Dealing with Huntington's Disease is a lot. It brings with it its own set of issues. But those dealing with HD don't have a monopoly on pain and suffering. Many others can use our love and support. Robert and I are firm believers in showing our love and support to our friends and family that are dealing with problems and issues of their own.
The month of September is the month picked to raise awareness for a disease that has affected some that we know very well. It is Childhood Cancer Awareness month. Sadly, friends of ours have been affected by childhood cancer.
One of these children is a sweet little girl that I watched when she was just a baby in the nursery at our church named Chloe. She was first diagnosed with leukemia at the age of 1. Yes! A year old and she had leukemia! The day I learned that, I was heartbroken. I could only begin to imagine how her parents felt. Then, she went though radiation and chemo and it worked. For a while. She was diagnosed again about a year later. So, this sweet little girl with the beautiful smile and warm hugs had to battle a leukemia diagnosis twice before the age of five. The good news is that she just got her yearly test results back and she is now three years cancer free. Praise God!
The second one is a dear sweet young man who was just recently learned he has has a brain tumor. He was diagnosed a few months ago just days before his 13th birthday. He has completed his radiation treatment and is currently in the midst of his chemo treatments. Through it all, he has maintained his love of life and his trust in God. Even now, as he struggles with some set back and complications as a result of this, he knows that God is taking care of him.
We pray for both of these friends daily. One for healing and one for continued cancer free results!
Robert and I support raising awareness for childhood cancer and what these kids have to deal with when they still have so much life ahead of them. And with the help of some wonderful people and a great faith based foundation, Robert did something to show his support and love for these kids.
It all started when the Brown family was dealing with Chloe's fight with leukemia a second time. What started at as friends and family helping with expenses, emotional support, pray and raising awareness of this little girl's battle with cancer grew into a foundation to minister and provide support to other families going through the same thing she has had to endure. In the mist of the Brown Family's struggles, the Orange Out Foundation was born. The Orange Out Foundation's mission is to help families battling cancer through emotional, spiritual and monetary support and to support research to find a cure for childhood cancer.
On Sunday, August 31st, a group of volunteers gave up their time to help benefit the Orange Out Foundation by giving of their time by cutting hair and shaving heads. Yep! Shaving heads. Since the month of September is Childhood Cancer Awareness month, shaving heads is a good way to show support for all of those that have lost hair because of their cancer treatments. The only request when having your head shaved or cut is that you make a donation to the Orange Out Foundation. Robert said sign me up!
To learn more about the Orange Out Foundation and how you can help this amazing group continue to minister to families as they struggle through this disease, please visit their website at www.orangeout.org.
