Hi all!
We just wanted to share that we launched our new website Meredith's Miracles about a month ago. We hope y'all enjoy it as much as we do! We are thrilled with the new design.
Our blog was moved over there as well. We have tried to move most of our old posts to the new site so that people can still continue to enjoy them!
Don't forget to follow us on Twitter @MeredithMCCF & Facebook!
Thanks for your continued support,
The Board of Directors at Meredith's Miracles Colon Cancer Foundation
Monday, March 23, 2015
Thursday, January 15, 2015
Miracles in the Making: Grant Recipient David Kling
We received this thank you letter with David's Story from him just before the Holidays...
Please send my deepest gratitude and thanks to your family and committee for accepting my story and blessing us with this generous gift. My family and I are humbled by it and can't thank you all enough for helping us out during this time. Below is a synopsis of my story thus far.
My story began on Friday, July 11th, 2014 when I received word from my doctor after a colonoscopy that the tumor they had discovered during the procedure had come back positive for colon cancer. Needless
to say my world was rocked! The colonoscopy was not a routine procedure since I am only 34 years old. It was scheduled after my primary care physician was unable to determine the cause of other symptoms I was experiencing, so he told me to get the colonoscopy.
After finding out I had cancer, our next course of action was to seek a doctor and treatment. We went a got our first opinion from a surgeon in Alexandria, VA and shortly after that we got a second
opinion from a team of doctors in Philadelphia at the Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA). After choosing to seek treatment at CTCA I started my radiation and chemotherapy within 2 weeks of our initial visit at CTCA (around the end of August). I would
go up to Philadelphia during the week for treatments and come home on the weekends. I did this for 5 1/2 weeks.
On September 25, 2014 I finished my treatments and was able to return home for about 8 weeks. My colon resectioning surgery has been scheduled
for Wednesday, November 26th. We are praying everything goes as smoothly as it should and as the doctors anticipate it will. After surgery and about a 5 day stay in the hospital I will return home and recover for about 1 month and then continue chemotherapy
for approx. 5 months.
I know this is just the beginning of this journey and it will be a part of my life for ever...but I know one thing is for sure...my heavenly father is in control and I have nothing to worry about or fear. There is a greater purpose
for me going through this and only God knows why. As long as my story can bring glory to Him and bless someone in the process, I will gladly go through this journey. As Proverbs 3:5-6 states, Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own
understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.
David Kling
David, know that we are praying for you! Keep great faith!
Friday, October 10, 2014
Miracles in the Making: Grant Recipient Monique Sallette
Vivacious Monique is a 34 year old mother of 3 from Georgia. She has her handful as a single mom with 3 beautiful children aged 17, 15, and 11!
Monique was originally diagnosed with colon cancer in 2013. She had 12 treatments of chemotherapy that lasted for about 6 months. She had a colostomy bag and
had it removed when she was declared cancer free at the end of 2013.
She had been feeling symptoms again in May of this year and followed up with her surgeon after having a "flare up" in June. She has been diagnosed again with colon cancer but this time stage 4B. We are clinging to hope and sending prayers!
We were able to catch Monique up to speed on her overdue electrical bills and pay 2 months of rent for her. We are praying for you Monique!
Friday, September 26, 2014
Miracles in the Making: Grant Recipient Arianne McAllister
Arianne is 36 years old and a mom of a four year old boy.
She had been misdiagnosed for over 3 years before she was finally diagnosed with colon cancer in November of 2013. At the time of her diagnosis with a CT scan, they found a tumor in her colon and 9 spots that had already spread to her liver.
Arianne began chemotherapy after she was diagnosed last Fall. She had to stop treatment this Spring in order to take care of some surgeries and necessary procedures. She is scheduled to begin chemo again in late October.
This incredible woman is attempting to restart her life. She's wanting to start over, especially for her son. MMCCF was able to help her out with one month's rent and down payments for her utilizes for her new apartment.
We are thinking and praying for you forever friend as you encroach upon treatment again!
Tuesday, August 26, 2014
Miracles in the Making: Grant Recipient Karena Barton
Meet this sweet and spunky East Coaster, Karena!
Karena is a 39 year old Maryland resident diagnosed with rectal cancer. She was originally diagnosed in April 2012 with stage 3 rectal cancer after a long battle with stomach issues. She passed her symptoms off as stomach bug because she was cramping and continually running to the bathroom over the winter. When her symptoms didn't subsided after the season, she was sent home from work to go to the doctor due to blood in her stools in March 2012. Her doctor thought it could be menstrual issues and prescribed her ibuprofen. Her symptoms continued to worsen... she was given the opportunity to have a colonoscopy but her doctor didn't want to burden her with the bill but told Karena to come back if her symptoms got worse. (Karena originally had avoided the doctor to the financial burdens... but now she is SO proactive about her health and others; she would tell anyone now - "Don't wait! Go to the doctor!")
Well, they got worse. She told her mom "I am dying!" She went back a few weeks later and was diagnosed on April 25 through a colonoscopy. She immediately started chemotherapy and radiation. Later, Karena had to have surgery for an ostomy. They ended up having to do TWO ostomies on her. She was so sick this first year, she got down to 95 pounds.
She had a PET scan and CT scan done this year which revealed 2 spots, one on each lung. These spots at metastasized from her original cancer. For which she had a thoracotomy on June 3rd 2014, where they removed half of her left lung. She has just restarted chemotherapy to try and shrink the other lung tumor and may have to have surgery to remove it.
Through all of this, Karena has been an incredible mom of 2 boys! Her and her husband work to care for a 12 year old and a 16 year old with Asperger's. The boys have been helpful but also challenging in this time of her life. They are able to have outlets through karate and programming at the YMCA.
Karena still is trying to work part time but it can be very difficult for her. MMCCF was able to grant Karena and her family, one month of their mortgage, one month of electricity, and a gift card for gas to get her to her multiple appointments and chemotherapy treatments! Karena had said, "The grant will help me continue to live!"
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| "This is a picture of me trying on my new wig & styling it for first time. Not bad looking as a red head. Surprising what a curling iron & make up can do. Brought a cancer patient back to life!" -Karena |
Karena is a 39 year old Maryland resident diagnosed with rectal cancer. She was originally diagnosed in April 2012 with stage 3 rectal cancer after a long battle with stomach issues. She passed her symptoms off as stomach bug because she was cramping and continually running to the bathroom over the winter. When her symptoms didn't subsided after the season, she was sent home from work to go to the doctor due to blood in her stools in March 2012. Her doctor thought it could be menstrual issues and prescribed her ibuprofen. Her symptoms continued to worsen... she was given the opportunity to have a colonoscopy but her doctor didn't want to burden her with the bill but told Karena to come back if her symptoms got worse. (Karena originally had avoided the doctor to the financial burdens... but now she is SO proactive about her health and others; she would tell anyone now - "Don't wait! Go to the doctor!")
Well, they got worse. She told her mom "I am dying!" She went back a few weeks later and was diagnosed on April 25 through a colonoscopy. She immediately started chemotherapy and radiation. Later, Karena had to have surgery for an ostomy. They ended up having to do TWO ostomies on her. She was so sick this first year, she got down to 95 pounds.
She had a PET scan and CT scan done this year which revealed 2 spots, one on each lung. These spots at metastasized from her original cancer. For which she had a thoracotomy on June 3rd 2014, where they removed half of her left lung. She has just restarted chemotherapy to try and shrink the other lung tumor and may have to have surgery to remove it.
Through all of this, Karena has been an incredible mom of 2 boys! Her and her husband work to care for a 12 year old and a 16 year old with Asperger's. The boys have been helpful but also challenging in this time of her life. They are able to have outlets through karate and programming at the YMCA.
Karena still is trying to work part time but it can be very difficult for her. MMCCF was able to grant Karena and her family, one month of their mortgage, one month of electricity, and a gift card for gas to get her to her multiple appointments and chemotherapy treatments! Karena had said, "The grant will help me continue to live!"
"Share my story... if one more life gets saved from this horrible disease, it will all be worthwhile! Thanks Meredith's Miracles for all you do! Love, Karena"
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