Unstoppable

Today's celebrations: Four months off treatment! Cleared by the surgeon!

An invitation to the National Junior Honor Society!

Can anyone keep up with this girl?!

If you think you can, we'd love for you to join us one month from today for the Austin CureSearch Walk! You can register with our family team, The Peachy Keens, or with our school team, Ann Richards Stars, OR donate to Georgia's page. Childhood Cancer Awareness Month starts on Saturday, and this walk would be a great way to close out the month, and celebrate Georgia's fifth month off treatment(!), on SEPTEMBER 29TH! Hope to see you there!

Back to School(s)

This morning, Georgia marched into Ann Richards, ready to TCB in 7th grade, while Ivy floated into 3rd grade at Parkside aboard a rainbow unicorn. We love our schools!

It's gonna be a GREAT year!

Camp Closing

I don't know about y'all, but we're still trying to come down off the giant wave of positive energy caused by Georgia's amazing speech to the city council. We've heard from so many of you and are thrilled that she inspired you. Go ahead - watch it again, share it, think about it, and then, do SOMETHING. And if you need help deciding what to do, let us know!

Now how 'bout we finish our re-cap of Georgia's triumphant return to Camp Mystic! A lot has happened since we picked her up a week ago, but a lot happened while she was there, too, having another great term. Not only did she breeze through the two weeks with little to no health issues, she was named Best Camper in her cabin and Honor Kiowa for her tribe. She also got two blue ribbons for her Arts and Crafts projects and conquered the arduous hike to Sky High - the highest point at camp and a spot that was well beyond her reach last year. She continues to show us everyday - in mind, body, and spirit - that she is returning to her whole health, and this latest camp experience is further proof of that.

A few favorite shots to tell the tale:

 Award-winning birdfeeder/bird motel

Ready for some serious bombardment

 Cooling off in The Guad

 Crazy 80s Dance

 The view from Sky High

 

Honor Kiowa and Honor Tonk: cabinmates and friends.

Last campfire.

School starts on Monday! Have a great week, y'all!

For Immediate Release

From the Press Office for Georgia Lee Moore, Peachy Keens HQ, Austin, Texas: Today, Miss Moore accepted a proclamation from Mayor Pro Tem Sheryl Cole, who proclaimed September 2012 as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in Austin. Miss Moore reports that she was equal parts honored and excited to be given this opportunity, and she very much enjoyed the veggie burger and milkshake that followed. Please direct further media inquiries to this office, and, as Miss Moore says, do SOMETHING in September to raise awareness of childhood cancer. Thank you!

Deported

Georgia is officially port-free, a few ounces lighter, and on the fast track to a full recovery! The removal surgery went very well, and she's had minimal pain and bruising. Because her port was lower on her chest (near her ribcage as opposed to her collarbone, the usual spot), and because of the type of chemotherapy and protocol length for ALL, the surgeon told us that it could be difficult to remove with just one incision. But, as per usual, Georgia's little body cooperated perfectly, and she was in and out of surgery in no time. She's been taking it easy today, but she's feeling great and is so excited to have this behind her before school starts next week. Thanks so much for all of the prayers and well-wishes yesterday - they are always appreciated!

That puppy is about 1/2" thick, and all of those speckles in the middle 

are where she was poked hundreds of times. Please join us as we say,

"Good work. Now good riddance!"

Another Happy Anniversary

Two years ago today, Georgia got her last two Erwinia shots (remember those?) and finished the Delayed Intensification phase of her treatment protocol. It was the end of almost eight months of really hardcore chemotherapy and was soon followed by the beginning of the maintenance phase (with not-quite-as-hardcore chemotherapy) and her long-awaited return to school. With very few exceptions, she's been moving full-steam ahead ever since - straight up to her Victory Day and beyond.

So it's really quite fitting that tomorrow, she's having her port removed. We certainly remember the day that she got it, and I'm sure we'll remember this day forever as well. Again, we are blessed.

Although we recognize it every day around here, September is National Childhood Cancer Awareness month, so Friends of Georgia, we're asking for your help. Please raise awareness by sharing Georgia's story, wearing your Georgia bracelet, or tying gold ribbons on your trees or cars. Please support childhood cancer research by joining our CureSearch walk team or donating to my 46 Mommas campaign for St. Baldrick's. Please help save a life by donating blood or registering as a bone marrow donor. Please just do SOMETHING. Kids can't fight cancer alone, and they all deserve to have victories like Georgia.

August 19, 2010

August 18, 2012

So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish*

Tomorrow, we head to Kerrville to pick up Georgia from camp on Saturday. She has had such a great time, and I'm looking forward to a full debriefing over dinner Saturday night. Camp Mystic is a beautiful, magical place, and this year, she was able to take full advantage of everything it has to offer. For that, we are extremely grateful!

We'll have just about 36 hours to rest until Monday, the Big Day, the Removal-of-The-Port Day! We are so very lucky that Georgia never had any problems with her port - aside from it being a bit stubborn here and there (nothing "scarecrow position" or waving "magic fingers" couldn't fix). Often, kids have to have their ports replaced due to malfunction or breakage, and they are the perfect place for infections to start - yikes. So while we are glad she had it and avoided that many more pokes, we are THRILLED to see it go! It's really a huge milestone in this journey and tells us that she is moving further away from diagnosis and treatment and closer to being officially cancer-free. Mark your calendars now, y'all: APRIL 29, 2017!

Yep. Grateful.

* Georgia and her Daddy share a love for Douglas Adams. Those two.

Dispatches from Hunt, Texas

First week of camp down, one to go, and the overall mood is HAPPY! Georgia is having a wonderful time and feeling great, according to the three letters we've gotten. It's hot, of course, but her activity schedule is fairly balanced with indoor and outdoor choices - Arts and Crafts, Campcraft, Dance, Fishing, and Free Swim. She's making a birdhouse, has gone on several high hikes, and is learning a dance routine to an 80s song (she called it "a song from your times, Mommy"). She hasn't caught Big Charlie yet (the giant catfish-in-residence), but she is thoroughly enjoying playing and swimming in the Guadalupe ("the Guad"). She's been pulling her weight and then some for her tribe and was even named Honor Kiowa at the last Tribe Hill campfire. I'd said she's totally in the camp groove, wouldn't you?!

 Packed up!

Ready to roll!

 Home Sweet Home.

Go Big Blue!

Writing and Riding and More Writing

This week, Georgia wrapped up her creative writing camp with Badgerdog. She really has a gift for writing and enjoys it almost as much as reading - and that's saying something! Friday, we were invited to a reading of her group's work and a Q & A with the writers as themselves and as their characters. Our girl was definitely in her element.

 

Later, we went to Ivy's horse show at Switch Willo Stables. It is truly a horse lover's paradise, and somehow, the kids never seem to notice that it's about a thousand degrees outside! Ivy got a "golden horseshoe" award for her tacking skills, and she and Noodle (aka Spaghetti) did very well on their posting and jumping.

GG and Noodle made fast friends, too.

This weekend, we've been packing and prepping for Georgia to go back to Camp Mystic for two weeks! She had a fantastic time last year (here and here), but physically, she's in a much better place this year and will be able to enjoy herself even more. That sure doesn't mean we'll miss her any less, though! She LOVES to get letters, so if you'd like to drop her a line or two, she'll be there August 6-18th, and the address is:

Georgia Lee Moore

Seventh Heaven

Camp Mystic
2689 Hwy 39
Hunt, Texas 78024-3412

A 46 Mommas full report next week, I promise!

Powerful

In one word, that is what the 46 Mommas Shave for the Brave experience was for me. I am fully energized and exhausted at the same time, so a longer post will have to wait. As time allows, I'd love to tell you in more detail about some of my new sisters and their precious children, but for now, here's a glimpse.

We had the luxury of several volunteer photographers and film crews, and they did an excellent job of capturing every moment from every angle. There are literally thousands of pictures floating around, so I just picked a few - more to come! 

I was lucky enough to do a pre-shave live interview with the local Fox affiliate. You may have to switch browsers if the link won't open. There was so much energy on and around that stage!

Mid-shave mohawk

"Hair grows back. Kids don't."