Kudos for Kelly (and Megan & Shannon too!)

Relay for Life TEAM KELLY page: http://main.acsevents.org/goto/kellylaude
Please visit our site to join us or make a donation.

Kelly has had a good week. So I guess it is good that I have nothing new to report on her. Her sisters, Megan and Shannon have been very busy with their dance team at our dance studio. Their team participated in the Los Angeles Dance Force Competition last weekend. It was the first competition for their team, and they won two silvers. Pretty good for their first time out. They got to take a lot of different dance classes with different teachers and they learned a lot. They really liked staying at the hotel with all of their teammates.

I wanted to share a letter that one of Kelly's oncologists emailed to her back in December after she invited him to come to the Christmas presentation that Dr. Muhonen did for her at CHOC. This makes me very proud of our daughter that has been through so much this year and still remains so positive. It is just nice to see her recognized for it. Dr. Esparza, who wrote this to Kelly, was happy to have me share it.

Dear Kelly,
I just wanted to send you an email to tell you a few things. First, I want to apologize for not being able to make it to your presentation on Thursday. I would have liked nothing better than to see you recognized for what a wonderful young lady you are. I am really grateful that you took the time to invite me. I was busy in the clinic and I have 2 family conferences for new patients that day.

I want you to know that I am very proud to be one of your doctors. I have been a doctor for over 7 years and I have never seen a young lady with more courage, strength, and compassion than you have. Your smile lights up a room and your presence makes people feel happy. I want to thank you also you being so kind to Cheyenne. I know that she gets very scared sometimes and I think that she looks up to you and tries to be strong like you.

I know it can't be easy to deal with all of the difficult things you have had to go through. Sometimes life is not only hard, it can be downright unfair at times. Your approach to life will not only help you get through this illness, it will help you do anything you want to do with your life.

Anyway, I could go on and on but I just want you to know how special you are. I'm sure your parents are so very proud of you.

Sincerely,
Dr. Sam - attending physician for GHOC (Gingerbread Hospital of Orange County)


OK, you have to remember this was December when Kelly and her friend, Diana, made the gingerbread hospital. I just liked the way he described Kelly, and he is right, her parents are so very proud of her!

We got a call from Make a Wish this week and Kelly's trip is planned! We are going on a Disney Cruise in August. Kelly (and all of us!) are excited to have such a fun trip to look forward to.

Kelly has labs on Monday and her next chemo treatment on Tuesday, March 4th.
Extra prayers would be appreciated for Cheyenne, Kelly's 7 year old friend from the clinc who is also fighting brain cancer. She is going through a rough time right now. www.caringbridge.org/visit/cheyennebroswell

THANK YOU to everyone who has joined us for Relay for Life and TEAM KELLY or who made a donation. Everything helps as we work together to help the American Cancer Society fight cancer. The link to our TEAM KELLY page is at the top of this post.