with their child why there is a bald Barbie. This is really frustrating to me and I am really upset about this. If you really think having a conversation to your child why there is a bald Barbie is difficult, try having one with your child that they may die because they have cancer, or with their sibling explaining their little sister could die! That is the most difficult conversation I ever had to have with Jorja or Raylee. I figure now, anything will be easy to talk about compared to "Raylee could die!" It wasn't just one conversation either. Jorja had a lot of questions and this conversation happened day-after-day for months; because she was concerned and scared for Raylee.
To all those non-supporters of a bald Barbie I would like to say, Cancer is real and real in Children!! The more awareness that is out there, the better, why not!?!? If you don't think your child could get cancer, guess what? They can. Cancer isn't a disgusting thing to avoid talking to kids about, it doesn't have to be scary, and it doesn't have to be shameful, it doesn't have to be something to avoid. The more we know, and our children know, the more support there is for those children and their families who are experiencing this. I never thought one of my children would get cancer, I didn't really know it was possible. I wish there was a bald Barbie to give Raylee when she was in treatment and lost her hair. It would have made it so much easier to explain why it was falling out and why she was bald instead of talking a Barbie a shaving her head. Guess what? That conversation about her losing her hair wasn't an easy one to have with her either.
Someone on a news report said, if Matel makes a cancer Barbie they might as well make a drug addict Barbie. Really?? Are people that uneducated they are comparing having cancer to having an addiction to drugs?
The entire point to having a Cancer Barbie who is bald, is showing baldness is beautiful. Because so many women, teenage girls, and little girls experience chemotherapy and lose their hair, there needs to be a bigger voice then just those around them telling them they are still beautiful! Why not Barbie who is a popular icon for girls? I love and support the idea! If you don't like the idea, just don't buy the Barbie--and count your blessings if you don't ever have to, or if YOU don't ever have to have those difficult conversations with your daughter because she is experiencing cancer!
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Make-A-Wish Princess Party!
We just got home from a Princess Party at The Wishing Place hosted by Make-A-Wish and Utah's Distinguished Young Women. I wanted to write about this while it was still fresh in my heart. I cannot express how amazing this Princess Party was and how it lit up every girl in the room whether they were just little or older.
When we first walked in The Wishing Place we were asked to stand to the side in the lobby. There was a red carpet laid out that stretched down the lobby into their banquet room. There were teenage girls (dozens of them) dressed in formal gowns. They truly looked as if they came out of a fairy tale. There were several teenage boys dressed as princes. One played a trumpet and another announced in a microphone the guests names. The guest were all the girls who were invited to this princess party, those being wish girls and their sisters. The trumpet would play and the prince would say, "Introducing Princess Jorja and Princess Raylee" then they would walk down the red carpet with the teenage princess cheering and clapping for them and sprinkling glitter of all colors on them. It was simply magical. Inside the banquet room were was the giant cardboard cutouts of the Disney Princess, Disney Princes music playing, and a serving table full of cookies and pink and yellow punch. It was decorated perfectly for a young princess.
What was truly magic wasn't the sprinkling of glitter, or the music, or the decorations of pastel pinks and blues and yellows. The magical part was the look in all the girls eyes of young and older. These volunteer princesses out numbered the little guests. They swarmed the little girls by 2 to 3. Let me tell you they were so gentle and loving towards them. They hugged them, danced with them, told them how special and beautiful they were. They got to know them and let them spin around and show off their little dresses because each of our little princesses were dressed for the occasion. For over an hour they played with them. I sat at a table and talked to another cancer mother the entire time. Our girls got so much attention. It was wonderful, they were able to escape their little worlds into one with these beautiful teenage girls and boys who were amazing role models and who seemed to know how to build the self-confidence and character of each young little princess.
Isn't it amazing how just an idea of hosting a princess party can take one little child away from their little world and give them a few hours of being in a special spot light? Some of these little princess are struggling through illness, some may not be curable. And for just this moment.....they didn't know a world of illness or treatment.
Raylee didn't want to leave. When it was time to leave she ran from me and tried to hide. This was so special for her. They came home with dress up rings, bracelets, necklaces, a treasure box, balloons, stickers, and bubbles that the princesses were passing around. When I was leaving several of the Distinguised Young Women came up to me and said how great and special my girls were. :)
My heart is full with gratitude for those who were inspired to plan and host this princess party. I am grateful to live in a place where people are so creative and so giving, who put others above themselves--especially children!
View the Princess Party on KSL News, which aired 1.18.12. Here is the link: http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=18927994
To learn more about Utah's Distinguished Young Women log onto http://www.ajm.org/programs/state_n_local_programs/utah/
It is a scholarship and leadership program. Really awesome!
When we first walked in The Wishing Place we were asked to stand to the side in the lobby. There was a red carpet laid out that stretched down the lobby into their banquet room. There were teenage girls (dozens of them) dressed in formal gowns. They truly looked as if they came out of a fairy tale. There were several teenage boys dressed as princes. One played a trumpet and another announced in a microphone the guests names. The guest were all the girls who were invited to this princess party, those being wish girls and their sisters. The trumpet would play and the prince would say, "Introducing Princess Jorja and Princess Raylee" then they would walk down the red carpet with the teenage princess cheering and clapping for them and sprinkling glitter of all colors on them. It was simply magical. Inside the banquet room were was the giant cardboard cutouts of the Disney Princess, Disney Princes music playing, and a serving table full of cookies and pink and yellow punch. It was decorated perfectly for a young princess.
What was truly magic wasn't the sprinkling of glitter, or the music, or the decorations of pastel pinks and blues and yellows. The magical part was the look in all the girls eyes of young and older. These volunteer princesses out numbered the little guests. They swarmed the little girls by 2 to 3. Let me tell you they were so gentle and loving towards them. They hugged them, danced with them, told them how special and beautiful they were. They got to know them and let them spin around and show off their little dresses because each of our little princesses were dressed for the occasion. For over an hour they played with them. I sat at a table and talked to another cancer mother the entire time. Our girls got so much attention. It was wonderful, they were able to escape their little worlds into one with these beautiful teenage girls and boys who were amazing role models and who seemed to know how to build the self-confidence and character of each young little princess.
Isn't it amazing how just an idea of hosting a princess party can take one little child away from their little world and give them a few hours of being in a special spot light? Some of these little princess are struggling through illness, some may not be curable. And for just this moment.....they didn't know a world of illness or treatment.
Raylee didn't want to leave. When it was time to leave she ran from me and tried to hide. This was so special for her. They came home with dress up rings, bracelets, necklaces, a treasure box, balloons, stickers, and bubbles that the princesses were passing around. When I was leaving several of the Distinguised Young Women came up to me and said how great and special my girls were. :)
My heart is full with gratitude for those who were inspired to plan and host this princess party. I am grateful to live in a place where people are so creative and so giving, who put others above themselves--especially children!
View the Princess Party on KSL News, which aired 1.18.12. Here is the link: http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=18927994
To learn more about Utah's Distinguished Young Women log onto http://www.ajm.org/programs/state_n_local_programs/utah/
It is a scholarship and leadership program. Really awesome!
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Blog Revision
If you follow this blog you will see I changed the background. It use to be striped with colors of orange. Blogging is not a talent or a regular hobby of mine. Basically I really don't know what I am doing with this. But I have played around in the 'Design' tab and figured out how to change the background. I chose this black/grey one as it is a better fit for me than the orange stripes. I am sure if you know me, you would agree. I hope you like these changes as much as I do. XOXO
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Wishing Key
Today the postal service hand delivered a package to Raylee that had Make-A-Wish marked on it. We opened it and inside there was a castle. Raylee removed the roof and inside was an antique shaped silver key that set inside. She pulled it out and said, "Wow, look how shiny!" Also inside the castle was a fancy invitation that read:
"It is our deepest honor to invite you and your family to come visit A Wishing Place for the special occasion of making your wish.
Please bring this key with you when you come, for it alone will open the Wishing Room at the top of the Wishing Tower.
We eagerly await your presence."
Soon we will go to The Wishing Place and Raylee will declare her wish. This is an amazing experience for my family. I still can't believe Raylee is going to be able to make a wish. It is exciting and humbling at the same time. I hope in the future Jerry and I can sponsor another child's wish. That is a goal we both have.
"It is our deepest honor to invite you and your family to come visit A Wishing Place for the special occasion of making your wish.
Please bring this key with you when you come, for it alone will open the Wishing Room at the top of the Wishing Tower.
We eagerly await your presence."
Soon we will go to The Wishing Place and Raylee will declare her wish. This is an amazing experience for my family. I still can't believe Raylee is going to be able to make a wish. It is exciting and humbling at the same time. I hope in the future Jerry and I can sponsor another child's wish. That is a goal we both have.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Kids Get Cancer Too!
Check out the Wear Your Pajama's Day below to support World Cancer Day. Looks like fun. I had no idea there was a World Cancer Day. The information below was e-mailed to me from the American Childhood Cancer Organization. Wearing your pajamas for a day or even two, for a good cause, that's my kind of day! :)
"What are you doing on Friday February 3rd and/or Saturday February 4th? How about wearing pajamas to work and/or school?! We'd like to see as many PJammin for Kids with Cancer events on these days as possible. Help us give the childhood cancer community a voice on World Cancer Day! This is a global cancer event, and we want everyone to remember that KIDS GET CANCER TOO!
World Cancer Day is hosted by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), a collaboration of over 300 cancer organizations in 100 countries. As a member of the UICC, the American Childhood Cancer Organization is trying to host simultaneous childhood cancer awareness events at schools across the country.
Why pajamas?
Children with cancer spend months to years on treatment; a considerable amount of this time is spent in pajamas. "PJammin" is based upon participants wearing pajamas, a symbolic way of reflecting on the amount of time that children with cancer must spend in their pajamas. This is a fun event, which requires little effort to organize, and it helps schools become supportive, cancer-aware places in the community. In spite of improved treatments, childhood cancer remains the number one disease killer of America's children. Awareness needs to be raised regarding the impact of this disease on our nation's children, and funds need to be raised to provide treatment information and research that will lead to cures."
"What are you doing on Friday February 3rd and/or Saturday February 4th? How about wearing pajamas to work and/or school?! We'd like to see as many PJammin for Kids with Cancer events on these days as possible. Help us give the childhood cancer community a voice on World Cancer Day! This is a global cancer event, and we want everyone to remember that KIDS GET CANCER TOO!
World Cancer Day is hosted by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), a collaboration of over 300 cancer organizations in 100 countries. As a member of the UICC, the American Childhood Cancer Organization is trying to host simultaneous childhood cancer awareness events at schools across the country.
Why pajamas?
Children with cancer spend months to years on treatment; a considerable amount of this time is spent in pajamas. "PJammin" is based upon participants wearing pajamas, a symbolic way of reflecting on the amount of time that children with cancer must spend in their pajamas. This is a fun event, which requires little effort to organize, and it helps schools become supportive, cancer-aware places in the community. In spite of improved treatments, childhood cancer remains the number one disease killer of America's children. Awareness needs to be raised regarding the impact of this disease on our nation's children, and funds need to be raised to provide treatment information and research that will lead to cures."
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