Hope4Peyton

When God decides to rain down blessings, sometimes He POURS them on!

I got a call this afternoon letting me know that a family from our school had heard about our issues with tuition for next year. This family has 3 kids attending and one of them is getting ready to head off to high school, so they made the committment to put the tuition that was already budgeted in for one of our children for next year. That's one child's tuition for the whole year. Praise God!! That just blew me away and is such an amazing thing for my kids. I haven't even begun to tell them that its a possibility they might not be able to attend. I'm just trusting the Lord to make the decision for us and this is one way that He has shown us his plans for the kids. Whooo hooo!

The "Peyton Yard Sale" team also had its first meeting tonight and the ideas and suggestions just flew! There is so much to do and plan, but I know that these details are going to come together. One blessing in our lives has been the amazing support and encouragement we continue to receive and the people who have stepped up at this time to say "I'll help however I can", "we have stuff we can donate for sale", "what do you need me to do?" are just phenomenal. This is God's work in action fr us and it is fantastic to see.

I'm going to try to organize a quick get together for breakfast (Peyton's favorite meal of the day) for a follow up meeting for anyone who couldn't make it and wanted to. If you'd like to join us, just email me at [url=mailto:anissa.mayhew@verizon.net]anissa.mayhew@verizon.net[/url].

Peyton looks great. She has been off her chemo for two weeks, and off one specific medication, Vincristine, for well over a month. This time has given her full energy speed, her hair's really been coming in (long enough that she wakes up with wicked bed head!), her counts are nice and high and she looks so fantastically healthy. She's been putting on weight for a change, since she's been off the chemo she's actually wanting to eat whole meals! She hasn't done that in 10 months, at least not steroid-inspired meal….and its awesome to see her little face looking rosy and healthy.

Now the stinky part is that we're building her up so she can be hit hard with this next round of chemo that starts on Wednesday, but at least she's starting off pretty high! I'm not looking forward to it, but the sooner we get it started, the sooner we can get it over.

I did realize that her delayed reactions may fall smack dab into the dates that we've got set for our [url=http://www.childrensdreamfund.org]Children's Dream Fund[/url] trip to Disney, but we're praying that she feels good enough to enjoy the trip anyways. The nice thing about groups like this is that they understand that we expect the unexpected and many trips are rearranged for whatever reasons. So, we don't feel a whole lot of pressure because if she doesn't feel good, we can always do it later.

Peter and I have decided, that if the owner of the condo that was gifted to us agrees, we're going to share our blessing with others. We're going to time it out so that the Dads of cancer kids can go for two days, then we'll spend family time there alone, then the moms can use the final two days. How cool is that? To be able to use this gift as a way to benefit as many families as we can with a brief break and retreat, time for fellowship and laughs and just getting to take a breath. I'm so excited about the prospect of it all, time with friends and especially time with my family. Pray this plan works out because I know that much like our family, many of these can't afford to take a nice long vacation and this would be an opportunity to get away, for an afternoon at the beach or a fun sleepover!

These pictures were posted at the [url=http://www.forethechildren.org/albumn_2007.php]Fore the Children[/url] website. There is a great shot near the bottom of us with the golfers who blessed us with the vacation package.

Can I just say again how much I love the pictures that [url=http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/nikkihawkins]Penny Hawkins[/url] took of the girls?!! They're awesome and I love them and will cherish them forever.

f.r.o.G…fully relying on God
—Anissa

Penny Hawkins, Nikki Hawkin's mom, is amazing with a camera. She took these pictures last night at the Fore the Children event and I was just so thankful she did because they are gorgeous!

Thank you, Penny!

Ok, wow….can I just say "Go God!"

When you pray about something strongly and you get to see firsthand how God can use the hearts of many to come up with a solution, it is a wonderful thing.

The [url=http://www.hope4adelaine.org]Powell family[/url] is one that we have posted about often. They have become such special friends and we just love them so much. They have truly struggled with financial issues related to Adelaine's cancer and in the process they've lost both of their vehicles. So, this is a family of 5, two boys in school with different schedules, a husband with a job he needs to get to, a daughter with cancer who has various clinic visits and has been in and out of the hospital constantly since February. No car. They have been blessed with friends who have loaned them vehicles so that they could get to where they needed to get to, but this was never a fix to the base issue. No car.

A few weeks ago, I got my busy nose into the situation and started sending out emails. I sent emails to the newspapers and news stations, to different groups and foundations and even a few off to Oprah (you never know!). I got back a response from Mark and Dana Clements, a family who organizes [url=http://www.forethechildren.com]Fore the Children[/url] foundation. They have an annual golf tournament that benefits families in the Tampa area who are fighting pediatric cancers. Dana and Mark got a hold of me and let me know that they'd received my email and that they very much wanted to invite us to their upcoming golf tournament (today!) and to make sure that we got the Powell family there. They wanted to meet them and left it at that, I was hoping that something was going to be done through their work to help out the situation somehow. Whether money was donated towards the purchase of a vehicle, or one was provided, just something to help out our friends.

So we all went. Actually, all of us except for poor Rachael who's had a sore throat and and off/on again fever…..we left her with Grandma because we never know who might be there, what their counts are and can't take the chance of spreading something. We got to the tournament at the end of the golf playing, catching up with our sweet friend [url=http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/nikkihawkins]Nikki Hawins[/url] and her fantastic family and other friends from the [url=http://www.childrenscancercenter.org]Children's Cancer Center[/url]. When the golfers got in from their day of play, they served us a wonderful dinner and then they got down to business. The business of making a difference in people's lives. They had raffle items and live auction items, as well as a 50/50 drawing (this is where you buy a ticket and half the money goes to the organization and half goes into a pot that is won by the ticket holder). All proceeds of these went to the foundation so that they could make wonderful things happen for pediatric cancer families.

They gifted sweet Nikki with a puppy that she wanted so badly for her birthday. We have clinic with this little girl, we see her a lot and I've NEVER seen her with a smile like the one she wore tonight. I'd lay money on the probability that her face will hurt tomorrow from all the smiling she did. She named her cute little pomeranian puppy Faith, and I can honestly say that a puppy has never been that loved so quickly.

A family with a 5 year old daughter, who's been critically ill since birth, wanted to be able to attend a special conference to find answers to helping their little girl. All they wanted was a chance to go meet with doctors and surgeons who might be able to help their daughter some way. Fore The Children was able to announce that they would finance the entire trip for the family.

Dana got the mic and shared the email that I had written asking for help for the Powell family. Then they asked our families to come up so we could be introduced. When MOST of us got up there, they told us how touched they were by the request and by our friendship. Then they told us to look outside the window of the clubhouse. There was a beautiful car. A blue car. A car for the Powell family. Oh the tears just came!!! We were all so shocked and excited and stunned, it was an amazing moment. I say MOST of us went up to the front because poor Angela had been in the bathroom for most of the email-reading and she had just came out when she heard the end of the letter and the announcement that they had a new car!

It was wonderful. Maybe the most wonderful car I've ever seen. Not the most expensive or newest or coolest car in the world…..but that car was precious in my eyes. It was a straight answer to many prayers.

How cool is that??!!!

Oh, it gets even better.

They auctioned off a lot of very cool stuff, people dug deep into their generous pockets for this wonderful cause. With each item raffled or auctioned, I could just see the smile of the child and family who had some special need in their life met.

Peter and I were outside when they called out our names. We hadn't asked for anything, it was supposed to be a night special for our friends. We truly had no idea what was going on and when we got inside, they told us that a table of golfers had purchased the last auction item for a thousand dollars(!!!!!!) and donated it to our family. It is week long trip to Madeira Beach, with a beach-front condo for our use! Pools, beach, fishing..whatever! That was gifted to us. The men that donated that vacation were hugged soundly and we tried to express the gratitude that we felt but didn't know how to say.

We never wanted any repayment for just wanting to help our friends in any way we could…..all I did was send an email asking for help. But God blessed us in a mighty way through these compassionate people.

But wait! There's more!

The last raffle ticket of the night was for the 50/50 drawing….the gentleman who won got up and announced that somehow he KNEW he was going to win that money. His plan for the money was to donate that back between two of the families helped tonight…ours and the Powells. He gave all that money right back to us. Wow is completely inadequate, but WOW. When I thanked him, profusely, he just hugged me and told me it was going to be ok and that he would have us in his prayers. That was more meaningful than the money.

The Lord can just open our eyes to the awesome power He has, and the blessings that He can provide if we just put our faith in Him. We had a fantastic night, we met new friends and were showered with love and compassion. We got to see our friends receive love and blessings of their own, which made the night just that much richer. We got to see people reaching out and taking the time to share of themselves and shine a ray of love and hope in the lives of many touched by cancer.

It was just amazing. SOOO cool! I can't even think of anything better to say about it.

Thank you so much to Dana and Mark Clements, to [url=http://www.forethechildren.com]Fore the Children[/url]…all the volunteers who made the day possible, to all the people who came and gave and made the blessings happen…for each person who prayed for this event to be the resounding success that it was….it was a night we'll never forget and will cherish forever.

f.r.o.G….fully relying on God
—Anissa

ps…A lot of pictures will be posted later!

p.s.s…Extra cool news. One of the things they had going on was the [url=http://www.drivingfordonors.com]Driving for Donors[/url]. This child Pat has leukemia and when he found out a friend died because they couldn't find a matching marrow donor in time, his famiy took up this mission to drive cross country and host events to register new donors. They originally made a goal of 2007 new donor registrations in 2007, but they are well on their way to already meeting that goal and have set a new goal of 5000 new donors. Peter and I both registered tonight as bone marrow donors and I would ask that you search your heart and consider becoming one yourself. Although they need ALL donors, there is a special need for minority donors….so please consider becoming registered as a donor.

Peyton took a bath tonight. She wants what she wants, how she wants it and when she wants it….that's good to remember.

She was waiting impatiently for me to get her towel when Pete came in the bathroom.

"How's my girl?"

"I'm ready to get out and Mommy won't get me out of the bath!"

"Why not?"

"Because she's evil."

f.r.o.G…fully relying on God
—Anissa

I love to get email now more than ever. Because I'm working from Pete's computer now….let's all say a special prayer for my computer to enjoy whatever mechanical heaven good laptops go to when they're gone….the computer bellows "THIS IS SPARTA!" whenever I get a new email. I love that. It cracks me up. So much better than "You've got mail". It's makes me think that 300 Spartans went in and kicked the tar out of the AOL people…and that REALLY cracks me up.

Anyway.

You know the phrase "Ignorance is bliss"? Apparently it's meant for parents of kids who are too smart for their own good. Peyton and I are cruising down the road and I blew through a stoplight that had just turned yellow. She says "Oooohhh, Mommy, yellow means SLOW DOWN. You did green." Nice, I get driving advice from someone whose legs aren't long enough to reach the pedals. Then I had a drink overturn and end up in my lap, so when I got out of the car she took one look at my wet pants and said "Mommy! You made pee pees in your pants, you need to wear a diaper!" I wanted to tell her to cut me some slack, but I know that somewhere down the road I'll ask her why she didn't try to make it to the potty and she'll say "Hey, lady, cut me some slack! I'm 3!!" She may not have perfected her abc's or numbers yet, but she's got that sarcasm thing down to an art already.

I had shared that Peyton was going to be highlighted in a taped video spot during the [url=http://www.allkids.org]All Children's Hospital[/url] Miracle Network telethon. Well, they upped the offer and today we were asked to be a part of the live broadcast with an interview of our family. I want you to stop for a minute. Think about that. All of us….in front of a camera…live on tv….with a potential for disaster equalled only on Saturday Night Live…so we said "Of course!" Seriously, though, an opportunity to give back to the hospital that has provided us such excellent care and to help in some small measure to ensure that it will be able to keep giving it to other families….how could we not? It was mentioned that we would be interviewed by someone like Gayle Sierens or Bob Hite, and I promptly told them if we didn't get Jennifer Aniston or Morgan Freedman like St. Judes does, then we're outta there!

Although, we do talk about how we need a celebrity to get on the cause. A group of us moms were talking about how if a truly famous person's kid got cancer then it would be the "IT" cancer and money for research would be rolling in. Everyone knows about breast cancer, prostate cancer and skin cancer….and not that they aren't serious cancers that deserve the respect of the medical community and recognition for the strides they're making…but someone told me that they didn't realize that kids got other cancers than leukemia….and I just think "Why aren't people getting it? How are they not hearing it?" Not that any of us ever wish cancer on a another child, but we realize the honesty of the fact that if Tom Cruise's child or Angelina Jolie's child had cancer, we'd probably have a cure by now, that's the unbalanced power of our world. Tom Cruise raised millions of dollars at one dinner fundraiser for his religion, can you imagine if he made that effort for cancer? If he weren't a complete loon I'd ask him! The politicians who raise millions of dollars to fund their campaigns…..if they'd turn around and put that money to use for a REAL cause, I'd vote for them.

Cancer kills more kids than asthma, cystic fibrosis, diabetes and AIDS combined and people don't know. I'm guilty of it, before Peyton got diagnosed I couldn't quote you a single pediatric cancer statistic, I couldn't tell you the first thing about childhood cancer….in fact, when the pediatrician told me he was sending us to an oncologist, I immediately asked if it was leukemia because that was the only cancer I could think of. Many of us admit freely that we were totally ignorant of the needs out there and the families struggling, my only interaction being a check I'd send to St. Judes once a year when they sent me address labels.

So when people ask me how we get through this, how we find a reason for it, I tell them that we get through it by the grace and strength of God alone and I believe the reason is to spread the word, to reach out and make a difference.

Because ignorance isn't bliss, it's dangerous and it's an obligation to raise awareness.

Ha! I bet you didn't see that wrap-around back to the beginning point coming, huh?

Ok, my soapbox has been officially put back under the couch.

The whole family made the trek down to the [url=http://www.childrenscancercenter.org]Children's Cancer Center[/url] tonight to be a part of the family oncology support group. We ate tacos, the kids had a fabulous time and we spent time sharing updates and news about our lives and kids. I have something super exciting to share with you…this is the new CCC brochures….do you love it!! Adelaine and Peyton showing the world, or at least Tampa, what it means to be a child of cancer, full of hope and courage….we are honored that the CCC picked Peyton to be one of their brochure kids!

We got some great input tonight from families who were able to shed light on radiation for us. Some had much more intense treatments, and some were the same as what we are preparing for. We were so thankful to get the information, things to be prepared for, to look for, to expect….delayed reactions such as sleeping non-stop (one family said their son Matthew slept up to 20 hours a day) and disorientation….they're scary to think about, but won't be as scary as they would be if we aren't prepared. Parents shared high votes of confidence in the oncology radiologist that we are going to see, Dr. Cotman and that is always reassuring. We also just got the chance to share our trepidation about the whole procedure, our fears for the long term effects with other parents who understand and have been there. They can't always soothe the fears, but they let us know that it's not something that we're going through alone and that always buffers our spirits. I am so thankful for the amazing friendships we are building at the CCC, the support and encouragement we are able to give each other is so vital to making it through this cancer path.

We are asking for special prayers for a newly diagnosed family. Scott is 10 years old, he has t-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and he and his whole family need us to just lift their family up in love and prayer.

It looks like we're already starting to get a good response to the yard sale announcement. If you have stuff that you've been thinking "Hmm, I'd really like for THAT to be gone out of my life and I just don't know how to get rid of it", save it for us and we'll put it to good use in the yard sale. Again, the first official organizational meeting is going to be Monday night at 6:30 and if you'd like to come and share some ideas email me at [url=mailto:anissa.mayhew@verizon.net]anissa.mayhew@verizon.net[/url].

f.r.o.G….fully relying on God
—Anissa

P.S.
Some new pictures from Relay for Life came in from Penny Hawkins, mother of Nikki Hawkins, one of the beautiful relay magazine cover kids.

Nikki Hawkins and Peyton

Penny and Nikki Hawkins and Peyton and me

Peyton's survivor lap at Grecco Middle School