Savannah Smiles

Savannah at Camp Sunshine



Welcome to Savannah's home page. Savannah is the incredible 10 year old daughter of Pete and Andrea. She has an older brother Noah and a younger sister named Grace. Savannah was diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor called Medulloblastoma on February 10, 2005. She had brain surgery to remove the tumor at Shand's Hospital at the University of Florida in Gainesville, FL. We then returned back to Jacksonville, FL and were under the care of Wolfson Children's Hospital and the Nemours Children's Clinic.

Savannah's tumor was quite large and nasty. Although the tumor had spread to another site within her brain, it had not spread anywhere else in her body. Through the grace of God, her residual tumor was wiped out with several months of intense chemotherapy. The aggressive surgery to remove the tumor had several side effects including left sided body weakness, left sided facial weakness, and a condition called cerebellar mutism. The mutism originally left Savannah unable to swallow, speak, and to have bouts of "irritability" that were not well controlled with any medications. She has since re-learned how to sit up, crawl, stand, speak, and walk!

She completed her bone marrow transplant in September, but a new tumor was found in her brain during a routine MRI December 5th, 2005. She received 31 radiation treatments that hopefully have cleansed her little body of all the cancer. Every day we thank God for all of you and all three of our kids. We are so blessed to have today...to see Savannah smile again.

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Here are a couple of our favorite organizations:

Audrey's Umbrella is a fantastic organization that has been so wonderful to Savannah (and Noah and Grace, too!). They love all the mail and goodies they get from their "fairies". Please visit them at http://www.braintrust.org/umbrella.htm



Brian Moorman's PUNT Foundation was established to make a difference in the lives of children in Western New York with critical and terminal illnesses focusing on pediatric cancer. The Mission of the PUNT Foundation is to benefit children who are faced with life threatening illnesses and their families by providing assistance, programs and events designed to enrich their lives, and provide them with unique, memorable opportunities
Vist them at: www.brianmoormanfoundation.org



Carly's Club for Kids & Cancer Research in WNY exists to offer support programs to make life more manageable for children diagnosed with cancer and their families, and to raise funds for pediatric cancer research seeking cures at Roswell Park Cancer Institute.
Their website is: www.carlysclub.org



While Camp Good Days and Special Times does nothing to find a cure for cancer, everything they do helps to provide some good days and special times for the very special children and families in the Buffalo area. Camp Good Days is a celebration of life, with those who appreciate it the most�a place where courage knows no boundaries! www.campgooddays.org

CureSearch unites the world's largest childhood cancer research organizatin, the Children's Oncology Group, and the National Childhood Cancer Foundation through the shared mission to cure childhood cancer. CureSearch is a fantastic organization that sponsors a terrific amount of childhood cancer research. They also have a great advocacy network. You can visit them at www.curesearch.org

Designs From the Heart is a not for profit organization dedicated to creating �dream rooms� for children with life-limiting or life-threatening illnesses. They made a wonderful Princess Dora bedroom for Savannah to return home to after her bone marrow transplant. You can see some of their work at www.designsfromtheheart.net

The Tom Coughlin Jay Fund is a great organization based in Jacksonville aimed to assist children with cancer and their families by providing support to help reduce the stress associated with treatment and improve their quality of life. They are a wonderful family and a wonderful organization who helped us in so many ways. You can keep up with them at www.tcjayfund.org
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Journal

Friday, February 10, 2012 8:17 AM CST

One Day at a Time!
7 years. Wow, it seems like a long time, but it also seems like yesterday. 7 years ago Savannah started her journey to fight and beat brain cancer. She continues to amaze me every day and be my hero!

She is doing so well as a 4th grader, learning to ski, having great friends and always having an incredible drive and attitude. She never lets her challenges keep her from accomplishing what she wants! It may take her a little longer to do some things, but don’t you dare tell her she can’t do something! She will prove you wrong!

Our lives have changed in so many ways over the last 7 years. We have met and been supported by so many friends, old and new. The thoughts and prayers of people from all over have always came at the times they were most needed. Savannah’s fortitude and attitude has changed the way I look at life. Many people have shared stories of how her story has encouraged them or motivated them.

I am truly grateful for all of the people we have met through this journey. Doctors, nurses, therapists, family, friends and all those whoever just took a moment to wish her and us well.
Thank you all!
Breathe in, Breathe out, Move on

Read Journal History

Hospital Information:

Patient Room: HOME!!!!

NEW HOUSE
6600 Milestrip Road
Orchard Park, NY 14127
716-435-7216

Links:

E-mail Author: hrvy@msn.com; opharvey@verizon.net

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Note: The foregoing information was authored by the patient, parent or guardian, or other parties who are solely responsible for the content. Such announcements or their content are not necessarily endorsed by CaringBridge, Inc. or any sponsoring agent.  This information does not confirm that anyone is or was actually a patient at any facility.