Survivor Day

Today is Cancer Survivor Day. Liam doesn't care what day it is, he just wants to jump in bouncy castles.

Thanks Kids Cancer Care for the celebration.

Kids Cancer Care Video

Kids Cancer Care produced a beautiful video with local families showing some of the services they provide. They have become a big part of our lives, providing support to Liam and our family.

Kids Cancer Care Video

THANK YOU for all the very generous people who have already donated to my ride with the Tour for Kids! You are amazing. 100% of your donations to the Tour for Kids goes straight to Kids Cancer Care.

8 more weeks until the big ride!

Camp Sunrise

Liam had the best week at Camp Sunrise. Camp was in Calgary Monday through Wednesday from 9-3. Thursday, the kids took the bus out to Camp Kindle (just west of Water Valley, 1 hr NW of Calgary) and they stayed overnight at camp Thursday night. We went out to Camp Kindle Friday morning and they held a family picnic for us on Friday at lunch. It was wonderful for us to be able to talk to the counselors and hear stories about the week. It was also great to catch up with some of the oncology nurses who work at the camp. We spent a LOT of time with some of them last year, it's nice to see them outside the hospital.

The camp is put on by Kids Cancer Care Foundation of Alberta, and cannot even start to say how wonderful the camp was. The camp counselors were absolutely the most wonderful people. Liam is not quick to warm up to people, but took no time to talk to and cuddle with the counselors!

If you've shaved your head for Shave your Lid for a Kid, camp is one of the areas the fundraising goes to.  A huge THANK YOU to everyone who has participated or donated, etc.

These kids share a bond through experiences that thankfully most kids don't have. In a world where noodles, buttons, pokes, heparin flushes, chemo, hair loss, sleepy medicine and transfusions have been a big part of their lives, it's wonderful for them to be around other kids that understand.

On a side note for those interested, research was done recently which showed that camps for kids with cancer is not a luxury, but a necessity:
Research reveals the healing power of cancer camps

Because cancer affects the whole family, siblings are also welcome to go to camp. Next year Madison will be old enough to go to the same camp as Liam, they will love that!

Day out Skiing

Kids Cancer Care Foundation of Alberta put on a fun day of skiing at COP this weekend. We weren't sure if Liam would be up for skiing, he's been so tired. But Liam was very enthusiastic about getting on skis and smiled the whole time. We took a break and he wanted to go out for more! Liam went for a lesson, then he went up the magic carpet (by himself) and down the bunny hill several times.

Only 6 more radiation treatments to go!

Liam's Beaded Journey

Kids Cancer Care Foundation of Alberta (KCCFA) has a Beaded Journey program that we're taking part in. We add a new bead to Liam's bead rope for all the tests, procedures, etc he Liam goes through.

In addition to MRIs, chemo, etc, when we have a fun day, or something special, I have some special beads and Liam picks which one he wants. We had a fun day last week playing outside in the tent and on the play set, Liam selected a pink dotted bead for that day. We also bought alphabet beads, and when his friends come to visit, we put on a bead with their initial. When family visits, we have beads for them as well, Liam's beaded journey starts back in March, when his symptoms first started, so the rope begins with a bead on for Auntie Ami's visit (yellow butterfly) and for Nana and Papa's visit (orange star). Grandpa & Grandma - blue star, Grandma and Alex - purple beads, Auntie Shauna - pink butterfly and Auntie Tanya - clear heart.

See their website Kids Cancer Care Foundation of Alberta