Cards for Kids Update and Prizes

Hi everyone!
I’m helping my sweet friend Jennifer out this month and posting the prize information for the next round of the Cards for Kids card drive. Before I post the next round of prizes, you can check out Jana’s updated list of cards we’ve received HERE on her blog.
Ok, here we go! Below are the prizes you could win for sending in cards for this card drive. Each child has a prize associated with them. If you send in cards for a child, you have a chance of winning the prize. For more information on the Cards for Kids card drive itself, click HERE. This round of prizes will be given on March 31st – so get your cards in by then!

First up is sweet Kate McRae.In June of 2009, 5-year-old Kate was diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer. Dad (Aaron) is a pastor in Arizona and he and his wife, Holly, have two other children, Will and Olivia. Of course this is devastating for the whole family and many are praying for them. (Go HERE to learn more about this family and their struggle).

The family includes:

• Kate, Age 5.
• Sister – Olivia, age 7.
• Brother – Will, age 4.
• Mom – Holly.
• Dad – Aaron.

Kate has a rough road ahead of her for quite awhile. Recently Kate’s parents, Holly and Aaron, have decided on the next round of treatment for their sweet daughter and they could use your prayers for the road ahead. Please pray for them.

Here is the great prize you could win if you send in cards for Kate and her family:

A custom blog design by Blog Designs by Two Happy Mamas.

Blog Designs by Two Happy Mamas will work with you to give your Blogger blog a new fun design. You’ll get the works!

And a $30 gift certificate to Elle’s Studio.

Next up is cutie patootie Gavin.Gavin is a 4-year old boy battling Tay-Sachs Disease, an extremely rare genetic disorder that causes relentless deterioration of mental and physical abilities. There is currently no known cure for this disease, nor preventive treatment to slow down or stop the brain from regressing. The doctors are at a dead-end but the family continues to fight and hope for a miracle. Gavin has a 1-year old sister, Audrey Bella, who has been diagnosed with the Tay-Sachs gene but, fortunately, does not have the disease.

The family includes:

• Gavin, age 4.
• Sister – Audrey Bella, age 1.
• Dad – Ferd.
• Mom – Jan.

You can keep up to date on Gavin HERE.

If you send in cards for Gavin and his family you could win these lovely prizes:

A collection of American Crafts Markers & Precision Pens donated by Jill Hicken at A Million Little Things.

And a $25 gift certificate to 2peas in a Bucket donated by Shannon Tidwell.

Next we have beautiful Sami.Sami, age 18, was diagnosed at 2 months old with cystic fibrosis. Her parents immediately learned how to care for her at home with daily medicines and physical therapy. Throughout her young life, she required frequent hospitalizations, but was able to attend school and activities. However, as Sami got older, she had more frequent lung infections, causing permanent damage. She soon developed diabetes and life-threatening allergies to some of the antibiotic therapies, causing her a need to be home schooled for high school.

The last course treatment for cystic fibrosis is a double lung transplant, which she was recommended for in January 2009. In September – with a lung capacity of only 17% – she received her new lungs and spent 4 weeks in the ICU. She lost her ability to swallow, but not to smile. Sami’s recovery was slowed because she was so ill. In November of 2009, Sami was released from the hospital to the Ronald McDonald house to continue therapy and rehabilitation. With God’s will and Sami’s determination, she hopes to have a normal life.

And, how about the prizes you can win for sending in cards for Sami? Check this out…

A large assortment of red rubber cling cushion ready stamps from Cornish Heritage Farms.

Retail value for the stamps is over $100.

And a $25 gift certificate from Stampin’ Treasures.

Meg is a 4-yr-old darling battling Leukemia. At age 3, she was diagnosed with high-risk Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia. She is currently doing well, but still has to be cautious due to her diminished infection-fighting ability. She still has two years of treatment left and is currently taking oral chemotherapy. On November 23, 2009, she will go in for a lumbar chemotherapy procedure. She has such a sweet spirit and doesn’t complain about all the procedures she has to endure. Her parents draw their strength from her and from their faith. Meg loves to dress up like a princess and when she wears her princess dresses and high heels to Cook Children’s Hospital, she’s pretty much known as Princess Meg, said her mom, Sheri. Meg is proud of the fact that she has “no peeps” (as in, she doesn’t utter a peep!) when she gets her shots. Her sister, Jenna, is 7 years old and is a wonderful sister to Meg, playing dress-up and “pajama party” with Meg when she has to stay inside. They are a wonderful, loving family who strive every day to keep a smile on their faces and hope in their hearts!

The family includes:

• Meg, age 4.
• Sister – Jenna, age 7.
• Dad – Steve.
• Mom – Sheri.

You can find out more and get updates about Meg HERE.

And, for sending cards in for Meg and her family, you may win…

A 1-year subscription to Scrapbook Trends Magazine.

Next up is Zach.

8-year-old Zach was diagnosed with Medulloblastoma, a form of brain cancer on July 21, 2009. Two days later, he had surgery to remove the tumor. This was just the beginning of this journey for this family, but they will travel it together, faithfully. Zach and his mom are currently at St. Judes Childrens Hospital in Tennessee where he just started his chemotherapy. They will remain there for the next few months, but enjoy visits from his dad and two younger brothers, Ryan and Chase. Please lift this boy and his family in prayer.

The family includes:

• Zach, age 8.
• Brother – Ryan, age 1.
• Brother – Chase, age 6.
• Mom – Mary Ann.
• Dad – Ed

To keep up with Zach and how he is doing, you can visit his website HERE.

And, for each card you send in for Zach or his family, you will get a chance to win:

A $25 gift certificate to Stampin’ Treasures.

And a $25 gift certificate to purchase any of Crystal Wilkerson’s collections.

Meet the sweet 6th child, David.

On 8/18/09 David went through a noncontrast CT scan due to right hand tremors. They found a brain mass. On 8/27/09 David underwent an MRI and it was found a mass arising from the right cerebellum. This mass is right of the midline and causes moderate mass-effect against adjacent soft tissue structures. David underwent surgery to remove the tumor but they were not able to remove it due to its location. They did a biopsy to find out if the tumor is malignant or benign. After a couple of weeks of waiting for the diagnosis and a wrong diagnosis, we found out the tumor is benign, but it is just as dangerous because of its location. In the second week of December, David will be doing another MRI. The result will determine if he will have to undergo another surgery and/or will be doing radiation and Chemo.

The family includes:

• David, age 6.
• Brother – AJ, age 7.
• Sister – Jessica, age 4.
• Dad – Anderson.
• Mom – Debbie.

You can find out more and get updates about David HERE.

By sending in cards for David and his family, you could win these goodies..

A pack of 50 multi-colored clay buttons donated by Jane Beljo and also donated by Jane, your choice of four of her digital stamps that you can see HERE.

And a $25 gift certificate to 2peas in a Bucket donated by Shannon Tidwell.

Next up is Braden.

Braden Hofen was diagnosed with Stage IV, high risk neuroblastoma on December 28, 2007 at the age of 3. Braden was given a 30% chance for survival at that time. He went through six high dose rounds of chemotherapy, an autologous bone marrow transplant, radiation therapy, and follow up therapies. Braden was declared to be in remission but merely a few months later, and only a few weeks from his fifth birthday, his cancer relapsed. Braden now has only a 10% chance for survival. Braden is undergoing medical treatments both at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri and at the Children’s Hopsital of Philadelphia. Braden loves animals, basketball, playing outside, water fountains, and the beautiful seasonal Christmas lights! Braden and his family appreciate all of your thoughts, prayers, and hopes for a miracle!

The family includes:

• Braden, age 5.
• Brother – Zach, age 6.
• Mom – Deliece.
• Dad – Brian.

To keep up with Braden and how he is doing, you can visit his website HERE.

And for sending in cards for Braden, you could win…

This collection of goodies from Kaiser Craft:

Lilac Avenue Collection 6″ Paper Pad
Lilac Avenue Collection Clear Stamps
Lilac Avenue Collection 2 Pack Pigment Ink Pads
Mint Green Rhinestones
Lilac Rhinestones

$36 value

And a $25 gift certificate from Stampin’ Treasures.

And last, but certainly not least, meet sweet Emily.

Emily Koester is a beautiful 6 year old girl that has a very rare disease. She is one of 4 people in the US that has Schimke Immuno-osseous Dysplasia (SIOD), one of the rarest forms of Dwarfism. Only 45 people world-wide have this disease. This disease is very rare. Only 1 in 1 million to 3 million get this genetic disease. She will have a shortened life span with: stroke, hip replacements, kidney failure and infections as some of the problems with this disease. This disease is detected by growth, appearance, illness and x-rays. Emily has rounding of the spinal vertebrae, classic characteristics of hip dysplasia in the pelvis and thighs. Emily experienced kidney failure in spring 2008 and received a kidney transplant fr om her father Joe. A side effect of the transplant, the anti-rejection medication caused Lymphoma, Emily’s is in stage 3 and has endured chemo. Recently a fungal infection was discovered in the donated kidney, so she has been on anti-fungal medication. She has suffered from constant fevers, vomiting, headaches and most recently seizures. She has had over 37+ surgeries in the past 2 years.

The family includes:

• Emily, age 6
• Mom – Erin
• Dad – Joe

To keep up with Emily and how she is doing, you can visit his website HERE. If you want to help, click HERE.

For sending in cards for Emily and her family, you may win…

A 1-year subscription to Scrapbook Trends Magazine.

And our newest children in the card drive…

Sweet Karli
Karli started complaining about her shoulder hurting, which led to the discovery of a mass. On December 15th, 2009 a biopsy confirmed Osteosarcoma – cancer in her upper arm bone. She has since started chemo and will have surgery.

The family includes:

• Karli, age 10.
• Brother Jack, age 4
• Brother Brodey, age 16 months
• Mom Randi.
• Dad Matt.
• Stepdad Doug.

For more on Karli and her family, click HERE.

By sending in cards for Karli and her family, you could win these goodies…

And sweet Aria.

Aria is three-and-a-half years old, and comes from Manurewa, Auckland, New Zealand. Aria received her gift of life on the 6th of February, a small bowel, kidney, liver and pancreas transplant at the Nebraska Medical Center, in Omaha, USA.

Soon after birth she was diagnosed with a very rare condition of the bowel known as total intestinal aganglionosis or total Hirschsprung’s disease. There is no cure and it means she will never be able to digest food. Total intestinal aganglionosis is where there are no nerves cell throughout the entire bowel to squeeze the food along to be digested. Hirschsprungs is common where a portion of the bowel contains no nerves and can be fixed by removing the effected portion of bowel and reconnecting the healthy remaining bowel. Aria’s form of the disease means this is not an option because there is no healthy bowel.

Aria’s only hope of long term survival and a chance to eat rests in small bowel, liver, pancreas and kidney transplant. These organs have come from a single child donor whose family made a brave and difficult decision to donate life at a desperately terrible time. This operation is not done in NZ or Australia but the best place is America with the cost of $1-$2 million US dollars. It is still a risky operation but the odds of survival are getting better as advances in medical knowledge continue.

Aria’s favorite color is purple. She loves Winnie the Pooh, Barney, Dora, and the Wiggles. Actually her little brother Asher likes the Wiggles and Aria tells us she likes the Wiggles for Ashie! She loves numbers and counting. She loves books, and reading is her favorite thing to do. Cooking and puzzles and painting are fun activities for Aria too.

The family includes:

• Aria, Age 3 1/2.
• Brother – Asher, age 2.
• Mom – Anita.
• Dad – Hamish.

Aria is a lovely, courageous little girl who handles the trials in her life amazingly well. Her life is a precious gift from God who is taking the MacDonald family on a journey according to His great purposes.

To learn more about Aria, visit her blog HERE.

For sending in cards to Aria and her family, you could win:

A beautiful handmade hat from Heartsmiles.etsy.com. Sweet Abbie Torroll, who makes all of those beautiful hats, has graciously donated a hat of your choice and your size. Check out her shop HERE.

And also a $25 gift certificate to spend on Shabby Chic Crafts’ new spring line of goodies:

Thank you so much to everyone who has been sending in cards for these children and their families! Keep them coming and keep praying, too! Thank you and God bless you! Hugs!