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This girl is so silly!!
8 years ago
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Correction
Sorry, I was wrong about the digi scrapbook pages. They will be available at least the whole month of June! So, if you didn't get a chance to check it out, you've got time! Click below to view and purchase beautiful scrapbook pages and help us in the process! THANKS! - Whit
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
We're Home!
Hi friends!
We are home after an amazing week in Orlando! Thanks so much to Make a Wish and Give Kids the World Village. It was so incredible!! You wouldn't believe just how much we did....Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Sea World, Aquatica Waterpark (awesome!!), Universal Islands of Adventure, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, back to Magic Kingdom, and Universal Studios! Forester felt good and did so well. It was hot and his legs were tired so he did a lot of riding in the stroller(those double strollers ROCK!) and resting between rides. He rode all the rides he wanted to. He loved Spider Man at Universal Adventure, Pirates of the Caribbean at Magic Kingdom, Dinosaur at Animal Kingdom, Men in Black & ET at Universal, and his VERY favorites were Star Wars at Hollywood studios and also the Indiana Jones Stunt Show. Micah went crazy over seeing Mickey and Mickey's house and his very favorite thing was to drive the cars at Magic Kingdom. Slade was an angel and did great the whole time either in the stroller or the sling. Muzzy and Pop did great too, working overtime and riding all the rides with us. I really don't know how we could have done it without them and it was so fun to share the experience with them.
In other news, we've heard that the yard sale at CBC was a great success!! THANK YOU SO MUCH to all of you who worked so hard to organize this effort and make it happen. Especially our superhero in disguise who lives next door, Kevin Giordano! He traveled all over Charleston picking stuff up for the sale and worked tirelessly along with the rest of their Sunday School clan. Thank you, Becky Bowick for I know this was your idea that came to fruition! And thanks to all of you who came to the yard sale or donated items! You have blessed us and are helping us try and stay out of debt during Forester's treatment. We just don't have words to express how grateful we are. God is showing us the amazing love and power that is in the body of Christ. We truly are a family - even though some of us have never met! It is so humbling. Thank you.
In other, other news...
I am very new to this concept but if there are any digital scrapbookers out there, our wonderful friend, Teresa, and her digi friends created a charity kit for us! It's called Forester's Wish and the templates are absolutely amazing with a Disney World theme! If you purchase any of these pages or the kit, you will be helping us with Forester's medical bills! So, check out this link! I think today is the last day to buy..sorry I didn't post this sooner!! Even if you don't do the scrapbooking, you MUST take a look. It's amazing. Thank you to Teresa and all of those who volunteered and made beautiful work!!! http://foresterswish.blogspot.com/
More news...Pete's dad and wife are coming for a visit this week! YAY! This is a huge blessing and answer to prayer. Michael & Susan live in Northern California which makes it very hard for us to see each other. I think Forester was 3 the last time he saw his Grampa and this will be Micah and Slade's first time meeting him. Please pray for safe travels for them as they arrive late tomorrow evening and will be with us for the week. Forester is excited that Grampa will be here for his first in-treatment stay and hopes he'll spend the night with him in the hospital and spend lots of time with him in the Atrium playroom. Even though he'll have to start up chemo again and spend 4 nights in the hospital he's actually looking forward to these "treats" that come with it. Oh, how I love this boy.
Lastly, our schedule has been changed a bit for this week. Forester was supposed to have an MRI tomorrow of just his brain. This was going to take a total of 3 hours (prep-recovery) and he would be under twilight sedation. This has been changed to Thursday, now doing an MRI of his brain and spine which means general anaesthesia and a total of 5-6 hours (prep-recovery). His MRI is scheduled for 12pm. Please be praying for him and us during this time. And also please pray that the results of the MRI scans are EXCELLENT!! We will have a consult about them on Friday...I think. We continue to pray that all cancer cells have been removed from Forester's body and for complete healing. PLEASE continue to pray this with us.
It's hard returning to the real world after such a wonderful week. But, I know that God's grace and mercy and peace are what sustain us, along with your prayers. Keep praying!
All my love,
Whitney
Thursday, June 4, 2009
National Childhood Brain Tumor Prevention Network Act of 2009
National Childhood Brain Tumor Prevention Network Act of 2009:
To amend title IV of the Public Health Service Act to create a National Childhood Brain Tumor Prevention Network to provide grants and coordinate research with respect to the causes of and risk factors associated with childhood brain tumors, and for other purposes.
current 111st session of congress
http://www.opencongress.org/bill/1/111-h653/show
Although the email pasted below is long, it is a worthy read. You can help! If you feel led to do so, please contact your congressmen/women and ask them to support this bill. If anyone would like contact information for Lloyd Morgan, please send an email request to the Bradburn family email address listed under the subscribe section.
April
(A huge thank you to my friend Matt for bringing this to our attention! You are awesome!)
Dear Friends,
Senator Kennedy's "Cancer Bill" S 717 is coming up for a vote. It may not address low grade or the causes of pediatric brain tumors. Please contact Lloyd Morgan for more info on HR 653 the National Childhood Brain Tumor Prevention Act of 2009
Samantha Scolamiero, founder and director (18 year survivor)
We Moved! Please update your records.
The Healing Exchange BRAIN TRUST www.braintrust.org
490 Broadway, Suite 4
Somerville, MA 02145
ph: 617-623-0066 * toll free: 877-252-8480 * fax: 617-623-0086
FORWARDED MESSAGES from May 26, 2009:
Dear Loice,
Your comments and thought are of great importance. Please see my responses within your post below.
Best regards,
Lloyd
IF WE DON'T LOOK, WE CANNOT FIND
Lloyd Morgan
Chief CheerleaderNational Childhood Brain Tumor Prevention Network Act of 2009
(Senate Bill S 305, House of Representatives Bill HR 653)
Lloyd,
Well, it looks like Senator Kennedy's big, huge cancer bill is making its way to markup. From what I have been told this is supposed to go straight to the floor and probably presented by Senator Kennedy sometime in the next two weeks or so.
I remember when we first heard about this in Senator Enzi's office and how much emphasis they put on it the the HELP Chair was really focusing on that. It was clear even at the time of our visit to Senator Enzi's office that S 717 had a lot of support and would come to the floor of the Senate in short order.
As a strategy I would see this as a good time to contact the Senators to make again put in a word for pediatric cancer- especially pediatric brain tumors- since it looks like they will likely vote soon on this. Congress is in recess this week, but will be back in session next week. I strongly agree that this is an important time to contact our Senators about the Senate Bill, S 305 and our Representatives about the House of Representatives Bill, HR 653 (an equivalent Bill to S 717 is in the House of Representatives). S 717 does not address childhood brain tumors and dose not address investigations into the cause of tumors and thus does not address our issues. However, it does bring awareness to cancer in general. We need more co-sponsors and our team has been working hard to achieve this. We have significant momentum and our team will continue to build the momentum. Those of you who are copied on this email should re-invigorate your efforts to get your Senators and Representative to co-sponsor our Bill. I cannot emphasize the important of your repeated (polite persistant) phone calls asking them to co-sponsor our Bill.
One of the great advantages I saw of the CBTPN Act was to try to create a framework for advocacy. It is still going to be awhile before we either can get this on the agenda in the Senate perhaps thos would be a good time to gain more experience at a grassroots level in childhood braintumors to connect with our representatives in DC. If we continue to build the momentum we have, I believe we can bring S 305 and HR 653 to a hearing process in the Senate and in the House in the reasonably near future. Once this is achieved we are well on our way to passable of the National Childhood Brain Tumor Prevention Network Act of 2009.
In addition, it might be a way of drawing the pediatric brain tumor community together to make sure the entire communities issues are addressed. Agreed! This effort is drawing both the pediatric and the adult brain tumor community together.
I have heard concerns in the low grade community about the wording of cancer and perhaps they could be excluded from funding. This is the same concern that I heard about this bill. Perhaps building a relationship to advocate for all pediatric brain tumors- both low and high grade- be included might engender greater interest/trust in working on this bill. It is a misnomer to think of our Bill as a cancer Bill. It is a childhood brain tumor bill! I rail against the concept of low-grade and "benign" brain tumors. These tumors are all malevolent. Our Bill, because it will investigate all childhood brain tumors over a 5 year period, will be proportional to the relative incidence of the various childhood brain tumors. Pilocytic astrocytoma, a so-called low-grade brain tumor, is the most common childhood brain tumor, so it will have the largest number of cases. But even DIPG tumors, a relatively rare childhood brain tumor, and arguably the worst of the worst, will have sufficient number of cases to have a strong likelihood of finding a cause.
In addition, medulloblastoma community, the survival is more than 50% at 5 years however can have multiple and severe late effects. These late effects were listed as a reason for the bill-8) Two-thirds of childhood cancer survivors are likely to experience at least one late effect from treatment and one-fourth are expected to experience a late effect that is life threatening.
To me it looks like this bill is going to go to the floor for a vote and we can have a voice or stay silent. Perhaps it isn't what is needed in the community but then we still can have our concerns heard by our Senators. S 717 and its equivalent Bill in the House of Representative will be coming to the floor for a vote soon. If asked, we should say that we support S 717, but also need S 305 because S 717 does not mandate investigation into the causes of tumors. Now, as you note, is a particularly good time because of the attention that S 717 brings to tumors.
I'd be interested in your thoughts.
Loice
To amend title IV of the Public Health Service Act to create a National Childhood Brain Tumor Prevention Network to provide grants and coordinate research with respect to the causes of and risk factors associated with childhood brain tumors, and for other purposes.
current 111st session of congress
http://www.opencongress.org/bill/1/111-h653/show
Although the email pasted below is long, it is a worthy read. You can help! If you feel led to do so, please contact your congressmen/women and ask them to support this bill. If anyone would like contact information for Lloyd Morgan, please send an email request to the Bradburn family email address listed under the subscribe section.
April
(A huge thank you to my friend Matt for bringing this to our attention! You are awesome!)
Dear Friends,
Senator Kennedy's "Cancer Bill" S 717 is coming up for a vote. It may not address low grade or the causes of pediatric brain tumors. Please contact Lloyd Morgan for more info on HR 653 the National Childhood Brain Tumor Prevention Act of 2009
Samantha Scolamiero, founder and director (18 year survivor)
We Moved! Please update your records.
The Healing Exchange BRAIN TRUST www.braintrust.org
490 Broadway, Suite 4
Somerville, MA 02145
ph: 617-623-0066 * toll free: 877-252-8480 * fax: 617-623-0086
FORWARDED MESSAGES from May 26, 2009:
Dear Loice,
Your comments and thought are of great importance. Please see my responses within your post below.
Best regards,
Lloyd
IF WE DON'T LOOK, WE CANNOT FIND
Lloyd Morgan
Chief CheerleaderNational Childhood Brain Tumor Prevention Network Act of 2009
(Senate Bill S 305, House of Representatives Bill HR 653)
Lloyd,
Well, it looks like Senator Kennedy's big, huge cancer bill is making its way to markup. From what I have been told this is supposed to go straight to the floor and probably presented by Senator Kennedy sometime in the next two weeks or so.
I remember when we first heard about this in Senator Enzi's office and how much emphasis they put on it the the HELP Chair was really focusing on that. It was clear even at the time of our visit to Senator Enzi's office that S 717 had a lot of support and would come to the floor of the Senate in short order.
As a strategy I would see this as a good time to contact the Senators to make again put in a word for pediatric cancer- especially pediatric brain tumors- since it looks like they will likely vote soon on this. Congress is in recess this week, but will be back in session next week. I strongly agree that this is an important time to contact our Senators about the Senate Bill, S 305 and our Representatives about the House of Representatives Bill, HR 653 (an equivalent Bill to S 717 is in the House of Representatives). S 717 does not address childhood brain tumors and dose not address investigations into the cause of tumors and thus does not address our issues. However, it does bring awareness to cancer in general. We need more co-sponsors and our team has been working hard to achieve this. We have significant momentum and our team will continue to build the momentum. Those of you who are copied on this email should re-invigorate your efforts to get your Senators and Representative to co-sponsor our Bill. I cannot emphasize the important of your repeated (polite persistant) phone calls asking them to co-sponsor our Bill.
One of the great advantages I saw of the CBTPN Act was to try to create a framework for advocacy. It is still going to be awhile before we either can get this on the agenda in the Senate perhaps thos would be a good time to gain more experience at a grassroots level in childhood braintumors to connect with our representatives in DC. If we continue to build the momentum we have, I believe we can bring S 305 and HR 653 to a hearing process in the Senate and in the House in the reasonably near future. Once this is achieved we are well on our way to passable of the National Childhood Brain Tumor Prevention Network Act of 2009.
In addition, it might be a way of drawing the pediatric brain tumor community together to make sure the entire communities issues are addressed. Agreed! This effort is drawing both the pediatric and the adult brain tumor community together.
I have heard concerns in the low grade community about the wording of cancer and perhaps they could be excluded from funding. This is the same concern that I heard about this bill. Perhaps building a relationship to advocate for all pediatric brain tumors- both low and high grade- be included might engender greater interest/trust in working on this bill. It is a misnomer to think of our Bill as a cancer Bill. It is a childhood brain tumor bill! I rail against the concept of low-grade and "benign" brain tumors. These tumors are all malevolent. Our Bill, because it will investigate all childhood brain tumors over a 5 year period, will be proportional to the relative incidence of the various childhood brain tumors. Pilocytic astrocytoma, a so-called low-grade brain tumor, is the most common childhood brain tumor, so it will have the largest number of cases. But even DIPG tumors, a relatively rare childhood brain tumor, and arguably the worst of the worst, will have sufficient number of cases to have a strong likelihood of finding a cause.
In addition, medulloblastoma community, the survival is more than 50% at 5 years however can have multiple and severe late effects. These late effects were listed as a reason for the bill-8) Two-thirds of childhood cancer survivors are likely to experience at least one late effect from treatment and one-fourth are expected to experience a late effect that is life threatening.
To me it looks like this bill is going to go to the floor for a vote and we can have a voice or stay silent. Perhaps it isn't what is needed in the community but then we still can have our concerns heard by our Senators. S 717 and its equivalent Bill in the House of Representative will be coming to the floor for a vote soon. If asked, we should say that we support S 717, but also need S 305 because S 717 does not mandate investigation into the causes of tumors. Now, as you note, is a particularly good time because of the attention that S 717 brings to tumors.
I'd be interested in your thoughts.
Loice
More pictures!!!
The Bradburns visited Sea World on Tuesday, Universal Studios on Wednesday, and Epcot, Hollywood Studios & the Magic Kingdom today. (In fact, Micah was still at Magic Kingdom with Muzzy and Pop at 9:30pm. Now that's some serious energy!) Forester has had a blast this week, but he's also very tired. By the end of each day, he's completely beat and struggles with leg pain.
So that their last Universal Studios pass would not go to waste, the Bradburns decided to stay an extra day tomorrow and drive home on Saturday. Please pray that they all, including Muzzy & Pop, have a peaceful and restorative night's sleep tonight, so they can fully enjoy their last day in Orlando tomorrow. Please also pray for safe travels home for them on Saturday. Once they settle back in at home, I'm sure Whitney will have more details to share with you.
Blessings!
April
So that their last Universal Studios pass would not go to waste, the Bradburns decided to stay an extra day tomorrow and drive home on Saturday. Please pray that they all, including Muzzy & Pop, have a peaceful and restorative night's sleep tonight, so they can fully enjoy their last day in Orlando tomorrow. Please also pray for safe travels home for them on Saturday. Once they settle back in at home, I'm sure Whitney will have more details to share with you.
Blessings!
April
Monday, June 1, 2009
The Wonderful World of Disney
The Bradburns arrived safely in Orlando Saturday night and spent magical days at Disney World yesterday and Animal Kingdom today. Forester loved Splash Mountain and the fireworks. He's having an amazing time and feeling good! Praise God! A few pictures are attached below. :o) More to follow soon...
April
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