Go Gold!

September is Children's Cancer Awareness Month and we are sharing a video of Josiah's personal story over the last 11 months, information about children's cancer, and ways to be involved.

 Josiah's Journey….

Pediatric Cancer Facts

• In the United States alone 10,450 children under the age of 15 will be diagnosed with cancer in 2014.
• In 2013 Josiah was only one of 289 newly diagnosed cancer patients at Phoenix Children's Hospital.
• A child is diagnosed with cancer every three minutes.
• Phoenix Children's Hospital is a leading participant in research to find cures for childhood cancers.
• The gold ribbon is an awareness symbol for all forms of cancer that affect children and teens.  
• The color gold was selected because gold is a precious metal and children are more precious than gold.  

Ways to get involved

• Wear a gold ribbon!
• Raise awareness and support research with a vanity license plate.  In Arizona, the "Curing Childhood Cancer" plate costs $25, $17 of that goes toward childhood cancer awareness.  www.ServiceArizona.com or at the MVD.
• Contact our very own Kim Froehle, the Certified Child Life Specialist at Phoenix Children's Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders regarding patient needs and activities.  (602)933-0535
• Contact Bonnie Morgan from the Phoenix Children's Foundation regarding funding for research (602)933-2607.
• Support organizations that have been a blessing to many children and families like ours such as the Children's Cancer Network and Comfy Cozys for Chemo 

The tail of July and the tale of August

We were given the go ahead to take a family vacation (per Josiah's doctor) at the end of July so we booked it to San Diego right before Mary started school.  August mostly consisted of adjusting to the back to school routine, Aaron traveling for two weeks, and a visit from Grandma Nancy.  Aaron also took me on a date to watch dueling pianos and I have begun a women's small group at our church.

Mary's 1st Day of 2nd Grade

Family Vacation to San Diego at the end of July

We got to visit with our friends Kyle and Carly Walters.  Here is our "get a photo of all the kids" shot before parting.  :)  Stella and Sophia almost escaped the photo, but we got 'em all in there!  :)

Don't worry Dr. Dana, his port was never submerged in water or sand.  :)

Stella loved the giant sandbox we called "beach".

Mary with her carpool buddy Maddie.  It is monsoon season and we have been enjoying some rain showers and cooler weather.

Mary's favorite subject is history and she soaked up a recent date to a special exhibit on Ancient Egypt at Phoenix Science Center.