It seems so far away, but it's not! It is time to start planning our 2nd Annual Thanksgiving Dinner for inpatient families. You can read about last year's Thanksgiving Dinner here.
I kept most of the decorations from last year, but it is not too early to start collecting promises of donations. I will probably get the turkeys again, but I definitely want folks to start thinking about what home-cooked food they would like to make a double batch of for that day. It is so nice to have home-cooked food ANYTIME you have been in the hospital for more than just one day! I remember the desserts were especially a hit with the families last year.
We will do things a little differently this year, specifically we will schedule times for the families to come, so they are not waiting in the hall until we have an available table. We served MANY families last year, and it will take a LOT of people volunteering again this year. I wouldn't be surprised if more families came this year, based on last year's success.
For those who are new to ChemoMoms, the reason I put so much emphasis on this holiday is because it is "forgotten". Of course the community supports those in the hospital during Christmas and even New Year's, but when you think of Thanksgiving, you think of family time together. When you are stuck in the hospital for that day, it can really depress you to think of your family over at Grandma's and Uncle Craig telling his "pull my finger" jokes without you!
The ChemoMoms Thanksgiving Dinner comes complete with candles, tablecloths, cloth napkins, REAL dishes, silverware and glasses, music and a family photo. We print a menu and volunteers take families' orders and serve them. We also have fresh coffee to go with the dessert. Last year the volunteers all received monogrammed aprons for their hard work.
If you are interested in bringing your family and spending a Thankful day serving others, this is a great ministry. Just showing love to those who can't change the fact that they are in a sad situation and need to be encouraged is the only requirement for the job! You can email me at chemomoms@yahoo.com or leave a comment if you would like me to contact you about helping.
With HOPE,
Tammy
Friday, September 19, 2008
News Coverage
UPDATE: Here's the video!
Please be sure to watch Channel 5 news tonight at 5 and 6 pm for a feature story on ChemoMoms of Mobile. Melissa and her son Jensen, a Neuroblastoma survivor, came to assist with raising awareness of ChemoMoms and Childhood Cancer. It should be a great piece and we hope to drum up support for this worthy cause. ChemoMoms was started to help families of kids newly diagnosed with cancer in the adjustment to their new life. It thrives on community support to provide the valuable resources that these families need and deserve. Check back if you miss the airing, we hope to have the video on this and other sites soon. Thank you for your continued support.
Please be sure to watch Channel 5 news tonight at 5 and 6 pm for a feature story on ChemoMoms of Mobile. Melissa and her son Jensen, a Neuroblastoma survivor, came to assist with raising awareness of ChemoMoms and Childhood Cancer. It should be a great piece and we hope to drum up support for this worthy cause. ChemoMoms was started to help families of kids newly diagnosed with cancer in the adjustment to their new life. It thrives on community support to provide the valuable resources that these families need and deserve. Check back if you miss the airing, we hope to have the video on this and other sites soon. Thank you for your continued support.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Childhood Cancer Awareness Day
Please make sure to visit our caringbridge friends (link on the right) and let them know you are thinking about them on this special day of honor. It would be really nice for folks to leave some guestbook entries on those who are fighting this monster, and others who have completed their battle or have lost their earthly battle.
With HOPE for a cure for all our babies,
Tammy
With HOPE for a cure for all our babies,
Tammy
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Discouraged...
I don't know why, but for some reason, folks don't seem concerned at all about childhood cancer awareness month. I am really frustrated that now we share the month with ovarian/gynecologic cancers. It is bad enough October is breast cancer awareness month, and all the stores are fully stocked with pink ribbons on everything in September, but now all the media is focused on ovarian and can't seem to fit childhood cancer into their schedule.
Don't get me wrong, a very good friend from my church is suffering from ovarian cancer right now, and I would love to see her beat it, but there are 12 months in the year! Surely they could have picked a different time of the year to focus on this type of cancer!!
So I am off that subject onto my local problems: Out of 70 emails I sent out, only 5 replied. That is the worst EVER response to my request for help. It makes me wonder if I am doing the right thing! Sometimes I feel like ChemoMoms is picking up speed, getting out there in the media, receiving donations, then times like now come along and everybody is just too busy with their own lives to slow down and realize there are people who AREN'T living the life they dreamed, because they are now sleeping on fold-out chairs and listening to IV pumps wake them every hour or so, waiting until the clock says it's time to jab a needle in their sweet baby's thigh. While we are all out at the neighbor's BBQ and sitting by the pool, some others are driving frantically to the ER in rush hour traffic while their child is vomiting in the backseat, running a 102 degree fever. I was just one of those thousands of parents and it wasn't that long ago. I remember the feelings I had and I just want to let these parents who are currently fighting for their child's life know that they are not alone! Maybe I am not using the right channels to get the information out there. I certainly can't pick up and move to a larger city where there is more awareness about childhood cancer. I live in Mobile and that is where cancer kids live!
If the response to a simple event like Movie Night is this poor, I probably won't take on a monster like Thanksgiving Dinner again. It is just too much for one or two people to do.
Without HOPE tonight.
Tammy
Don't get me wrong, a very good friend from my church is suffering from ovarian cancer right now, and I would love to see her beat it, but there are 12 months in the year! Surely they could have picked a different time of the year to focus on this type of cancer!!
So I am off that subject onto my local problems: Out of 70 emails I sent out, only 5 replied. That is the worst EVER response to my request for help. It makes me wonder if I am doing the right thing! Sometimes I feel like ChemoMoms is picking up speed, getting out there in the media, receiving donations, then times like now come along and everybody is just too busy with their own lives to slow down and realize there are people who AREN'T living the life they dreamed, because they are now sleeping on fold-out chairs and listening to IV pumps wake them every hour or so, waiting until the clock says it's time to jab a needle in their sweet baby's thigh. While we are all out at the neighbor's BBQ and sitting by the pool, some others are driving frantically to the ER in rush hour traffic while their child is vomiting in the backseat, running a 102 degree fever. I was just one of those thousands of parents and it wasn't that long ago. I remember the feelings I had and I just want to let these parents who are currently fighting for their child's life know that they are not alone! Maybe I am not using the right channels to get the information out there. I certainly can't pick up and move to a larger city where there is more awareness about childhood cancer. I live in Mobile and that is where cancer kids live!
If the response to a simple event like Movie Night is this poor, I probably won't take on a monster like Thanksgiving Dinner again. It is just too much for one or two people to do.
Without HOPE tonight.
Tammy
Movie Night Update
I still am in need of much of the items listed below. I have the following door prizes available:
Movie Basket from LLS
Monogrammed Koozie & Keychain
I have someone donating a few boxes of candy and drinks.
I still need:
Shaved Ice syrup available from Mobile Popcorn (they will be closed on Saturday, so I will need to purchase these on Friday!)
Any other door prizes - DVDs (there is a new Barbie movie that just came out yesterday, $15, and The Last Mimzy has been marked down to $9 at WalMart); toys; fun T-shirts; anything kids will like
I do still need a few folks to help too! I have some maybe volunteers, but I need more definites!
With HOPE,
Tammy
Movie Basket from LLS
Monogrammed Koozie & Keychain
I have someone donating a few boxes of candy and drinks.
I still need:
Shaved Ice syrup available from Mobile Popcorn (they will be closed on Saturday, so I will need to purchase these on Friday!)
Any other door prizes - DVDs (there is a new Barbie movie that just came out yesterday, $15, and The Last Mimzy has been marked down to $9 at WalMart); toys; fun T-shirts; anything kids will like
I do still need a few folks to help too! I have some maybe volunteers, but I need more definites!
With HOPE,
Tammy
Monday, September 8, 2008
Movie Night Is This Saturday!!
So things are gearing up for this weekend. I am aware there is a little thunderstorm out there in the Gulf, but hopefully it won't have any effect on our event planned for this Saturday.
I am still in need of volunteers to help with the patients and their families that day. I also need the shaved ice syrups donated (4 different flavors) and some drinks and movie size candy.
I have received one donation of a Movie Night gift basket from the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, so that is exciting! It will be our big door prize at the end of the night. If you or your business could make a donation, it would be greatly appreciated!
I am inviting the Hematology/Oncology Clinic as well, so we should have more participation this time. I am getting excited!!
With HOPE,
Tammy
I am still in need of volunteers to help with the patients and their families that day. I also need the shaved ice syrups donated (4 different flavors) and some drinks and movie size candy.
I have received one donation of a Movie Night gift basket from the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, so that is exciting! It will be our big door prize at the end of the night. If you or your business could make a donation, it would be greatly appreciated!
I am inviting the Hematology/Oncology Clinic as well, so we should have more participation this time. I am getting excited!!
With HOPE,
Tammy
Friday, September 5, 2008
Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C)
Another mom wrote this and I have some of the same concerns, so I thought I would post it here for you to consider about this national cancer awareness program airing tonight:
********************************************************************
I have been very vocal about doubting SU2C.
I'll try to summarize what several online friends, pediatric community organizations, and childhood cancer research groups are concerned about. Here are the bullet points of what worries us:
- In the beginning, SU2C had ZERO representation of childhood cancer. How can you be against Cancer and forget about the children who have it?
- Pediatric cancer is terribly underfunded in comparison to adult cancers - yet the SU2C telethon was placed in "Childhood Cancer Awareness Month" - nullifying our attempts to have the month celebrate OUR KIDS, raising awareness of CHILDHOOD Cancer
- Now, there are slight signs of pediatric cancer being whispered about for SU2C - but none of the advertisements, press releases, or public appearances by the organizers have touched on the difference between funding research for adult vs. pediatric cancers. Pediatric cancers DO NOT benefit from Adult research - they are TOTALLY different
- We pediatric cancer parents are FED UP with seeing the faces of our children used to gather funds for adult research. The "Faces" of cancer for the Relay for Life fundraiser are often more than 75% children - when less than 1% of the funding goes toward pediatric projects.
- We fear they will use our children's faces and stories - then hand the money over to adults.
- We do not dispute that Breast, Lung, and Prostate cancers are far more prevalent than all Childhood Cancers combined. However, those adult cancers are well funded by the federal government and private industry. Pediatric cancer is not. If SU2C intends to pass out money based on the number of people who are likely to be diagnosed with a particular cancer, (the way the ACS does) - then only use ADULT stories, ADULT faces, ADULT sympathy. Leave
our children to those of us who care about them and who will work hard to raise money for them. DO NOT use our children to benefit adults. The adults don't need the help.
- If SU2C intends on only caring for adults - then they should acknowledge that they are purposefully forsaking children, and place any and all future telethons in a month far away from Childhood Cancer Awareness month. We respect the right of SU2C to raise money for the specific groups they wish to support. We DO NOT respect their use of children if the monies gathered are not allocated equal to the amount of time/percentage of use of the children. In other words, if you use kids for 30% of your stories, give 30% of the money to pediatric organizations. Its a simple equation. Or, ignore children, and let us raise our own funds, in our own month.
- Don't lump pediatric cancer in with adult cancer. They are vastly different beasts.
- Ultimately, it boils down to this: STOP using the struggles and losses of pediatric patients, who are fighting for the chance to live their lives, for the benefit of adults. STOP exploiting our children.
************************************************************
I personally have experienced some of these feelings so I thought I would put this out there to let others know that there IS a difference in adult cancer research and childhood cancer research. While I do believe that supporting ALL types of cancer research is very important, of course I am partial to making sure MY money and effort is for CHILDHOOD CANCER RESEARCH because we are directly affected by it.
I do know our local TV station has recently filmed at our children's hospital for a program to air just before this adult program, so hopefully other cities' stations are doing the same.
With HOPE,
Tammy
********************************************************************
Written by a fellow cancer mom:
Here are the bullet points about SU2C that concern me....
Here are the bullet points about SU2C that concern me....
I'll try to summarize what several online friends, pediatric community organizations, and childhood cancer research groups are concerned about. Here are the bullet points of what worries us:
- In the beginning, SU2C had ZERO representation of childhood cancer. How can you be against Cancer and forget about the children who have it?
- Pediatric cancer is terribly underfunded in comparison to adult cancers - yet the SU2C telethon was placed in "Childhood Cancer Awareness Month" - nullifying our attempts to have the month celebrate OUR KIDS, raising awareness of CHILDHOOD Cancer
- Now, there are slight signs of pediatric cancer being whispered about for SU2C - but none of the advertisements, press releases, or public appearances by the organizers have touched on the difference between funding research for adult vs. pediatric cancers. Pediatric cancers DO NOT benefit from Adult research - they are TOTALLY different
- We pediatric cancer parents are FED UP with seeing the faces of our children used to gather funds for adult research. The "Faces" of cancer for the Relay for Life fundraiser are often more than 75% children - when less than 1% of the funding goes toward pediatric projects.
- We fear they will use our children's faces and stories - then hand the money over to adults.
- We do not dispute that Breast, Lung, and Prostate cancers are far more prevalent than all Childhood Cancers combined. However, those adult cancers are well funded by the federal government and private industry. Pediatric cancer is not. If SU2C intends to pass out money based on the number of people who are likely to be diagnosed with a particular cancer, (the way the ACS does) - then only use ADULT stories, ADULT faces, ADULT sympathy. Leave
our children to those of us who care about them and who will work hard to raise money for them. DO NOT use our children to benefit adults. The adults don't need the help.
- If SU2C intends on only caring for adults - then they should acknowledge that they are purposefully forsaking children, and place any and all future telethons in a month far away from Childhood Cancer Awareness month. We respect the right of SU2C to raise money for the specific groups they wish to support. We DO NOT respect their use of children if the monies gathered are not allocated equal to the amount of time/percentage of use of the children. In other words, if you use kids for 30% of your stories, give 30% of the money to pediatric organizations. Its a simple equation. Or, ignore children, and let us raise our own funds, in our own month.
- Don't lump pediatric cancer in with adult cancer. They are vastly different beasts.
- Ultimately, it boils down to this: STOP using the struggles and losses of pediatric patients, who are fighting for the chance to live their lives, for the benefit of adults. STOP exploiting our children.
************************************************************
I personally have experienced some of these feelings so I thought I would put this out there to let others know that there IS a difference in adult cancer research and childhood cancer research. While I do believe that supporting ALL types of cancer research is very important, of course I am partial to making sure MY money and effort is for CHILDHOOD CANCER RESEARCH because we are directly affected by it.
I do know our local TV station has recently filmed at our children's hospital for a program to air just before this adult program, so hopefully other cities' stations are doing the same.
With HOPE,
Tammy
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Movie Night At USA Children's & Women's
I am still finalizing some details about Movie Night, but I wanted to give you something to start with. You will see other information in my September 2oo7 folder too.
Saturday, September 13 is National Childhood Cancer Awareness Day.
The Movie Night will be held in the Jubilee Room in the afternoon. We will have popcorn, with a real live popcorn cart, shaved ice *the parents seem to really enjoy this!* and door prizes. I am thinking we might add face painting too, if we can get someone to do that. If you or your group or Sunday School class want to help, you can either volunteer the time on Saturday OR you can donate the items needed:
at least 4 colors of shaved ice syrup available at Mobile Popcorn
door prizes (new items to give away, or gift cards to use at movie rental stores or movie theaters)
movie size box candy (available at Dollar Tree stores)
canned drinks (using canned drinks avoids any contamination problems with ice)
And as always, you can send money via Paypal to allow the purchase of these items.
More information will be coming!
With HOPE,
Tammy
Saturday, September 13 is National Childhood Cancer Awareness Day.
The Movie Night will be held in the Jubilee Room in the afternoon. We will have popcorn, with a real live popcorn cart, shaved ice *the parents seem to really enjoy this!* and door prizes. I am thinking we might add face painting too, if we can get someone to do that. If you or your group or Sunday School class want to help, you can either volunteer the time on Saturday OR you can donate the items needed:
at least 4 colors of shaved ice syrup available at Mobile Popcorn
door prizes (new items to give away, or gift cards to use at movie rental stores or movie theaters)
movie size box candy (available at Dollar Tree stores)
canned drinks (using canned drinks avoids any contamination problems with ice)
And as always, you can send money via Paypal to allow the purchase of these items.
More information will be coming!
With HOPE,
Tammy
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month!!!
Hey all! Sorry for the absence, life has been busy around here!
Welcome to September! Our month is finally here! I have been working on some things (quietly) and still have some details to finalize, but I wanted to remind you to do what you can to spread the word about Childhood Cancer and Gold Ribbons.
September 13 was chosen by President Bush as National Childhood Cancer Awareness Day, so we are hosting a Movie Night at the USA Children's & Women's Hospital on that day. We will watch a movie (I think it is "College Road Trip"), have snowcones, popcorn and candy, along with some fun door prizes and balloons for all! The movie will take place in the Jubilee Room this year, because we just ran out of room in the other playroom. I will update more as I determine what is needed in the way of donations.
Since we have 2 childhood cancer survivors at my daughter's school, and I just happen to be on the PTO board, we will have gold ribbons decorating our school campus this month! I planned to put them up this weekend, but Hurricane Gustav had other ideas, so hopefully we will get those ribbons up in the next day or so. I will be sure to post the pictures!
Another thing we are doing is called "Coins for Kids". In September, our students will be bringing in their spare change to donate to the USA CWH specifically for cancer kids. For each day's donation, the students will receive a gold ribbon sticker they can proudly wear. At the end of the week, we will be sure to let the students know how much they raised and probably elect someone to give the money to the hospital. I know I was so excited that our school agreed to do this!!
I hope to have more information soon!
With HOPE,
Tammy
Welcome to September! Our month is finally here! I have been working on some things (quietly) and still have some details to finalize, but I wanted to remind you to do what you can to spread the word about Childhood Cancer and Gold Ribbons.
September 13 was chosen by President Bush as National Childhood Cancer Awareness Day, so we are hosting a Movie Night at the USA Children's & Women's Hospital on that day. We will watch a movie (I think it is "College Road Trip"), have snowcones, popcorn and candy, along with some fun door prizes and balloons for all! The movie will take place in the Jubilee Room this year, because we just ran out of room in the other playroom. I will update more as I determine what is needed in the way of donations.
Since we have 2 childhood cancer survivors at my daughter's school, and I just happen to be on the PTO board, we will have gold ribbons decorating our school campus this month! I planned to put them up this weekend, but Hurricane Gustav had other ideas, so hopefully we will get those ribbons up in the next day or so. I will be sure to post the pictures!
Another thing we are doing is called "Coins for Kids". In September, our students will be bringing in their spare change to donate to the USA CWH specifically for cancer kids. For each day's donation, the students will receive a gold ribbon sticker they can proudly wear. At the end of the week, we will be sure to let the students know how much they raised and probably elect someone to give the money to the hospital. I know I was so excited that our school agreed to do this!!
I hope to have more information soon!
With HOPE,
Tammy
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Thank you for your donations!
It's Childhood Cancer Awareness Month at USA Children's & Women's Hospital!
Colette & Azaleas
