An update on Katie
Feb. 18th, 2005 01:59 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dancerjodiNews on the 6 year old with the brain tumor (that our 501st Arisia Fundraiser was for). It also expresses the kind of response that the nerdy star wars family can come up with when one of its own is in trouble:
Troopers
It's been three months now since my family received the terrible news
about my daughter Katie having cancer. In that time I've dropped off the
face of the earth for obvious reasons and the battle has raged on to
treat her. I avoided putting updates on this news forum because it's not
strictly club-related. But I don't want anyone to think it's a news
black-out or that I wasn't aware of all the hard work many troopers have
done to help Katie and my family. So this email is to give a quick
update and say thank you.
Katie has now finished her run of radiation and chemotherapy. She is in
good spirits but is struggling with the weight gain and hair loss that
radiation and the steroids have brought on. Her white blood cell counts
are good and the last MRI had her tumor shrinking by 20% even before
radiation was done. So that's good news. We now wait 6 weeks and she
gets hit with a high dosage of chemo for a while and another MRI is
done. We're glad to get the break. We're also wondering how to best keep
the momentum up so we're looking into homeopathic remedies that can help
her. Make no mistake: this is still considered by the doctors as an
inoperable and incurable tumor. But we are praying hard for her and
looking to maximize her chances - because miracles happen all the time.
So we're working towards a miracle.
In the last 3 months Katie's family has received an outpouring of love
and concern that is truly inspiring. Garrisons from all over the world
have written us cards, sent Katie gifts, and pledged money to help with
Katie's mounting medical bills. I am so very grateful for this help -
otherwise Katie would not have gotten the care she needed and we'd be
even more strapped than we are right now. There's no way for me to
properly thank everyone who helped - there have been SO many! I am sorry
if I can't get a personal thank you out to you all. For just a moment,
please allow me to thank some of them.
Thank you so much:
Jay Thompson, Matt Myers, and Cheralyn Lambeth - for launching the
forkatie.org site, filming events, handling the paypal account, and
getting the word out about Katie. You guys are incredible and I can't
thank you enough.
Jim Epps, Jeff Young, Ron and Janine Garner, Brian Judy, David
Finleyson, Cami Freeman, Sean Dudley, Dave Anderson, Mike Zoran, Chris
Burnside, and the rest of the Carolina Garrison: you are my home
Garrison and you wrapped your arms around my family to remind us we are
not alone. You raked my yard and painted my kitchen, things that showed
you truly want to help when I was at my wit's end. You trooped in the
rain to help raise money and save our butts. You even raised money to
get Katie a boxed set of Smallville, her favorite show. God bless you all.
Rich Kopacz, Natalie Muehlberger, Jeff and Jason Romanoff, Frank
Usamonte, and the rest of the members of Carida and ECG who trekked out
in the rain during Big Apple Con to raise money for Katie - the film Jay
shot of you was just so great and you really brought out the love in
NYC. Even the celebs were supportive - it was so great. Thank you.
New England Garrison and the Southern Outpost for the giant poster-sized
cards that made Katie smile - she loved all the signatures, pictures,
cartoons, and dedications. Thank you for thinking of her. And thanks to
the NEG for getting Lois Lane's autograph for Katie - she loves
Smallville and she really liked the picture of Lois and her well wishes.
Thank you.
Julie, Fin, and J.P. for playing with the kids and keeping Kathy sane by
taking her out from time to time.
Dion Rupa - for writing Wizkids and getting Katie a bunch of Heroclix -
she loved them, thank you!
Rain, Steve, Shane, Dawn, and Garrison Tyrannus for the beautiful
build-a-bears with costumes for Katie AND Allie and the wonderful
generosity you showed in raising money for the hospital bills. It was
funny to hear how long it took four costumers to pick out _just_ the
right clothes for the bears! :)
Savage and the Mid-west Garrison for their lovely scrapbook showing
Katie all the people who are rooting for her. She loved the pictures of
you with the hearts. You are wonderful.
Dune Sea Garrison for the lovely gifts and the quilt hand-made by the
ladies in the Garrison family. It was lovely - thank you!
The German Garrison and Natalie Muehlberger - for the generous gifts,
boxes of chocolates, and warm cards - I can't believe how many people
signed the cards - I am amazed by how many friends we have in Germany
The Dutch Klingons - yes, Dutch klingons - for your kind donation and
your Klingon words of courage you passed on to Katie as she fights the
ultimate battle - Qaplah!
Garrisons Italica, Spain, and Japan - your incredibly generous donations
and the lovely dolls you sent over - all three girls loved them very
much and take them to bed every night. I especially liked the Speedy
Gonzales doll that Guillermo sent over with the Spanish outpost's logo
on his shirt - very nice!
Wayne Lancaster and the Australian Garrison - for all their love and
support and their Troopers for Katie t-shirt campaign - we can feel your
love and concern all the way here!
ANONYMOUS - whoever mailed Lucasfilm and got Katie the autographed
picture of George Lucas. I don't know who you are but it was truly
inspiring and I am in awe of the kindness of strangers.
I know I haven't come even close to thanking all the wonderful people
out there who have made a difference in our lives at this time. But this
is my feeble attempt. Katie and her entire family knows we have friends
now. And that's the most important assett of all.
God bless you all
- AL (TK210)
Troopers
It's been three months now since my family received the terrible news
about my daughter Katie having cancer. In that time I've dropped off the
face of the earth for obvious reasons and the battle has raged on to
treat her. I avoided putting updates on this news forum because it's not
strictly club-related. But I don't want anyone to think it's a news
black-out or that I wasn't aware of all the hard work many troopers have
done to help Katie and my family. So this email is to give a quick
update and say thank you.
Katie has now finished her run of radiation and chemotherapy. She is in
good spirits but is struggling with the weight gain and hair loss that
radiation and the steroids have brought on. Her white blood cell counts
are good and the last MRI had her tumor shrinking by 20% even before
radiation was done. So that's good news. We now wait 6 weeks and she
gets hit with a high dosage of chemo for a while and another MRI is
done. We're glad to get the break. We're also wondering how to best keep
the momentum up so we're looking into homeopathic remedies that can help
her. Make no mistake: this is still considered by the doctors as an
inoperable and incurable tumor. But we are praying hard for her and
looking to maximize her chances - because miracles happen all the time.
So we're working towards a miracle.
In the last 3 months Katie's family has received an outpouring of love
and concern that is truly inspiring. Garrisons from all over the world
have written us cards, sent Katie gifts, and pledged money to help with
Katie's mounting medical bills. I am so very grateful for this help -
otherwise Katie would not have gotten the care she needed and we'd be
even more strapped than we are right now. There's no way for me to
properly thank everyone who helped - there have been SO many! I am sorry
if I can't get a personal thank you out to you all. For just a moment,
please allow me to thank some of them.
Thank you so much:
Jay Thompson, Matt Myers, and Cheralyn Lambeth - for launching the
forkatie.org site, filming events, handling the paypal account, and
getting the word out about Katie. You guys are incredible and I can't
thank you enough.
Jim Epps, Jeff Young, Ron and Janine Garner, Brian Judy, David
Finleyson, Cami Freeman, Sean Dudley, Dave Anderson, Mike Zoran, Chris
Burnside, and the rest of the Carolina Garrison: you are my home
Garrison and you wrapped your arms around my family to remind us we are
not alone. You raked my yard and painted my kitchen, things that showed
you truly want to help when I was at my wit's end. You trooped in the
rain to help raise money and save our butts. You even raised money to
get Katie a boxed set of Smallville, her favorite show. God bless you all.
Rich Kopacz, Natalie Muehlberger, Jeff and Jason Romanoff, Frank
Usamonte, and the rest of the members of Carida and ECG who trekked out
in the rain during Big Apple Con to raise money for Katie - the film Jay
shot of you was just so great and you really brought out the love in
NYC. Even the celebs were supportive - it was so great. Thank you.
New England Garrison and the Southern Outpost for the giant poster-sized
cards that made Katie smile - she loved all the signatures, pictures,
cartoons, and dedications. Thank you for thinking of her. And thanks to
the NEG for getting Lois Lane's autograph for Katie - she loves
Smallville and she really liked the picture of Lois and her well wishes.
Thank you.
Julie, Fin, and J.P. for playing with the kids and keeping Kathy sane by
taking her out from time to time.
Dion Rupa - for writing Wizkids and getting Katie a bunch of Heroclix -
she loved them, thank you!
Rain, Steve, Shane, Dawn, and Garrison Tyrannus for the beautiful
build-a-bears with costumes for Katie AND Allie and the wonderful
generosity you showed in raising money for the hospital bills. It was
funny to hear how long it took four costumers to pick out _just_ the
right clothes for the bears! :)
Savage and the Mid-west Garrison for their lovely scrapbook showing
Katie all the people who are rooting for her. She loved the pictures of
you with the hearts. You are wonderful.
Dune Sea Garrison for the lovely gifts and the quilt hand-made by the
ladies in the Garrison family. It was lovely - thank you!
The German Garrison and Natalie Muehlberger - for the generous gifts,
boxes of chocolates, and warm cards - I can't believe how many people
signed the cards - I am amazed by how many friends we have in Germany
The Dutch Klingons - yes, Dutch klingons - for your kind donation and
your Klingon words of courage you passed on to Katie as she fights the
ultimate battle - Qaplah!
Garrisons Italica, Spain, and Japan - your incredibly generous donations
and the lovely dolls you sent over - all three girls loved them very
much and take them to bed every night. I especially liked the Speedy
Gonzales doll that Guillermo sent over with the Spanish outpost's logo
on his shirt - very nice!
Wayne Lancaster and the Australian Garrison - for all their love and
support and their Troopers for Katie t-shirt campaign - we can feel your
love and concern all the way here!
ANONYMOUS - whoever mailed Lucasfilm and got Katie the autographed
picture of George Lucas. I don't know who you are but it was truly
inspiring and I am in awe of the kindness of strangers.
I know I haven't come even close to thanking all the wonderful people
out there who have made a difference in our lives at this time. But this
is my feeble attempt. Katie and her entire family knows we have friends
now. And that's the most important assett of all.
God bless you all
- AL (TK210)
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2005-02-18 11:09 am (UTC)Thanks!
Date: 2005-02-18 11:10 am (UTC)Thank you :)
the poor baby !!
Date: 2005-02-18 11:52 am (UTC)Kate
Re: the poor baby !!
Date: 2005-02-18 12:43 pm (UTC)Thanks! I was putting this up to update people on her progress, I didn't even think they'd get donations out of it :)
no subject
Date: 2005-02-18 11:43 am (UTC)for katie
Date: 2005-02-18 12:44 pm (UTC)Thanks for the donation. :)
Lucasfilm sent an autographed photo and a letter from George Lucas, its way more than anyone was expecting, actually. :)
no subject
Date: 2005-02-18 12:43 pm (UTC)for katie
Date: 2005-02-18 12:44 pm (UTC)Re: for katie
Date: 2005-02-18 10:33 pm (UTC)ANY IDEA ??? The con rocked and I look forward to doing more trooping for Katie.