Hope for God's Children, Inc.

2012-02-08T19:47:00.002-05:00

This is Bella Rose (Isabella Denisulk) and her Mommy, Diana

July 1, 2009 ~ Bella was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma.
December 9, 2011 ~ Marked Bella's 2 Year Cancer Free Anniversary.
January 25, 2012 ~ *ATTENTION* All Prayer Warriors
Bella developed a 4cm tumor in her neck that visibly presented within a few hours this afternoon. MRI and ultrasound are awaiting radiologists arrival in the am....
January 28, 2012 ~ Preparing for the fight. Diana wrote:
My thoughts are scattered and somewhat irrational so I will give you facts. Yesterday's findings are devastating! We leave for new york in the morning to prepare for the fight again.
January 31, 2012 ~ Bella is scheduled at 7am for port placement with Dr LaQuaglia (aka Dr Mike), followed by a meeting with the NB team to discuss chemo and other treatment options. The recent studies revealed various inoperable lesions in her liver; with limited time the neck tumor will have to wait.

In 2009, Mandy Gray, friend of Bella's Mom, Diana (pictured with Bella), hosted a benefit. Mandy asked for a volunteer to help. I did. Although Bella was not an official HGC Beneficiary, she was the sweet girl that God used to place Hope for God's Children in my heart. HOPE FOR GOD'S CHILDREN is going to rally around Bella Rose and her family! Benefit schedule is still pending. If you can possibly do so, please help us to help Bella and her family. Thanks ever so much. Judith and the HGC Leadership Team You can read more about Bella here: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/isabelladenisulk/journal/53/createdAt/asc

If you are willing to help, please personal message me or email me at hgc.hopeforGodschildren@yahoo.com

Hope for God's Children's 7th Benefit launches on Oct 27-Nov 11!

2011-10-25T07:18:00.000-04:00

Only two days until we launch Hope for God's Children's 7th fundraiser! Please be in fervent prayer for Brennan, his family and the launch. Thank you!

Please help us to help Brennan's family!

Thank you Traci of Leeziebee Custom Graphic's for the eBay Auction Template!

2011-09-17T14:22:00.001-04:00

Mark your calendars!

Hope for God's Children's Fall Benefit is scheduled for

October 27 - November 11, 2011

eBay, Big Cartel and Etsy

CHRISTMAS THEME!

Poster Child: BRENNAN SCURLOCK

Katelyn, age 8, Brennan's Special Big Sister!
Hope for God's Children's goal is to pray for, encourage and meet families of children diagnosed with neuroblastoma cancer, at their needy place.

MD Anderson Children's Cancer Center

~ Childhood cancer is the #1 disease killer of children even though it receives very little funding, little research and not enough awareness. It kills more children than asthma, cystic fibrosis, diabetes and pediatric AIDS combined.

~ 80% of children are already at STAGE 3 or STAGE 4 when diagnosed as compared to 20% of adults. This means the cancer has already moved to other parts of their bodies and which makes it much more difficult to treat and cure.

~ Only ONE new drug has been approved to combat pediatric cancer since 1980, a period that saw 50 medications approved to fight adult cancers.

~ The National Cancer Institute's (NCI) 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 cancers are different than their adult counterparts and therefore, need different treatments.

"My Life"

My life shall touch a dozen lives
Before this day is done
Leave countless marks of good or ill,
E'er sets the evening sun.
This the wish I always wish,
The prayer I always pray . . .
Lord may my life help others lives
It touches by the way."

- Author unknown

2011-09-16T17:50:00.021-04:00

Meet Brennan Scurlock, HGC's Poster Child for the October 13-27 eBay and Etsy Benefit.

Brennan was diagnosed on April 8, 2011 with

Stage IV High Risk Neuroblastoma.

He began his first round of chemo April 9th. Since then he has had 5 rounds of chemotherapy, surgery on his first birthday (May 26th) to remove tumor from left kideny/ adrenal glad and the diseased lymph nodes surrounding abdominal aorta, stem cell harvesting in June and 15 radiation treatments totaling 3wks. We are currently admitted for his high dose chemotherapy/stem cell transplant, which is at least 30 days. Before treatment Brennan had bone lesions aside from primary tumor. They were located at base of skull outside and inside the skull near the brain, left side of head and jaw, right shoulder, 9th rib bone which extended back into vertebrae, both pelvis bones and tops and bottoms of each femur bones and his bone marrow was positive for cancer cells. Since all 5 rounds of chemo all that showed on scans were his 9th rib bone. And bone marrow was clean for 2nd time. All previous bone lesions showed bone healing. After stem cell transplant Brennan will be rescanned to evaluate disease again and we're hoping to be clear and move on to our last phase of treatment.

Riley Blake "Hoo's in the Forest" 100% Cotton Fabric

2011-07-28T19:23:00.001-04:00

CONTEST! Creme de la Gems is giving away a $50 Gift Certificate!

2011-07-16T16:08:00.002-04:00

http://cremedelagems.blogspot.com/

Saturday, July 16, 2011

Christmas in July GIVEAWAY {Day 2}

Hi!

I'm glad you are back :)

I had Computer issues this morning, which I have a feeling

might be a normal occurrence, living in a rural area~

Something I need to get used to, for sure!

Today's GIVEAWAY is:

A $50 Store Credit to my ETSY or WEBSITE!!!!

To enter:

To enter, go to http://cremedelagems.blogspot.com/ and leave a comment re:

(Why you deserve to win)

For extra entries, Follow my blog, Follow me on Twitter, Fan me on Facebook, and SHARE.

Share with Friends, Family, Tweet about it, Post about it, etc.

4 comments MAX, per day - per giveaway.

The more you enter, the more chances you have to WIN!

Fall 2011 Beneficiary Nominations

2011-06-22T10:56:00.000-04:00

Please post your nominations here: http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?topic=23450&post=133827&uid=247158699940#!/topic.php?uid=247158699940&topic=23450

Choosing a beneficiary is sometimes the most difficult of all tasks. "If any on you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that given to all men liberally, and upbraideth not: and it shall be given him." James 1:5 Please pray with us regarding God's direction for HGC.

Taking the journey through other's heartbreak is a blessing disguised as pain. If you find it in your hearts to participate, when each journey is completed, you will realize that it more blessed to give than receive. You will rejoice that you have grown spiritually and emotionally.

Age or sex do not matter but the child must have neuroblastoma type cancer. Thank you and bless your hearts for being such willing disciples for the Lord. ♥ Judith and the HGC Leadership Team

Nominated by Lisa Keenan:
Emily Hubbel:
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/emilys

Nominated by Heidi Stauff:
Kate McRae:
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/mcraekate

Raising Neuroblastoma Awareness is Crucial . . .

2011-03-24T10:27:00.010-04:00

Please ask help how YOU can HELP God's Children!

Kenny Dietrich has a personal interest in raising awareness. His son, Tyler, now 16, was diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor in Feb. of 2003. Praise God, after surgical removal of the tumor, followed with radiation therapy and chemotherapy, he has remained cancer free. Although Tyler is cured, he still struggles from the late effects of childhood cancer. Tyler, now 16, has spent half his life battling this terrible disease.

eBay and Etsy Charity Benefit - List: March 17 - 31! Auctions end on April 7!

2011-03-21T21:42:00.012-04:00

Hope for God's Children, an official KY NPO, is hosting an eBay and Etsy Benefit for Miss Kayleigh Justice, age 5, Neuroblastoma Cancer.

Search Term: HGC Kayleigh

Kayleigh Justice, was diagnosed w/Neuroblastoma Cancer on 08/4/09. Her little brother, Aiden, age 1, was recently diagnosed with Epilepsy and missing Chromosome 5.

Please take the time to read Kayleigh's story here:
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/kayleighjustice/mystory

Search HGC Kayleigh for Custom Boutique Clothing and Accessories!

Hope for God's Children currently has 79 active auctions on eBay

and 18 Active listings on Etsy.

More items are being added daily, so check often!

100% of the proceeds from the HGC Ebay Auctions and Etsy Sales
will be donated to the Justice family.

TOTAL LALALOOPSY EASTER BASKET CONTEST!

2011-03-08T09:06:00.007-05:00

Hope for God's Children is selling Bracelets! For each bracelet purchased, your name will be entered into a contest for the TOTAL LALALOOPSY EASTER BASKET!

Bracelets are $5.00 each plus .75 shipping. Order as many as you want! Combined shipping is capped at $3.00.

Please send payment for bracelets to hopeforGodschildren@gmail.com and note that the payment is for HGC bracelets. You are purchasing bracelets so please do not send as a gift so that we have your mailing address.

Example: Purchase 10 and receive 10 FREE ENTRIES for the TOTAL LALALOOPSY EASTER BASKET CONTEST! It's going to be FABULOUS!

Blossom Flowerpot Doll and Custom Fairy Dress donated by Jennifer Whitehead of The TaTTereD Rose DollHouse Thank you Jennifer!

Blog Giveaway ROUND TWO!!! . . .

2011-02-26T01:10:00.015-05:00

Hope for God's Children March 17-31 Launch is scheduled! Please help us
GROW GROW GROW Neuroblastoma Awareness

via the Hope for God's Children Blog and our Fan Page,
as well as our Twitter page and REALLY spread the about
Hope for God's Children's Christian ministry!

With a little help from YOU. . . we can do just that.

Before entering the contest, please take a few minutes
to read about our launch, Beneficiary and her family!

HGC is hosting ANOTHER blog giveaway!! (FREE PRIZES!)
in honor of our March Beneficiary and family!

ENTRIES MUST BE RECEIVED NO LATER THAN
12 NOON EST on March 6st, 2011.

Winners will be announced on March 7th, 2011!

TWO WINNERS!

PRIZE PACK #1

$25 Gift Certificate
to
http://www.fabrichound.com/

Custom Easter Beads and Hair Bow Centers
donated by Blossom*Bootique :)

Prize pack #2

THINK EASTER DRESS!
ONE dress - Winner's choice
from
Lilly Rose

Soft Baby Block Set
by
PBJBoutique
They can be customized to either have a name or initials appliqued on them, or they can have ribbons tags and jinglies. They come in a matching drawstring bag with the baby's name embroidered on the outside.

Poncho
by
CastlegateSize: 5T-Preteen (Photo on my daughter who wears a size 10/12)
Yarn: Lion Brand Homespun
Color: Shaker
Style: 98% Acrylic, 2% Polyester

MANDATORY FIRST ENTRY

Check out the fan page on Face book and tell us what YEAR the Hope for God's Children was founded! Then let us know WHAT prize pack YOU want to win!!!

For the other entries please leave a SEPARATE comment for each thing.

YOU DO NOT HAVE TO HAVE A BLOG TO ENTER!

Grab our Button and share on Facebook, Twitter!

1. Join the blog on the right hand side with Google Friend Connect (leave your Google ID name in the comment).

2. Join us on Facebook (like the page & leave a comment telling us you joined) and leave your name below.

3. Join us on TWITTER (leave us your twitter ID).

4. Post a link on your face book page to let others know about this giveaway button located below post (look for the rectangle bar and click on the F).

5. Tweet about this giveaway (ONCE Daily).

6. BLOG about this giveaway (share your link with us) this is worth 5 entries (leave 5 comments).

7. Add this little one to your prayers (God will know even if we don't). :-)

8. Grab the blog button and post it on your blog (share your link) worth 3 entries.

9. Add this giveaway to any site to let others know about it. one entry for each site (share the links).

DON'T FORGET TO LEAVE US AN EMAIL so we can get in touch with you if you win!!!

GET MOVIN' Everyone...help us spread the word about this giveaway, this family, this group, and the wonderful things that it accomplishes with God's help!!!

All WINNERS of Hope for God's Children
"KAYLEIGH JUSTICE" BLOG CONTESTS
WILL BE CHOSEN ELECTRONICALLY
BY RANDOM ORG!
Thank you!

FREE Pink PolkaDot Originals Apron Dress CONTEST

2011-02-04T13:29:00.013-05:00

Hope for God's Children

FREE Pink PolkaDot Originals Custom Boutique Apron Dress!

The resells are pouring in for Kayleigh's HOPE FOR GOD'S CHILDREN March 17-31, 2011 Benefit! Each of the Priority envelopes has a set inside! A great big thank you for those who have donated!

If you DONATE A CUSTOM BOUTIQUE RESELL - INCLUDING CUSTOM BOUTIQUE HAIR ACCESSORIES OR JEWELRY, you will be entered to win a Pink PolkaDot Originals Apron Dress! Style and Fabrics chosen by me, Judith! ♥ ♥ ♥

Buyers typically bid high on the resell auctions so they MUST be in like new condition, please. Thank you for understanding.

Please email Judith at pinkpolkadotoriginals@gmail.com or hopeforGodschildren@gmail.com re: where to ship. Size will determine which model they will be shipped to! Thank you so much!!!

Kayleigh Justice - HGC March 17-31, 2011 Beneficiary.
Please keep Kayleigh and her family in your prayers.

It's Time For a GREAT BLOG giveaway!

2011-01-24T21:47:00.024-05:00

Hope for God's Children March 17-31 Launch is scheduled! Please help us
GROW GROW GROW Neuroblastoma Awareness

Before entering the contest, please take a few minutes
to read about our launch, Beneficiary and her family!

HGC is hosting 4 Blog Contests (Free Prizes GIVEN AWAY!)
in honor of our March Beneficiary and family!
JUST YOU WAIT until you see some the awesome gifts that have been donated!

ENTRIES MUST BE RECEIVED NO LATER THAN
12 NOON EST on January 31st, 2011.

Winners will be announced on Feb. 1st, 2011!

There will be TWO winners this week.

PRIZE PACK NUMBER ONE
For the DESIGNER & Crafty Person

24 hair flowers
400 YARDS of ribbon
4 crochet hats
2 LARGE bags of French clips
Over a $100 value!!

PRIZE PACK NUMBER TWO
for those who LOVE handmade & crafty but don't have time to make it :)

Tote bag, Insulated Cooler, Party Table center piece all in one!!
From Polka Dot Market

$15 Retail Value

AND

A Spring/Summer ruffle dress in SURPRISE fabrics from
Renaissance Angel Boutique

$85 Retail

MANDATORY FIRST ENTRY

Our next launch is in March tell me the name of the little girl we will be launching for . . .
that BEAUTIFUL little one posted right at the top of the page!

Then let us know WHAT prize pack YOU want to win!!!

For the other entries please leave a SEPARATE comment for each thing.
You may do as few or as many as you like!

1. Join the blog on the right hand side with Google Friend Connect (leave your Google ID name in the comment).

2. Join us on Facebook (like the page & leave a comment telling us you joined) and leave your name below.

3. Join us on TWITTER (leave us your twitter ID).

4. Post a link on your face book page to let others know about this giveaway button located below post (look for the rectangle bar and click on the F).

5. Tweet about this giveaway (ONCE Daily).

6. BLOG about this giveaway (share your link with us) this is worth 5 entries (leave 5 comments).

7. Add this little one to your prayers (God will know even if we don't). :-)

8. Grab the blog button and post it on your blog (share your link) worth 3 entries.

9. Add this giveaway to any site to let others know about it. one entry for each site (share the links).

DON'T FORGET TO LEAVE US AN EMAIL so we can get in touch with you if you win!!!

GET MOVIN' Everyone...help us spread the word about this giveaway, this family, this group, and the wonderful things that it accomplishes with God's help!!!

All WINNERS of Hope for God's Children
"KAYLEIGH JUSTICE" BLOG CONTESTS
WILL BE CHOSEN ELECTRONICALLY
BY RANDOM ORG!
Thank you!

Kayleigh Justice is HGC's March 2011 Beneficiary ! Launch will be March 17-31!

2011-01-24T10:43:00.004-05:00

Kayleigh Justice was chosen as HGC's March 2011 Beneficiary! Please keep her in your prayers. This week Kayleigh will be undergoing tests.

Her Mom, Valerie, wrote:

"This week Kayleigh is having her scans. We will be in Columbus, OH Tues, Wed & Thurs. Her last scans showed a spot so I'm really nervous. We should have the results back by Friday or Monday at the latest. She's been having some trouble with her bowel movements the past couple weeks & when she first got sick she had these same troubles. I've done some research and difficulty going to the bathroom can be a sign of a relapse due to the tumor causing bowel/intestine obstruction. But I'm doing my best to think positive and have faith it's nothing!"

RESELLS NEEDED FOR THE MARCH 2011 LAUNCH!

2011-01-15T23:27:00.021-05:00

For each DONATED RESELL (yep, each one!) your name will be added to a contest for a custom designed Pink PolkaDot Originals MULTI PATTERNED APRON DRESS!

Dress style and fabrics to be chosen by me, Judith!

Please contact me at pinkpolkadotoriginals@gmail.com regarding donations.

We need donations for the Upcoming Blog Contest, please!

2011-01-15T13:09:00.002-05:00

Hope for God's Children is preparing for our March 2011 launch. We hope that our work is balanced by fun! We are looking for Companies or designers to donate items for a blog contest giveaway that will begin sometime next week. Please contact Sharlene @ sbattaglia77@live.com or Judith @ hopeforGodschildren@gmail.com if you are interested in helping. Thank you for your generosity and prayers. Judith and the HGC Leadership Team.

Please pray for us as we prepare for HGC's March 2011 Launch.

2011-01-15T10:15:00.001-05:00

Mark 12:41-44 (KJV)

And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them . . . ‎"Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living."

Ezra went to be with Jesus on November 8, 2010

2010-12-29T20:15:00.000-05:00

Written by: Kyle Matthews, Ezra's Daddy

I never wound up going on that bike ride – Robyn called me Saturday night saying Ezra was getting worse to the point the doctors and she thought I should be there. I drove back to Orlando. Ezra was hurting from the swelling in his abdomen, and his morphine was upped to keep him comfortable Saturday night. Yesterday, Sunday, we knew he was slowly shutting down. My family came by the hospital, and so did Robyn’s. It really was a beautiful day… a lot of laughing, crying, and loving on Ezra. By 9pm or so, everyone had gone home, and Robyn and I went to sleep. Ezra was on a 98% oxygen flow, and his oxygen and heart rate numbers had both been slowly dropping all day.

At 2:40am we woke up to his monitor alarming a low heart rate; it was 50 and slowing. We curled up in the bed with him, praying, kissing, holding, and talking to him. By 2:50 he was gone. We lay there with him a while, then started packing up the room to go home without our son for the second time this year.

I am a better man for having had Ezra as a son. Robyn is a better woman. Over half Ezra’s life was spent battling this cancer… living in hospitals… and yet I’ve never met a child as giving, joyful, thoughtful, kind, and fun as Ezra was. I hope I can live a life showing that much inner strength and character.

I wish you could have known him more. I feel this blog/CarePages has been a powerful tool – in the past month over 100,000 individual people have visited this site, every one touched by Ezra’s story somehow. Emails have poured into our inbox. Packages have flooded our mailbox, and the hospital’s. I can never sum up my son with words on a screen, but I pray you got a piece of his personality through this. I hope you felt you knew him. I hope you feel the pain and joy this past 13 months has brought us. Ezra is someone more people should have had a chance to meet.

We do not see the end of the fight against cancer here for us. How many more families are in the middle of this right now? How many will be tomorrow?

We will be having a celebration of Ezra’s life, we hope this weekend. I will update here with information when we finalize those details.

Please, be changed because of this. Recognize the flawed world we live in, and work to help the ones you can. Really work. Recognize the hurt in the world, and recognize the grace that gives us a chance to still be beautiful.

2 Timothy 4:6-8 “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.”

We miss you, Ezra.

URGENT PRAYER REQUEST FOR EZRA!

2010-10-18T19:09:00.000-04:00

This has been an extremely hard week for Ezra. He started the week tired but smiling and talkative. As the days have passed, he’s been increasingly more tired, and the last 3 days he’s pretty much slept all day, with brief moments of being awake and talkative. We were slated to start chemo and the Nifurtimox trial today, and still are – but we wound up leaving early yesterday and asking to be admitted through the ER last night at Arnold Palmer, since he seemed extremely fatigued and uncomfortable. This is very unlike him – even during the treatments he’s had this year. During stem cell he was this out of it, but that was chemo induced.

On Tuesday Ezra’s platelets were 10 (10k that is – a normal range is between 150k-400k, for him 50k-100k is normal), which is low but he’s had that before. He normally gets platelets then, and they’ll jump up and stay that way a few weeks. By Thursday they checked him again and his platelets were 9. He got platelets again on Thursday, and last night they were 5. His hemoglobin count last night was 9 (normal range is 9-12 for him), and by this morning it was 6. This means his blood counts are dropping extremely fast, and the dr has scheduled an ultrasound of the stomach to see if perhaps he has internal bleeding. The dr doesn’t think that’s the case, but we are checking. If it’s not internal bleeding, it’s just the cancer taking things in way too fast. His heart rate is high and his oxygen levels are very low – he’s on a nasal cannula which is giving him oxygen.

The doctor says these are all signs of Ezra’s body shutting down.

This is /not/ an end-all, there have been cases in exactly Ezra’s situation where this chemo and trial drug quickly reacted and the patient got 6 more months of active, quality life before relapsing and passing. We are still 100% planning on starting the chemo (as long as the ultrasound doesn’t show bleeding in his abdomen – there would be no treatment available if that is the case), but Dr Levy has been clear that the chemo itself can push him over the edge of life since Ezra is very fragile right now. Not treating, however – without a miracle – would most likely only give Ezra days from the way he is looking now. He is in and out of waking and sleeping, and we are laying on the bed with him.

Please, pray – we aren’t ready for this.

Go Shopping for the Matthews Brothers!

2010-09-26T21:45:00.000-04:00

The listings for this special launch have begun to pop up all over eBay. You will love to shop this special benefit sale. There are so many fabulous products!

View all of the Matthews Brothers listings on eBay - fantastic cartoon-themed products with 100% of proceeds going to directly to this faithful family!

Shopping is so much more fun when you are directly supporting a family in need. You can even bid on this gorgeous custom Dr. Suess set by oli*beli, Pink*PolkaDot Originals, Lilahsmommy and Jogees*Purls today! The link takes you to Oli*Beli who designed the fabulous Knit Top and Leg Warmers. Search HGC Matthews Cat for the Twirl Skirt, Jewels and Embroidered Hair Bows! Thank you for bidding!

You can list YOUR products to benefit the Matthews Brothers today. For more details on how to join us, visit Hope for God's Children on Facebook.

Play BINGO for Pre-Launch Prizes!

2010-09-17T11:22:00.001-04:00

Leadership Team member Angie has created a super pre-launch BINGO game for participating sellers. It's easy to enter and there are great prizes to win!

Check out all the details on our Facebook discussion about the Matthews Brothers Launch Bingo Game.

Be sure to send your 10-word-entry to Angie (angieoquinn@hotmail.com) by Sunday night to see if your words line up to form a "BINGO!"

Thanks to Angie for coordinating all the entries and all the prizes!

Matthews Brothers Launch Countdown: ONLY 25 DAYS!

2010-09-02T01:32:00.000-04:00

Let's start gathering ideas and inspiration for our "Cartoons" themed launch for the Matthews' brothers.

What was your favorite childhood cartoon?

The Matthews Brothers - Ezra and Charley

2010-08-09T19:56:00.000-04:00

Ezra was diagnosed with stage 4 neuroblastoma on October 4th, 2009 at the age of 13 months. On October 6th we found out we were pregnant again. After weeks in the hospital and an initial round of chemo, in early November we were able to do ...our first ultrasound and already see Robyn was pregnant with twins. As the months progressed, Ezra went through 6 rounds of chemo, various treatments, and moving towards having the main tumor (above his left kidney) removed.

On March 1st, Robyn and I went to her dr for her scheduled pregnancy checkup, and the dr told us she was 1-2 cm dilated. Her due date was July 21st - this was nearly 4 months early. We took Robyn straight to the hospital where she was on bed rest for 2 weeks, but those babies weren't waiting in there, and on March 15th, at 26 weeks (3 1/2 months early) our twins Price and Charley were born. Price was 1lb 13oz, and Charley was 1lb 15oz. They both had multiple heavy complications, including level 4 bleeds in the brain, and on March 22nd, the twins' 1 week birthday, God took Price back from us.

Charley was still critical, and many of the same issues as Price. He was rushed to All Children's hospital in St Pete, who had better drs to handle the brain trauma. He received multiple surgeries, including having a shunt put in his brain, then removed as it wasn't working correct, a new shunt put in, then another surgery to move that shunt. It's now working great and will remain with him for life. He also had heart surgery to fix a murmur, which went well.

Talk about a whirlwind of emotions. 2 weeks after Price died, on April Fools Day, 2010, Ezra had his neuroblastoma tumor successfully removed. His left kidney was fully involved with the tumor, and was also removed. He recovered well, and we spent the entire month of June living in a hospital for stem cell transplant for Ezra - in an isolated, HEPA filtered room. Charley was in the same hospital (and still is), only 1 floor away, so we were able to visit him often, although Ezra wasn't allowed to leave the room the entire 30 days.

Coming to the present, we're just a few days from finishing up 20 days of radiation for Ezra, and have 5-6 months left of treatment, which will consist of 1 week in the hospital, 3 weeks at home, 5-6 times. Ezra is responding extremely well to all the treatment, and already has no evidence of disease. Neuroblastoma has a very high rate of reoccurrence (40-45% of neuroblastoma patients get some form of cancer again), so we are doing all this after care to attempt to eradicate any undetectable disease left. Charley is great - his 5 month birthday (only 1 1/2 months after his due date though) will be Friday, and he is nearly 11 lb now. He is nearly off oxygen, and learning to take a bottle. Once either of those is complete, we will be able to take him home. Things seem to be on an upswing, but there's a long road ahead of us. Charley doesn't show any signs of mental issues yet - which is a possible side effect of the early brain trauma. 50% of these patients have no side effects though - and we won't know for sure until he's a year or two old, and has had a chance to show off his development more.

We are hopeful.

How we balance the kids' needs:

I work from home, which grants us a lot of flexibility. For any major hospitalization (chemo, surgery, anything we're staying overnight) Robyn and I both go and help each other out. In our day to day, we try to each get out to Charley at least once or twice a week, while the other stays home with Ezra. He gets extremely bored and fussy if he's stuck in Charley's room at the hospital more than 45 minutes or so, and we like to be there a few hours when we go, so it's best to have Ezra home.

For simple trips to the hospital (morning radiation, labs, etc) we switch off. Someone gets to sleep in, someone takes him in. We try to keep that pretty equal. It's a lot of work to make sure we're getting to Charley (40 minutes away one way) a few times a week, getting Ezra to all his appointments, getting work done, spending time with Ezra playing, and trying to live a life. By the time the end of the day comes, we are tired. Overall it's a wearying process - which is something I don't see leaving for a while, although joy is ever-present. You find yourself seeking out the small moments and quiet times more.

Kyle and Robyn Matthews

Please pray for this beautiful family. Thank you. The HGC Leadership Team

Featured Member: Melissa Korta of Contemporary Captures Photography

2010-08-02T02:14:00.000-04:00

Coming soon!

You Can Help Send Cards to Sam

2010-08-02T01:11:00.000-04:00

Sam is a wonderful and strong 5 year old boy. His battle with Cancer is just beginning. He was diagnosed with Stage 3 Lymphoma this week. He has a very tough fight ahead of him.

Kathy of Pixie Dust Studio is has asked us to join her in helping Sam fight this and WIN! Sam will be in the hospital for many months. Kathy has started a campaign to fill his days with tons of cards from all over the globe. What fun for Sam to know that people from all sides of the Earth are supporting and thinking about him!

Kathy is giving him a map book and a ton of stickers. He will put a sticker on each location that his cards come from. How awesome would it be to cover the whole Earth with stickers from people supporting Super Sam. This will be a great adventure for Sam to watch the LOVE and SUPPORT from every corner of the globe. Lets each set a personal goal of one card a month, one card a week, or one card a day.

Keep them coming so he never stops looking forward to the next card delivery.

Read more about Sam here:
http://pixieduststudio.blogspot.com/2010/05/send-them-to-sam.html

Presbyterian/St. Luke's Medical Center
1719 E 19th Ave
Denver CO 80218
ATTENTION: Samual Humphries