Childhood Cancer Can Devastate Families

by Glenni Lorick, IBCLC and Reva Everetts

Thomas "Superman" Sullivan

When Reva first came to A Nurturing Moment last spring, she said that one of her passions was helping families who are dealing with Childhood Cancer. She makes special gifts for these children and sends them packaged with lots of love. She also makes special childhood cancer awareness items to sell and donates the proceeds to non-profits raising money for research like St. Baldrick's Foundation, St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital and Alex's Lemonade Stand (be sure to have a tissue if you click on that last link!)

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness month, so Reva created a very special window for A Nurturing Moment featuring the following little heroes.

Thomas Sullivan: June 22 2006 - May 28 2013. Lost battle right after 7th birthday.

Thomas Sullivan, also known as "Superman" went in for a routine eye exam on December 8, 2011. When the optimist dilated his eyes he found something behind the eye. Thomas was sent to the doctor, and after an abundance of tests, MRI scans and blood work, he was diagnosed with Medulloblastoma. On December 28th he had a port inserted for chemotherapy and other medicines to be administered. A spinal puncture revealed that Thomas had cancer cells in his spinal fluid, so he would have to receive the highest dose of radiation. On April 3, 2013, after losing most of his strength and ability/want to do anything, he muttered the words to his mother, "I want to go home." The next day they began at home hospice care.

Lexi Lee

Thomas had a HUGE support system throughout his journey. Forty-five thousand prayer warriors followed his story through social media. There was a prayer circle that surrounded him at his home after they started at home hospice care. After he lost his battle on May 28, 2013, the outpouring of people that came to show love, support, and share in the sadness at "Superman's" funeral was surreal.

Lexi Lee, Moulton, Al

Lexi was taken to a doctor after her mother had noticed that she had abnormal bruising. These were not your typical toddler burises; rather, they were bruises that just kept showing up for no apparent reason and not going away. From that day on, it was a whirlwind of events for Lexi and her family.

Penelope Davis

Lexi was officially diagnosed with leukemia in September of 2013. She still undergoes chemotherapy and vigorous blood work to check all of her levels. Lexi and her family have fought an amazing fight and are winning! She has been battling for about a year now, and while she has ups and downs, some moodiness, fatigue and nausea, she has managed through all of this to somehow keep a bright smile on her beautiful face. God has blessed Lexi thus far, but there is still a tremendous need for prayer, support and love for her, her mother Jenna, father Chase, and the rest of their family.

Penelope Davis

The day that changed the Davis' lives was January 18, 2014. Penelope's story is a very sad, short lived, but realistic take on how this awful disease can snatch these tiny humans, these precious souls, our babies away from us in an instant. Penelope had started running into things and acting a little different than her regular self so her parents decided to take her to the doctor. Three short days later, Penelope was diagnosed with stage IV (4) Neuroblastoma. After many scans, bloodwork, and checkups, it was discovered that sweet Penelope had tumors not only in her skull, but in her abdomen and spine, and the cancerous cells had also spread to her bone marrow. Unfortunately, Penelope didn't get to fight for long. She lost her battle just 4 short months later on May 26, 2014.

Sophia Flint

Sophia Flint

On January 8, 2013, Sophia's mother took her to the doctor; from that day on, their lives were forever changed. They were told that Sophia's liver is 3 times the size of a "normal" liver for her age. Furthermore, her blood cells were depleted to 1/6 of what they were supposed to be.

On January 10, a bone marrow test determined that Sophia had A.L.L. (acute lymphatic leukemia), and that it had spread to 70% of her little body. Sophia has fought a long fight and is now in remission! She was able to start school and begin to socialize with other children this year. Nevertheless, she is still undergoing chemotherapy; her last treatment is scheduled for January 2015.

If you drop by the store, you will see pictures of each one of these precious children in our window. We have a jar where Reva is collecting money for childhood cancer research. In addition, 10% of all sales made on Saturday, Sept. 27 will be donated to Alex's Lemonade Stand to further the research efforts.