SURGERY TOMORROW...

This picture taken above was a few months ago when Isabel wore her coldplay shirt that Lauren from Coldplay's management sent her!! Thanks Lauren and the Band! Her hair is so thick and growing back now that the treatments have come to an end. However, she must remain on antibiotics for awhile until her immune system builds up properly!

After many months of seeming normalacy for the family, tomorrow, February 11th, 2008 Isabel will have her port removed. She spoke to me on the phone today saying "I have to go to sleep tomorrow". She told me that she wasn't very happy about it and I told her she would be okay and then asked her if she wanted me to pray for her. She said yes and so I promised I would pray for her tomorrow. Please pray for Jayme and Sarah Jane as well. Some of the children that they were together with in the cancer clinic have passed away so there is some vulnerablity there.

Jayme and Sarah Jane are on edge and they need prayer and comfort. Now that the treatments are over, they feel like it should be better, but the aftermath,like the aftershock is coming now and they are having days of ups and downs. They are greatful, but Sarah Jane worries that if they take the port out.. how will they keep track of her counts..With the port out, that means regular blood draws and that make not go over so well!
So hard... please continue to pray.... 4 more years before they are "out of the woods"...

Blessings
Candace

Amazing Gratitude for Christmas 2007

What a wonderful and exhausting time! Isabel is well!! Her hair is growing back and she was so excited to run down the stairs to have her first Christmas that she remembers and without being medicated!! She had absolutely no care that 4:00 in the morning was NOT the time to wake up for Christmas morning and presents..........but...who is going to argue with her!

After two hours of trying to convince her to go back to bed...well, parents lost, Isabel won and the amazing first Christmas began! It is the first christmas that they can remember that isn't riddled with fear, and intensive chemo treatments and vomiting and hair loss! As they all ended up in front of that tree, this past Christmas morning, there are no words to describe the joy that has been restored to this precious family and many, many like it who have endured this painful cross.

Finally Family for Jayme this Christmas

Shevonne, Jayme's sister went to Toronto for the first Christmas away from family to continue the blessing of Christmas 2007 that her brother Chris started when he arrived Dec. 15th filled with gifts, money and love for his brother. Shevonne is still there and celebrating with the family and helping out!

Gratitude for Gifts from all of you!

Thank-you to all of you for your continued faithful love, gifts, prayers and care for this precious family. Don't give up the fight for these little ones that cannot fight for themselves! We are the ones who must fight on their behalf!


Skate for A Cure www.skateforacure.com
As well if you want to contribute to something meaningful and have a little family fun as well, join the Skate for a Cure, at GM place, Jan. 20, 2008 check out www.skateforacure.com for more information!

A BIG THANK-YOU to AMAZING D.J.- Colleen Troy of 104.9 Clear FM in Vancouver,

Team in Training for choosing to run for a cure for Isbael and all other precious little ones. Thank-you Colleen for your love and care for our precious Isabel and her family!! http://blog.rogersradiointernet.com/teamintraining/

Happy New Year and God Bless, Candace and Family!!

IT'S FINISHED!!! FINALLY AFTER 2 1/2 YEARS!

Yesterday.... Isabel finished her last chemo treatment! We are deeply grateful to all of you who have prayed, supported financially and emotionaly, prayerfully and practically! It is a blessing and a answer to prayer that after all her struggles and the families struggles it is finally over!

However, she will have to go through the next five years starting with monthy exams to make sure the cancer doesn't return. After a while of monthly checks, then every 6 months and then every year for 5 years!

I am grateful to all the nursing staff at Kingston General Hospital and Dr. Silva who has cared so lovingly for Isabel. Thank-you!

TO the friends, neighbors, family, strangers and friends and acquaintances around... bless you for your committed love and care!

I will keep you updated, but for now....they are happy..... relieved for this new beginning and are the proud owners of two small baby kittens!!

Lots of love
Candace, Jayme, Sarah Jane, Eli, Isabel!
God Bless

Such a short time to go! Recent Picture of Isabel

It's hard to imagine that in just a few short weeks, Isabel's life saving and life threatening treatments will be over. However, it doesn't mean it's over for them.... every month check ups to ensure that the cancer doesn't come back. Every once in a while, those nasty/painful bone marrow aspirations to make sure that the cancer doesn't come back, and most of all the concerns and reprecussions of the effects of the treatment on Isabel's precious body and organs.

Unlike adults, these children must endure chemotherapy every day and some for years at a time. Please let's do what we can to stop this kind of insanity! I am all for breast cancer research, as I have had many, many dear friends either diagnosed or who have died from it, but those huge amounts of money that breast cancer raises are astronomical and even the pharmacuetical companies fund the research. There is money tossed everywhere for these answers to this devesating cancer that is rampant and taking away our mommies, sisters and other precious women in our lives... however

CHILDREN'S CANCER GETS NO SUCH ATTENTION AND NO FUNDING FROM THE NORMAL SOURCES.... "APPARENTLY NOT ENOUGH CHILDREN DIE"!! This is horrible!!


WE MUST SPEAK UP FOR THESE LITTLE ONES THAT HAVE NO VOICE BUT OURS.... Please GIVE TO CHILDRENS' CANCER RESEARCH... PRIVATELY FUNDED AND LET'S GET TO THE BOTTOM OF CHILDHOOD CANCER ONCE AND FOR ALL...

VISIT The Making A difference Foundation - to find out more! www.childhoodcancerresearch.com

Tough few weeks...

Things have been quite busy over the summer and Isabel and her family have enjoyed their time.... but with a recent infusion of Vincristine, once again Isabel and her family are reminded of the harsh chemicals that infuse her little body. Last week on her "steroid" week, Isabel was more aware as she has gotten older of the impact of the needles and the drugs. Please continue to pray for them as her treatment time begins to finally wind down for mid October.

We are blessed to know that she was spared to be here with us and are grateful..... but please remember that once the chemo is not being given anymore, in spite of it's harshness, it was a comfort to know that it kept the cancer away.

Monthly check ups will be continued to ensure that the cancer will not return... please continue to pray.

Jayme is back finishing his last year as a personal fitness trainer and recreational trainer... it is hard work to go to school, study and manage their lives.

Sarah Jane works to bridge the finanical gap between her salary and Jaymes pittance on EI...

Eli has started grade 3 and loving his teacher... which is a good thing!

Thank-you for the love you have given to all of them and we thank-you for your continued prayers!
Blessings
Candace

Today's Update!

Isabel had her spinal today, they say it's the last one, but now her spine is full of chemotherapy....Jayme said she was NOT happy about it at all. In addition she had Vincristine in her port access and that plus the Methotrexate in her spine is just a little too much. This means her neutrafils will be reduced and she will be affected so we are all on standby. However her neutrfils are much higher than the last time she endured this treatment so we are hoping that she won't be so dramatically affected.

Her treatment was due to end at the end of September, but today we heard that it would likely be 9 weeks from today, taking us into the middle of October, 2 weeks before her 4th birthday! Her birthday is October 31,... can you believe it was July 4, 2005 when she was first diagnosed... I am amazed at how well everyone has managed considering this very long and difficult trial!

Please keep praying as Jayme and Eli start school again.... Sarah Jane is working hard to provide for the family and Jayme has spent the summer taking care of the kids. Everyone is so kind to them... thanks to Bob Clute and his team for providing Jayme and Sarah Jane with their own new purshased vehicle and smaller payments. They still could use the finanical help though, so please if you can every little bit helps.

Thank-you again to all who have shown their love and support in so many ways that we can't even count!

Blessings
Candace

on the home stretch

next Tuesday Isabel has her hopefully, last spinal.....meaning her treatment is to end around the 3rd week of September.. everyone is hanging on for the home stretch and she is doing reasonably well, considering. Please continue to pray as they still need so much support in the unseen areas where no one can obviously see.

I am sorry I haven't been writing as much, I have been in school this summer determined to finish my Provincial Instructor's Diploma www.instructordiploma.com

This next week is my last week!! :-)