Alex's Lemonade Stand- Canuso Kids Kick Cancer!

So, this is the story of how I got involved with Alex's Lemonade Stand foundation.
I get the American Greeting emails (not exactly sure why I'm on their list, but it's fun to look over sometimes) and they had a little advertisement at the bottom. Strawberry Shortcake supports Alex's Lemonade Stand.

 

I clicked on the ad to find out that Strawberry Shortcake was donating $50 toward the foundation for every person who signed up to do a stand during September, Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. I thought, well, I can definitely sign up! Last fall, our 10-year-old cousin Coleman fought and won his battle with lymphoma. We prayed as a family for him, got a lot of OHOPers praying for him, a lot of my wonderful blog readers were interceding for him as well! We lifted him up in the Children's Prayer Watch and were rewarded with his complete healing! Our sale was done in honor of him, and it really made it personal for us. The kids and I ended up doing 2 sales at OHOP: 1 before the monthly Awaken the Bride conference, and the other today just after service. We managed to raise just over $100! Praise God! The kids were very excited, despite their goal of $500 not being reached. If you would like to make a donation toward this goal, go to our page: http://www.alexslemonade.org/mypage/69151 

At any rate, we had a great time doing this and it made us feel great too! We'll probably make it an annual tradition for our family. I put together a little video from the footage Nick took of our sale last Friday. Hope you enjoy it!

Praise Jesus! Coleman is Cancer Free!

Big Time Praise Report!
Coleman is cancer-free in the name of Jesus! I got an amazing, beautiful, blessed email from my Aunt Nona who is Coleman's grandma. He's gotten a clear bill of health and NO MORE TREATMENTS! I am so happy to bring you all this news and to thank each of you for your prayers and intercession.

Ring this bell 3 times well, its toll to clearly say
My treatment's done this course is run, and I am on my way!

To all our Friends and Family:

We could not have asked for things to turn out better for our son and our family.

This was but a speed bump in Coleman's life

and something that will make him better and stronger man one day!!

We thank you for all of your love and support.

Here is the email dated 12-3-2009:

Well we got some GREAT news today. Coleman is cancer FREE. Praise God!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Actually he is in remission and does not have to have any more treatments. He has to go every 6 weeks to be checked and make sure the cancer is still not there. His last treatment was on November 19th. He has been going to the hospital all week having tests ran and the Doctor gave us the good news this afternoon.

I want to say a very BIG THANK YOU for all your prayers and words of comfort. This would not have happened without all of you and the wonderful power of prayer.

Coleman's hair is starting to grow back. He says he has peach fuzz on his head.

Nona

Coleman Update - Press in!

My 10-yr.-old cousin, Coleman, is battling Lymphoma and winning! This last treatment time was scary and just underscores the importance of praying for wisdom for the medical staff involved. This precious boy is a warrior and in Jesus' name he is healed and his battle has come to an end! Please continue lifting him and his family up for strength and peace. Thank you!
This is the update from his grandma:

Coleman had a treatment on Oct. 29th that was not the best. This was a treatment where he had to stay overnight. The doctor over prescribed his steroid medicine while in the hospital. Michele questioned the nurse about the amount of steroid they were giving him. She had remarked that it was 3 times what he had been taking.

When Michele tried to get the prescription filled the pharmacist refused to fill it. Thank God the pharmacist was alert enough to refuse to fill the prescription stating that it was too large a dosage for Coleman's age and size. In the mean time, Coleman was complaining that he felt like fleas were crawling all over him and that something in his chest needed to pop out. The Lord was looking out for Coleman because Michele did not give him the full dosage when they first came home, due to being so busy, or it could have been worse. Needless to say Coleman's parents were not real happy with what went on. They have the dosage straightened out and he is doing just fine now.

The only good thing that came from being in the hospital for this treatment was Coleman got to meet coach Bob Stoops, get his picture taken with him and receive an autograph football. This made his day.

Coleman does not have to take another treatment until November 29th. This will be a spinal treatment, but he will not have to stay overnight at the hospital. After this treatment he will have a cat scan done and they will decide if more treatment is needed or not (Praying not). Will let you know when this is done.

Coleman's spirit has been good and his health has been pretty good. Your prayers has helped tremendously with this.

Thanks to each one of you for praying for Coleman and for caring.

God Bless each of you,

Nona

Coleman's Continuing Battle

Coleman heading for a treatment. What a trooper!

This is the latest about my cousin, Coleman, and his battle against Lymphoma from his grandma, my Aunt Nona. Praying for him has just blessed my heart. He's halfway through his chemo treatments. Please continue lifting him and his family up during this trying time. Thank you!

Coleman had his 10th Birthday Wednesday October 7th. His immune system was way down so he couldn't go anywhere or have anyone over. The kids in his class at school brought gifts to school . the teacher brought them to him along with some flowers and balloons. This really made his day.

Coleman just had his 4th treatment Friday October 9th. This time he was to be admitted and kept over night in the hospital. He has 4 more treatments to go.

I got to go into the room where they do the treatment and it was something. They have the room decorated like an ocean. They turn on a projector and it projects the images on a curtain which makes it move like its actually a body of water. Very relaxing in there. Didn't care to watch the procedure itself but the Doctor and nurse were very nice and made Coleman feel very comfortable. They kept him talking practically the whole time. The treatment this time involved the spine. They took from fluid off the spine then administered the medicine. This whole procedure probably lasted about 30 to 45 minutes. Coleman was sedated so he really didn't feel a thing. He just started talking a little silly about watching some beavers playing.

What amazed me was Coleman. He was a little groggy getting back to his room, but as soon as he got in bed and raised his head up, all he wanted to do was eat. And eat he did, nacho cheese chips (a $1.29 bag of chips), a candy bar, some twizzlers, then came lunch of pizza and chocolate cake. This satisfied him for a little while. For dinner he had 2 cheese enchiladas.

As you can see he is doing pretty good.

Later that evening he got to feeling bad and feeling hot. This is a side effect of the medicines he has to take. After the spinal treatment he has to have three different kinds of medicine, which is administered through his port. This happens right after he gets to his room and then later in the day. This is why he has to stay overnight in the hospital. Saturday he came home feeling pretty good.

He still gets tired late in the afternoon and sometimes just hurts all over. He says he cannot explain how it feels other then it just hurts.

The family is well and doing good. Thank you for your prayers.

PRAISE GOD PRAYERS ARE BEING ANSWERED. Treatments could have been worse, family could still be sick, but all this has been taken care of only through all your prayers.

Coleman also wanted me to tell you Thank You for your prayers.

Nona

Coleman Update and Blog 4 a Cure

This is my brave little cousin Coleman (age 9) who is fighting the good fight - against Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma. He is brave and awesome and I am lifting him up in prayer daily. Below is an update on his journey through this battle, written by his grandma - my Aunt Nona.

Prayers are still being answered.

Coleman had his port in on Sept. 18th and had his first treatment. The treatment consisted of 3 different kinds of medicine. The chemo was given to him in the spine at the time he had the port put in. Then later in the evening the second treatment (around 3:00 p,m.) was administered. Then Saturday morning the third dose was given him. They kept him in the hospital until Monday morning. He did really well, did not have a bad reaction to any of the medication.

Then on Friday Sept. 25 he received his 2nd treatment. He was only there a half a day. He did good on this treatment also.

Coleman goes for his next treatment this Friday Oct. 2nd and will stay in the hospital over night as he has the three medications again.

Doctors said everything was going very well so far.

I would like to ask that you pray for the rest of the family's health: Michele (mom), Brian (dad), Mallory, Carlye, and Joseph. All of them have been sick at one time or the other for the last 2 weeks. We really need them to get well as Coleman's immune system will be not be able to fight infections as he takes his treatments. Actually it's good that they are catching all this now while Coleman can still fight off infection. I pray that they will get all this over with and not be sick for the next 6 weeks.

Again I want to say thank you for all your prayers and words of comfort.

Nona

Please continue to pray for Coleman and his family as they stay strong in the fight and live in the Light. Thank you!

Also, check out this link for an awesome way to raise funds for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and enter to win one of the many giveaways this week!