THE BIG "C"
by Kathy Cawthon, Survivor

"The big "C" I heard someone call it,
Another just whispered the word,
That we don't even dare to say "cancer" out loud
Gives it power it doesn't deserve.

So I'm giving that letter new meaning
And refusing to give in to fear
By reclaiming the power for you and for me
And by saying these words loud and clear:

Let the "C" be for "Cure" and "Compassion"
Let it stand for the "Candles" we light,
And a "Chorus" of voices shouting, "You Can!"
To all who will take up this fight.

Let the "C" be for "Cash Contribution"
("Credit" or "Check" will work, too)
Let it stand for "Committment" and
Checkups" and "Cheer",
And for the "Children" "Counting" on you.

Let it mean that we know our "Creator" is beside us each step of the way,
And remind us to "Call" on His strength and His love,
And to "Celebrate" every new day.

To everyone facing this "Challenge",
I say it's a fight we can win.
Tell all who will listen that, starting today,
The "C" is for "Courage", my friend.

Journal

Friday, June 13, 2008 10:26 AM CDT

WEll, let's see what all we have been up to. Gunner had clinic he did awesome. He used emla cream, it makes his port site numb. No tears, no one holding him down, he sat there all by himself. It is crazy all these years he fought tooth and nail while he was getting accessed and now that we are a few months away to the end and he is doing something we never thought he would. Just amazing. My mom was there to witness how good he did. Anyhow, his counts were great and he didn't need a transfusion. Over all it was a great day at clinic.
Mark is in Peru, doing his Marine training. He will back in a few more weeks. We have only heard from him once, so I am sure he is staying busy and he is very limited to calling us.
Gunner had his birthday. He was able to spend it with Grandma Trina, Papa Joe and Grandma Roma and the best siblings he could have. We just grilled out and then had cake. It is what he wanted to do. We will have a party for him when Mark gets back. He didn't want to really celebrate it with out Mark.
My mom, Gunner and I worked a Alex's Lemonade Stand last weekend at the Hyvee close to our house. The stands were all over the Kansas City area. All the money that was raised, got to stay in the Kansas City area to help kids with cancer. The over all total was around $120,000. Very exciting.
Gunner has been keeping us busy in the evenings with his baseball games. He loves it. He really puts 110% into everything that he does. He takes it very seriously. As he gets older, I can see why he is our cancer kid. He has such a drive to succeed and do the absolute he can. He has struck out 2 times out of 9 games and he is disappointed in himself about that. I just remind him that even the big guys to that, and it is normal for that to happen. He is too funny.
Camp Hope is tomorrow. He is very excited. We are in Great Bend waiting to go. He woke up today, saying "yes, I go to camp tomorrow." We drove out there yesterday to show him where it was at. This will be the first year that he will go to this camp. There are a couple of friends from Camp Quality that will be there and a some friends from Children's. It will be a week of fun. Gunner would go to camp all summer if he could. He loves it.
Anyhow thanks for checking in
Kim

Hospital Information:

Patient Room: HOME

Childrens Mercy North
2401 Gillham Rd
Kansas City, MO 64108
816-460-1044

Links: