Something APPEALing.

It has been a perfect week! All the therapist have brought up something Santana is doing really good at or new all together. He was pretty tight on the horses. While he is not forced into any positions during what looks like a simple oily massage, I am sure he is very sore after! In fact this therapy is so smooth and slow. Makes me want to go get a massage watching him! I have never seen his legs stretch out so far. We can hardly spread them to do a diaper without him tensing up but he just melts like butter with this therapy. But even getting him up in the fetal position for 45 minutes had to cause him to have some sore muscles. He didn’t cry but totally relaxed himself into it. But days following… you can tell he got a work out. Kinda like Yoga… looks simple but you can feel it!

This therapist also does oral stim. And he had one of his best speech therapies this week and is really chewing… dominant on the left side… which is odd since that is the side MOST effected from the damage. However he loved fresh squeezed orange juice on a toothette. He even had some yogurt! Very small… more for taste and reaction. He he coughed a big clearance when he needed to. That alone is a HUGE step to control what is going down and if it is going to the wrong place to cough it up yourself! Slowly… VERY slowly… we are getting somewhere. I truly never thought I would see the day we would try this!

Even with the NeuroChiropractor. He was doing some great eye movements when turning his head back and forth! The dolls eyes are almost gone! He said he is almost completely normal in reacting to that! WOO HOO! And when doing optic kenetics (basically a checkered flag being moved over his line of vision) I saw his eyes bouncing with the black and white like they were supposed to! A bit slow… but WAY more than we have ever gotten! I believe his vision is going to come back this year too! It is in and out… depending on what other sensory things are going on. He suggested taking him to SIRRI for therapy but all that sensory input with seizures kind of scare me!

We have yet another busy weekend ahead of us… getting ready for Jetts baseball game… GO DIAMOND JAXX! Then headed to a birthday party! Then my mom is coming for a SHORT few days to get their truck fixed. Can’t wait to see them and their new puppy!

Thanks for the prayers and encouragement. Pray for another AMAZING week! And BELIEVE God is going to do good things! I see it already!

Oh… and we have been doing a LOT less suctioning! Something is kicking in!

And I almost forgot… we lost a second hour of OT. Yup. Knew it was coming. Arizona is in debt. Which is why this health care reform is bad for Arizonians and kids like Santana. Things are just going to keep getting cut. I wanted to freak out but James reminded me that I said no negative was going to get to me. So I am fighting back with an appeal. Has anyone had to appeal for therapy? I could use all the help I can get! I guess OT goals was too close to PT and School OT…. Which is funny cause we really don’t get school OT and if he was at school instead of homebound… he would get MAYBE 10 min. a week. So we got some rewording and fighting to do. But everything will work out. God is good and he is in charge! We did get 2 hour approval for PT and Speech. So pray we hit some goals cause they are redoing it in 6 months.

No Boundaries

This song really reminds me of Santana.  I will be making his next slideshow to it!  I am a BIG American Idol fan and Kris and Danny Gokey were my top last year.  Both came out with GREAT albums! Sorry had to post this… I just posted below this one too.

I called it!

I told you all something amazing with Santana was going to happen this week.  Should have put my chips down!  I  was RIGHT!  Not one but 2 amazing things happened.  I took a short nap after taking benadryl yesterday.  I missed OT but when they were done, the OT and my nurse were talking and signing papers and they look over to see Santana doing tummy time with his head straight up looking at them like, “HELLO?!  Are you going to look at me?”  When they reacted he just slowly turned his head and laid back down.  Nice and smooth… not dropping!  I was shocked!  I can not believe it!  Well… I can.  This new therapy we are doing after an evaluation and 1 session, you can already see some muscle tone kicking in the lower back which was dormant and the beginning of the session on Tuesday!  This is something I really want to stick with!  It is PRICEY so I am really hoping to raise some money or get some sessions sponsored ($150 a session).  We are going to TRY and do 2 times a week for 10 weeks.  That is a $300 a week!  But in all it is like 5-6 hours of therapy.  (he doesn’t charge when he runs over the 2 hours).  Pray that God will provide.  It is amazing we are even seeing changes already.  They are small to the average person… but to someone who has NO head control… that is amazing!  Laying on your tummy and bringing your head straight up is the hardest position to do!  I am excited!!!!

Then last night we had a game for Jett.  My grandma came over so she too can go so we can see her one last time before she heads back to Iowa.  Jett did awesome!  Got a hit everytime!  Plus he got someone out at 3rd by a second when he had to scooch back on his but to hit the base!  What a stud!  With an unforgettable name like Jett Black… He is bound to do great!  It got chilly so I got some hot chocolate.  When it cooled off I put some on the spoon and gave a few drops at a time to Santana.  HE AMAZED ME!  He wrapped his lips around the spoon and started sucking!  I was REALLY shocked!  Didn’t choke or anything!  I about fell over cause I wasn’t so sure with it being so thin.  So my goal in the next year is to get him eating completely by mouth!  A year is a long time… I think we can do it!  Ok… by his next birthday!  Mark it in your prayer journals because you will be able to write PRAYER ANSWERED on Feb. 18, 2o11.

God has been so good!  Even though we are in our midnight hour, he shakes the earth and shows us he is in control.  People have come in and out of my life but I know God still has the reins.  It amazes me where I am at right now.  I truly think I have the best support and friends out there!  But more than that my best support comes from my husband James.  In the end… what we think as a couple is all that really matters!

Thank you Jesus for showing yourself when we need to see you the most!  We call and you answer!  We only want to live for you.  We continue to pray the negative people out of our lives and thank you for the support you have given us.  The positive you have sent out weighs the bad.  Thank you for sending us people who love and live for you!  We thank you for EVERY day you give Santana.  Every breath, every cough, every movement, every moment we don’t have seizures, for the doctors who are finally at my level and listening to me and what my needs are for Santana.  As long as we keep you in the center of our lives everything keeps aligning to your will.  Thank You Thank You Thank you for your Grace!  I am undeserving for all you have done in Santana.  I am a sinful man and Lord you are perfect!  I pray that I can live through you and keep strength and faith that you are doing great works in this family!  We praise your name through the storm and through the sunshine!  Your name is good!  You are the true healer in Santana’s life and the author.  You know the beginning and the end!  With that, we trust that you are writing a super heroic story of Santana’s life!  FOR YOU WILL GET ALL THE GLORY!  We love you and worship you!  In Jesus name, AMEN!

This BUGS me!!!!

So from my twitter updates you can see that I have been “attacked” By something.  I woke up Monday morning with an itch on my wrist and a couple of small bumps.  I also had a little cut there so I thought it was from that.  By the end of they day I had like 200 of these spots.  Kinda had a head to most of them.  I was like… WHA T IS THIS?!  First thing I thought was bed bugs since there is such an epidemic!  But Tyree slept with me that night and he or James didn’t have anything.  Plus the spots came throughout the day.  By the end of the night it was worst!  I was itchy all night. I survived yesterday.  But then again it started to spread as the day was going by.  I took off my shoes and they were getting to my feet!  I was like… This is sick!  What is wrong with me!  I could not stand it any longer and drove all over trying to find an urgent care that was open.  Finally found one and got my name on the list a half hour before they closed.  It was a 2 hour wait but I didn’t care!  I had to get relief!

I had well over 200 of these! And they keep showing up!

Just from what I said about the 2 bumbs then it multiplying, the doctor believes that I was stung or bit by something  and all the other boils or pox looking things are the venom trying to escape.  Who knows.  But I got some kind of shot that is supposed to take the swelling down and I believe like an antihistimine.  or whatever.  Then I have to take Claritin and some other anti-flamitory.  He wants me to take Benadryl 4 times a day… but I don’t think he realizes I have a 2 year old I need to chase around.

I feel like I jumped in a cactus! Not only do they itch... they sting! Especially the ones on the bottom of my feet!

I get home to read discharge and it says go to ER if you experience headache, chills, or fever.  I was like WHAT?!  I went in with head ache and chills.  (That is what worried me enough to go) I felt feverish but none.  I guess I told triage but forgot to tell the doctor.  Oh well… I survived the night.  =)  I will just take this allergy stuff and see what happens.  I was praying it was not anything Santana was going get!!!!  I have to make an appointment to see my PCP but I have NO idea when I will have time for that.  Pray that no more than the one shows up on my face.  Oh my feet!  I can hardly walk!!!  I just want to roll around on sandpaper right about now!

Santana is doing good.  We started this new therapy and it involves a lot of massage type stimulation.  I wanted to fall asleep watching it and wishing I was in his place.  At the end (3 amazing hours!) The therapist wrapped him up in fetal position and used a sheet to swaddle like a baby!  I have never seen Santana so compacted!  He looked cute.  About 45 minutes later he was CRYING!  I had to get him out of it!  I felt bad because he was DRENCHED!  But it is supposed to be a good thing!  He was a little tripped out last night and moving his agitated arms around.  But movement is movement!  Oh… speaking of movement!  His technique is really supposed to help with Bowels.  HOLY COW THEY DID!!!!  He was letting out some LOUD Rooty Tooties!  I have never heard him do this!  Plus he OVER FILLED his diaper!!!!!  CRAZY!  So that was a positive thing.  You guys have NO idea how important pooping and gas is for a kid who can’t even burp.  I feel bad he can’t relieve himself!  I am excited to see what great things this therapy will accomplish.  We have to do lots of tummy time and he was squirming around a ton with him.  I thought he was going to army crawl off the table… only his legs… not his arms yet.  He seems vocal after this too.  He sounded like he was trying to use words this morning.  I called it.  I woke up Monday saying this week is going to bring something amazing!  I don’t know what… but it will!!!

Turning head on tummy time during massage!

Bundled in a ball!

Unmasking my ball of fire!

Relieved to push his knees out of his chest! His legs are still loose! Normally they are stiff straight after something new.

We are off to Phoenix for CRS appointment to get 2 new sets of wrist splints!!!!  That is amazing in itself that a state run program will provide that!  I am really excited… although itchy and rather be in bed loaded on benadryl!  =/

Pray for Santana and for this new therapy. Pray God can use this therapist in a way that Santana needs for his function.

Trust in God… Not Government!

“Don’t fret or worry.  Instead of worrying pray.  Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns.  Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down.  It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.” – Philippians 4:6-7  The Message

I have nothing exciting to report.  I didn’t even want to write tonight.  But as my Facebook friends know… I am not thrilled about the Health Care Reform.  I immediately started freaking out about what is going to happen with Santana’s care!  But then I stumbled upon this verse as I open my God Chicks devotion.  We rely too much on the government.  God will not let these angels of his down.  There is no way Satan can win this one.  Santana has a big team of Angels behind him and a BIG, BIG God!  So Pssssh!  No worries.  [insert deep gulp]

This verse also reminded me of the chuckle my pastor gave me.  He said to take it to God.  Yell at him… from the pastor himself… curse him out.  NOT LIKE HE DOESN’T KNOW WHAT IS IN YOUR HEART ANYWAY!  It was a great service!  My friend put a quote up on her FB status so I have to give Chandra the credit in case it is her paraphrase… but this is what Chad Moore spoke that REALLY got my attention today…

“We think relationships are all about performance, and therefore a competition. But it’s not about performance, it’s about trust. If we judge relationships by performance, then we crush our ability to love others, and crush our ability to receive love. Life is not about keeping score, it’s about loving much.” – Chad Moore, Sun Valley Community Church

I could not help but smirk.  Some people seem to make our kids a big competition.  Who is doing what therapy and whose therapist is the best.  Who is doing better at eating or talking or moving.  Psssssh!  It is not and should NEVER be about that. My friend Stacy put it best… each one of these kids’ injuries are like snow flakes.  You can NOT compare one to the other.

God doesn’t keep score of who is doing what Good deed… that isn’t what gets you into heaven anyway… So why should we be keeping score with each other.  This goes for friends, family, and your own spouse.  Ooooooo…. so good.  I loved this message on the Prodigal God.  I have to admit!  I am the older brother in this story!!!!!   Done good, did homeless ministry, loved God, accepted Christ, and bam… here we are with brokenness!  Can’t help to be like the older brother and be jealous of the one who does whatever they please, swear like a trucker, drink like a sailor, gossip like a hen house… but yet God gives and gives.  I have learned in this series that the older brothers attitude is just as at fault than the younger prodigal son who took off to live a life of sin and not care about his father till he was desperate.  So score board is out the window!  Back to t-ball!  Doesn’t matter how many runs anyone gets.   God doesn’t keep score!

And to think I was not going to go to church today!!!!  I knew Satan was trying to keep me from something!  And Chad said it best in his message how people are all grumpy and then put on a show at church!  You can’t hide from God Folks!  They know your heart!!!!  To watch the series online go to www.sunvalleycc.com.  There are other services on there too.  You will not be disappointed.

Jett has 1 more week of spring break.  Whew… 2 weeks is just too long.  But at least our summers are cut down by 6 weeks!  We have some new things starting up this week.  OH!  And I got a HUGE gym mat on craigslist for $60!  I was so excited!  Gonna make Jett scrub it down tomorrow.  They think it will be like a slip and slide… little do they know they are cleaning for me!  =)  Pray for something new and exciting to happen this week… I am expecting it cause I can feel it!!!!!!

Earth Shakers!

Aaaaaaaahhhh… to be back on the keyboard!  Oh how I missed my computer… AND BOYS!!!!  Of course!  I had a few blogs to catch up on.  My only access to the outside world was my cell phone and the browser stinks on it… so I have been lost!  I know, I should just enjoy my time away.  My parents suggest fasting from electronics.  Oh wow would that be a true sacrifice for me!!!!

First I need to thank my sister-in-law Janet for coming over here all the way from Tolleson to stay with the boys!  Thanks to my nurses also who worked 12 hour shifts to make this work.  Jett and I really got to spend some good time together!  Much deserved on his part!

It felt SO good to be back in Angeles Temple for church last Sunday morning!  That place has so much anointing in it.  I can feel God’s presence and it truly brought me to my knees in praise for all that God has done in our life!  And what he IS and WILL Do in Santana’s!  Pastor Matthew Barnett’s message was on praising God in the midnight hour.  Lord knows we are in our midnight hour so I lift up his name in praise and thanksgiving.  In the bible, the prisoners did so and the earth shook and they became free from their shackles!

So… the earth shook alright!  We had a 4.4 earthquake at 4:04 am that next morning!  I just can’t help to think that it was symbolic to me changing my thinking and praising God and I feel change is coming. I feel that breakthrough his coming!  As far as the earthquake… that is the THIRD one I have felt in less than a year!  So crazy!  This one woke me up yelling out WOAH!  I thought I was falling off the bed!  It is kinda fun but that was MORE than enough for me!

We went to the LA Zoo… eh.  We went to the beach 2 days in a row… beautiful 80-85 weather!  I could lay there forever!!!!!   I got to hang out with one of my friends.  I ventured out in LA… last year I refused to drive ANYWHERE… scary!  But I have figured out they drive MUCH better than PHoenix.  We Phoenicians are pushy drivers.  We don’t like to let anyone in.  You get honked at if you have to get over and just go.  In LA… put on your signal and go.  Much more traffic but it moves better than it does here with our selfish drivers.  Parking… still not a fan… and you pay EVERYWHERE .  But I survived!  Jett had a blast and was NOT ready to go yet.  =(  He loves his grandma!  They are best buds!  Plus he likes the feeling of ruling the disciples in the program!  HE THINKS he does anyway.

Santana has been having some reflux/pukey!  And he has had the runs for 3 days!!!!  Poor baby!  If I had known that, I would have had someone give him some pedialyte.  =(  Poor little guy!   No poops today so hopefully it was cause he was so sick his momma was gone!  I was up at the crack of dawn rocking my boy this morning!  He missed me.  =)

Oh… and then I came home to a great surprise!  I have done nothing but complain about the CRAPPY lighting they did in the Master Bathroom… only women can understand how important it is and that lights from straight above and behind does not help you tone out your face!  Well… my dad and James hung up new lights above the vanity circle mirror!  I said… EWWWWWWW… Now I can see my face… and every flaw!  HA!  James also hung all my asian decor.  I feel the tranquility in there again. =)  Thanks to the wonderful men in my life!

Here are all the photos… Enjoy!  I love having a camera on my phone…one cause I forgot my camera… 2 because I can post pictures where I am at on my drive over there so they knew where we were at!  And all my fb friends got a play by play of photos as it was happening!  Looking at them again makes me miss my mom and step-pops in the worst way!  They pretty much ROCK!

Thanks for the safety prayers!  Now on to a new therapy!  I gotta work on fundraising because it is going to cost us $300 a week for the next 5-10 weeks.  =/  But it is something I truly believe in!  Also… is anyone crafty and wants to help me build something?  I need a big plywood with foam and smooth clear vinyl.  (or whatever that material is that can be slippery when wet).  I will buy the materials… just need some help and guidance where to get this stuff!  THANKS!!!!!

Californi-I-A!

Thanks to my sister-in-law Janet and my nurses stepping up to the plate, I am headed out to Los Angeles with Jett tomorrow.  Better stock up on Monsters to keep me awake for the drive.  Please pray for safety and pray for my other boys… including James… while I am gone!

Santana had an amazing night!  He was super flexible!  For those who do not have facebook… I will have to post the pictures later… my phone is on the charger.  It knocked my socks off.  He had a wonderful night.  His sats have been 95% all day.  Respiration 22 which has been higher!!!!  HR lower by 10bpm.  He is amazing!  I love this kid! He keeps on fighting.  I am so blessed to have nurses follow through with all my crazy therapy adventures!!!!
I am going to miss my boys so much.  Tyree has been my cuddle bug today.  =(  Pray for safety please!!!!

Therapy, seizures, appointments, pharmacy, What else?!

When I woke up to look at my calendar today, I almost had a heart attack, ok… maybe just a panic attack… alright… maybe I just plain freaked out. My day starts with getting my kids ready. Drop Jett off at the bus stop by 8. Drop Tyree off at babysitters since we have horses and A LOT TO DO today. Come blog (just added that since that is what I chose to do) I need to clean and get a hold of Neurology and get to pharmacy all before Music therapy which starts at 11:15 am. That lasts an hour then in a half hour when that is over we load up and go to horse therapy by 2. In between that time Jett has early release and comes home. Then I have to get Tyree picked up by 2 since there is student led conferences today and his babysitter has kids.. offered to take Tyree… but would NEVER put that burden on any one! School speech was going to do a make up at 2:20… had to cancel her for reasons to come… OT is normally at 3:30 she cancelled and is doing a make up so we squeezed a new therapy we are going to check out at 3 for an evaluation. Then our NEW speech therapist starts today at 4:30. That lasts an hour. Conferences are from 1-6. WHERE DO I FIT CONFERENCES AT!?! Oh boy am I ever Stressed out! Which… being on the computer doesn’t help! ha!

Check out the curve! You think this is bad... you should see when he is sitting!

Santana has some funky things going on. I am a bit concerned. A LOT concerned. His back has taken a TURN (no pun intended) for it’s worst. I am super worried about him. It is twisted and curved more. His tone is SO high right now. We have been off his depekote for almost 2 weeks. But he seems like he is in with drawls or something. I don’t understand what he is doing. His tone is high and he is breaking out into really bad sweats and shaking. Last time the thought it was cardiac but we got cleared on that. So I am not sure what he is doing. I was on the phone with a therapist last night and he was saying while seizures are not good, sometimes it is a sign of break through. I have always thought that and have heard that before. But whatever. ALTHOUGH… when he started this eye thing where his eyes are coming together, he started this crap. So maybe he is frustrated and exhausted from it. We are going to see a new eye doctor. We will see what happens.

Jett has spring break for 2 weeks. We think I should take Jett to California for a few days. I have been trying to get in order so that my nurses can work a full day while James is at work. I got them set through Thursday. So now I need some help with Tyree. He can go to a babysitters down the street from 7-4:30. But I need to find help from when James leaves at 6 and then after 4:30 to when he gets home about 7. If anyone is up to help us with those crazy hours or is willing to take him all day… we could use the help. If all else fails, we can just meet at the border and drop him off with my parents. The problem with that is I think their Tranny is going out so can’t. AND I WANT TO GO!!!!! I miss California! I have not been back since May! I need me some mom time and I got some friends there I would LOVE to see!!!! You ask, Why not take Tyree? He is at a tough age and I think it would be nice to give Jett some one on one time. He needs some attention… without being told… go get a diaper, can you play with your brother for a minute, can you get him this or that. Jett is an AMAZING big brother and we sometimes ask a lot of him. We just need to go chillax with Grandma! HeLp…Please.

Santana continues to do well with the tastes in his mouth. He has NEVER had tongue or chewing action before. God is pretty much AMAZING! Keep praying he pushes through this cold! His sats have been staying up so I pray it stays that way!!!!! SEIZURE NEED TO SEIZE!

New Things. Who says the brain can’t improve?!?!

Wow.  I don’t know what happened the last few weeks.  We have been so busy.  Busy fighting off colds too.  I was worried that it was going to take Santana down but he has been holding him self VERY well.  He had to go on oxygen a few times but not for long.  His cough sounds really bad yet his 02 is still 92-97% and he NEVER hits 97%… not even with oxygen… so he is fighting right through it!  Sunday when we were not feeling well we just stayed in bed and cuddled all day.  I needed that… HE needed that.

Opening Day! Go Diamond Jaxx!

My Little Lefty Up to Bat

So besides being sick, we have been VERY busy with Baseball.  It is hard dragging this kiddos around.  I was so thankful James made it to the last game because it was hard pushing Santana and then chasing my run away around.  But let me tell you!  Santana had AMAZING eyes this last Weds. night!  They are kinda hard to see cause we were under the field lights so the camera was shading his face.  But as you can see….the top is a before picture and the bottoms are his eyes working together!  I was so happy to see this because his hips and back were looking VERY bad all day… so this was VERY uplifting!

See how his eyes go different directions? This is due to his Cortical Vision Impairment

Look how handsome when his eyes are together... WORKING!

Following my snapping fingers!

Still Alert while putting him to bed. Every time the orange light came on my camera he made this face. =D

He had a rough week… besides the coughing and vomiting… but he was super agitated at the beginning of the week and did NOT like sitting on the bolster.  But then on Thursday  at Hippo Therapy, he did AMAZING on the horse.  He was MUCH more relaxed!  He didn’t cry till the very end and either way it was the end.  So awesome.  So then his OT came and she wanted to work with citrus and smelling and stuff. Oh… and with Whip cream… yum.  So we decided to take it a step further and let him taste it.  We squeezed it on a toothette and it wasn’t just juice… there was some chunks too.  And the video says it all.  You can say what you want… BUT I SEE HIM PUSHING IT TO THE BACK OF HIS MOUTH!  I think he would have done MUCH better if he hasn’t been extra junky and fighting this cold off.  I wish I would have started the video from the beginning!  He was VERY alert to the first smell.  His face was so funny.  He did an amazing job.  I want to get another swallow study but I want to practice more.  Any suggestions for those who had kids that had to learn to eat again?  Pudding maybe?  A year ago when we did the swallow study, his tongue did NOT move that much… or at all.  In fact… 2 months ago he could not do this.  I am really sad my new speech therapist who brought so many new ideas to the table left us to work with a school.  =(  We miss her.  I am just hoping he can keep improving in this department.

Forgot to mention... He held his head and pushed his elbows solo! She had her hands there in case he fell but barely touching. I didn't believe her until she showed me! PS.. we had to do the sucker or he would just fall asleep.

Not much else going on.  Just lots of baseball.  Jetts team is AWESOME.  These boys can hit!  Can’t wait until we get to the more competitive age.  =/  Maybe…
March is Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month!  Extra thoughts and prayers for Santana and all his buddies who strive to make life the best it can be!

GO TEAM IZAK!!!!!

If there is one thing in life I absolutely despise it would be the C word… Cancer. I know 2 of my family members whom have had it. It is terrible in adults but it is HEARTBREAKING in children! There is one little guy that stands out in my mind right now. You have heard me refer him or his mom several times through out my journey. Jami has been writing nothing but positive uplifting things into my life through the guestbook since the accident first happened. I honestly don’t know how she found Santana’s website… but we connected. Her son Izak is the MOST incredible fighter I know. Not only did this family have to fight Izaks life with cancer… but now fights for the brain injury it left behind. This family has been blindsided twice but still hold their faith and belief! When you look up in the dictionary the word Encourager… There is Jami’s picture!!!!! Look up the word fighter… and there is Izak Poore!!!!!!!  Oh… for those who are so worried…. It is tax deductible!

Below is an email she sent out. I was going to blast it out but I more or less use face book so I don’t have a lot of emails… so I thought this is the way to get it out there! Please donate to Team Izak! The letter and website will explain what the money goes to!

Hi all!! I am sending out a mass email, asking you ALL to dig deep into your hearts and your pocketbooks, and give your support to Pediatric Cancer. For the past 3 years, we have participated in the St. Baldricks Foundation event (http://www.stbaldricks.org/) that is held in Louisville, KY on March 14th. People from all over come to the event, raise $$ from donations and shave their heads bald all in the name of Childhood Cancer research and support. There are many organizations that raise $$ for cancer research, the sad truth is that most of that $$ raised is not allocated to Childhood Cancer research. The therapies that are available for children are watered down “adult” chemo treatments that have been used for well over 50 years. The side effects of these treatments are toxic, and leave lasting effects that children who beat the monster have to suffer and endure of the rest of their lives. St. Baldricks raises $$ specifically for Childhood Cancer. Izak as you all know, is now a 4 year SURVIVOR of neuroblastoma (a specific childhood tumor) and he fought long and hard to beat cancer, and endured many many horrible side effects. He is a true HERO, and the light of our lives. God has Blessed us in immeasurable ways. Last years event included many of our close friends and family and we were able to raise a good amount of $$ through donations in Honor of Izak. This year, Izak’s team (“TEAM IZAK”) has grown (the team members will raise $$ and attend the event and shave their head) and now includes one very brave woman shaving off her locks!!!! AWESOME!!! It humbles me and brings me to my knees in prayer of Thanks to know that so many people care and love our son, and want to make a difference in the Childhood Cancer world. SO, what can you do. EASY. Click on this link, it is TEAM IZAK’s page http://www.stbaldricks.org/teams/mypage/teamid/66120 and hit the “donate now” button, and give your love to Izak through a donation in honor of him. We have set a goal of raising $5000.00 and I KNOW we can do it. In fact, I am confident we can surpass that. ANY AMOUNT helps!! $1.00 HELPS!!! This is one organization (of the many lol) that I am very passionate about. Please help us pay it forward. If you have ANY questions, please feel free to contact me. We love you all, we are thankful for each and every one of you!! PLEASE FOWARD THIS EMAIL TO ALL YOUR FAMILY FRIENDS AND CONTACTS!! LET’S RAISE SOME $$ FOR THE KIDDOS!!!
Again, please let me know if you have any problems or questions!!!!

One a side note, TEAM IZAK members are selling raffle tickets to win a big screen TV, if you have any interest in buying a ticket please get in touch with me and I can do this for you. The tickets are $20 bucks a piece for a chance at a very nice TV.

I am going to leave you with some statistics on Pediatric Cancer. Again, please visit http://www.stbaldricks.org/teams/mypage/teamid/66120 and support our mission, God Bless, may He Bless you richly,,,
Jami Jason and Izak Poore
jamistegall@hotmail.com
you can visit Izak’s website for his story @
www.caringbridge.org/visit/izakpoore

In the United States, approximately 10,500 children under age 15 and 3,700 adolescents ages 15-19 are newly diagnosed with cancer each year. That is roughly the equivalent of two average size classrooms (35-46 kids) diagnosed each school day.
For children between 1-19 yrs, cancer is the fourth leading cause of death overall, and the leading cause of disease related death. It remains responsible for more deaths from ages 1-19 than asthma, diabetes, cystic fibrosis and AIDS combined. For every six research dollars per patient with AIDS and every one research dollar per patient with breast cancer, a child with cancer receives 30 cents