Jacob

Of all the trials and challenges that God gives us as parents, just imagine the worst, your child is diagnosed with cancer. Jacob was diagnosed on May 12, 1998 with Stage IV Neuroblastoma. He received several rounds of chemotherapy, 9 hours of major surgery, a stem cell transplant, radiation, monoclonal antibody therapy and a year of cis-retinoic acid over the course of 2 years. Jacob is now in complete remission and has a very good prognosis. This is due to the excellent medical care received, the prayers and support of so many people, and to the research of the Neuroblastoma Team of doctors at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City.

Since this disease only has a 50% survival rate we feel that we have been granted something very special. Unfortunately, because neuroblastoma is a rare disease, not much funding goes into it, so any amount helps! The Katie-Find-A-Cure fund was started by a family whose child, Katie, died at age 2 1/2 from neuroblastoma. They have high praise for the doctors at Sloan Kettering who tried to save her life and want to help other families going through this ordeal now. These are the same doctors who developed the protocols Jacob was treated with, and we are also very grateful. All donations are 100% tax deductilbe and people will receive an acknowledgement from Sloan Kettering for their contribution. Very little money is put into this type of research as it is a rare disease (only 500-600 cases per year in the USA), so any little bit would help!

Katie's Find A Cure Fund
Attn: Kathy and Joe Figliuolo
P.O. Box 142
Bourbonnais, IL 60914


OR:

Katie's Find A Cure Fund
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
Attn: Travis Holland
Associate Director, Major Gifts
1275 York Avenue
New York, NY 10021

Checks should be made payable to "Katie's Find A Cure-Neuroblastoma". Every penny goes towards Neuroblastoma reasearch at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in NY, on of the top Neuroblastoma research institutions in the world.

Jacob's family would also like to encourage everyone to donate platelets, blood and bone marrow to your local blood banks for community use! There is always a very high demand for these products! A lot fo platelets are used at Children's Hospital's. Please make that phone call today to schedule your appointment to become a donor!

Childhood doesn't wait.........

I was sitting on a bench while in a nearby mall, When I noticed a young mother with two children who were small.

The youngest one was whining, "Pick me up," I heard him beg but the mother's face grew angry as the child clung to her leg.

"Don't hang on to me," she shouted as she pushed his hands away, I wish I'd had the courage to go up to her and say...

"The time will come too quickly when those little arms that tug, Won't ask for you to hold them or won't freely give a hug.

"The day will sneak up subtly just as it did with me, When you can't recall the last time that your child sat on your knee.

"Like those sacred, pre-dawn feedings when we cherished time alone Our babies grow and leave behind those special times we've known.

"So when your child comes to you with a book that you can share, Or asks that you would tuck him in and help him say his prayer...

"When he comes to sit and chat or would like to take a walk, Before you answer that you can't `cause there's no time to talk.

"Remember what all parents learn so many times too late, That years go by too quickly and that childhood doesn't wait.

"Take every opportunity, if one should slip away Reach hard to get it back again, don't wait another day."

I watched that mother walk away her children followed near, I hope she'll pick them up before her chances disappear...

by Kathie Davis