Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Same but Different

To announce the launch of the Georgia and the Peachy Keens Hero Fund, I wrote this post for the St. Baldrick's blog: 

On December 30, 1999, I was in a hospital room, surrounded by some of the people I love most in the world, heralding the arrival of my first baby girl, Georgia Lee. Ten years to the day later, I was in another hospital room, with many of the same people, trying to reason, pray, and will away a potential cancer diagnosis for that same baby girl, which was confirmed the next day. In those moments, my world changed forever. But fifteen years ago, five years ago, and today, I am grateful for them both. 

We had been sent to the hospital on Georgia’s 10th birthday after her pediatrician reviewed her "abnormal" blood work and wanted 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 acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), and she started treatment on New Year's Day 2010.

Despite the darkness of the moment, there was still a bit of light. After all, the doctor told us, "It's cancer. But it's curable." We chose to focus on that light and watched our girl fight to move closer and closer to it every day for the next 28 months. She was an absolute champion. 

Georgia has now been off treatment for over two and a half years, and a lot has changed since the day she took her last dose of chemo and claimed her victory over leukemia. Gone are the puffy cheeks from steroids and the joint pains from vincristine. In their place are a determined jaw and ever-stronger swimmer's legs set on kicking harder and faster each day. The timid sixth grader is now a confident ninth grader looking forward to college and beyond. And the concerns and considerations of treatment that used to rule every decision, every plan we made are almost a distant memory. Almost. 

Comparing our life before and after cancer, I am struck by how much everything feels exactly the same and yet completely different. We are firmly back in the routine of school, work, and family time, but we are living a new normal with a perspective that colors everything we see. We know what life looks like when your child has cancer. We know the sobering statistics and the shameful funding percentages. So while we are grateful that Georgia is healthy, we are mindful that many children are still fighting cancer, and without action, many more will be diagnosed. 

We became involved with the St. Baldrick’s Foundation two months after Georgia was diagnosed and have continued to fundraise and volunteer with the organization ever since. My husband and I have shaved our heads, we’ve hosted art shows and a comedy night, and Georgia and her sister, Ivy, have set up their “world famous” lemonade stand every spring. I’ve also been a part of the leadership team for the 46 Mommas and look forward to shaving with them for the fourth time this summer. 

In addition to our regular support, we decided to do something different, something special this year to celebrate Georgia’s 5th year past diagnosis, so today, we’re launching the Georgia and the Peachy Keens Hero Fund. Our goal, and our motto, for the year is “15 for 15 in ‘15” – we plan to raise $15,000 (or more!) for her 15th birthday in 2015. We want to help St. Baldrick’s fund the world’s most promising research into safer, less-toxic treatments and, ultimately, cures for all kids with cancer. We are thankful for Georgia’s success, and we are determined to ensure similar outcomes for other families, too. 

Five years after the worst day of our lives, Georgia is great. She is the same as before cancer, but different. We all are. And we are honored to be able to continue this journey together. We are privileged to watch Georgia living her wonderful life, shining her beautiful light, and we are proud beyond measure of the young woman she is becoming. She has risen to her fullest, best self, and she is ready to put an end to childhood cancer. We all are. No more getting cancer for your birthday. 

Thank you for keeping Georgia on your mind for the past five years, and we wish you all a Happy, Healthy New Year!

Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Fifteen

Fifteen today ... Five years from diagnosis tomorrow ... Happy Everything to our girl!

And as for her big announcement? How 'bout I let her tell you:


Yes! We have started a Hero Fund, the Georgia and the Peachy Keens Hero Fund, with the St. Baldrick's Foundation, and Georgia wants to raise $15,000 for her 15th birthday in 2015! We're very excited to increase our involvement with St. Baldrick's and our commitment to conquering childhood cancers, and this fund is the perfect way to do both of those things. Click the link above to find out more - and to donate!

We're having a wonderful time at the wonderful world of Disney, and we've still got more fun - and more celebrating - ahead of us. We hope all of you are enjoying your holidays as well, and we'll be back with more adventures in the new year. 15 for 15 in '15 - let's do this! : )

Sunday, December 28, 2014

Best Wishes

In December 2010, we marked Georgia's first year of treatment and her 11th birthday with her magical Make-A-Wish trip to Disney World and Universal Studios. We're currently making that same trip and are so grateful to be doing it without any consideration for, or connection to, cancer. Tomorrow, we'll enter the Magic Kingdom four years to the day from that trip (and on the 29th, no less! : )), but we won't need a special pass, a break for meds, or a wheelchair, like we did then. All we'll need are our tickets, good walking shoes, and a sense of adventure. We've spent many hours of fun at these parks, including last time, and we're so excited to be back again, with Georgia healthy and whole - our fondest wish granted. We'll report back with all the details, but first, make sure to check in on Tuesday for somebody's birthday and a very special announcement!

December 29, 2010

Friday, December 26, 2014

Christmas

We had another fun- and family-filled Christmas yesterday and are still basking in the merriment today. We started out bright but not-too-early in the morning with ... presents, of course! 

Hooray!

Georgia went for practical with the new backpack at the top of her list.

Our future writer was excited about this gift.

 And our aspiring architect was a bit excited about this one.

Poppa and his girls

The Plaid Shirt Gang

Four generations supporting St. Baldrick's through #ScottGiving.

After a delicious Italian lunch, we headed to the movies, which I hope becomes a new tradition. We are big movie lovers, and it's always such a treat to get to go with the whole family. We saw "Into the Woods" and can highly recommend it - fantastic! Then, as a double feature, we closed out the day at home with a late viewing of one our favorites, "It's a Wonderful Life." Indeed it is, friends. Indeed it is!


Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Merry

It's Christmas Eve, and we're all ready to settle down for a long winter's nap. But first, we're looking back and giving thanks for for the wonderful year we've had. We are truly grateful for Georgia's good health and for all of the support we continue to receive from so many. We have big plans for next year, so we're looking forward to sharing them and seeing what amazing thing Georgia does next. Many thanks, much love, and Happy Holidays!

Monday, December 22, 2014

Week in Review


Eight days til Georgia's birthday and her big announcement! And we're just $46 away from our fundraising goal for this year! Click here to donate and be a superhero for kids fighting cancer!

In other news, Georgia finished up the semester with straight As and had a great early birthday party with her pack of sweet friends. They went ice skating and then caroling in our neighborhood - and reminded us over and over again that they would all soon be eligible to take ... driver's ed! Yikes! I think we'll postpone that adventure until this summer. : )

And our precious Ivy had quite a week last week, too. She has the distinction of being the first person in this house to have a cast! She has a broken wrist, courtesy of a tag game that went awry at school, and will be in the cast for four weeks. After much discussion about the incident, she assured us that she is okay, and she was actually pretty excited to get to choose the color of her cast: 

Mommy's favorite color - and favorite 11 year old ...

Things are heating up around Peachy Keen HQ in preparation for Georgia's birthday, diagnosis anniversary, and big announcement! Oh, and there's also the matter of Christmas and our trip to Florida! It's the most wonderful time of the year, indeed, and we hope all of our Friends of Georgia are enjoying this holiday season. And we can't wait to share our adventures and our plans for next year!

Monday, December 15, 2014

15 in 15 ...

In 15 days, this girl turns 15. And she's making a big announcement ... stay tuned!

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

To a Tee

More holiday gift ideas! One can never have too many t-shirts, right? Never! Especially when they support wonderful causes, like these:

46 Mommas Shave for the Brave! Paperclouds Apparel has partnered with the Mommas, and through December 14th, 50% of the proceeds from these four tees will benefit our fundraising campaign. Each design was created by one of our Honored Kids, and you can make your own unique item by choosing the style, color, and placement of the design. Click HERE to learn more about the talented artists and to place your order. Only FOUR more days!


Superhero Kids! The artist, Daniel Johnston, has donated an incredible new mural to the City of Austin in honor of all kids fighting cancer and in support of our favorite local organization, Superhero Kids. Sponsored by the GSD&M ad agency, this beautiful piece of art, and t-shirts based on the design, will spread awareness and raise funds for financial and quality-of-life support for local children fighting cancer and their families. Click HERE to purchase a t-shirt, and through the end of the month, if you take a picture at the mural and share it with #superherokids, GSD&M will make a donation!



ALSO through the end of the month, you can get your own Georgia Beanie or other awesome MaxLove Brand hat at 40% off! Just enter the code FRIENDFAM at checkout (for headwear only). What a deal!

We've heard from many of you who have purchased the Georgia Beanie or the Scott Giving items, and we'd LOVE to see you in them! Please snap a picture or two and send them our way - either to the Facebook page or our email: keepingeorgiaonyourmind@gmail.com. Thank you, thank you!

Wednesday, December 3, 2014

Free and Clear

Today, Georgia got the ALL-CLEAR from the dermatologist! A benign cyst! Nothing to worry about (ahem), and no need to follow-up, other than to have her stitches taken out on Friday - just in time for her swim meet! So she's back to business as usual, and we are all celebrating the news we just knew was coming: Georgia is healthy and cancer-free.



Get your Georgia Beanie HERE.

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

The Big Give

It's Giving Tuesday! Time to make a difference with your holiday shopping dollars, and have we got some ideas for you! You might notice a theme here ...



We love this hat - and EVERY hat - from MaxLove, and we love even more that if you order today, on Giving Tuesday, 50% of sales will be donated to the St. Baldrick's Foundation! So not only are you helping super kids thrive against the odds, you're also funding the most promising childhood cancer research. And you'll look great to boot! Click HERE to purchase the Georgia Beanie!




We have at least one of everything - t-shirts, scarves, and pocket squares - and they are beautiful! Through December 31st, 20% of sales of these items inspired by Georgia's art will benefit the St. Baldrick's Foundation, so place your order today! Click HERE to purchase!

3) Donate and help us conquer childhood cancer!


We are just $86 from our fundraising goal for the year, and we'd love to close out 2014 - a big year for our girl! - with our biggest total ever. And you can put us over the top with a year-end gift! Click HERE to be a superhero for kids fighting cancer and to honor our own superhero, The Amazing Georgia!

Aside from these gifts-that-give, we also encourage you to give the gifts of life - by donating blood and registering as a bone marrow and organ donor. And how about something we can all give more of, our time. Time spent helping our neighbors is time well spent, so volunteer with a local organization and see what a big difference just a few hours can make.

We are grateful for all that you have given to us and to so many kids and families on this journey. It means the world to us - today and every day. Thank you!

Saturday, November 29, 2014

Thankful

It's the 29th, and we are thankful that Georgia has marked another month off treatment. We're still waiting on biopsy results from the dermatologist, but when we get the good news (hopefully Monday!), we will be thankful for that as well. And, as always, we are extra thankful for all of your support and your donations towards funding childhood cancer research. In fact, here's a special message from the St. Baldrick's Foundation's Ambassador Kids that says exactly how we feel:
We enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving with 30 friends and family members at our GG's house, and Georgia and Ivy stayed a few extra days for Christmas decorating and shopping. It's hard to believe that there are only three weeks of school before we break for the big day! And then The Big Trip and more Big Days to follow. This is a busy but very, very special time of year for our family, and we're looking forward to celebrating every moment.

Saturday, November 22, 2014

Share the Love

Attention Friends of Georgia! Voting has been extended in the L'Oreal Paris Woman of Worth campaign, so PLEASE vote for our force-of-nature Momma friend, Audra, once a day through Wednesday! Help her continue her good works with MaxLove Project, and help our kids THRIVE against the odds! Click HERE to vote! 


Boston Mommas 2014

In Georgia World this week, she had what is most assuredly a cyst removed for biopsy and has a few stitches to tell the tale. We know that she is at risk of developing a variety of late-effects  as a result of treatment, so we are very thankful she has access to top-notch survivorship care and a team of healthcare professionals in continued communication about her journey. With but a few manageable exceptions, Georgia emerged from her fight relatively unscathed, and that bodes very well for her future. But because so many children are not so fortunate, we are dedicated to raising awareness, hope, and funds for research to change those numbers and those outcomes. To that end, we've got big plans for 2015, and we can't wait to share them with you! For now, please keep our girl on your mind and in your prayers while we wait for the all-clear from dermatology. Have a great weekend!

 Rainy day sewing

Monday, November 17, 2014

GeorgiaLove

Another great honor for Georgia today - our dear friends at MaxLove Project have named a hat after her! Released as part of the Fall & Winter collection from Maxlove Brand, this precious beanie will help fund whole-kid wellness initiatives, comprehensive-integrative therapies, research, and resources for kids thriving against cancer and other life-threatening conditions. We are continuously amazed by the work Audra and Justin and the whole Wilford family do every day, and we are honored to lend our support in any way. Click HERE to get your Georgia Beanie, HERE to read about the inspiration (wink) behind it, and to see the other wonderful products that MaxLove has to offer. And click HERE to vote for Audra - every day through Friday!


Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Great Scott(s)!

BIG news to share! Georgia's "Bluebirds of Happiness" artwork is featured on several products released today by Drew Scott and Jonathan Silver Scott's (aka the Property Brothers) charitable campaign, Scott Giving! We've been working on this project for months, and now it's officially up and running. 20% of the proceeds from sales through the end of the year will benefit the St. Baldrick's Foundation, so y'all get to shopping and help fund childhood cancer research! Click HERE!

The artist with her inspiration piece

One of the finished products - a pocket square

And don't forget! PLEASE VOTE for Audra - today and every day through November 21st! Thanks, y'all!

Sunday, November 9, 2014

It's a Beautiful Thing

It's a beautiful day in Austin, Texas, and we're asking for your help for a beautiful friend of ours. Audra is one of ten women selected as a 2014 L'Oréal Paris Woman of Worth for her tireless, inspired efforts in the fight against childhood cancer. We can help her win $25,000 for her non-profit, MaxLove Project, just by clicking on THIS link and voting once a day through November 21st! This Momma does the work of 20 people every day in honor of her son, SuperMax, and she deserves every accolade and every vote in support of helping kids THRIVE against the odds. So please cast your vote for HOPE!


In other fundraising news, we have passed our goal for 2014! Thank you to all who have donated this year - and every year - to the St. Baldrick's Foundation in support of the most promising childhood cancer research. That said, we're sooo close to $15,000 for the year, so do you think we can get there by Georgia's 15th birthday on December 30th? I say YES! Click HERE or on the Momma button in the sidebar to donate, and thank you, thank you in advance!


Sunday, November 2, 2014

No Tricks, Just Treats

This year, Halloween was full of thrills and chills from sunup to sundown! Georgia started the morning off with a swim meet at the University of Texas swim center - a world-class facility. It was a huge event with lots of great swimming happening everywhere you looked. She ended up doing two relays in addition to her other two events, so it was a hard day, but a fun day! 

Hitting her block in the white cap

Here they are - your Ann Richards STARS!

Dressed and ready for College Day that afternoon!

The main event followed in the evening when trick-or-treaters started ringing the doorbell at 6:30. Our own crew headed out soon after in costumes with a decidedly Hogwartsian feel:

Expelliarmus! It's Professor Trelawney, Voldemort, Tonks, and Harry himself.



The wonderful weekend also included us celebrating Trevor's birthday on Saturday. It actually feels like fall (for Texas, anyway), so a trip out to The Salt Lick was the perfect way to spend the afternoon.


Another six weeks of school have nearly come and gone, and before we know it, it will be Christmas and ... our Disney trip! Georgia and Ivy are making plans already, and if possible, we hope to take a moment to visit the incredible Give Kids the World. It's such a special place, and we feel so fortunate to have been able to stay there for Georgia's Make A Wish trip. But can you believe that that was four years ago?! Wow!

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

2.5

It's the 29th of the month, and Month 30 in Georgia's off treatment count. Two and a half years. That means she's exactly halfway to that big Five Years off treatment milestone. On April 29, 2017, we can officially say that she is cancer-FREE, and what a day that will be! Methinks there will be a party of some sort ... : )

For today, we're looking back at April 29, 2012, and the days surrounding it, when Georgia took her last dose of 6-MP and claimed her victory over leukemia. A lot has changed since then, as is evident by pictures and posts from that time. Gone are the puffy cheeks from steroids and the joint pains from vincristine. In their place are a determined jaw and ever-stronger legs set on kicking harder and faster every day. The timid sixth grader is now a confident ninth grader looking forward to college and beyond. And the concerns and considerations that used to rule every decision, every plan we made are almost a distant memory. Almost. 

I'm once again reminded of a speech I gave a few years ago: 

There will never come a moment where we say, "Remember that time you had leukemia?" But at the same time, Georgia will not be defined by this experience. She is, was, and always will be a special, special girl, and I'm confident that this is all leading up to the greatness she was already destined for.

She is great, and despite the "official" count, she is already FREE and living her wonderful life, shining her beautiful light. Thank you all for keeping Georgia on your mind, in your prayers, and in your hearts for the past five years. We love you and are eternally grateful.

April 29, 2012

Thursday, October 23, 2014

Getting Along Swimmingly

Yesterday's survivorship appointment went very well - the best news is that Georgia's Vitamin D level was in the NORMAL range! So the supplements are having an effect in that regard, and we'll see what that looks like in her bone density scan when we go to the endocrinologist in March.  Blood counts were "super," and everything else checked out as well, so she won't be back there until the new year! Yes!

And after three days of practice this week, she spent the whole day today at her second swim meet. She swam the 50 and 100 freestyle again, and from last Monday's meet, she took a second off of her 50 time and 5 seconds off of her 100 time! Again I say, YES! She told me that swimming is hard, but in a good way, and she LOVES it - the early, early morning practices and all. So we love it, too.


Round Rock pool - 2004 and 2014. Still smiling.

Monday, October 20, 2014

Student/Athlete/Superstar

Another fun-filled, so-busy-but-we'll-take-it kind of week! First, Georgia's swim meet on Monday was a huge success! At first, the weather looked like it might not cooperate, but after delaying the start for a hour, the sun came out, and it was a gorgeous day. Georgia may not be the fastest one in the pool, but nobody swims with as much heart and determination. To see her out there was a true thing of beauty, and we could not be more proud - or grateful!

Just keep swimming, baby girl. You've already won your race.

It was Homecoming at Ann Richards, too, so our favorite swimmer got to wear her team shirt on Spirit Day! And speaking of school, she also brought home *another* straight-A report card for her first six weeks of high school and was selected once again as an ARS student ambassador for the year. She is unstoppable!


We capped off the week with the annual Badgerdog book release at the Texas Teen Book Festival. Neither Georgia nor Ivy read this year, but they were excited to see their latest works in print and get autographs from their fellow published writers. Cousin Claire participated this summer as well, so it appears we now have the Moore Family Writing Dynasty firmly established. Look out, Brontes!


Wednesday is Georgia's second survivorship appointment, and Thursday is her second swim meet. Throw in play practice all week and a lock-in with the NJHS on Friday, and I have a feeling someone will be ready for the weekend and some rest on Saturday! But she is happy, healthy, and having fun, so we are grateful to witness the whirlwind and soak up every minute. Life is good!

Sunday, October 12, 2014

Magic

Last Sunday, I had the distinct pleasure of attending a magical fundraising event in Las Vegas. Circus Couture is part-circus, part-fashion show, ALL-heart and hope, and it benefits the Children's Specialty Center of Nevada and the St. Baldrick's Foundation. I met up with my dear Momma friend from California, Alyson, and we had a fabulous time watching the Cirque du Soleil performers and the lively auction happening throughout the night. One of the top bidders was Criss Angel, who, besides donating over $20,000 in the auction, also spontaneously donated a custom motorcycle, which fetched nearly $38,000 on the spot! It was very exciting and inspiring, and he couldn't have been more gracious. Support like that is critical to raising awareness and much-needed funds, and for him to be so engaged in the event and the mission was icing on the cake. It was a very successful and entertaining show, and I'm making it an annual adventure from now on!

Alyson and I with Erica Linz, co-founder, performer, and head rabble rouser for the event.
She shaved her head onstage as part of her act, and it was beautiful!

 Criss Angel, a real softie trying to look tough

We also ran into Kathleen Ruddy, CEO of St. Baldrick's, and got a quick pic for the 
#YouAreMyHero campaign.

Our own hero has her very first swim meet in the morning, and she is beyond excited! She'll be swimming the 50 and 100 meter freestyle, and we'll all be there to cheer her on. We'll report back with all the details, but any extra good vibrations you can send her in the morning would be much-appreciated! Thanks, y'all!

Tuesday, October 7, 2014

Sweets for The Sweet

Hear ye! Hear ye!  On October 1, 2014, Ivy Francis Moore turned 11 years old!


We celebrated our super sister in grand rainbows-and-unicorns style, from dawn to dusk, and we ended the evening with the traditional birthday scavenger hunt. The "surprise" waiting at the end was the trunk she wanted for when she follows Georgia to Camp Mystic this summer. But the real surprise was what was inside - an owl carrying her official Hogwarts acceptance letter!



 And just like when Georgia received her letter, it also served to announce that we are going back to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Disney World over Christmas! Georgia seemed pretty excited about that as well ...




The fun continued the next night with a Wonka-themed party with Ivy's good friends. We had candy, chocolate, and Fizzy Lifting Drinks for all and then caught a screening of "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory," with special guests, Veruca Salt and Mike TeeVee in attendance.






It was a very special night for a very special girl. Ivy has seen and done more than most people three times her age, and she continues to amaze and inspire us. She is as brave and brilliant as Georgia, and we are equally proud of the young lady she is becoming. Happy Birthday, Happy Everything, my Ivy Francis!