Princess Warriors

This weekend we participated in our first real cancer walk. The only other walk we have done since Natalie got diagnosed was to walk in the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society walk two years ago. We did that last minute when we noticed that it fell on the anniversary of her diagnosis day and did not plan on it ahead of time. This walk was different.

At Natalie's last clinic visit, I noticed a flyer about the walk and was excited at the idea of doing a walk for Cure Search. Cure Search is the fundraising arm for Children's Oncology Group (COG). Natalie's cancer treatment was dictated by the clinical trial she was on; it was a COG clinical trial. The clinical research performed by Children's Oncology Group is a huge reason our daughter is alive today. Leukemia used to be almost universally fatal but great progress has been made in the treatment of Leuekmia from research and clinical trials done by COG over the last 30 years. There are many types of cancer that do not have the survival rates that Pre-B Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia does, I am proud to support COG in improving treatment for ALL children with cancer and to find ways to make treatment less damaging to the young bodies of children.

Natalie was invited to be on a team called Princess Warriors, made up of six or seven little girls in our area who have had cancer; most of them had Leukemia like Natalie. It made the walk even more special. What an amazing group of girls! They truly are Princess Warriors.

I was touched all morning as I walked around and saw all the t-shirts for the different teams partipating in the walk and thought of the common bond we all shared--all of our lives having been touched by pediatric cancer. It was especially touching as those children who have passed from cancer were remembered and as the children who are survivors announced themselves. Natalie is SO proud when she uses the word survivor, just like she should be!

Natalie and Jordan. Jordan is going to be finishing treatment in July and we are SO excited for her.
This big snake was quite a hit.
Stephen liked the snaky as he calls it.
This was Natalie's reaction, she wasn't so thrilled and would not get close to it.
The balloons were a big hit with BOTH Natalie and Stephen.
This is Stephen's excited face when the guy handed him his airplane balloon.
The group doing some stretches before the walk.
Natalie laughing about the exercises.








Natalie sent her balloon up to her her friend Alexa in heaven, and she even convinced her friend to send her balloon up to Alexa too.

The Walkers and a good view of the Texas Motor Speedway.

Ashley had ALL like Natalie and finished up treatment in the fall. Natalie is happy to have met her recently at MAW.