Thursday, April 27, 2006
I Couldn't Resist....
Posted by Lynda (Laurianne's Sister) ::
7:59 AM ::
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Saturday, April 22, 2006
Will the pain ever go away
Today is the 6 month anniversary of Laurianne's death. It is hard to believe sometimes it looks like yesterday and sometimes it looks longer. And at other times there is denial. We are more fortunate then other parents losing a child because of Calem. He is the light of our life and keep us occupied in a pleasant way of course. It is hard to imagine what life would be like without him . Today we will burn a candle in her honor and also for other people affected with this terrible disease. I hope you are able to join us .
Posted by Henry (Calem's Opa) ::
1:22 PM ::
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Tuesday, April 18, 2006
Mike Diani, Age 26, Loses His Battle With Lung Cancer
My aunt Lin found this on the PrepVolleyball.com community board, about a volleyball coach named Mike Diani. I can not put this into words better than Mike's Friend, so I am going to cut and paste Mike's story from the forums. This is another sad case, similar to Laurianne's. Mike was only 26 years old, and his wife is expecting their first child.
Kaepa Xplosion coach Mike Diani passes away at age 26
Mikes Friend
(3/29/06 8:54 am)
Please pray for Mike and Erin Diani (Kaepa Xplosion coach)
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Dear friends and family in the volleyball community:
The good thing about being such a close knit group of people is that you know that when someone needs some prayers or good thoughts sent their way, we can always count on each other. Unfortunately, there is a situation here in St. Charles, MO that I think should be brought to attention here and hopefully with our thoughts and prayers this family will know they are loved.
When you live your life “by the rules”, you don’t anticipate the “unexpected” to be a part of your life. Michael Diani, age 26, young and healthy, cruised through his early years with goals and plans to be followed. He graduated college in 2002, got married to Erin (Clark) Diani in 2004, and bought his first house in 2005. His smooth course changed in January 2006. Within the same week, Mike’s grandmother passed away, his wife Erin proudly announced that they were pregnant with their first child, and Michael was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer.
Michael spent the majority of January - March in Barnes Jewish Hospital under the care of doctors who are being challenged because a young, athletic, non-smoker should not have this type of cancer. Michael’s cancer is not a text book case. The doctors have been using an aggressive chemotherapy program designed for Michael.
Recently the doctors told Mike and Erin that they found another tumor on his liver. It seems that the cancer has been spreading. His wife, Erin, ran down to the other end of the hospital and had an ultrasound so she could tell Mike that they will be having a baby girl.
We don't know what the future holds for the Diani's but we are just asking right now for your thoughts and prayers. Every single one helps...
Thank you,
Friends of the Diani's
Mikes Friend
3/30/06 8:28 am)
Fund for Mike and Erin
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Here are thre details for the fund that was set up to help Mike and Erin Diani through the tough time they are experiencing.
Mike Diani Benefit
c/o Regions Bank
1416 Harvestowne Industrial Drive
St. Charles, MO 63304
Thank you everyone for your thoughts and prayers. I will try to keep you updated on his conditions.
Mikes Friend
(4/4/06 11:21 am)
Reply Sad News
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Dear Volleyball Community,
Thank you for your thoughts and prayers during this hard time for Mike and Erin Diani and also for the St. Charles Kaepa Xplosion 16's team they are coaching.
Unfortunately, Mike passed away early Monday morning (Lynda's Note: Monday, April 3). Please now focus your thoughts and prayers on Erin and the baby that she will be expecting in a few months.
Thanks again.
When I was in California in the beginning of the month, my mom made the observation that Laurianne's situation is one of those things that always happens to someone else. It is one of those things that you hear about, but you never expect that it will happen to you. Do you think the Diani's expected that Mike, at age 26 and in the prime of his life, would have to fight lung cancer? I know my family wasn't expecting Laurianne to have such a grim diagnosis.
Lung cancer, and really any kind of cancer, can affect anyone at any age. We need to start researching cures for this disease. There is a little boy that barely new his mother, because she had lung cancer. And there is a little girl who isn't even born yet, who will never know her father because of this insidious disease. Lung cancer has a very low survival rate, and it usually takes its victims very quickly. It is up to the friends, family and the people who do survive to spread the word about this disease. It is up to us to put up the good fight so there aren't more Laurianne Konings and Mike Dianis who have to suffer this disease.
More about Mike:Church Newsletter regardng Mike Diani - About 2/3's down the page
PrepVolleyBall post on Mike Diani.
Kaepa St. Charles Xplosions - Mike's Volleyball Team
Posted by Lynda (Laurianne's Sister) ::
10:20 AM ::
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Friday, April 07, 2006
Birthday Balloon Release
Today we released 26 balloons for Laurianne's birthday, along with one happy birthday mylar balloon. Each balloon had a little card with our blog address on it. Three of them didn't make it past one of the big pine trees. We thought that Laurianne would have found that funny. The mylar got stuck in a neighbors tree, but the wind blew it out just as my brother was ready to climb it.
I hope that if someone finds a card, they will post a comment and let us know. Keep your eyes out for them. :)
Posted by Lynda (Laurianne's Sister) ::
5:00 PM ::
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Happy Birthday Laurianne
Today is Laurianne's birthday. It looks like just a short time ago this happened. It makes you really realize how fast time is going. I am greatful for the time she spend with us on earth and for the impact she had made on many peoples lives. I am also greatfull for the great gift she left with us named Calem. Every day I see a lot of her back in him. It will be our job to tell him about his precious Mom. Her spirit and enthusiasm for life will stay with all of us as long as we live. Today we will not mourn her death but we will celebrate her life. I would like to invite all people who read this blog to burn a candle in her honor and also to remember the people who are affected by this terrible disease.
PRECIOUS CHILD
Words and Music by Karen Taylor-Good
In my dreams, you are alive and well
Precious child, precious child
In my mind, I see you clear as a bell
Precious child, precious child
In my soul, there is a hole
That can never be filled
But in my heart, there is hope
'Cause you are with me still
In my heart, you live on
Always there never gone
Precious child, you left too soon
Tho' it may be true that we're apart
You will live forever... in my heart
In my plans, I was the first to leave
Precious child, precious child
But in this world, I was left here to grieve
Precious child, my precious child
In my soul, there is a hole
That can never be filled
But in my heart there is hope
And you are with me still
In my heart you live on
Always there, never gone
Precious child, you left too soon,
Tho' it may be true that we're apart
You will live forever... in my heart
God knows I want to hold you,
See you, touch you
And maybe there's a heaven
And someday I will again
Please know you are not forgotten until then
In my heart you live on
Always there never gone
Precious child, you left too soon
Tho' it may be true that we're apart
You will live forever... in my heart
Posted by Henry (Calem's Opa) ::
12:48 PM ::
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Happy 26th Birthday, Laurianne!
Happy Birthday Laurianne!!
We Miss You!!We celebrate your birthday because we love you.
We honor your memory because we miss you.
Today is such a special day,
I think we need a great big chocolate cake!
Love,
Mommy, Daddy, Lynda, Michael, and Calem
Posted by Lynda (Laurianne's Sister) ::
12:12 PM ::
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Tuesday, April 04, 2006
Relay For Life 2006 - Add Laurianne to your Blog
If you know how to modify your template and would like to help make people aware that we are walking in memory of Laurianne, please consider adding Laurianne to your blog. Thank you in advance for all your support and remember even the smallest contributions makes a difference.
Code:
Posted by Lynda (Laurianne's Sister) ::
10:00 PM ::
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Cancer Sucks! Any Kind of Cancer Sucks!
Today I visited one of my fellow bloggers page, and found his mom had died of complications from breast cancer. She was tumor free, but sometimes treating the cancer is the thing that ends up taking you. Despite all the funding and research that goes into breast cancer, more than what lung cancer gets, people still die from this disease.
Yesterday, I asked you to leave comments on a blog, because a dollar was going to be donated for each comment so that Ben Steadman's family could get a plaque in the Memorial Garden at the Anschutz Cancer Center. Ben had diffuse pontine glioma, which is a tumor of the brainstem that usually diagnosed in children ages 5-10 years.
I will admit I have been resentful of the pink ribbon. Breast cancer patients have a high survival rate. You can find that pink ribbon everywhere. They have runs and walks for breast cancer. Yogurt lids are covered in pink where you can collect them to submit for donation. My aunt even survived breast cancer. If people rallied for lung cancer the same way, my sister could still be here today.
My mom has met some people who are against the American Cancer Society. They have lost people to lung cancer, and the American Cancer Society, in their opinions, has not focused enough of their funding on this disease. My sister, in fact, my whole family, really support the cancer society. Laurianne's hope was that Calem's generation would not have to worry about cancer. She didn't care if it was lung cancer, prostate cancer, breast cancer. It all has to go. Just because you get cancer in one area doesn't mean it won't metastasize into another. My sister's lung cancer developed into a brain tumor. It didn't stay in her lungs. Cancer knows no boundaries, and for this reason, our research dollars should know no boundaries as well. We need to focus on curing all kinds of cancer. It won't bring Mike's mom, Ben Steadman, or my sister back, but it will honor them and save other families from the grief that we have gone through.
I get focused on lung cancer. My sister died from it. It is and will continue to be my primary focus. But it will not be my only focus. Because you never know when, where or who cancer will strike next.
Posted by Lynda (Laurianne's Sister) ::
10:10 AM ::
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Monday, April 03, 2006
Your Help Is Needed
I was visiting a fellow blogger today who pointed me to Genuine's blog. Please visit there today and post a comment. He is donating a dollar for every comment that he gets to help the Steadman family, friends of his, get a plaque for their son, Ben, who died of cancer a few days ago. Ben was only 6 years old. Genuine will be sharing the comments with the family.
The plaque will be displayed at the Memorial Garden at the Anschutz Cancer Center.
Posted by Lynda (Laurianne's Sister) ::
1:02 PM ::
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National Young Adult Cancer Awareness Week, April 2 - 8
When Laurianne was diagnosed with cancer, I heard that her age group was the least focused on. Why? Because when you are in your 20's and 30's, you are in the prime of your life. You don't get cancer. At least, that is what people want to believe.
My husband, Dan, is a young adult cancer survivior. He had testicular cancer at 25 years old. I would have to check with my dad, but I think even my dad's sister, Marina, fell into this category. She had breast cancer. She is now deceased, from a cause unrelated to the cancer. In fact, there is a whole website dedicated to young adults with cancer, that was started by young adults with cancer. It is called Planet Cancer. And it doesn't matter what type of cancer you have. It was a favorite website of Laurianne's. It let her know she wasn't alone.
Here is a little blurb from the Planet Cancer newsletter, with some statistics about young adults with cancer.
The week of April 2-8 brings to light the other gaps in the plight of young adults with cancer: - Cancer is the leading disease killer of 20 to 39 year olds.
- Nearly 65,000 young adults in their 20s and 30s are diagnosed with cancer every year.
- Young adults are the demographic group most likely to be under- or uninsured.
- Only 2% of patients between 20 and 30 years old are in clinical trials, compared to 60% of patients under 15.
- In contrast to younger and older patients, survival rates for young adults have not increased at all since 1975.
Also, right now, if you order tea from Portsmouth Tea they are donating a percentage of all sales to Planet Cancer through the month of April. Teas is starting to get very well-known for cancer fighting properties, and if you explore the Portsmouth Tea site, you can find information on these studies. Sounds like a good reason to enjoy a cup of tea to me!
Posted by Lynda (Laurianne's Sister) ::
8:13 AM ::
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Sunday, April 02, 2006
Kick-Off Meeting for Relay for Life
This blog is being written a couple of days late because I was ill with stomach flu. March 30'th was the first meeting for Relay for Life. Since Josie was ill I went by myself. It was highly emotional for me since it brought up so many memories. There was a guy in his 30's who is a nine year stomach cancer survivor. His speaking was very inspirational. He said his stomach looked like somebody had taken a shotgun and shot in his stomach. He said he is back to riding his bike and doing triathlons again like before he had cancer. They also had a luminary ceremony but that was to emotional for me and I had to walk outside. It is funny in this journey sometimes you think you made progress and sometimes you feel you are at the beginning of the road of healing. They want somebody to speak about different cancers and they asked me to speak in July about Laurianne's story. I am not crazy about public speaking but the story need to be told. They also mentioned non smoking lung cancer and Laurianne's name was mentioned. I hope there will be more focus on lung cancer especially in non smokers and woman since this seems to take epidemic proportions, however I feel as mentioned before nobody deserves lung cancer or any other cancer, smoker and non- smokers alike. I will keep you updated on the next meetings I want to thank my co- author of keeping the blog going and I hope to write soon again.
Posted by Henry (Calem's Opa) ::
9:39 PM ::
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What the Flock?
I got the Planet Cancer newsletter in my inbox today. They are beginning their second annual Austin Flamingo Project. I love this idea! It makes me wish I knew someone in Austin. You can visit them for more information on this worthwhile event. (Can we bring this to Indianapolis?)
The flamingos are coming!
The Austin Flamingo Project is the second annual fundraiser for Planet Cancer, an Austin-based, national non-profit that provides support for young adults with cancer in their 20s and 30s. We'll be sending flocks of pink yard flamingos all over Austin in April and May, raising money and awareness to help us address the unique needs and issues of young adults facing a life-threatening illness in the prime of their lives.
Here's how it works:
To flock someone, you pay a small fee to send 20 lovely pink flamingos to the yard of another person or business, where they will roost for three days. The “flockee” can make the requested donation to have the flamingos fly away or they can pay a little extra to flock someone else—perhaps the original “flocker!”
Flock someone for their birthday. Flock someone to celebrate a new job or a new baby. Give a sick friend a chuckle with a surprise flocking. Or flock someone just so you can call them up and say, “FLOCK YOU!”
It's all in good fun, donations are 100% tax-deductible, and it's for a worthwhile cause.
Posted by Lynda (Laurianne's Sister) ::
3:08 PM ::
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Support A Cause
In Memory of Laurianne
Lives Lost to Lung Cancer
