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Author Archives: Anissa

Would you save a life if you could?

Written on November 30, 2008 by Anissa

When Peyton was diagnosed with Leukemia, one question that we were asked repeatedly was, “She needs a bone marrow transplant, right?” I would have to explain that bone marrow transplant is a last ditch effort, that you don’t do it unless nothing else works, you don’t WANT to do bone marrow transplant. There’s nothing easy,…

in Family Life, Medications and Treatment Options, Raising Awareness, Resources

- 1 Comment

Wonderful Things I Wish We Didn’t Have

Written on November 23, 2008 by Anissa

10 Comments

Our weekend was really ridiculously busy. We went to a hockey game where my older two kids got to announce the start of the game and we sat on the ice smack dab in the middle of the two team benches. We spent the after-game time meeting the players and letting the kids get autographs….

in Day In And Day Out, Dealing With Public Perceptions, Family Life, Raising Awareness

- 10 Comments

Oh HAI! Who are you?

Written on November 16, 2008 by Anissa

2 Comments

I’m finding out things about my daughter every day. Since Peyton ended her daily chemotherapy treatment this month, the changes in her are remarkable. She EATS! I thought she had a pretty normal appetite before, but I was WRONG! I don’t know that I realized how little she really ate until she didn’t have the…

in Day In And Day Out, Laughing Through The Tears

- 2 Comments

Philanthropy knows no age limits

Written on November 11, 2008 by Anissa

1 Comment

I try not to be a complete slacker when it comes to posts…I try. However, this week has been a bit overwhelming with the emotions of Peyton’s end of treatment capped off by my mother going into the hospital with pulmonary embolisms. Really, it’s been an upheaval pulling from every angle and my blogging thought…

in Advocacy, Holidays, Medications and Treatment Options, Raising Awareness, Resources

- 1 Comment

Advocates aren’t born, they’re created

Written on November 9, 2008 by Anissa

7 Comments

I’ve known for a long time that when it comes to my daughter and hospital staff, I can get fierce! I think every parent who has had a child spend time in the hospital, and especially those who spend considerable time inpatient, has had to go toe-to-toe with someone in the medical field. I’ve had…

in Advocacy, Family Life

- 7 Comments

Sticks and stone and all that

Written on November 4, 2008 by Anissa

10 Comments

Recently I had the opportunity to spend time with an autistic child. Does that seem like a strange thing to say on a special needs blog? Perhaps….but I don’t know that I’d ever had the chance before, or at least, I’d never been aware of it. If I did, I’m sure their symptoms came across…

in Day In And Day Out, Dealing With Public Perceptions, Raising Awareness

- 10 Comments

The signs are everywhere, or are they?

Written on November 2, 2008 by Anissa

8 Comments

I was walking through the mall with my children, just laughing at their crazy antics and enjoying the window-shopping. I stopped at one particular window, admiring a pair of shoes that I would never purchase and my eyes dropped to something that took my breath away. A little boy lay completely relaxed, blissfully asleep in…

in Day In And Day Out, Raising Awareness

- 8 Comments

What I’ll be doing on Halloween

Written on October 26, 2008 by Anissa

5 Comments

While most parents will be transforming their everyday children into a costumed alter ego and hitting the road for candy, I will be quietly losing my mind obsessing thinking about the milestone of Halloween 2008. Not that I won’t be taking my kids for the annual candy-fest. But I will also be consumed with the…

in Day In And Day Out, Holidays

- 5 Comments

Getting in front of the lens

Written on October 19, 2008 by Anissa

5 Comments

I know this is Melody’s field of expertise; I’m not going to talk about capturing the best light or composition. I just think it’s a necessary conversation to have with any photo-obsessed mom. I am one. We can smell our own. “Stand there! Turn a little, little more, no, too far. Right there. Smile. No…

in Family Life

- 5 Comments

I beg to differ!

Written on October 12, 2008 by Anissa

17 Comments

**Updated to correct, it was actually Obama that said that “children are relatively inexpensive to insure.” My apologies. I’m not going to turn this into a political post. I even promise to keep it short. It’s not the right forum and it’s not about any one candidates beliefs, I think we’re in trouble either way….

in Advocacy, Dealing With Public Perceptions, Raising Awareness

- 17 Comments