A Miracle at Disneyland

Naomi enjoyed a fun and full weekend! My sister, in her ingenuity, structured a plan to get 3 foster children (our little "sisters"), herself, her children and our mother a much needed mini-vacation. Given economic realities, in order to fund the trip, nothing short of a miracle was needed. Well, as we all know through Naomi's amazing healing journey, miracles do happen, and apparently in abundance. Thanks to an angel (who wishes to remain anonymous), not only was everyone able to travel to Los Angeles safely, but everyone attended Stevie Wonder's House Full of Toys Concert (the kids were especially excited to see the Jonas Brothers), and then the next morning visit Disneyland (the first time for the foster girls). A series of events led to serendipity of the highest order, and it was a beautiful weekend. Check out these happy faces:

Naomi feels better

LIVESTRONG!

Naomi was selected to participate in Lance Armstrong’s LIVESTRONG CHALLENGE event in San Jose. Naomi was one of several childhood cancer survivors being taking around the event course in pedi-cabs. These kids are the stars of the show. They have endured pain and faced mortality in ways that would give the toughest adults pause. Naomi requested that her big brother, 8 year old Jeremiah, and I, her Auntie, ride with her. We jumped and were chauffeured by our gracious pedi-cab rider, Rene. At the children’s request, Rene put on the speed and pedaled as fast as she could! It was a lovely day!

Naomi, Jeremiah and Rene:









You can see video of the pedi-cab ride here:

Starting line for LIVESTRONG San Jose 2009



During LIVESTRONG San Jose 2009


Approaching the finish line for LIVESTRONG San Jose 2009


Finish line for LIVESTRONG San Jose 2009




Today was Naomi’s bi-monthly oncology appointment. Everything went great! She's a healthy kid!

Naomi with her Nurse Practitioner:

Running and running

The kids participated in a timed race:

Naomi ran 13 laps in 10 min, Jeremiah ran 11 laps in 11 minutes.

Brown belt in the family!

I do apologize for not keeping up Naomi's blog on a regular basis. The good news is, she's doing great! So well, that we've all (well, at least me) fallen into a pattern of living the normal mundanity of everyday life, healthy children, work that's ever more consistent despite the economy, pleasing weather, shelter, food, all of the bare necessities of life. In other words, things are good...and so the blog suffers. Better that than the stressful impetus to write daily!

In the past few months, Naomi has passed her martial arts exam to receive her brown belt (at 6 years old!!)! Her big brother, Jeremiah, received his black belt (at 8 years old!!), but his mother has yet to email me a photo of him in his uniform...hint, hint...

We're all immensely proud of these tenacious, energetic, brilliant, beautiful children. : >




Blessings to you all!

Naomi the SuperStar!

My adorable niece Naomi is being featured in advertisements for the Keaton Raphael Memorial Foundation. Check out her beautiful photos on their website:

Keaton Raphael Memorial Foundation

We're all so proud of our little star!

Naomi's new keyboard

Naomi saw a keyboard in a store today, and bought it so she could be like her auntie...AWWWWWW! I'm biased, but this is the cutest video!

Naomi's 6th birthday!

Today we celebrated Naomi’s 6th birthday! What a miracle! Naomi is such a strong and amazing child! She is determined to put cancer behind her, and live life as a normal 6-year-old little girl (one with a depth of character and experience that will continue to be an inspiration for children and adults throughout her life). Naomi had a party with her school friends on Friday, a slumber party with her closest cousins on Saturday and a fun filled pool party on Sunday! It was a party weekend!

Naomi's Healing Journey

Hello friends,

As many of you know, my 5 year old niece Naomi has been receiving chemotherapy treatment for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) since April 28, 2006. ALL is the most common form of childhood cancer, but Naomi is anything but a common child. This petite, yet strong willed, little girl has endured 2 years of regular chemotherapy, blood tests, blood transfusions, spinal taps, toxic medications, hair loss, physical bloating, bracing pain, and a number of other cancer treatment side effects, with grace and patience beyond her years.

We are all extremely grateful for the fact that Naomi is responding well to her cancer treatment (which ends in September 2008!) and is expected to live a normal, healthy life. Naomi's parents realize that they are blessed and want to use their experience as parents of a child with cancer to help other families in the same situation.

Naomi's family has decided to spend the summer of 2008 driving 10,000 miles across the USA in order to raise funds for the Leukemia Research Foundation. Lisa Thompson, a documentary filmmaker noted for her commitment to telling stories of social importance, with emphasis in the area of children's health, will be joining the family and documenting their journey. This fundraiser has the potential to make a huge impact by raising funds for Leukemia research. But it can not happen without YOUR HELP!

Please join Naomi's family in this worthy cause:

1) Visit Naomi's Leukemia Research Foundation web page

2) Make a contribution to the fundraiser TODAY!

3) Forward this information to your friends and family.

Let's help Naomi in her quest to find a cause and cure for Leukemia!

Blessings to you all!

Victoria
Music, art, education, prosperity, well-being, compassion, peace, joy and love!

End of Chemotherapy Party!

Today is Naomi’s last day of chemotherapy treatment! Friends and family gathered in her family’s backyard to express gratitude for Naomi having endured the past 2 and 1/2 years with more grace, strength and courage that should be possible for such a young child. The sun was bright and the air was hot as the scent of barbeque drifted by in wafts with the occasional much-appreciated breeze. The kids’ karate school came and did a demonstration, and Naomi and a couple of girls from her hula school danced for the crowd of over 50. After the formal activities, all of the kids jumped into the water slide and the jumper. Even this big kid got into the jumper and had a great time!

While Naomi is no longer receiving chemotherapy, and is a true survivor of cancer, she will continue to be examined on a monthly basis to confirm that leukemia remains out of her system. After 5 years of living cancer free, she will officially be declared in remission. Please continue to keep her in your prayers and thoughts.

Thank you to everyone for all of the prayers, contributions, visits, email messages, letters, meals, etc., that have been extended to the family during the diagnosis and treatment of Naomi’s disease. I am humbled and grateful for your kindness, generosity and energy. May you be blessed in all things in every way.

Final "in-hospital" chemotherapy session!

On Monday, Naomi had her final "in-hospital" chemotherapy session! Just a couple of more weeks of chemotherapy to go! Hallelujah!

NAOMI'S FUNDRAISER FOR LEUKEMIA

Naomi and her family are doing a major fundraiser for leukemia. Read about it here: Leukemia Research Foundation

NO CANCER!!!!

I just got confirmation that Naomi's cancer HAS NOT RETURNED!!!! Hallelujah! She's been released from the hospital and is heading home! Thank you for all of your prayers!

Waiting for test results

Naomi came through the spinal tap like a trooper. She's such a brave little girl. We expect the test results by tomorrow. Please keep her in prayer!

Thank you & God bless!

Naomi has Pneumonia

Naomi has pneumonia and is being admitted to the hospital for treatment. She doesn't appear to have any symptoms, but tests revealed pneumonia. Please pray that she recover quickly and can return home.

Thank you

Pray for Naomi

Naomi, has been treated for leukemia since April 2007. To date, the treatment has gone very well, and we’ve been looking forward to a treatment end date of August 2008.

Yesterday, Naomi underwent a spinal tap procedure, performed to confirm that the leukemia cells have not returned. Naomi’s mother, Nina, just called me to inform me that the doctors treating Naomi have found abnormal cells in Naomi’s spinal fluid.

At this time, we do not yet know whether the abnormal cells indicate a recurrence of leukemia. On January 28, 2008, Naomi’s doctors will perform another spinal tap in hopes of identifying exactly what the abnormal cells are. The doctors are 85% sure that the abnormal cells are not leukemia, but they are not 100% sure.

Naomi has been doing extremely well; her energy has been high, she’s been growing, her hair has returned, she’s learning at a normal rate (often one of the side effects of cancer is diminished learning capacity. Naomi has not experienced this). We’ve had every reason to celebrate her healing. We pray that she continues to be healthy and won’t have to endure another course of treatment.

Please take a moment to pray for Naomi. Please pray that the abnormal cells are innocuous and NOT a return of leukemia or indicatory of anything else requiring treatment. Pray that the results were a technical aberration and that the next spinal tap will reveal perfectly normal and healthy cells! All of us appreciate your efforts.

Christmas 2007

MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

We’d like to thank:

Cops Care Cancer Foundation
Recreational Opportunities for Cancer Kids (R.O.C.K.)
Lodi Cancer Kids
Lifewind International (Vine House Ministry)
Our Family and friends

for making this Christmas possible for us. Each of the above organizations gave us gifts that helped fulfill our children's Christmas wishes. Amazing! Two weeks before Christmas, we were sure there would be nothing under the tree. Yet God is good and we were blessed abundantly. If you are moved to do so, please make a donation to any or all of the foundations listed above.

Our Christmas was interrupted by a fever scare. After a delicious breakfast with several family members around, Naomi felt hot and her temperature was taken. The thermometer registered a temperature of 102º. Naomi's doctors insist that she be rushed to the emergency room when her temperature goes over 100°, so off we went. We were nervous when we got to the ER, and the nurses were sure she was going to be admitted. Thankfully, they were wrong and she was sent home but with no explanation of the high temp. Naomi has been kept home since Christmas because she still has cold symptoms but the fever has not come back. We will be celebrating our first New Year's Eve together as a family (usually a grandparent babysits so we parents can have a fun night out). We're glad to be staying in!

God bless you all and may 2008 be a year of grace, love, peace, prosperity, joy and love in each of your lives.

Nina, Naomi's mother

Naomi turned 5 Years Old!

Thanks to Wishland who provides us with four 2-day park hopper tickets to Disneyland.

On Nov. 7 Naomi turned 5 Years Old! PRAISE BE TO THE GOD OF HEAVEN that she is still here and as fun-loving and playful as ever. About 3 months ago, Naomi’s social worker told me about Wishland. We put in our request and it was granted. Thank God for them because we could not have afforded to have such a wonderful celebration for Naomi's birthday without financial help.

Everything worked out perfectly! Jermaine's brother, Ronnie, happened to be in LA for work, so we stayed in his apartment, which was less than 3 blocks from Venice Beach! Conveniently, there were school holidays for both kids November 7th, 8th and 9th! So we saved money on accommodations AND the kids didn't miss any school! God is good!

We had 2 funs days at Disneyland. Naomi was treated like a princess by the Disney Cast Members. We spend our last day at the beach where the Sun came out just for us.




















































We left LA on Friday afternoon to make it home in time for Jeremiah’s last football game. The Panthers unfortunately lost to the Raiders after our first playoff game. Football had kept us all very busy this season with Jeremiah being the first string lineman and Jermaine being the Teams Head Coach. Even though we’re sad that our team didn’t make it further into the playoffs, we’re happy to have an early break before the holidays.

Thank you for your continued prayers!

Hula Solidarity!

Naomi (center front, with purple sleeves) had to wear a mask to Hula Class this past weekend. She’s never complained of wearing her mask in the past but since she’s been doing so well for so long (she has not worn the mask since September), she'd grown accustomed to not needing it. She was completely embarrassed about the mask and cried, completely unwilling to dance wearing the mask. I had given up trying to convince her to dance, and was about to leave the school when several of her classmates offered to also wear a mask also to make Naomi more comfortable. Once Naomi saw that she would not be the only student in a mask, she decided to dance and had a great class. I was brought to tears the kindness of ladies of this school.

Naomi is doing great!

I'm sorry for such a long delay in updating Naomi's blog. She has been very healthy (overall) recently, and enjoying participating in several activities, including martial arts, hula and preparing to be a cheerleader for her brother's football team. Recently, Naomi got to meet the legendary Stevie Wonder (who kindly prayed for her healing..while Naomi slept in her father's arms), had her hair braided (long extensions, which she loves), and celebrated her brother Jeremiah's 7th birthday at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom.

Thank you for all of your prayers and support! Enjoy these photos: