#CCAM {Childhood Cancer Awareness Month}

One last post about Childhood Cancer Awareness Month ... it's an easy read. Much of what the author describes is similar to our experience with Jaxon's diagnosis. Our Dr. also had tears in her eyes as she told us the results of his blood and bone marrow biopsy and we joined the "club" that no one wants to be a part of. Despite not wanting to be "one of them", I'm so thankful for the other kids and their families who we have met along the way. Our lives are richer because of them.

Don't just feel sorry for us ... help us fight this thing and its effects on the lives of these precious kids!

Give of your time, finances, a meal, your hair, your blood.

How To Help (article)

Local organizations that help families facing childhood cancer include:

Balding for Dollars - an extension and direct supporter of the Oncology Program and Patients at BCCH. My dear friend Charis and I put together a little fundraiser by selling Jamberry Nails and with the help of several other friends, raised $100 for Balding for Dollars. Thank you Charis, and the rest of the ladies for making that happen!

Ronald McDonald House BC - our home away from home when we need to travel to BCCH.

Jeneece Place! - our frequently visited home away from home. The staff tell me we don't feel like guests anymore, it's that kind of a homey feeling for us. Jax and I are looking forward to Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow (Monday) with Jeneece and her family. We'll be there overnight as he has an early morning appointment on Tuesday that he has to fast for. Early mornings are hard enough, even worse to have to drive all that way on and empty tummy.

The house on Angus Drive

Ronald McDonald House BC

From Paul:
33 years ago my sister Debbie was one of the first families to walk through these doors. Yesterday our family was the very last to walk out of those doors. The brand new Ronald McDonald House will be ready in a little over a month. We will be one of the first families to go through the new doors. Thank you everyone who supports BCCH and RMH!

From me:
My Auntie Ruth also stayed there with her toddler and critically ill baby during the house's early years.

We are glad to have experienced this special place for part of our stay here in Vancouver. We would have missed out had we not made some friends and memories there.

Here is a lovely video of A Day in the Life at RMHBC. The bedroom shown just before the 2:00 minute mark is the room we stayed in for almost 2 weeks.

Wednesday May 7th is McHappy Day! 
Via Ronald McDonald House BC ... 
$1 from every Big Mac, Happy Meal, and hot McCafé beverage sold on this day in BC will be donated to Ronald McDonald House BC and other children's charities. Since 2010, proceeds from McHappy Day have helped to build our new House and Surrey Family Room, so be sure to stop by your local McDonald's!

April 22

An opening became available for us to move into Ronald McDonald House (RMH) so we did just that yesterday! Jax settled in quite nicely and we are enjoying the kind and thorough staff and routines here, and have already met families that we plan to keep in contact with as we continue this journey. Jax was skeptical about a new place but warmed up quickly to the idea. We expect to stay here until the home closes on May 5 for several weeks while they move to their new location. After May 5 we will stay elsewhere until the completion of Jaxon's Induction phase of treatment on May 10. After May 10, our Dr. expects we will be able to return to the Island. Further treatment and appointments on the Island will be in Victoria, and we will have to return to Vancouver for a few days at a time for certain stages of treatment over the next 5 months. This is the current plan, knowing that there could be setbacks or changes at any time. Clinic appointment went well yesterday, his Hgb is holding at 105. Other numbers are low, as is to be expected.