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| | | (SPECIAL/www.northfulton.com)
Chloe Baker fights off leukemia with help from family, friends. (click for larger version) | |
April 09, 2008
Several North Fulton children who have battled -- or are still fighting -- cancer and blood disorders will have a "Celebration of Courage" at Centennial Olympic Park Saturday morning.
The Aflac Cancer Center and Blood Disorders Service of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta will debut the fundraising event, called the "Celebration of Courage" relay and festival. The event that will allow the children to relay the "torch of life" through Centennial Olympic Park, with each participant's goal to raise $1,500 or more. Proceeds benefit the Aflac Cancer Center, with purchase of hematology analyzers planned.
Visit www.choa.org/courage for online registration and corporate sponsorship opportunities, or call 404-785-7338.
Chloe Baker
Just last summer, Chloe Baker was like any other 5-year-old girl -- she loved to play with her younger brother, enjoyed swimming and was eagerly awaiting kindergarten. But just one week after school began, on Aug. 24, the Roswell girl was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia -- a malignant cancer of the white blood cells.
During one of her very first nights in the hospital, her angel presence was recognized.
"The night nurse came in to see Chloe," her mother, Leslie Baker, said, "and when she looked into Chloe's eyes, tears feel from hers."
When Leslie asked her what was the matter, she gasped and spoke quietly, "She looks like an angel."
Although Chloe has had some pretty tough fights in the initial nine months of her treatment, her mother, Leslie, said, "She has been a trooper and handled the endless highs and lows of her cancer treatment with the patience and grace of an angel. Only once has she cried since she began her treatments."
For now, Chloe's treatments have slowed down and she has begun what is called the "maintenance" phase of her leukemia treatment. This phase will last about 18 more months. Chloe has recently returned to school, has joined friends in birthday bashes, enjoyed her first out of town trip (to her Nana's in Florida) and is eagerly awaiting the opening of the swimming pool (a happy place she has dreamt of so many times since this awful period in her life began).
One of the greatest gifts Chloe's parents, Tom and Leslie, have received through Chloe's diagnosis is the support from The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. They are also extremely thankful to the employees of Siemens for their involvement in the "Light the Night" event and for reaching out to Chloe and her family by honoring her.
In Chloe's honor people have donated money (to the Leukemia Society and to the Aflac Cancer Center), have participated in events that included running, cycling, and swimming many miles across this country and the world. Some have donated blood and platelets, while others donated time through volunteering, making dinners, caring for her little brother, sending gifts, emails, voicemails and letters.
Many have read her books in the most difficult time in the hospital, helped provide her healthcare and education at home and most notably they have given their time.
"As her parents, we will never be ready to give our angel her wings but through this night you give our daughter, our angel, a light that illuminates a world of grants, research, new treatments and better prognosis' to reinforce life for hundreds, if not thousands, of angels at a time," the Bakers wrote.
Avery S.
Three years ago, Avery S. was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, undergoing almost immediate surgery to place a Port-a-cath in her chest to allow better administration of her treatment. Chemotherapy began, with Avery visiting the clinic at Children's Healthcare as doctors worked to keep leukemia out of her central nervous system.
Last August, Avery was able to write this on her own online Care Page: "I am a Survivor now! Can you believe it?"
She reported on her successful surgery, and the painful removal of the Cath-a-port, which had been necessary for her treatment.
Soon after her surgery, she went to school to pick up books, met her uncle's new baby and took a shopping trip.
"Our entire family has learned so much by going through this. It has really opened our eyes to what is important," said her mother, Kim. "It's just been an amazing journey that we never imagined we would be taking."
Her mother said they feel blessed having Children's Healthcare of Atlanta here.
"We look forward to going to the hospital and clinic. It's an amazing group of people who work there," she said.
Kim said the family is proud to be on this end of treatment.
"So - www.northfulton.com
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