Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

A message from Life. Love. Lauren:

Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

Forgive me that this is a long post, but I hope some of you will take the time out of your busy day to read this.

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. In honor of this month, I am going to take the time to write about my baby sister Ellie.

Ellie was 5 when she was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL). From the moment she was diagnosed, she fought hard, not truly knowing what all she was dealing with. One of the most haunting moments in my memory is when she was carried out by my mom and dad, sobbing, "why is everyone sticking needles in me?". I have so many other memories, but I could be here forever talking about them. What I will say is I think of my parents having to watch their little baby girl going through this and it is tough. You have no idea how much they wished they could take Ellie's place in this fight. I wished that I could take her place. I hope to never have to see any of my future children go through this.

My sisters and I

Ellie losing her hair

Before Ellie was diagnosed, I knew cancer was there, and that people got cancer; you would see the images of bald children for Ronald McDonald and St. Jude's. But until it effected me (granted I was only 13) I truly did not understand how unfortunately common childhood cancer was. (The number one killer of children)

Now imagine this headline: "Seven children were killed today as their parents watched in horror." This headline would prompt us all to take a moment to give thanks to our loved ones and maybe lower the flags. But the thing is, that this happens everyday because of the monster called cancer. 

In a divided nation where it is hard to get people to come together for a cause, we really need to draw attention to childhood cancer and stand together for a cure. We need to raise awareness and funding for this disease in an effort to ensure that the children lost are never forgotten and that no parents have to watch their child endure cancer. Or even worse, take their last breath.

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Did you know this? Come October we will be flooded with pink ribbons and everyone knows that it is breast cancer awareness month. Let us make September the same. Let us draw awareness. My hope is that someone reading this becomes more aware of this disease and may be moved into action. Be it a monetary donation, passing this post onto others, or thinking about the kids suffering every day.

I know that we could say this about many other diseases out there, but for obvious reason, childhood cancer strikes me.

For the rest of the month I will be writing more pieces about childhood cancer.


p.s. happy 21st birthday to my middle sister Tess! Love you! 

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