Lunch for Life - From Deqlan's blog

Hello!

Ready to put on your running shoes? It is that time of year again when we all race to challenge everyone to give up a Lunch for Life! Over the years Lunch for Life has helped the Children’s Neuroblastoma Cancer Foundation fund some incredible research and neuroblastoma initiatives. It is each and every one of our families and children that makes Lunch for Life such a success every year. We have impacted lives. We are closer to a cure today because of this participation. However, as much as we would like to focus on our successes, we find ourselves even more desperate for a cure than ever before. Why? There is incredibly important neuroblastoma research that is sitting out there, unfunded. If we don’t raise the funds needed to support it, it simply won’t be an option for our children. Bottom-line, over the next few months it is necessary for us to raise $500,000.00 for neuroblastoma research. While we would love to raise more this is just the bare minimum of what is necessary. Without this funding we can guarantee that there will be fewer options for our children and the ones that follow in their footsteps. Without this funding, there will be fewer trials than we have today and there will be fewer kids on trial. That is the sad reality. It depends on us – you, your friends and family - to make sure this does not happen. We can make a difference. We can make substantial change. There are over 400 families of children with neuroblastoma that are participating and we have a large voice. We need those research dollars and we need people’s lunches. Please stand up with us again and fight for this very important neuroblastoma research. In these economic times, we appreciate that you, your family and friends; just like us, are paying very close attention to where every dollar goes. We want you to know that your lunch money has, and will continue, to do great things. Over the years we have funded research which we are all incredibly proud of, and you should be too. In fact,we would defy anyone to identify a single research proposal that is more important or meaningful than what we have funded this year. That is what Lunch for Life is all about – funding research that is necessary and meaningful. This year at the CNCF’s Neuroblastoma Conference for Parents and Caregivers I, on behalf of Lunch for Life and the CNCF, outlined manyof the proposals that we have helped fund. This presentation is online, and covers much of the reasoning and rationale behind our funding. I encourage you to view the video to see an overview of the items that our lunches have helped to fund. It can be found here:http://cts.vresp.com/c/?ChildrensNeuroblasto/fd9b5dccbb/82c14345c2/d0ed298716/docid=-3833421150602147926&hl=en Furthermore, over the next few weeks we plan to outline some of the incredible research we hope to fund in the coming years. This plan will go into detail as to why this research is so mission critical, and why this research will make a difference. This research is in our hands, totally dependent upon the funds that we raise today. Our Giving Tree program is alive and well, and will continue again this year. Each donation made in honor of a child with neuroblastoma will earn that child gifts under their tree. Those gifts will be mailed out at the end of the year to that family. In addition, each minimum five dollar donation made in a child’s name will earn that child’s family a chance to win a Walt Disney Dream Vacation. The drawing will be held on December 25, 2008. Please visit the website to update your information, pictures and to view your family’s tree. We want to thank you again for your support of Lunch for Life. Remember, the concept is simple and if we all work together we can continue to create some amazing changes. It is just lunch, but it truly does mean lives. We urge you to help us get the word out. Write email, make phone calls, post messages on your CaringBridge pages. Urge everyone you know to donate the cost of one day’s lunch to the Children’s Neuroblastoma Cancer Foundation through Lunch forLife, and ask them to help spread the word. The process is simple. Just ask them to donate online athttp://cts.vresp.com/c/?ChildrensNeuroblasto/fd9b5dccbb/82c14345c2/e7d69281ad. The more the better too, in the past we have had tremendous success by getting our employers and schools to help sponsor a Lunch for Life day. It is a great opportunity to help spread the word and most importantly get those research dollars. We will fund the cure. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me atmdungan@lunchforlife.org. We have everything you need to help you raise money for research. We will supply you with flyers, posters, information and those coveted Lunch for Life lunch bags. Just let me know what you need. Please also be sure to visit the website for sample emails, information, and ideas on how to best get the word out. With hope,Mark Dungan

Check up

Hello my angel,

Your mom wants to brag about you a bit. Yesterday I took you for your 9 month check-up and vaccinations. We saw a new doctor, Dr. Engelbrecht, because your buddies Keaton and Malakai go to that doctor as well. She is a very very nice lady and she was soooo impressed with you. She told me that you are doing much better than what premies that were born that early usually do. You even have most of your 9 month milestones down! She said that when you're a year old you probably would've caught up with everything (except the weight). You are still very small, but she showed me on the chart that in comparison to other children you are actually growing very fast, and slowly but surely catching up to the rest of your peers! She also said that daddy and I have been taking very good care of you, and one day when you have your own children you'll understand what that means to a parent. Most of the time we don't really know what we are doing, and we just go by the grace of God and pray that we are doing what is best for you! So it was nice to hear that we haven't done too bad a job so far.

She gave us some coritsone cream because you have some eczema in the back of your knees and on your arms. But I'm sure that'll clear up soon.

Then we went for your measles injection, and wow, I was so proud of you. Last time you cried until we got home and you were very upset. This time however, you just gave a small moan and then it was done! So far you haven't had a fever, and no other side effects, yay! Well done my only.

Today you are dressed in camo, from top to toe, in support of your buddy Deqlan who is getting his blood results today. They are checking whether he is still cancer free, so we are praying very hard, especially for his mommy and daddy to be strong and to keep the faith.

To end off today's letter, here's a poem that Ohpaw wrote for you:

Gently

Gently, the darkness falls,
And peace comes over me.
Gently, the hand of God,
Draws the sun into the sea.
Gently, oh so gently,
Gentle as a dove,
Gently, oh so gently,
We’ll shower you with love.
Gently, the stars appear,
The moon smiles down at me.
Gently, your face draws near,
As I begin to see.
Gently, oh so gently,
Gentle, through the night,
Gently, oh so gently,
You filled our hearts with light.
Gently, the morning breaks,
The sun leads in the day.
Gently, my soul awakes,
And I begin to pray.
Gently, oh so gently,
Gentle as the dew.
Gently, oh so gently,
We thank the Lord for you.

Beautiful hey my boy!

I love you very much and every day with you is such a gift from God.

Mwah!
Mom

Sitting today - tomorrow the world!

Hello my beautiful boy.

You have been amusing us so much this last couple of weeks I thought I just had to write and tell you what you've been up to. You are finally getting the hang of sitting. You still fall over every now and then, but I think it's safe to classify it as a sit! It's very cute, when you are lying down, you try to do a mini sit-up, and then I know you want to get up.

You are also on 3 solid meals a day. It took 3 MONTHS! But now you actually open your mouth when I bring the spoon closer. Your ouma-grootjie told me, and yesterday I got to see it for myself, that when you take a bite of your food, you now seem to think that it is a good time for blowing bubbles! Your eating chair is full of pumpkin! It's messy, but very cute. You don't really have an interest in food, you just seem to eat because that is what is expected of you.

I've noticed that you love being outside. You get very annoyed if I keep you indoors all day. You don't even really like your toys (which you have so many of!). You just want to be outside watching everything!

Your teeth also seem to be bothering you a lot. Last night I even had a dream that you cut all 4 bottom teeth at the same time! I hope they pop out soon my boy.

You are exercising your vocal cords a lot, and it sounds just like you are singing. Sometimes you shout just to get a reaction out of us, and at other times you just talk to yourself. Either way is really very sweet and I hope you continue to be such a talkative little monkey because my first love language is words of affirmation! So we can have lots and lots of chats about life, love and the rest!

Tomorrow we're going for your 9 month check-up and your vaccines. I hope it won't be too painful, but I can't wait to see what you are weighing because you are in 3 - 6 month clothes now!

Anyway my only, I love you lots and thank you for growing so beautifully!

Happy Birthday Samm!

Happy 30th Birthday dear Samm,

May you enjoy every moment with your family and friends,

and I hope they spoil you rotten.

You definitely deserve it!

May this following year bring you joy, peace and strength!

Lots of Love

Us3

Your first "swim" - some pics

My dear angel, here are some pics of when you had your first swim in your mushroom pool that Yolandi bought for you with your buddies Keaton & Malakai last Thursday. You seemed to like it, but I think we should try to get you to a bigger pool somewhere.

Love you plenty!

Mom

Wishes!

Happy one year anniversary Lisa & Dale!

May you enjoy every day of the rest of this journey together!

Also very happy birthday Dale for yesterday!

May you have many more to come!

Love

Us 3

What says Khalil Gibran? From Ohpaw

Hello my dear boy. Your Ohpaw has always recited the following paragraph from Khalil Gibran to me, eversince I was a teenager. But I have not heard it since you were born, and your Ohpaw just reminded me of it:

And a woman who held a babe against her bosom said, "Speak to us of Children."

And he said: Your children are not your children.

They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.

They come through you but not from you,

And though they are with you, yet they belong not to you.

You may give them your love but not your thoughts.

For they have their own thoughts.

You may house their bodies but not their souls,

For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow,

which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.

You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you.

For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.

You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.

The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite,

and He bends you with His might that His arrows may go swift and far.

Let your bending in the archer's hand be for gladness;

For even as he loves the arrow that flies, so He loves also the bow that is stable.

These words are the most profound that I have ever heard about parenthood and I will strive each and every day to live up to them. Thanks for reminding me dad!

Here are some photos of when you and Kai had a playdate. It was amazing to see you "discover" each other, but you can see that for yourself on the pics!

Love you my only!

A new day has truly come...

My precious boy, I thought I just had to write the words down (or some of it) of a song by Celine Dion - A new day has come. Everytime I hear it my eyes fill up with tears and I realise how blessed I am to be able to call you my son. Here's the part that always makes me cry and I couldn't have said it better myself:

Through the darkness and good times
I knew I'd make it through
And the world thought I had it all
But I was waiting for you...
Where it was dark now there's light
Where there was pain now there's joy
Where there was weakness, I found my strength
All in the eyes of a boy
Hush now I see a light in the sky
Oh, it's almost blinding me
I can't believe I've been touched by an angel with love
Let the rain come down and wash away my tears
Let it fill my soul and drown my fears
Let it shatter the walls for a new sun
A new day has come
Ohhh, a light
Hush nowI see a light in your eyes
All in the eyes of the boy
I can't believe I've been touched by an angel with love
Hush now...

I love you my only. You are beautiful, you are perfect, you are love, you are my everything...

Christening Pics - Thank you Anja & Arno!

When can we play?

My family

Me & granny grey

Me, dad, granny & grampy

Me, mom & ohpaw

Me & Dad

Hello handsome!

Me, Ouma & oom Koevoet

I'm praying too

Being Baptised

I understand ...

Can I eat that?

Me, mom & dad

Me & Oumagrootjie

Me & my girlfriend Anè

Christening candle from Megs & Samm

Big pappa C & my buddy Keaton

Loren & Darryl

Poem

Hi my beautiful boy,

Your ohpaw found a poem for you and posted it on the comments. But I thought it was so beautiful that I wanted to post it here.

~George MacDonald
Where did you come from, baby dear?
Out of the everywhere into here.
Where did you get your eyes so blue?
Out of the sky as I came through.
What makes the light in them sparkle and spin?
Some of the starry spikes left in.
Where did you get that little tear?
I found it waiting when I got here.
What makes your forehead so smooth and high?
A soft hand stroked it as I went by.
What makes your cheek like a warm white rose?
I saw something better than anyone knows.
Whence that three-cornered smile of bliss?
Three angels gave me at once a kiss.
Where did you get this pearly ear?
God spoke, and it came out to hear.
Where did you get those arms and hands?
Love made itself into hooks and bands.
Feet, whence did you come, you darling things?
From the same box as the cherubs' wings.
How did they all just come to be you?
God thought about me, and so I grew.
But how did you come to us, you dear?
God thought about you, and so I am here.

Beautiful hey my angel?

Love you plenty
Mom