One Step At A Time...

I didn’t know him very long, but he changed my life.  He changed me as a person.  He broke my heart and healed it all at once.  He lit a fire in my soul to change the world that I didn’t even know existed. 

www.rockstarronan.com
The Ronan Thompson Foundation

He died.

They make me want to change the world.  To break down doors, to bust down barriers, to not take no for an answer.  I want to make them proud of me.  I want them to grow old with their own beautiful families.  

I do not want them to die before me.

Children’s cancer research is grossly underfunded and it’s time for it to stop.  Our babies deserve a voice, they deserve us to never stop fighting for them.  They need advocates, and it’s our responsibility as an older generation to never give up on them and FIGHT, because they cannot do these things on their own.  We brought them into this world, we must never give up on them.  We owe this to them.

I don’t need an urn full of ashes to make me want to fight.  Imagining it...fuck...that is gut-wrenching enough for me to want to DO SOMETHING.

I found this website

Who We Are

The Children’s Oncology Group (COG) is the world’s largest, cooperative children’s cancer research entity. It brings together treatment centers, physicians, laboratory scientists, nurses, psychologists and others working to beat cancer in children, adolescents and young adults. Through collaborative research, the Children’s Oncology Group has improved rates for children’s cancer at a pace much faster than any one individual or single institution could accomplish alone. The Children’s Oncology Group research has turned children’s cancer from a virtually incurable disease 40 years ago to one with an overall cure rate of 78 percent today.
Despite major advancements in recent years, much work remains to find treatments and cures for children’s cancer. Cancer remains the leading cause of death by disease in children and two-thirds of patients have life-altering and life-threatening side effects from the currently available treatments. Children’s Oncology Group research efforts are focused on many types of cancer including those that are hardest to treat, as well as reducing complications that result from treatment.
The Children’s Oncology Group is chaired by Peter Adamson, MD. Dr. Adamson is Chief of the Division of Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics and Director of the Office of Clinical and Translational Research at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Susan Blaney, MD is vice chair of the Children’s Oncology Group. Dr. Blaney is Vice Chair for Research in the Department of Pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine and Deputy Director of Texas Children's Cancer and Hematology Centers.

What We Do

Children’s Oncology Group:

• designs and conducts about 100 clinical trials annually to find the best treatments for children and adolescents with cancer;
• conducts laboratory research that will translate into more effective treatments with reduced side effects;
• looks for the causes of childhood cancer with the goal of one day preventing cancer;
• conducts research to improve quality of life and survivorship; and
• seeks international partnerships, when necessary, to fulfill its mission.

Our History
Children’s Oncology Group was formed in 2000 when four pediatric cancer clinical trials groups joined forces. Comprised of 210 treatment centers in North America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, COG includes more than 6,500 individual members. The COG receives funding from the national non-profit foundation, CureSearch for Children’s Cancer which receives grants from the National Cancer Institute and raises funds through philanthropic donations from individuals, special events, corporations and private foundations.
Children’s Oncology Group hospitals treat 90 percent of children with cancer in the United States, providing the unmatched combination of global expertise and local care. This means that every child and care team has complete access to the latest research and world-class treatments at hospitals within close to home.

Why is Collaborative Research Important?

While nearly 13,500 children and adolescents are diagnosed with cancer each year, there are many different kinds of children’s cancer. When divided into the specific cancer types, the number of children with each is relatively small. In research, large numbers of patients are critical to ensuring that study results are meaningful. By enrolling patients from many hospitals in the same trial, the results become statistically significant. This approach is called collaborative research and is how the Children’s Oncology Group functions.

Get Involved!  

On the curesearch.org site (click here) you can join (free) the advocate group.  Once you fill in your info, it gives you the contact info for your local congressman.  You can set aside time each week to contact your congressman.  They work for us!  It’s time WE tell THEM what we WANT.

I’m on a personal quest, although my journey is for millions.  Help me.  

DO SOMETHING with me.

With all this being said, I’m walking in the CureSearch Walk for Children’s Cancer in February of 2012 in Phoenix.  Right now, I’m a one-man team.  If you’re local, I’d love for you to join my team:  One Step At A Time.  My team goal is $5000.  If I can raise this $5000, it goes directly to Children’s Cancer Research…all of it.  Not just 3%, not just 50%...it all goes to the kids.  I know times are tough, but if you could just give up one treat for yourself (a coffee, a meal, a mani/pedi, etc. and donate it to this great cause, I would be forever grateful.  Together we can make a difference.   One Step At A Time.

Go here to donate: 
http://www.curesearchwalk.org/phoenix/dosomething

In the words of Ben Lee...

What’s in your heart
What’s in your head
It’s one or the other these days
The quick or the dead

Sometimes we gotta fight
So don’t you complain
Cuz I never promised this would be easy babe

You and me gonna rise up
And they will be surprised yup

Everything’s weird
Soon they’ll be gone
Cuz our whispered words
Are louder than bombs

So don’t you lose faith
And say it’s no fun
Cuz we’ve come too far to stop
Before we’re done

You and me gonna rise up
And they will be surprised yup

Sometimes we get lost
But soon we’ll be found
This is far too important
To turn back now

You and me gonna rise up
And they will be surprised yup

♥ ♥ ♥

Olivia

Full Cup

“Death is a part of life. Rejoice for those around you…”
~Yoda

Ronan’s memorial was yesterday.  I was dreading it.  I’ve only been to a few funerals in my life and they were somber and dreadful.  Mostly I was terrified going because Ronan is just a babe, and as a mother, I still can’t wrap my head around any parent losing a child. 

 However, it was one of the most beautiful nights I have ever been a part of. This was a celebration of Ronan’s life. We were to remember his fiery independent spirit, and not dwell on the fact that he is no longer here. It was amazing. Nothing short of breathtaking. To see everyone wearing all shades of white, cream, and splashes of pale purple, was gorgeous. The air was thick with love, and when we released balloons in the air, you couldn’t help but feel a quiet peacefulness that no one has felt in a long time. Through out the night I’d feel little gusts of wind whipping around, and I couldn’t help but think it was Ronan. It made me smile. I am forever grateful and changed by Ronan and the journey of the Thompson Family. I’ve been searching for a cause to fight for, and now I have one. Children’s cancer is so grossly underfunded and I’m determined to help change that.

I know in my previous post I was up in arms about Facebook and all the negative feelings I was feeling, but after last night, I am truly thankful for it. After the service, about 10 of us from our hometown of Kelso/Longview, WA went to dinner at a fabulous restaurant under sparkly lights on the outdoor patio with a gentle desert breeze, shared a great meal, a few glasses of sangria, many memories, and a loving toast to Ronan. I couldn’t have thought of a better way to end this part of the journey, than with a group I’ve know since childhood. And for that, I have to give all the thanks to Facebook.

I sat back and watched us all interact with each other for a moment. I couldn’t help but feel happily overwhelmed by watching us…taking nibbles off each other plates, sharing a look, squeezing a hand. There is a level of comfort and familiarity among people you grew up with regardless of how much time has passed. Each and every time I experience this; it overwhelms me, and makes me thankful of where I came from.

Today, my mood is light and I feel love. I feel like after going through this, that I have truly realized what matters in life and what doesn’t. I know I won’t take things for granted anymore. I know to be happy and thankful for what I have and where I’m at in life. I know that it is foolish and a waste of time to dwell on what I don’t have. I have been blessed to find true love, to be a mother to two beautiful children, to have an incredibly supportive family, and to be friends with some amazing people. Seriously, what more could one ask for?

My cup is full and my heart is happy.


♥ ♥ ♥
Olivia

Human Spirit

Well the Relay For Life event ended this morning and I'm pretty sure I'm a different person for it.  In more ways than I expected. 


My team members were amazing, and I am so thankful they were on the field with me:

Rockstar Ronan Headquarters

Greg - my husband.  He really is my rock.  He knows when to step up and be vocal and when to remain my silent, but ever present support that I continually look for when I'm happy, nervous or scared.  He kept the kids, especially the baby occupied while I set up and prepared for my speech.  Even when the baby puked and my first instinct was to grab the baby and get him cleaned up, his response was, "Stop.  You need to be here all night, and you can't be smelling like puke.  Let me get him cleaned up."  He is such and awesome husband and father. 


Penelope - my little helper.  She wasn't fully aware exactly what she was doing there other than we were helping Ronan and to play to with Ashley of course!  I also wanted her to see me give my speech and to help her understand that even when you're nervous, you can accomplish anything you set your mind to.

Rachel & Chris - my parents.  They have been consumed with Maya and The Thompson family since Ronan's diagnosis.  They provided all the food and drinks for our team and my mom was our campsite "Mom" as we walked the track keeping the babies and our campsite safe.  I know my giving spirit comes directly from them. 


Jennifer & Ashley- long lost friends that will never be lost again.  Jennifer and I have known each other, along with Maya, since we were in the 7th grade.  After school we went our separate ways and were only recently connected by Facebook within the last year.  I now know why God has brought us back together.  Jennifer and I picked up right where we left off.  It's like 15 years never passed.  She is truly such a blessing in my life.  She is such an amazing mom to Ashley and she was so amazing to Penelope.  Penelope is officially in love with Jennifer.  I think the most amazing part of this union was watching Penelope and Ashley become instant friends.  There was something so incredibly awesome about watching them play.  I think it's because Jen and I knew each other as children and now we get to watch our children become friends.  Loved it! <3  I loved walking the track with her and having our conversation about girl stuff and what we hoped to help accomplish with The Ronan Thompson Foundation over the years. 

Jacob Beard - another long lost friend from school.  I've also known Jacob since I was 12.  There is this inherent trust issue when you see a person you grew up with but haven't seen in a long time.  Reconnecting with Jacob was awesome and I can't wait to put together our Washington Refugee Happy Hours in the future and keep this guy in my loop! 

David Honga - yes another lost friend from school.  David and I didn't really know each other to well, but his sister was in my grade.  David is one of the most genuinely nice and caring people I've met in a long time.  He graciously baked an enormous amount of his mother's famous and delicious sweet bread for us to sell at the relay.  He is in the process of growing his hair out for Locks of Love; something that he does regularly for this charity.  When we were talking he told me how his father recently passed away, and that his Dad was the most caring and giving person he had ever met and that by doing charitable work that is the only way he can make sure his father's spirit lives on.

The Roller Family - Jennifer, Billy & Justin.  I worked with Jennifer for a few years and became instant friends.  She recently lost her mom to cancer and felt compelled to not only support that cause but Ronan's as well.  It was such a great night and I was glad to be by her side when she found her mom's luminaria. 

All day long I would get that rush of adrenaline every time I thought about giving my speech.  Throughout my life I've gone through bouts of stuttering and so I was petrified that I would wind up stuttering because it's usually brought on during times of high stress or extreme nerves.  I prayed to God all day long for Him to just give me the strength to get through it.  I wanted to find that strength for Maya and for Ronan.  I wanted everyone there to know his story, remember it, and pass it along.  Childhood cancer does not get nearly enough attention and if I can have a tiny part in changing that, then all I wanted was the strength to get up on that stage and speak...with clarity...with confidence...with my heart.  I won't lie.  I was sweating BULLETS before they introduced me and I made my entire team stand up there with me.  Even Penelope and Ashley were up there holding huge pictures of Ronan.  But, I have to say, the moment I walked up there, I let it go.  "It" being my fear, my lack of self-confidence, my own issues that plague a lot of what I do, and I freakin rocked that speech.  I'm not being conceited...I promise...but I truly believe God gave me the strength to rock that speech.  It was awesome and when I was done, I knew that I could truly accomplish anything if I just trust in God and let it go...whatever "it" may be at the time.

At times the relay was tough...feet hurt, butt hurt, luminaria ceremony and silent lap was tough, tired, but it was so worth it.  I'm glad we did it and I can't wait to pour my heart and soul into the foundation. 

I think the best parts of the night were strangers coming up to me and telling me they have been following the blog!  How awesome is that! 

Again THANK YOU to everyone for all of your help, support and donations!  This could not have been accomplished without all of you.

All my love to RonanBaby and Mamamaya. 

<3