Happy Halloween!

From Morticia, Gomez, Wednesday and Uncle Fester

Snap, snap!

18!

 

A great day to share a Stand Up To Cancer placard, I think! 18 months - 1.5 years! I remember Georgia taking her last chemo meds so clearly, and here we are, months and miles away from that day. We are so thankful for the years of research that went into her treatment protocol, and we wholeheartedly believe that research funding is critical to improving cure rates and providing safer, less-toxic treatments for all childhood cancers. 

A big push in the right direction came from the collaboration between Stand Up To Cancer and the St. Baldrick's Foundation and the formation of a Pediatric Cancer Dream Team. I think we've all got the same dream, and through pooling resources and sharing information, we are really on our way to making it come true. It happened for Georgia, and we want it to happen for all kids and families in the fight. So while we're celebrating 18 months OT today, we're thinking about the hope that could be discovered tomorrow. 

Thank you for all of the messages and continued support, today and every day. We're closing in on four years since Georgia was diagnosed, and we couldn't have made it this far without y'all!

Inspired

Last week, Georgia made her first visit to the LIVESTRONG Survivorship Center for neuropsychological testing. She's been evaluated twice before, as recommended for all children in treatment, but this study is specifically focused on the neurocognitive function of children treated for ALL. The most common learning problems occur in math, so the study looks closely at processing speed, visual and sequential memory, attention and concentration. In her first two evaluations, Georgia did very well in all areas, even improving in some after completing treatment, and we have no reason to be concerned as she thankfully hasn't had any problems in school. That said, we will take any opportunity we have to further research and help other kids and families in the fight - remember, Knowledge is Power!

In six short months, Georgia will transition into the survivorship program, and her follow-up appointments will be at the center, which adjoins the clinic. The goal of the program is to empower young survivors to take charge of their health by educating them on their individual treatments and teaching them how to maintain good health and manage late effects that may arise. We're so grateful to have access to such services and doubly so as the only effects Georgia has been challenged by so far are relatively mild. Her clinic appointment last week also showed her counts to be great - dare I say, normal! - and she's regained some of the weight she lost thanks to mono. We are truly, truly blessed.

We are also continually inspired by other warriors. One such great inspiration is Teo, the son of Ivy's primary teacher, Toni. Teo was diagnosed with ALL at the age of 2, and Ivy was in Toni's class when Georgia was diagnosed. To have Ivy spend her days with someone who understood so well what we were going through was incredibly comforting, and I know a big part of Ivy's success in her own journey is due in large part to Toni's tender care at such a critical moment. When we walked in to the survivorship center last week, we were greeted by Teo's smiling face on the wall, and it was another great reminder of what is possible - living STRONG after childhood cancer.

All That Jazz

We have a new member of the family at Peachy Keen HQ: meet Jazzy!

 

Jazzy (short for "All That Jazz") is a 10 week old Netherland Dwarf rabbit - and Ivy's long-awaited dream come true! After much investigation and preparation, we drove out to Franklin, Texas this weekend to pick her up, and we all fell in love with her immediately. She has settled into the family quite nicely, even sharing Georgia and Ivy's love of tutus and playing with the dollhouse:

Still working on my wildlife photography skills, but clearly, she's adorable.

In "All That Georgia" news, she was officially inducted as the NJHS President at the New Member Induction last week. She had to give a speech and announce the new members, and she did a wonderful job. Play rehearsal is going very well, too - so well, in fact, she's been asked to take on an additional role after someone had to drop out. That's show biz! She's gotten into a nice routine with her schoolwork and is really enjoying eighth grade. All we have to do is sit on the sidelines and say, "Go Georgia Go!" Pretty awesome!

10th Birthdays - and 400 Posts!

This is our 400th post on ye olde blog! Three years and nine months ago today, we wrote the first one, and so many of you have stayed with us ever since. You've left an even 1,000 comments, and you've shared Georgia's story with folks around the world - and beyond! You've celebrated every milestone and victory with us and generously donated nearly $100,000 to childhood cancer research. We couldn't have made it this far without your support, so we thank you and love you, our dear Friends of Georgia.

Today, we're celebrating Ivy's 10th birthday. After a putt putt golf party on Sunday, she was showered with love, gifts, and chocolate cake and ice cream before and after school today. That's how we do around here! Ivy is so kind and funny and loves her sis something fierce. And as my Momma friend, Monica says, she is a childhood cancer survivor, too. I'm not sure we'll ever truly understand the impact this journey has made on her life, but she has come through it strong and smiling, and we are so proud of her. Happy Happy Birthday, Ivy Francis Moore!

Finally, I shared this on my Facebook page yesterday, and it seems like a fitting way to close this 400th post. Thanks for everything, y'all, and for always Keepin' Georgia on Your Mind.

"In the waning hours of Childhood Cancer Awareness month, and on the eve of Ivy's 10th birthday, I can't help but think about this picture from December 30, 2009 - Georgia's 10th birthday. We had been sent to Dell Children's a few hours earlier, after her pediatrician reviewed her "abnormal" blood work and wanted us to rule out "something like leukemia." Of the handful of things they thought it could be, I was sure it was anything *but* cancer because it would be ABSURD for my healthy child to have cancer. But the next morning's bone marrow biopsy confirmed it, and she started 28 months of treatment on New Year's Day. Three years and nine months later, what I now find absurd is the lack of attention and abysmal amount of funding that is directed towards childhood cancer. I have met legions of people who feel the same way, and we're all doing our darnedest to make a difference. I have been inspired by parents facing their worst nightmare and rising to their best selves to fight for their child and mine. I have been held up by so many hands - an incredible treatment team, my precious family and friends, and my fierce and beautiful Mommas - that it's my obligation and absolute honor to continue banging the drum until we END this. No more getting cancer for your birthday."