Did you know?

Did you know September is Childhood Cancer Awareness month?

Be honest...

Sadly, before Cooper's diagnosis I couldn't have told you what color the childhood cancer ribbon was. I couldn't have told you what month it's recognized.

You know what I would've been able to tell you? What color the breast cancer ribbon is and what month we recognize it. Not diminishing one ounce of the importance of breast cancer awareness or how many people are affected by that beast in itself. Too many!

The point I want to make is WHY.

WHY is the yellow ribbon not as known as the pink ribbon?

WHY is there so little funding for childhood cancer research (less than 4%!!)?

WHY is there not more awareness around how common it actually is.

I think it's quite safe to say every single person can agree how tragic, awful, unfair and horrible childhood cancer is. Something about how young they are just really adds salt to the already painful, raw wound!!

NO kid should have to go through this....

Even with Leukemia which is one of the most "common" childhood cancers. It has one of the best "statistics" for survival rate. The "protocol" has advanced to a point that we've had many people tell us how at least this is a cancer they know what to do with it.

When I first heard that leukemia has a 95% survival rate, that comforted me. Made me feel like okay, Cooper can beat this! Those statistics aren't good enough.

My husband is a very statistic driven brain. It was not a pleasant conversation when he helped me understand what they really mean. We need to do better for our kids!

Lets look at leukemia statistics...

95% survival rate with 15% of those kids relapsing. When kids relapse their statistics go down drastically for survival. Lets simplify it for those of us who are not blessed with the math brain...

1 in 20 kids diagnosed with leukemia die.

3 of the 19 kids that survive relapse.

That leaves 16 out of 20 kids survive without relapsing (per statistics).

And what does "survival rate" mean?

It means that those kids are still alive 5 years after diagnosis, not necessarily cured.

95% sounds good. That is until you are talking about your child's life. When it's your kid, you don't want those as your odds!

Throughout September I've been posting some of the "healing protocol's" we've implemented for Cooper. I do believe our enviroments and what we put in and on our bodies matter. However, cancer is such a nasty beast that even if you do everything just perfect, it may not be enough.

We need more research. We need better options for these kids. Even the drugs they do have that help kill the cancer can cause secondary cancers or leave these kids with lifelong complications. You wouldn't want to even know the lengthly list of things that we've had to be aware of with the medications Cooper takes.

I was quite shocked when I learned how long ago all of these drugs were created... I'm grateful for them but imagine how much more advanced they could be if we held this as a priority in our society?

So again I ask..... WHY.

I know the answer. Money. It's always Money. However, I am not ok with that answer and it first starts with awareness!

Today Cooper is doing great! Yesterday he got his first haricut of the year! He told me, "Mom, for the first time in a long time I feel like I don't LOOK sick". His port is out, his incision is healing so nicely. David has a daily countdown of when he can tackle him again. 😂

With that gratefulness and joy, I also mourn with the mama who sat by her 14 year old daughter yesterday while she passed away. Zuza battled her leukemia for 11 out of the 14 years of her life. Her mom has dedicated her life's work to finding ways to help her daughter and has written the first book for parents of childhood cancers. A book a good friend whose son also had leukemia recommended to me and I jumped right in when Coop was diagnosed.

It's something I'm not sure words can ever fully describe. I just feel it in my gut. Like a achey hole sitting there.

So what can we DO?! Like tangibly, today.... DO

Help to spread awareness!

Easiest way, click that share button on socials when you see information about it!

Sign up and give blood or become a bone marrow donor

No, it's not always convenient but when you get the chance sign up! (hint, hint.... you will have an opportunity to sign up with me this coming year!)

Dedicate some of your giving to childhood research

Make sure to VOTE in favor of funding for childhood cancer research!

Financially support a family going through it

I can personally speak to how expensive this whole process has been and how impactful the financial support has been to ease that extra burden! Medical expenses, prescriptions, food expenses, car expenses, any natural remedies or integrative support (not covered at all by insurance) etc.

MEAD families, you have an opportunity right now to support a local little boy with brain cancer! The volleyball team does a cancer fundraiser every year. Let your kid buy that mead t-shirt (on sale now!) to support that family. Mark your calendar for October 14th to come watch our amazing volleyball girls and buy a basket or just donate toward that family. ANY amount matters and it all adds up!

We were so BLESSED to be the recipients from last year! I will forever be an advocate of this event as I KNOW what an incredible gift this was!

🎗️ And finally, don't take your health for granted. Don't start "tomorrow", don't start "Monday". Take care of your body today. It matters. You matter. Give your babies extra hugs and kisses. Be present and thankful with the time you've been given. Make today matter. 🧡

#GOGOLD #CHILDHOODCANCERAWARENESS 🎗️