2012 AND GRANDBABIES

Wow! its been a very very long time since I blogged about my granddaughter for two reasons really. 1. my granddaughter is well and going to school here in BC. 2. Unfortunately my son and his wife made the decision to eliminate me from their lives. It's sad but I know when they are old enough they will have the freedom to make their own decisions in spite of how they were raised, just as my own kids did ..... and they will want to know for themselves and ask questions.. it is inevitable... but life goes on.. .. If they ever get to read this, I hope they know I love them both dearly and miss them very much.

SHE 'S IN SCHOOL!!

For all of you who still read our blog on Isabel... well she is now in School! A healthy bright and vibrant almost 6 year old girl that we are so deeply grateful to have in our lives. As a maternal grandmother, I did something that may seem unusual to most people, but I was UNWILLING to let Cancer rule her or live in her body. Sounds strange, but Dr. Patch Adams (the real patch Adams) told me when I interviewed him ("don't' let the disease define her) so I didn't!! I spoke to her body and told cancer it had NO place in her and wasn't welcome and it couldn't dwell where love and peace reigned!
We were acutely aware that she had almost been taken by this disease 5 separate times during her treatment, but we refused to be afraid!

perfect love casts out fear, because he who fears is not made perfect in love... so we refused to live in FEAR and spoke to the fear... many children don't make it... we dont' know why.... our hearts hurt for those that haven't.. and then there are the miracles.. does God show favor..NO, but there are just simply things that we don't understand and I am grateful for our baby girl... but we were prepared to deal with anything...

thanks for giving us her life back.... and for all of you for standing with us!


Here is a picture of her this past summer, on Grandma and Isabel Day... what a long way from suffering.... :-) She is in Grade 1 and will turn 6 Oct. 31st...

She has no memory of her suffering.. just always reassures us when she has the slightest cold.. "don't worry I am fine, I am not sick anymore".. spoken like a true child of faith.
Stay tuned in the future for our book that we hope will bring healing to those that are suffering and have heard the shocking news as we had! "Through the Eyes of A Child" will be a book of practical help and compassionate understanding, with tips to know what to do when you or someone you know/love has been told what we were told!

Blessings
Candace and Family!

Rejoicing and Grateful~

It has been just a few days past a year when our precious Isabel had her last and final chemo treatment!! Since then.. we have had a few bumps and scares but as I read over this entire blog over 3 years worth of writing... I am amazing and deeply thank-ful for all that we have experienced as a family and very grateful that all of our prayers were answered and our Isabel is with us and well! The family is slowly mending... the cancer far away... and a lifetime of journeys and lessons learned! It is not the trial that frightened us all but the dangerous possiblity of the outcomes of treatment.. That is why we support the Michael Cuccione Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research, Dr. Kirk Schultz and Dr. Sandy Dunn just two of the dedicated professionals working on different fronts to change the treatment offered to the vulernable children and families that must endure this type of seemingly inhumane treatment! Let's make a difference in the life of these very brave children and their mommies and daddies to end childhood cancer and pursue Michael's dream..
" I believe the cure is in a child"! www.childhoodcancerresearch.org

These photos were taken just this past summer... a healthy and beautiful child!!

Now we begin the "let's bring the family home campaign to raise 14,000.00 to bring Jayme, Sarah Jane, Isabel and Eli home to Vancouver to live! They have been through a long and arduous trial back east and so much suffering in so many ways... they need to come home and be loved and nurtured back to life!!

Please email me at candace@unlockingsecrets.com to see HOW you can support this campaign to bring them home!

Blessings
Candace and family

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