 September is an important month of the year for two reasons. First, it's back to school, or first-time to school, for many of our children. It's like New Years as our children start a new and exciting year with new teachers, new and old friends and, we hope, with new maturity as well. The second reason September is important is that it is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Hopefully for many of you this is something you are not aware of but for our family this is something we are all too aware of now. I hope more than anything that you have a greater understanding about the brave children facing the journey of cancer, and their families as you read our shortened story our son's journey with leukemia. And of course, no newsletter would be complete without something new and specials. Check out the new colours for Teething Bling (teething jewelry), a chance to win a $25 e-gift certificate and our September special below! Enjoy your September, Sylvia Tiny Toes has added some new colours to the popular teething bling (teething jewelery) from Smart Mom. Teething bling is a great way to wear jewelry that your baby will enjoy too. Teething bling works is perfect when baby wearing, as it keep their hands and mouth busy. It's a favourite among many moms and celeb moms too. Only 19.99 and free shipping. Sugar Plum Malachite Coral Blue Sky Spice      Join in a Blog Giveaway for an e-gift certificate to Tiny Toes at Smookie Style:  Check out Cee's blog at http://www.smookiestyle.com/ to read her review of Tiny Toes and participate in a chance to win a $25 e-gift certificate to Tiny Toes. The review and giveaway will appear on her blog by Monday September 6th. And while you are at it check out her other reviews and participate in more giveaways. Our Journey with Childhood Cancer There are some journeys in life that you don't plan for and childhood cancer is definitely one of them. As a parent you don't even like to see your young child with a cold, but cancer?! That is over the top. The date is clear in our memories, June 16, 2008. We brought our 3 year old son at the time to the hospital and the Dr saying "I'm very sorry to have to say, but the blood test does show that your son has Leukemia." Before this we knew something was wrong. He was unwell for a while prior but there was always something else that could explain what did not seem right. He had a fever but figured it was the ear infection that wasn't going away after two rounds of antibiotics. He seemed pale but maybe he just needed to be out in the sun to get some colour in his face again, and it must be growing pains for why his legs are hurting. Anything else but cancer.  From that day our world started to spin in different directions. I brought our son to London's Children Hospital to get examined, admitted and treatment started. My husband stayed back to be with the other two kids (then 5 and 16 months) until we knew what needed to happen next and could arrange childcare for them. We were both caught with wanting to be with our son and wanting to be with the other kids and just wishing to be home as a family. That first day started with bone marrowing biopsies, blood test, several IV needles (as his little veins would blow out) and a blood transfusion as he was severely anemic. I remember trying to keep it together for the most part but would burst into tears whenever he needed a new IV put in as he would scream "mommmmyyy" and fight the nurses as they held him down to get yet another IV needle in. By the end of that day I fell asleep as soon as lay my head down... too tired to cry anymore.Trying to keep our story short, our son spent the first month in the hospital for the first phase of treatment. Which meant our family living separately and taking turns staying with our son when we could and realizing that no matter how hard you try, the other kid's lives are dramatically changed and are struggling to understand what is happening. It was a great day when we could come home and be together again, all the while gearing up for the next phases of treatment. The protocol for the type of leukemia (ALL) our son had is approximately 3.5 years with the hardest phases being the first 6-8 months. During this time he lost his hair, had many 'sick days' and not so sick days. He has been admitted to the hospital at different times due to fevers from pneumonia, infections or viral things. He did go into treatment induced remission by the end of the first month but that does not change the treatment duration. He has one year remaining of treatment and we are excited about it. We may never get back our normal life like before, but we have our new 'normal' and have to go forward from here. We are thankful for all the prayers and support of friends and family along the way. You never realize how much is means to get meals delivered or cards in the mail until you are the one getting them. We have met many wonderful people in the medical staff, child life workers, and other families in the same journey. Its funny with the families how there is a common bond. Cancer is not prejudice; it does not consider age, race or social class, so in the end we are all in the same boat and one thing is clear.... life is precious. I'd like to share some facts about Childhood Cancer taken from the Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario's webiste (http://www.pogo.ca/) and would be honoured if you would consider making a donation to them in this month. This group is the voice for children in Ontario with cancer and play a key role in getting support and representation for our children when it comes to cancer across Canada. They help to bring services closer to family through satellite centers so family do not have to continual travel long distances for treatment, provide financial support to families as they incur costs while being admitted and for childcare for children at home that need care while parents with with their child in treatment along with other services to educators (schools) and health care professionals as well. So you see, POGO is definitely helping families.
Tiny Toes Special for September - Save 25% on Mally Leather Bibs
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2010/09/01
September Newsletter - Childhood Cancer Awareness Month at Tiny Toes
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