Caring Parents is an e-mail discussion group aimed towards parents of children with life-threatening illnessness, mainly cancer. We are here to listen to each other, to give and receive support and love and to communicate with others in a similar situation to our own. Below are a few of the members in the list - those who wanted to become a little less anonymous!

Little Ty

Lisa is Ty's mom.
"Ty's birthday is April 12th, 1994. He was diagnosed with low risk ALL on February 26, 1996. Almost a year ago, but it doesn't seem like it. I can still vividly remember everything."
e-mail: lcs@facplan.fab.uab.edu

Deanna

Lori is Deanna's mom.
"Deanna was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma stage IV, 1 week after her 2nd birthday 11/95. Her primary tumor was thought to be on her uterus, but once it shrunk down from chemo, the primary was actually in her vagina. She had metasteses to her lungs at diagnosis. She was treated on the VACIME protocol at Children's Hospital in Seattle, Washington. She had surgery after the sixth cycle of chemo to remove the remainder of the primary tumor. She had radiation to her lungs only after the eighth cycle of chemo.
Nov.9th, 1997 update: Deanna died this afternoon in our arms. She had been sleeping pretty peacefully since yesterday and hadn't really spoken much. This morning she told both Tom and me that she loved us.

Our assurance that Deanna is healed and whole in heaven with Jesus brings joy to our hearts in the midst of the incredible sadness that we feel. She touched so many lives and we believe that we'll be with her in eternity.
e-mail: thehills@accessone.com

Audrey & Yarden

Audrey is Yarden's mom.
"Yarden is 3 and a half - almost and was dxed June 12th, 1996 with pleomorphic Rhabdomyosarcoma, just a month before his 2nd birthday. 2 months following the end of a 1 year VAC chemo protocol, Yarden relapsed with a single brain metastasis. He is currently in treatment. Yarden's cancer has changed my life significantly, made me aware of a deeper inner self that I had been ignoring most of my life. Strange as it may seem, this experience has enriched me - through the people I have become friends with and the changes towards a more spiritual lifestyle that I have accepted. "
e-mail: audreyw@netvision.net.il

"Mommom" - Connie

"I'm Connie, Mom to Katy, who is almost 4 years old (on January 30th) and was diagnosed with ALL on May 14th. She's now in remission and doing really well even with a cross-country move during December to Orlando."
On insensitive people: "Of course people always stared at Katy but one time we overheard "She must have taken the scissors to her own hair and they had to cut it all off." And this was when Katy was completely bald. It just irritated me. "
e-mail:mommom@poboxes.com

Ryan

Julie is Ryan's mom. Ryan was dxed with ALL July 15th, 1993, and finished Chemo in August 1996. Ryan is now 7 years old. “It is just nice to know someone is there to listen when I need an ear. I think the first six months were the hardest for us, with the hair loss and the hospital stays, and the central line. Believe me, it does get easier. I don’t think you get back to "normal" for quite a while. I know we aren’t yet. I see kids going through what we went through in the beginning and I stillfind it hard to believe that we actually made it though those times. It seems like so long ago. This was a real milestone for all of us. But we made it and we will continue to make it. As long as we have people who listen and care. You have got to keep the faith girl. A very wise lady named Ma Sparks once told me, her daughter has ALL also, "we are a sorority you know, us cancer moms". I think that goes for moms of any ill child as well.” e-mail: Freshist@aol.com

David

My name is Diane and my son was dxed with Pre-B High Risk ALL on May 31-1995. He was born on 11/3/93. He was only 16 months at time of Dx. He passed away on 5/5/98. He went through a lot of chemo & drugs and I would like to tell his story and hopefully help another family who is going through something simular. My childs name is, was David Williams and he went to Hasbro Childrens Hospital in Providence Rhode Island. ” e-mail: MASK421@aol.com

Kitty is Jessica's mom. Jessica is 11 years old. “My daughter was diagnosed in Aug. of 1993 and I get nervous when it comes to all her milestone dates. Just try to take a deep breath and remember it is beyond your control. My daughter has had 2 relapses and believe me it doesn’t get easier but you gain a little more faith each time you go over a big hurdle. And remember there are lots of people to hold you up in the down times. Everything will be just fine, it has so far right?”

Andrea is Amanda's mom. Amanda was diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma 2/97. "When Amanda was diagnosed with cancer, I felt my heart being ripped out of my chest. I wasn't aware that they could treat it or that there was hope.Caring Parents was one of the first support groups I joined. There were a lot of other moms with kids with Rhabdo and other illnesses. It really helped me get through such a scary time in my life. It's been about 6 months since Amanda's been finished with chemo (43 weeks of VAC).Today Amanda is cancer free. Amanda's cancer has taught me to value each day I have with my family, don't take anything for granted ,and never sweat the small stuff." e-mail: MADGEJR@aol.com

Mary is Katy's mom. “Hi! My name is Katy Hubbell and I am 5 years old. I was diagnosed one year ago with a bone marrow failure disease called Aplastic Anemia. The stem cells in my bone marrow don't make enough blood cells to keep me alive....so I'm living by the grace of God and the generosity of blood and platelet donors. I've just undergone my first round of chemotherapy that we are all hoping will cure my disease. In the meantime.....I'm having a fun time just bein' 5!!! " . e-mail: MSHUBB2@aol.com

Lisa is Nick's mom. Nick is 4 and was dxed with ALL June 4th, 1996. “It is good to hear the first six months are the hardest. The hospital stays were quite a grind that is for sure, we had 6 but I know there are kids who have to have a lot more... It doesn't seem like six months has passed already but it has been quite a six months that is for sure. This list is a good place to be, with support when you need it.” e-mail: lgibson@mail.coin.missouri.edu

Jessica is Cassandra's mom. Cassandra was dxed in Nov. 95 with Rhabdomyosarcoma and is now in remission. “My daughter, Cassandra is six and is in remission from Rhabdomyosarcoma. She was dxed Nov. 15, 1995 with stage 4 rhabdo, with the primary tumor being in her buttock muscle and metastases in her lungs... I just wanted to share some good news. Today Cassandra has her 6 month post treatment scans and they were clear! Also her blood work showed that she is (almost) completely normal again-- The docs are very happy. I hope that this is encouraging for parents who are still on treatment. I can say that for Cassandra and our family we are living a normal life again (I wouldn't have imagined this 8 months ago!). Thank you, Lord!” e-mail: jhargin@aol.com

Pattie is Christina's mom. Christina is 14. “Christina is suffering from several chronic illnesses: Fibromyalgia, JR arthritis, SLE Lupus! She was misdiagnosed, for 18mnths, with ALL. She started getting sick when she was in the 4th grade but things didn't start showing up until the end of the 6th grade. She missed most of 7th and 8th grade but with a lot of therapy and hard work she has only missed two whole weeks of school this year, (she is a freshman in high school).” e-mail: mystery30@JUNO.COM

Maria is Michelle's mom. Michelle was dxed in Summer 95 with a brain tumor. “Unfortunately, most of my friends don't really seem to want to talk about Michelle and I'm not sure why. I think they figure if they don't talk aboutit won't happen to them! I just answer , "fine" whenever anyone asks if Iknow that's what they want to hear. I have learned who really wants to know and who doesn't. Mostly, Michelle is fine but it helps to talk about the experience once in a while. That’s why this group and others have really helped.” e-mail: Posey11@aol.com

Sara is Katie's mom. "My name is Sara and my youngest daughter was diagnosed in Aug. 1996 with Acute Lymphocytic. Leukemia (ALL). Katie was about 2 1/2 at her dx, but is now 3 years old. She is doing well so far, and all signs point to a complete recovery. Katie has taken all of this really well and will finally talk to her Drs.!! She had never been sick with anything more than a cold before this and so this was quite a shock to her. ( not to mention us). Its been nice knowing others are out there in the same or similar boat." e-mail: Brellenthin@msn.com

Dawn is Drew's mom. Drew is 7 and has Essential Thrombocythemia - a bone marrow disease. “Drew wants to understand but then he doesn’t. He is pretty proud of the fact that his disease is called E.T. We bought him the movie ET and he thought that was pretty cool. So he relates to his ET to the movie ET. Strange and different from others. He is one of four in the US with this and there is about 20 in the world. Most of the time Drew doesn’t talk about it. He is doing great on the labs. The EMLA cream was a gift of knowledge that I received from the caring parents and I wish the doctors would have suggested it and not me.” e-mail: SUMMITT4@aol.com

To join this web page, or just to send comments, please contact: audreyw@netvision.net.il

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