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Catie Marie

September 26, 2002 - January 19, 2007

Welcome to Catie's Web Page.

Catie was diagnosed with medulloblastoma, a brain tumor, on her first birthday, September 26, 2003. She endured 11 surgeries, 36 months of chemotherapy, and 30 radiation treatments. Catie fought the good fight but was lovingly welcomed into the arms of the Father on January 19, 2007. Catie brought a smile to the face of all who met her. You should have seen the twinkle in her eye and the enormity of her spirit. We know that she is free from all disease and pain as she runs and jumps down the streets of Heaven with her golden curls bouncing behind her. She will be always missed.

"For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "Plans to prosper and not to harm you, plans for a hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11


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If you would like to help fight childhood cancer, then become a part of our team to find a cure by joining a program called Coaching for the Cure. You can get information at Coaching for the Cure or by calling Grainne Owen at 678-277-9849.

CURE Childhood Cancer is another great organization in the Atlanta area. They provide support in a variety of ways to families battling childhood cancer.

Camp Sunshine provides many services for kids with cancer and their families. They have everything from summer camp to family camp to spa nights to fun outings for cancer kids of all ages. It's truly a great organization!

The Lighthouse Family Retreat provides a true respite for families journeying through the worrisome world of childhood cancer. It is a seaside retreat devoted to helping them laugh, restore relationships and find hope in God. It's the most relaxing place on Earth... a true respite.

The Atlanta Ronald McDonald House has been a home away from home for us. I've lost track of just how many nights we've been there. They always welcome us with open arms, and they've made our journey much easier.

The Brain Tumor Foundation for Children is a great organization devoted to supporting children battling brain and spinal cord tumors and their families.


CureSearch is an organization devoted to reaching the day when every child diagnosed with cancer can be guaranteed a cure. A large portion of their money goes to research for children's cancers. You can order the green "Reach the Day" bracelets here.

Children's Healthcare of Atlanta (including both Scottish Rite and Egleston Hospitals) was recently ranked the #3 children's hospital in the nation. Their AFLAC Cancer Center was ranked #5 among national pediatric oncology centers. They are in the middle of expanding the hospital, so donations are great.

Audrey's Umbrella is another organization that has been very good to Catie. She loves the mail that she receives from these great folks.

The Rally Foundation is a great organization that's doing wonderful work to support research for childhood cancer. Rally Foundation will had a national launch last spring with Big League Chew, Mizuno, Tom Glavine and John Smoltz. Contact them to find out how you, your school or business can join the Rally for Research! The money that grassroots Rally Teams raise goes to support all phases of childhood cancer research from science at the bench (very early research) to Stage 1, Stage 2, Stage 3 and Stage 4 clinical trials. Also, with Rally it is possible to keep money you raise in your area or to select trials that would be meaningful to your Rally Team.



I had the incredible honor to try and capture who Catie is
and what she meant to all of us. Below is the end result.
As we all know, Catie lived a much fuller life and touched
more souls than many of us could in our lifetime. Take a
moment to watch the video and reflect on the joy Catie Marie
has, and will continue to bring to us all.

With love and Care,
Uncle D

Quicktime Plug-in required to view video. If you can't see the video , click Get plug-in to install it. ***PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS VIDEO DOES NOT WORK WITH THE NEW VERSION OF IE7. THE FOLLOWING BROWSERS SHOULD BE MOST THE MOST COMPATIBLE: Firefox (my personal favorite) and Internet Explore 6.








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Journal

Saturday, January 19, 2008 9:14 AM CST

Oh sweet girl,
How on earth have we made it a whole year without you? Without your sweet voice, your catching giggle, your mischievous grin, and your sweet arms around our neck. We miss you as much today was we did this same day last year, but we have definitely learned a bit about grief and missing. I think, for me at least, the biggest lesson has been in how to let grief be a part of the every day without letting it govern my life. I've learned that I can miss you and still find happiness in my days. Life will never, ever, ever be as sweet as it was before you left us, but I know that wallowing would not make you proud. There are days that we wallow, but there are days where we do a decent job of trying to live like you taught us... full even when things are hard. Who knew how many lessons a Midget (I miss hearing your daddy call you that) would teach us.

For Daddy and I both, yesterday was harder than today seems so far. You died shortly after midnight, so it was the 19th, but to us it felt like the 18th. I started the day w/ a chicknen biscuit with chicknen on it. I so wished I was ordering you one w/ your kid's sweet tea as I drove through the drive through. Ms. Alice and Mr. Sam stopped by on their way through town which was such a nice surprise, and then we went to Aunt Lisa's for dinner. Chocolate cobbler was for dessert and I think that will be tradition every January 18th from here on out. Today we'll eat lunch at Cracker Barrel, of course, and then head to the cemetary. Your marker is finally in place. Hopefully the rain will let up so we can send some balloons your way.

I wish today wasn't significant, because if it wasn't, you'd still be here with us. But we're not going to focus on what happened on the 19th today or even on what happened Sept. 26, 2002, the day you were born. We're going to focus on what happened in between... all that good stuff and all the memories we have of you and on how full of joy you are now. GaGa sent me a link yesterday called The Dash. I thought it was quite appropriate for this weekend. So today, on your very first Heaven Day, we'll celebrate your dash and be grateful that we were a part of every bit of it. We love you sweet girl, as much today as we ever have. Send some frogs or butterflies our way... (and convince that sister of yours that walking is NOT scary at all -- she's so ready but is a bit of a chicken right now!! :).

The Dash

We love you!
Momma, Daddy, and Iz

******Don't forget to hop over to Midgets and Moonpies for our latest news.******

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In the arms of Jesus



Links:

http://midgetsandmoonpies.blogspot.com   For Current Updates on our Crew
http://www.bennettsbluebutterfly.org/index.htm   Bennett's Blue Butterfly Page
http://www.chemoangels.com/   Become a Chemo Angel and Help a Cancer Patient


 
 

E-mail Author: jencarrollwilkins@gmail.com

 
 

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