Tears, Smiles and a Plea

Mama gets asked to do a lot of things. Mama simply just can't do everything that is asked of her because it's just not possible...or sometimes it's not a fit, or sometimes Mama just doesn't want to! Today Mama is so honored to share with you a story about a beautiful little girl named Penelope (Penny) that is fighting a battle with Stage 4 cancer. It's actually more than a story, it's also a plea for help.


See that picture, that's Penny! Mama has never met her but I feel like I know her just by her toothy smile and sparkling eyes. She was even born at the same hospital here in San Diego that Lily-girl and Baby Boy were born at. At just 11 months old, Penny is in the fight of her life battling Stage 4 Neuroblastoma. As Mama writes this, tears are dropping on the keyboard. It's hard to imagine what Penny's parents go through each day knowing that their baby girl has to go through this and how they are going to PAY for it. 


Rather than try and tell Penny's story, Mama invites you to read it HERE. When you read it, Mama hopes it inspires you to help a little or a lot and also that you find your own children and hug them a little longer and tell them how much you love them. So often we complain about what we don't have and take for granted what we do have. 


Without getting into any kind of politics, Mama knows that the health care in the U.S. is expensive and health insurance is even more expensive when weighing into the budget whether you want to eat for the month or pay for "insurance" that may or may not be needed at that time. We all know that we would choose to feed our family. 


Here's more about what Penny has been through:

Since then she’s had 2 MRI’s, a bone scan, two nuclear medicine scans, a bone marrow biopsy, two surgeries, 7 rounds of anesthesia, daily X-rays, 1 cycle of chemotherapy, countless meetings/reviews with Dr’s, and 12 days inpatient.  On top of that we were informed that once we’re released she needs daily GCS-F shots.  A 10 day treatment of these shots costs $1,500.  So, we’d need two 10 day cycles per month, since she’ll get chemo every three weeks and be inpatient 3-5 days after.  Of course, this medication is NOT covered by our insurance. ~www.pennies4penny.org

Next week there will be an online auction of items...including some of Mama's favorites like aden + anais, who generously donated a $250 gift certificate, for people to bid on. All the proceeds will go directly to the family to pay for Penny's medical bills and treatments. Mama will post the link to the auction once it's available. If you can donate, please do and if you are a company that is offering something to Mama, please consider donating the item to the pennies4penny auction.


Mama hopes that she never (or that you) has to experience what Penny's family is going through but I do hope that if Mama did, people would come together to help anyway they can. 


On a side note, if you live in Carlsbad check out this news story from @nbcsandiego -- Carlsbad a hotbed for cancer? Please tell Mama your thoughts on this! 


http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/health/Carlsbad_Families_Demand_Cancer_Study_San_Diego.html

Tears, Smiles and a Plea