17 Months OT!

What better way to close out Childhood Cancer Awareness Month than by celebrating Georgia's 17th month off treatment?! She continues to grow stronger - and taller! - each day, and she greets every one of her increasingly busy days with a smile. In the last week alone, she represented the NJHS at the annual school fundraiser, had her first play rehearsal, and was selected as a student ambassador for tours and community events involving the Ann Richards School. Oh, and she and Ivy both read their creative writing pieces for a crowd of 500 people at the Austin Teen Book Festival! It was such a wonderful event - Georgia made us laugh, Ivy made us cry, and they both made us very proud!

Georgia, classmate Mireya, and their writing teacher, Taya

The incredible Mrs. Mauser, aka Magical Ninja Librarian from ARS

 Sharing her piece, "Man vs. Zombie: A Polite and Dignified Conversation."

The house was packed, and as it happens, there was a family sitting right in front of us who had lost their little boy to neuroblastoma. His sister shared a beautiful poem about his journey, and I had the privilege of visiting with his parents afterwards. We talked about their son, about Georgia, and about the clear impact of childhood cancer on siblings. We also talked about the critical need for research, especially for cancers like neuroblastoma, which very often goes undiagnosed until it's quite advanced and extremely difficult to fight. One of the excuses - I mean, "reasons" - Big Pharma gives for its lack of attention to childhood cancer as a whole is because "it's so rare." Really? I know of at least two families in that room yesterday who would disagree.

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, but any month, every month, you can do SOMETHING to help kids and families in the fight. Thanks, y'all, and have a great week.

Loving Libbie

Saturday, we had the great pleasure of representing the 46 Mommas and the St. Baldrick's Foundation at one the best parties of the year: the Loving Libbie Memorial Foundation's 3rd Annual Birthday Bash! We celebrated precious Libbie and helped raise money for the amazing Becky and her crew at A Trip to Bountiful bakery and cafe to continue their good work of feeding the children in treatment at our clinic, Dell Children's Hospital, and the Ronald McDonald House. There were games and activities galore, all sponsored by a variety of organizations from the childhood cancer community, but the stars of the show are always the macaroni and cheese and the birthday cake!

 

This year's cake was inspired by ColorCancer's use of the colors associated with different types of cancer to raise awareness and funds to fight those cancers. It was just as colorful on the inside, as you can see! The cake also featured the sign for "I Love You," which holds special meaning for Becky and her daughter, Libbie.  

 One of my helpers making macaroni necklaces.

At the end of the party, Georgia presented Becky with her painting, "Still Life with Macaroni and Cheese," to thank her for all of the delicious food and cakes from Bountiful that our family has enjoyed over the past three years. Becky sent me a message today that said, "I am so touched and honored to have this painting from Georgia. I took it to work today and showed it off to everyone. You know how shy I am...not many people saw it...wink. Come in soon and I think you might find it hanging quite proudly with a fabulous frame in an important spot at the bakery."

It was a very sweet day.

MaxLove

My Momma friend, Audra, is probably the hardest working person I know in the childhood cancer community. Through MaxLove Project, a non-profit organization inspired by her amazing son, Max, her team aims to provide families fighting childhood cancers and life-threatening conditions with accessible, practical, and kid-friendly whole-body wellness. To that end, MaxLove has an anti-cancer nutrition program (Fierce Foods), a Love + Light Initiative (Cloud b Twilight Turtles), and the MaxLove Brand of headware - all dedicated to helping SuperKids THRIVE against cancer. The whole family is involved in every aspect of these programs, and they are all amazing! We so appreciate all they are doing to raise awareness of childhood cancer as well as the critical need for research funds and integrative care.

For the month of September, each order from MaxLove Brand will include a free Gold Hope Beanie, in honor of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Stock up on a variety of knit hats for winter, or check out the Special Edition Momma Fedoras (here and here), $5 from which will benefit the 46 Mommas campaign in support of the St. Baldrick's Foundation.

And as if that isn't enough, Audra also had time to write a beautiful post for the St. Baldrick's blog about Max's first day of school and how he is thriving against cancer. He is a SUPER boy, and we wish him and his SUPER family much, much love. MaxLove!

Halfway

We're halfway through September - have you done SOMETHING for kids fighting cancer? Here's why we need your help:

Lucky

Well, even though the calendar says Friday the 13th, we've had a lucky day around Peachy Keen HQ! For starters, Georgia recently auditioned for her first school play, and she found out today that she made the cast! The parts will be decided after Monday's first read-through, but her theatre teacher thought Georgia did very well in the audition, especially for her first one ever, and she was very glad that she tried out. Another thespian in our midst? We'll see ...

Meanwhile, in my classroom, Ivy and the other kiddos surprised me with a belated celebration of my summer birthday. The whole idea was so far off my radar, I didn't even notice Ivy making the card and getting all the children to sign it! They brought me lunch, beautiful flowers, and chocolate - not too shabby!

And then, the best present of all, we got home to find a box from Votre Vu on the porch:

The back of the card says: "Brave, bright, and beautiful. 

My daughter is a warrior. My daughter is my hero."

If you order a special edition gold lipstick this month, you will receive one of six cards featuring a childhood cancer fighter, and $1 from each lipstick or other product purchased from the French Accents line will go to the St. Baldrick's Foundation for childhood cancer research. The 46 Mommas so appreciate this effort from Votre Vu, and we're grateful for yet another way to get the word out that kids get cancer, too, and they need our support. These lipsticks are a special release for September, hence the GOLD packaging for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, so order yours today! And have a great weekend, y'all!