Tiki torches were burning and the music was loud, creating a party atmosphere that started as soon as you entered the backyard. Tables were laden with sugar in all forms, including homespun cotton candy. Guests were talking, hanging out on giant picnic blankets, and playing cornhole. Adults were smiling as they looked out over a yard full of laughing children and dancing teens. A great night to celebrate a terrific teen and her special cause.

CURE is so important to Cathleen because she was diagnosed with a germ cell tumor when she was only 10 years old.  Once she was done with treatment and ready to head back to a normal kid’s life, she received the scary news that a new cancer, undifferentiated sarcoma, had been found in her abdomen. Cathleen has bravely faced surgeries, chemotherapy, radiation, months out of school, multiple hospital stays, and losing friends made on treatment to this disease.

She’s known for her strong sense of style and wacky sense of humor.  She puts glitter and dazzle on anything that doesn’t move and adds sparkle to any room with her smile. Perhaps Cathleen’s greatest asset is her strong desire to make the way easier for others.

She, and her family, are determined to use their voices, resources,  and time to help CURE fulfill our mission.  Thanks to Cathleen’s unselfish act of directing all her gifts to us, as CURE was given a check for $785!

On April 25th, Oglethorpe University students in the Cancer Biology class taught by Dr. Schmeichel hosted a cancer awareness event. The event was called “Never Forget,” and was meant for the students of the university to pay their respects to those friends and loved ones who have died from cancer and for those who are still fighting cancer. The event organizer said, “Many times people do not think about how much cancer affects other people and only know that the disease can be deadly. We wanted to educate people on the basics of the mechanisms of cancer cells and at the same time put emphasis on never forgetting those who have had to fight the disease and the struggles they must go through.”

Along with educational cancer demonstrations, a remembrance wall, a luminary walk, and a movie, the students took donations for CURE Childhood Cancer. The total amount of donations that came from Oglethorpe staff and students was $284.16.

We would like to thank the students for raising money and reaching out to their peers to spread awareness of this disease.

With sea turtles being Silas’s favorite animal, the restaurant provided “Team Silas” sea turtle coloring sheets for children as well as candy and prizes. Jeanette Wiggins of Larry’s Giant Subs says, “We are thrilled it was a success and feel so blessed being able to give to such a good cause.”

From this event, Larry’s Giant Subs raised $1,393.23! Thank you to the staff of Larry’s Giant Subs as well as the Vidalia community for honoring Silas and supporting CURE’s efforts to end this disease once and for all.

Recently, our Youth Council broke down into groups of three to complete a project that would be helpful to the children in the hospital. Through their diligence and dedication, one of the groups, comprised of Jack Gearon, Markell Adams, Paige Caffrey and Trisha Malloy, came up with enough money to buy 3 iPads!

These iPads were donated to the Child Life Program at The Children’s Hospital at Memorial University Medical Center.

Kelley Cowan (featured in picture) is the child life therapist who made CURE aware of the need for the iPads in the outpatient clinic at The Children’s Hospital.  She let CURE know that they allow the kiddos to use iPads for expected things like fun apps and face time with friends and family who can’t be at their appointments. They have also found the front cameras extremely useful because the therapist can use a special handle on the iPad, then hold it in such a way that the child can see the procedure being performed on them by watching the screen.

We would like to thank Elle Rivers who donated the very durable covers and handles needed for all three iPads! Also, congratulations to the Youth Council on their dedication to helping our patients and families. Because of their effort to get 3 into the hospitals, one of our Board Members is now donating another 5 iPads. If not for them, none of this would have happened!

Being a mother gives you an anchor in time. Children become our point of reference in time-before or after, when children were young or now grown. Sam is forever young in our memories. We see his friends moving into new thresholds of life–careers, relationships, engagements, marriage, and children.

While some may think my time as Sam’s Mom was limited, it’s unlimited. Each time I go to the hospital to serve dinner to families, I am Sam’s Mom. I am touched to have the smiling faces of nurses who still remember Sam from ten years ago. When we lose our children, we lose a part of ourselves. Comfort comes from friends and family who continue to remember.

Thank you for providing support for all our efforts in Sam’s memory.

Happy Mother’s Day!

- Annamarie

During this Nurses’ Week, CURE celebrates our nurses, each of whom truly embodies the spirit of giving and caring at its finest, and is highlighting some of those who are helping our families each and every day.

Meet, Bethany Smith, a nurse who treats our families at Scottish Rite. Her words will strike emotion deep within your heart.

“I have always wanted to be a nurse since I was a little girl.  While I was in my last year of nursing school I worked as an extern in labor and delivery.  Everyday that I went to the hospital I was a part of the best day of a family’s life.  I saw a miracle every time I went to work.  As exciting as my job was I felt that I could do more and be more to the families I work with. 

One of my favorite things about working with children is how resilient they are.  Unlike adults these kids can be battling cancer and still just want to be kids, unlike us adults (myself included), who just have a cold or the flu and think it is the end of the world! 

One day I had a patient who was in the very beginning of his treatment.  That morning I walked in his room to give him his morning medications and take his first set of vital signs for the day and he just said, “Can you tell me exactly what time you need me to be in my room today because I have lots of activities planned.”  I gave him his schedule for the day and he was off to the zone. 

Around 2 PM it was time for his scheduled Zofran and he had not come back to his room yet but I knew exactly where to find him.  I headed down to the zone, Zofran in hand, and found my little guy exactly where I thought he might be, on the putt putt course.  I told him I was going to give him his medicine and he promptly said, “Okay just be careful with my port, I don’t want to mess up my swing.” 

The struggle and reward of this job is you are, not only the patient’s nurse, but you also become their family.  You are there for the tears that are shed when the family hears the devastating word cancer and you are there for the tears of joy for the victories along the way.  We are the ones who have to poke them with needles but we are also the ones who do the “you took your medicine all by yourself dance” all around their room and make them laugh.  We are the ones who hold their puke bucket but we are also the ones who laugh with them during their 4AM vital signs when their dad is snoring soooo loud!  We are the ones who have to tell them they probably won’t be able to leave the hospital to go to that party because their counts are too low but we are also the ones who help them write the text message to that boy in their class they have a crush on.  We are the ones who administer their chemotherapy but we are also the ones who dig through every linen bag in the dirty utility room searching for their lost teddy bear.  We are their nurses, we are part of their families, we are their friends.”

During this Nurses’ Week, CURE celebrates our nurses, each of whom truly embodies the spirit of giving and caring at its finest, and is highlighting some of those who are helping our families each and every day.

Meet, Meg Bendik, a nurse who treats our families at Scottish Rite.

“I became a nurse because I wanted to be able to spend quality time helping people, and I loved the holistic philosophy of nursing. I think there is something really special and inspiring about taking care of someone when they are at their worst.

I rowed in high school and college with Sam Robb‘s sister Liz; her and her family’s commitment to a cure was so inspiring, and I wanted to be a part of curing other kid’s disease. From a nursing perspective, I liked the complexity and acuity of the patient’s problems and how the oncology knowledge base is always changing; it lets my nerdy side shine. I love how forgiving kids are, and I love being able to act like a goofball at work!

The number one struggle I face is how much is out of our control. As hard as we may try, there are some times where it seems like a never-ending uphill battle to make patients comfortable. I wish I had an everlasting bag of medication and tricks in my pocket. Watching kids endure all the nasty side effects of toxic chemo and radiation wears on the soul. I have to constantly remember all the patients that are able to conquer cancer with our help and not focus on all of the discomforts of treatment and the sadness of relapses and death. A day at work sometimes feels like a war zone; being a soldier against cancer is emotionally, mentally, and physically draining, but the cute kid in the bed, blowing kisses at you despite spending the majority of her night puking is worth every second.

Seeing kids finish treatment and getting to do normal kid stuff brings me so much joy. I love watching the transition from “sick, skinny, bald, and pale” to healthy and plump with a full head of hair. Getting to know the families and getting to play pranks and act like a kid myself makes my job fun. The little thank you’s, doodles, and notes from families may seem small, but they are my motivation to keep coming back.

It is my goal every day to make my patients and their parents smile at least once, no matter how bad the shift. I try to make the kids as comfortable as possible during their illness and to help give their families a little peace of mind as best I can.”

During this Nurses’ Week, CURE celebrates our nurses, each of whom truly embodies the spirit of giving and caring at its finest, and is highlighting some of those who are helping our families each and every day.

Meet, Kaitlyn Haygood, a nurse who treats our families at Scottish Rite.

“The reason I became a nurse is the same reason I wanted to become a pediatric oncology nurse. I was affected by cancer at the young age of 11. My sister and best friend, Ashlee Shea Haygood, was diagnosed with a medulloblastoma in 2000 and started treatment at Egleston Children’s Hospital. She fought a long and hard fight for 18 months before losing her battle in May of 2002.

The nursing staff at Egleston became our family. They provided incredible care to my sister and involved the whole family. They inspired me to pursue, not only nursing but, a career in pediatric oncology. It became my calling. 

After graduating, I was hired on at the Alfac unit at Scottish Rite as a pediatric oncology nurse! 

In my short time on Aflac, I have had the privilege to meet some amazing patients! One of my fondest memories is with a boy named JT who was diagnosed with Burkett’s Lymphoma. I was able to watch his journey from diagnosis to remission, and it was one of the sweetest and most rewarding experiences I’ve been a part of. He is one of the liveliest little men I know! Instead of waiting to lose his hair, he shaved it into a Mohawk and dyed it green. Most of all, he loved playing with motorcycles! So one day another nurse and I created an obstacle course around the unit for his motorized motorcycle. He spent all day racing his motorcycle around the unit! Best day ever! He is now in remission and all his scans are clear!

However, there are struggles that come with being a pediatric oncology nurse. What we do is difficult emotionally, mentally and spiritually. We care for children who have been diagnosed with a terminal illness and are being treated with chemo therapy/radiation, etc. that is so harsh on their bodies. We also get attached to so many of our patients that we go through all of their ups and downs with them. It’s not always easy. 

The rewards of our job are what makes all the struggles worth it. Our patients are incredible! Their resilience, joy, and overall outlook on life is astounding. They have impacted and changed my life forever. The greatest overall reward is watching a child win their battle with cancer and go into remission!”

Thank you, Kaitlyn, for all that you do for our children and families!

During this Nurses’ Week, CURE celebrates our nurses, each of whom truly embodies the spirit of giving and caring at its finest, and is highlighting some of those who are helping our families each and every day.

Meet, Karen, a nurse who treats our families in South Georgia.

“I feel so honored to be spotlighted by CURE. Thank you for the opportunity to share my wonderful experiences with such special patients and families.

The majority of my nursing career has been spent on the Hematology/Oncology/BMT unit at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. I worked there for 13 years as a senior staff/charge nurse. This is where I fell in love with such a very special patient population – children with cancer.

Children diagnosed with cancer and their families hold a special place in my heart. The long journey they go through with the fear and reality of diagnosis, the months or years of treatment, and the physical and emotional recovery is so inspiring. As a pediatric oncology nurse, I am so honored to be a part of that journey by helping educate and comfort the kids and their families in any way I can.

Over the years, I have had the privilege to witness how much strength and courage a child with cancer has. A great example of that strength is about a little 8 year old girl diagnosed with ALL who would occupy her time during her long hospital stays by making beautiful bracelets to raise money for other kids with cancer. Such an inspiration!” 

Thank you, Karen, for all that you do for our children and families!

12,700 children will be diagnosed with cancer in the next 12 months. That is 12,700 too many.

As the Board President for CURE, I am constantly looking for new ways to support childhood cancer research and the families that have been affected by this terrible disease. Whether it’s serving on the board of CURE, fundraising for Lauren’s Run, or sharing the stories of the amazing families I meet each month. Whatever I can do to spread awareness, I will do it. Last December I even ran in a Speedo through downtown Atlanta in order to raise money for childhood cancer research!

The trouble is that so many of these methods require time, effort and money to accomplish. While this topic is something I am passionate about, and effort is of no issue, I can also understand why it would be for some. People often ask me how they can help CURE Childhood Cancer and our families without donating money. Sometimes, writing a check just isn’t an option.

Donations are crucial to the success of CURE, the programs’ it offers, and to the research it funds. However, I couldn’t have been more excited to learn about an option that will bring in donations, without individuals having to open their checkbook! It sounds impossible, but thanks to Affinity Bank, it’s true!

A couple of months ago, Affinity Bank announced a new program called “Banking for a CURE.” Through this, the bank will be making quarterly donations to our organization. All they need is for people to sign up for a charitable checking or money market account.

No donation is required by those opening the new accounts – the bank will make the donation to CURE on their behalf.

So, when I learned of a new way that I could be helping CURE raise money for childhood cancer research, I immediately wanted to be involved. The best part? All I had to do was open a checking account online, which only took me 10 minutes!

If you are somebody who is passionate about childhood cancer research and awareness, then please consider opening an account with Affinity Bank. It’s easy. It’s free.  And the benefits of helping a child and family is worth the 10 minutes it will take of your time.

To learn more about Banking for a CURE and Affinity Bank, please click here.