Beyond My Four Walls

I realize that it's been awhile since I last posted anything, but that hasn't been due to neglecting the Awareness front!! There is a world out there, a big wide world! While that time has passed, there have been far too many kiddos whose Earthly journey has taken a Heavenly turn (among them a couple of the kiddos I met back in September at Aimee Dickey's Walk for Childhood cancer Awareness; beautiful boys, both of them - both far too young and gone too soon!!) They wear their wings and watch over us all, encouraging us to keep fighting!!

Now you might wonder what I've been up to otherwise. Well, presently I'm working on putting together a video (my very first attempt ever at this): it will be to raise Awareness for Childhood cancer, to show why we fight so fiercely and to hopefully inspire even more people to join and stand beside us in the fight!! It's been an ongoing project in my head but I took action this past week and got the proverbial ball rolling! I've been very diligently piecing this video together, asking permission to use the faces of beautiful Angels of varying types of Childhood cancer in a wide range of ages!! I'm hoping I'll have it ready to actually share before too much longer.

In the meantime, send up prayers for all the families that have been touched by Childhood cancer...pray for the Angels, the Warriors, the Survivors and the Yet To Be Diagnosed. Though none of us CHOSE to walk this path and take this journey, we take each step in FAITH as God allows our paths to intersect; at these intersections, we come upon people who become our family!!!

Remember, TODAY in the U.S.:
*There will be at least 46 kids newly diagnosed with some form of Childhood cancer (bringing at least 46 families to their knees and changing their lives forever!)
*There will be 7 beautiful Warriors who will draw their last breath here on Earth and become Angels!
*TODAY...WE FIGHT!!

Faces Capture Awareness

While being a voice for these kiddos, I would be remiss if I neglected to make perfectly clear the gravity of their situation.

So, today, I want to show you rather than merely tell you about the reality of Childhood cancer.

Every school day, there are 46 kids newly diagnosed with some form of Childhood cancer. That's a sharp blow right smack in the gut for at least 46 families. Thus the lives of not just those 46 kids but every family member are forever changed.

What I'd like to put into perspective today is the fact that by day's end, there will be 7 new Angels fitted with wings. 7 kids whose Earthly battle has been written down in God's books; they sit in Jesus' lap as He holds them close and tells them that though they have now become Angels they will NEVER be forgotten down on Earth. 7 candles whose flame may have been extinguished, but whose radiance will burn on in our hearts forevermore!

You may or may not have met them. I know them through their family, I've read about their journey, I've come to love each one of them. Any one of these children could be yours, every one of them has earned their wings!! Beautiful, amazing, strong, courageous, wise beyond their years. Their names are forever etched in my soul, they are part of what I call my family. None of them asked to join, nor did I; but because of the path we were all set upon, we have become 'family.' (All of us - Angels, Warriors, Survivors and members of these families.)

This is a fight that we ALL need to be part of. Our children are our future; without our future, what have we got??



A few reminders:
~NEVER think NOT my family, NOT my child; because the fact remains, IT COULD BE YOUR CHILD.
~cancer doesn't give a damn who it strikes - but WE DO!!!

This is one war that we, as a family, are very determined to win; one we WILL win!

TODAY...WE FIGHT!

Superheroes!

How can you tell if someone is a 'Superhero'?
Is it by the tights they wear?
Their cape?
Their super human strength?
Perhaps their ability to take on unlimited bad guys all at the same time and come out victorious?
Can you even tell just by looking?

Being a "Superhero" is so much more than just what you see in the movies:
It is...
Bravery in the midst of terror.
Strength in the midst of the unthinkable.
Courage in the midst of the unspeakable.
Faith in the midst of what seems impossible.

Your 'Superhero' makes dreams come true...
They lift your spirit when you seem broken.
They face incredible odds yet will not give in to defeat.
They draw from inner strength to look death in the eye and tell it "NO!" time and time again.
They care so much about others that it seems their hearts would have no more room, yet they love all the more.

They fight cancer, day in and day out; week after week, month after month, year after year...
Operations, blood transfusions, chemotherapy, IVs, bone marrow transplants, radiation, hospital stays-
they endure all of this with a smile, trusting God every step of the way, believing with the faith of a little child that they will get better.

Whether they are given a complete Earthly healing or they earn Angel Wings, they will always and forevermore be 'Superheroes!'
They will never be forgotten.
They will have touched, changed and inspired innumerable lives.
Their journey becomes your fight, your reason to find a cure.
In that one moment, when time stands still, you see your 'Superhero' flash before your eyes and you recall the names of countless other 'Superheroes!'

Your "Superhero" might be...
your infant
your toddler
your little boy or girl
your teenager/young adult
your niece/nephew
your grandchild
your neighbor's child
or...even someone you've never met.

Every "Superhero" has a "Sidekick" and even in being a "Sidekick" you achieve "Superhero" status.

You know who you are and you are my 'Superhero!"

Carla Hood
October 31, 2008
11:40 p.m.
©November 1, 2008

Food for thought!

Sometimes it seems crazy, the things we'll do for people we've never even met; but for some of us that won't change the fact that we do what we do because we give a damn! We give a damn because that's the way God set us up to be, there's just no other way we could do things!!

Let me give you an example using myself as the subject:
Last year, at this exact time, I got wind of a Walk for Childhood cancer Awareness that would actually take place in September of 2009. It was nowhere near where I live, but I was determined to take part in it because I've become a staunch and very vocal advocate for the kids in this fight called 'cancer.' I'd already become a part of an amazing group of people by joining the PAC2 @ http://curechildhoodcancer.ning.com and through this group had made some super friends!!

I had to do some serious soul searching because it would require several things of me which I'd never before done!! I put in for my vacation time in February for the trip in September and then while waiting, I prayed on it. I had to hold out to find out if my days off would be granted and if I would even be able to catch a flight back east to Pennsylvania. I needed to let my contact person know by no later than August 21st as to whether or not I could be there and if so, when. Finally, August 20th rolled around, I got my work schedule for September, found out my vacation days were granted then began the process of flight plans!! Mind you, I'd never flown before so this was the beginning of a whole new era for me!!

It took me 2 days of almost nonstop attempts to finally get my flight plan set up, window seats there and back, two stops before reaching my final destination along the way to get from Spokane WA to Scranton PA (Seattle and Newark NJ) both ways, stay for 3 nights, then back home I'd go. The very first flight of my life EVER was on 9-11-09; scary to some, but I was flying with Angels and never had a doubt I'd be safe! I had to work on September 10th, so I'd set a wild and wacky plan in motion beforehand. Since I work swing shift (2 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.) and my flight out was to be at 5:00 a.m. on the 11th; my intent was to stay awake from the morning of the 10th until I arrived at the hotel in Scranton PA!! Yes, I know you're wondering...I DID and I wouldn't change that for the world!

Flying is absolutely awesome, window seats are definitely the way to go!! I'm a firm believer there are also some people that should never end up in a job that requires contact with the public - I won't go into detail, but thanks to God and some mighty powerful Angels, things worked out very well!! Once back east in PA, I met friends who became family and when the following Monday arrived, I didn't want to come home!! I was escorted safely home, as I truly flew with the Angels. Crazy, you say? I disagree, take a look! Angels and rainbows, God's awe-inspiring touch (photo taken midflight between Newark NJ and Seattle WA)!!


I will be attending the same walk again this year - Aimee Dickey's Walk for Childhood cancer Awareness. I miss the family I made there, I love them dearly and I look forward to seeing them all again!! 217 sleeps until Aimee's Walk Day 2010!!

A CURE For A thief

Oh the day, it makes no sense
As we all try to recompense
The day was hard and oh so trying
Hearts need lifted, spirits crying

Damning diagnosis heard
'cancer' - the unspoken word
Violent screaming, sick inside
We cannot run, we cannot hide

A life so precious, full of joy
Don't touch this loving little boy
A crooked smile, an errant curl
Don't take this lovely little girl

A stabbing pain, a heartfelt ache
It must be a complete mistake
It cannot be this child of mine
Only yesterday, he was just fine

But yesterday has come and gone
The music changed as did the song
Into our life, like a thief, it crept
While we cuddled up and slept

It crawled inside, this cancer cell
Attempted to turn our life to hell
It can't succeed, it will not win
No way to stop the beauty within

We do not choose to ride this train
Courage and strength we surely gain
Superhero powers now unite
Brave to face this crazy fight

Every cancer diagnosis, each day marked
46 new journeys on which embarked
While 7 new Angels are fitted for wings
The families all cry but life still sings

Beautiful shell gone, yet soul right near
Leaving signs for us to see, to hear
Their legacy continues with each new dawn
Because each new Angel forever lives on

The friends we make, for whom we pray
Become our family along the way
The ties, the bond, ne'er to be broken
A teary-eyed hug, an 'I love you!' spoken

Children fight with all their power
As they smile through every hour
Endless tests and pokes and scans
Meeting all the great demands

They play and run, they do their best
Only stopping for a minute's rest
What we can see and say for sure
These miracles ALL need a cure!!!

Carla Hood
October 19, 2009
8:37 p.m.
© October 20, 2009

Speaking Up

When President Obama was just starting out, he was putting together a Citizen's Briefing, a book filled with our thoughts and concerns. I made sure to put in my vote and then I went on to ask 4 questions; then, when I flew back to Pennsylvania in September 09 for Aimee Dickey's Walk for Childhood cancer Awareness and was one of the guest speakers there, I took the time again to ask those same 4 questions. I didn't just ask these 4 questions though, I also had the answers for them. I continue now to ask these same 4 questions because to me they are some of the most important ones to come to mind.

These are the questions I asked President Obama:
~If the soldiers on this field of battle against Childhood cancer are infant to teen/bordering on young adult age, then I want to know:
1. Who will take a stand and be a voice for these children who face this horrendous battle with bravery and courage?
2. Who will raise awareness of this destroyer of life?
3. Who will make sure all these stories get told?
4. When will these young voices be heard?
The answers for me are crystal clear:
(For the first 3 questions the answer is the same each time.) I will, we will and hopefully YOU will. ONE VOICE - UNITED!!!
(For the 4th question) NOW is the time for change, NOW is the time for even the smallest Warrior's voice to be heard (even if it means SOMEONE ELSE speaks for them on their behalf!)

When I flew back east to Pennsylvania, I broke down some walls - I'd never flown before, I'd never met the people I was about to (aside from on the internet), I'd certainly never spoken to a large crowd about why bringing Awareness to Childhood cancer is definitely important to me. My first flight ever was on September 11, 2009. (I know, insert look of "What the hell were you thinking, are YOU crazy?" here. Actually, not entirely crazy; but my Mom used to tell me, "If you're gonna do it up, do it up right!" so I took her advice and I'm glad I did.) When I met all the people I'd been waiting to meet, I knew it was meant to be; especially when it came time to head back home and I wasn't ready to (They have become family to me, a family I love and cherish just as much as the one I was born into.) As for speaking to a large crowd, I'm generally quiet, soft spoken when it comes to many things, I was so not looking forward to taking the mic and speaking; but when I did, it was as if I was meant to be there at that very moment because all the fear and concern I'd had slipped away and I was ready! There was no tremble in my voice, I didn't stumble over my words, I was saying exactly what people needed to hear; there is hope, there are Survivors out here willing to speak up and I will be one of them!

So, quoting the line of a friend, "TODAY WE FIGHT!"

(Please take time today to check out the PAC2 website (that's People Against Childhood cancer): http://curechildhoodcancer.ning.com and thank you for doing so.)

46 Mommas Shave For The Brave

Every school day in the U.S., 46 kids are diagnosed with cancer. Back in 1968, at the tender age of 8 1/2 months, I was one of them. This baby photo was taken about 3 1/2 months post diagnosis of Stage IV High Risk Neuroblastoma - which resulted surgery for the removal of my right kidney and a 2 1/2 pound tumor the size of a big man's fist then chemotherapy which consisted of 250 shots in the tops of both my hands to dissolve what remained of the cancer on my left kidney and the outer lining of my stomach. I may not have held a complete understanding of what was going on; but it still had a very profound impact on me and I doubt I would be the person I am today had it not been for having been set on this journey. I've become part of an amazing 'family' because of the journey we've all been set upon. We do not like what brought us together, but we certainly won't give up this amazing family either!! I love every one of you!!!!

This year, we’re going to take action and promote change for some very brave, courageous, strong, young Warriors on the battlefield called cancer! The plan is, there will be 46 of us banding together in solidarity with the brave Childhood cancer Warriors and we’ll be winning the battle!!!

We aim to bring Awareness to the public at large because far too many people are still of the notion that speaking about Childhood cancer is taboo! Let’s be honest, NONE of these kids asked to have cancer, yet those who do end up with it face it with bravery, courage, faith and a brutal honesty that you won’t find in many adults. Our hair may be attached to us, but we aren’t as attached to it. If it takes losing our hair to bring about an Awareness that reaches the masses of people, then that’s exactly what we need to do; because frankly, having 7 children a day die from cancer is losing 7 too many each day!!

Again, I tell you - 46 Children are diagnosed with cancer in the U.S. every school day! Never think NOT my family, NOT my child. Childhood cancer crosses all boundaries - it occurs regularly, randomly and spares no ethnic group, socioeconomic class or geographic region. Now, with that said: sadly, it could be YOUR CHILD! I pray it NEVER is!!!

This updated photo was taken within the last few days. In September, I'll be losing my hair by choice rather than by chemotherapy or parental decision causing it; but here's the kicker: ever since my time of dealing with Childhood cancer, my hair has only been short one time. I said short, not gone; and that was certainly not by choice!!


(Please take a moment to check out my page on St. Baldrick’s, the website is: http://www.stbaldricks.org/participants/mypage/participantid/362847)

Allowing myself to be their voice!

Having already walked a mile (or perhaps more) in their moccasins, I’ve become a very strong advocate for the kids in this damnable war called ‘Childhood cancer.’ I'm a Long Term Survivor - 42 years and counting since I was diagnosed with Stage IV High Risk Neuroblastoma; so this is my way of helping the kids in the battle now by being their voice when adults in positions of power just won't listen!!
Here are some facts about Childhood cancer that you may or may not be aware of:
**Childhood cancers are the #1 disease killer of children - more than Asthma, Cystic Fibrosis, Diabetes and Pediatric Aids combined.
**One in every 330 children will develop cancer before the age of 19.
**The National Cancer Institute's (NCI) federal budget was $4.6 Billion.Of that, breast cancer received 12 %, prostate cancer received 7 %, and all 12 major groups of pediatric cancers combined received LESS than 3 %.
**Childhood cancer is not a single disease, but rather many different types that fall into 12 major categories. Common adult cancers are extremely rare in children, yet many cancers are almost exclusively found in children.
**One out of every five children diagnosed with cancer dies.
**Common cancer symptoms in children - fever, swollen glands, anemia, bruises and infection - are often suspected to be, and at the early stages are treated as, other childhood diseases.
**Three out of every five children diagnosed with cancer suffer from long-term or late onset side effects.
**Childhood cancers are cancers that primarily affect children, teens and young adults. When cancer strikes children and young adults it affects them differently than it would an adult.
**Attempts to detect Childhood cancers at an earlier stage, when the disease would react more favorably to treatment, have largely failed. Young patients often have a more advanced stage of cancer when first diagnosed. (Approximately 20 % of adults with cancer show no evidence the disease has spread, yet almost 80 % of children show that the cancer has spread to distant sites at the time of diagnosis.)
**cancer in childhood occurs regularly, randomly and spares no ethnic group, socioeconomic class, or geographic region.
**The cause of most Childhood cancers are unknown and at present, cannot be prevented. (Most adult cancers result from lifestyle factors such as smoking, diet, occupation, and other exposure to cancer-causing agents.)
**Nationally, Childhood cancer is 20 times more prevalent than Pediatric AIDS, yet Pediatric AIDS receives four times the funding that Childhood cancer receives.
**On the average - 12,500 children and adolescents in the U.S. are diagnosed with cancer each year.
**On the average, one in every four elementary schools has a child with cancer.
**On the average, every high school in America has two students who are a current or former cancer patient.
**In the U.S., about 46 children and adolescents are diagnosed with cancer every single school day. That's about the equivalent of two entire classrooms.
**While the cancer death rate has dropped more dramatically for children than for any other age group, 2300 children and teenagers will die each year from cancer.
**Today, up to 75 % of the children with cancer can be cured, yet, some forms of Childhood cancers have proven so resistant to treatment that, in spite of research, a cure is elusive.
**Several Childhood cancers continue to have a very poor prognosis, including: brain stem tumors, metastatic sarcomas, relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and relapsed non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

(*Side note: Please check out Team Unite's website: http://www.teamunite.net)