Name: Rob
E-mail:
Date Posted: 16:48, 08 05 2008
Message: I too used to be a frequent flyer on the Squirrel Tales site when our daughter Katie was going through her ordeal with a brain stem glioma in 2000. There were days where this site was one of the few things that kept us going. I haven't visited the site in eons and it is comforting to see some familiar names. I am thrilled to report that Katie is now almost 12. She has partial deafness, blindness and cyclical vomiting but overall is doing very well and is one of the top students in her class. The tumor certainly didn't knock out any of her spunk and she is knee-deep into that teenage attitude!
We continue to pray for all these amazing kids and their families. Thank you Debby for keeping this going!
PS - to Rosie - mom of Mighty Jack - I am soooo glad you have been blessed with a daughter. I'm sure Jack is watching over you all. I've thought about you every now and then and I'm glad to see a new blessing in your lives!
Name: Lynnette McMorris
E-mail:
Date Posted: 19:21, 16 03 2008
Message: Debby,
I met David Edge some years back when his daughter was going through cancer treatments while at the Cleveland Clinic.
I was so touched by the challenges that this family faced and the courage that possessed all of them, that I sat down and wrote a poem about them, and their daughter Chantell. I have since discovered that he submitted it to be added to your site, which I was again touched and humbled at his thoughtfulness.
Since the time that I was more in touch with the family I have endured a painful divorce and began my life all over again in another state and lost all contact with this family.
Is it possible that you could forward my email address to the family so that I can learn how Chantell is doing 10 years after meeting them, and her treatments? I had grown so close to Chantell and she will always have such a tender sweet spot in my heart.
If you could help me with this small request, I would be so appreciative. If you don't have access to that information any longer, I understand.
Thank you in advance for your time!
Lynnette McMorris
Name: Arash Khah
E-mail:
Date Posted: 09:50, 13 03 2008
Message: I am a graduate student with Johns Hopkins University working on my MBA. As part of our final project, Children's National Medical Center in Washington DC has asked us to review and improve their bone marrow transplant (BMT) program.
When I was researching the web, I came across your webpage and was hoping that you can help me or point me in the right direction.
We have developed an online survey for parents of children with cancer that underwent bone marrow transplant surgery. I would appreciate if you can post the link below on your website or distribute it to people that you know and are willing to share their experience for a good cause.
Our primary goal is to better understand the transplant process and identify shortcomings and or success stories. This feedback will be provided directly to the hospital for future improvements to their BMT program.
I would appreciate your help and cooperation in this matter. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me via the website above.
Kind Regards,
Arash
Name: mallam
E-mail:
Date Posted: 08:33, 03 03 2008
Message: i love this site
Name: Shannon
E-mail:
Date Posted: 10:41, 27 02 2008
Message: What a blessed website Debby!
huggs
your friend,
shannon
Name: Kelly - Austin's Mom
E-mail:
Date Posted: 19:47, 10 02 2008
Message: My son was just dx with medulloblastoma 1 month ago. They were able to remove the entire tumor, but he will still need treatment for some small areas one his brain and spine. It seems like time is standing still, and all I think about is cancer. He will start radiation and chemo this week. I am very scared of all the side effects and how he will handle everything.
It was very encourageing to find this website. It looks like there is light at the end of the tunnel.
Name: 86.130.145.224
E-mail: mary brent knutsson
Date Posted: marybrentk@yahoo.co.uk
Message: I have written a children's book on leukemia from our experience with childhood cancer. We would like to get it self published to help kids understand what leukemia is and battle the psycological difficulties of going through chemotherapy with a positive outlook. Please read the book on our website: www.chemo-to-the-rescue.com and let me know what you think. I need some incouragement to make the next step. Thank you!
Name: jan, Mom to Dillon,dx 2003
E-mail:
Date Posted: 00:44, 19 01 2008
Message:
Hi ! Coming up on 6 yrs out, no regrowth of Medulloblastoma to be seen. 4th grade and all that comes with it !!! Doing fine... received his Black Belt in Karate in Sept. Will receive certification and registered as Black Belt in March- for a kid who couldn't walk 6 yrs ago, had a brain tumor, and nearly passed - What a rebound !!! He is fortunate, he is blessed.
The road is long, we don't know what to expect for the future - nor as I'm sure the parents visiting this site know anything more... My thoughts and prayers go out to you and 1your children. This site saved my sanity, gave me courage, strength and much information. Keep the faith, live your lives as best as you can, and trust in the Lord. Best Wishes to all,
Jan, Mom to Dillon, 11yrs old and goin' strong.
Name: Gary
E-mail:
Date Posted: 19:40, 17 01 2008
Message: Many, many moons ago, (circa '98) I stumbled into Squirreltales looking for answers to all the cancer questions I had..... and, I found more than I could've ever imagined. Much more.
The following is one of my favorites that I still carry in my wallet...
"What Cancer Cannot Do
Cancer is so limited.....
It cannot cripple love
It cannot shatter hope
It cannot corrode faith
It cannot destroy peace
It cannot kill friendship
It cannot suppress memories
It cannot silence courage
It cannot invade the soul
It cannot steal eternal life
It cannot conquer the spirit.
- Source Unknown"
------------------------
.... it has always helped me to keep things in perspective, so, I figured it's worth a repeat now and again.
Stand Hard.
Gary
Name: Nicole
E-mail:
Date Posted: 14:25, 17 01 2008
Message: I'm a professional photographer and I'll do free photoshoots for cancer kids and their families who are in the Orange County, CA area :)
Let me know if anybody is interested, and anything else I can do to help, I'm all there.
- Nicole
Name: Aimee
E-mail:
Date Posted: 00:54, 05 01 2008
Message: So happy to have found this site. My 9 year old son was diagnosed with AML Dec 4, 07 so we are just beginning. We are scared and confused but know that our son needs us strong and functioning. I think this site will help me through.
Name: Felicia Reinhard
E-mail: expressionsoflife@photographer.net
Date Posted: 09:54, 03 01 2008
Message: My name is Felicia Reinhard (16) and I'm an amature photographer from Arlington Heights IL. I am doing a special photo project for the next two years: I am offering free photoshoots to children fighting life-threatening and -altering illnesses (cancer, heart defects, AIDS, autism etc).
I and other photographers nationwide are doing this and hopefully by the end of the project we will have hundreds of special portraits that we will be able to share in galleries and shows to help spread awareness for all these children.
I have done fundraising and many other special things for cancer, AIDS, and CHD-affected kids in my area and also nation wide. Last winter I collected over 2000 hats for Childrens Memorial Hospital in Chicago. I would love to offer this project to as many deserving families as I can and that's where I need your help!
Passing on this e-mail, adding my link on your site or just telling people about my website could mean some smilies for kids and families who maybe cannot afford expensive portraits or who just need some extra support. (We always bring special goodies along for the children!)
You can read about me and what I'm doing at my website www.keephopeforever.org.
Keep Hope FOREVER!
Felicia Reinhard
Keep Hope Forever Foundation-
Expressions of Life Photography
Name: Heather aka Ty's Mom
E-mail:
Date Posted: 21:13, 29 12 2007
Message: It is wonderful to see this site is still on the net and Gary is still writing.
It has been 8 years since my oldest was dx with ALL. He is now 5 years off treatment. I met so many people from this site. We still email and chat regulary. I pray for all those on the journey. Its not an easy road.
Name: Carson Webb
E-mail:
Date Posted: 17:36, 22 12 2007
Message: LOVE the "you know when's...."
Cancer parents get it for sure, I really laughed. Our little boy (from Australia) with A.L.L also developed a rare Oesophagus stricture so we live with that to, vomits every few hours for over a year, lots of fun. a great website well done!
Name: david parker
E-mail:
Date Posted: 14:22, 11 12 2007
Message: arielle beat ewing sarcoma. she is hella awsome and i love her to death sheis like my sister and she is a fighter
Name: Tina Canchola
E-mail:
Date Posted: 00:53, 11 12 2007
Message: Hello, I just stumbled across this site and I have been reading for about 45 minutes, this is amazing. My daughter Samantha was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma Cancer of the right femur on 6-12-07, she is still currently undergoing chemotherapy.
Name: Greta
E-mail:
Date Posted: 10:59, 10 12 2007
Message: I am a hospice nurse and I ran across this web site. This is truly an amazing web site. I have a friend, whose 10 yo son was dx about 2 weeks ago. The family was told the tumor is aggressive and is intertwined around his brain stem. He was undergoing some treatments, but was sent home this weekend. The news is not good. My heart aches for him and his family and I wish there was something I could do to help with their pain. I have been reading some of the messages from others and all I can say is how amazing I think all of you are. It really puts things into perspective about my own life. Thank you all for your courage and strength. You are all truly an inspiration. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you.
Name: Kayla Bisson
E-mail:
Date Posted: 19:57, 03 12 2007
Message: Thank you so much for this website. Im a child and youth worker and i have an assignment i am doing on kids with cancer and i loved all the "you know youre a....... when..." things i think this is a great website and wish anyone that has children with cronic or terminal illness the best of luck in these very tough times my heart goes out to all of you this holiday season
Name: Tammy
E-mail:
Date Posted: 17:43, 30 11 2007
Message: I stumbled across this site while doing some research and love it!!! Truely a great job at work here... although my daughter is not a teen, (she's 26) I am the mother of a child with cancer...and that along is devasting... Just wanted to say This is a great site, thanks and keep it up pls.
Tammy
Name: Anita
E-mail:
Date Posted: 17:04, 26 11 2007
Message: Hello everyone, My son is still going strong. Was diagnosed with Medulloblastoma 12/18/04. Had a kidney removed a vp shunt placed in his head for drainage and also after being in remission after a year. We found a tumor in his spine. surgery on 6/19/07. so here we go again. Now on our last treatment, His vpshunt malfunctioned and he had surgery on 11/19/07. He is still in a wheelchair due to the location of the tumor and will be undergoing a Bone Marrow Transplant during Christmas. Please keep him in your prayers. He's been so strong and hardly ever complains. A 16 year old miracle.
Name: tina
E-mail:
Date Posted: 13:29, 10 11 2007
Message: hello my nane is tina and my son is xavier he is one year old he has leukemia(AML) and it is hard to deal with we have no car and we dont live on the bus line so we have to take the taxi every where we go i also have 2 other children angel age 6 and greg age 4 we live in las vegas nv.i dont have any family so im doing it on my own with no help.thank you and god bless.
Name: Heather Waymire
E-mail:
Date Posted: 00:23, 09 11 2007
Message: Thank you for this site. It never fails to lift me and remind me that there is still much joy. Blessings.
Name: Alicia Owens
E-mail:
Date Posted: 17:19, 07 11 2007
Message: I am sooooo glad to see that this site is still around! It was such encouragement to me back when our son was going through treatments years ago. He will be 8yo next March, and is still cancer-free, so we have been very fortunate. Our hearts go out to those who are currently going through this difficult journey. You are all in our prayers. Stay strong!
Name: Rick and Amy Bucher
E-mail:
Date Posted: 21:18, 28 10 2007
Message: Practical site, especially for those of us still recovering from the shock of dx and the first hospital stay. Thank you.
Name: Kristi Cannon
E-mail:
Date Posted: 23:56, 15 10 2007
Message: I just found this site and ohh my goodness I wish I would have found this sooner! My son lost his battle to Neuroblastoma on July 29,2007 after 2 and a half years. I am going to forward this email off to others. Thank You!
Kristi- Kody's mom
www.caringbridge.org/visit/kodycannon
Name: Leslie
E-mail:
Date Posted: 22:02, 14 10 2007
Message: Just recommended this to someone I've met on Facebook, I used this site years ago when my son Christopher was dx.
Sadly Chris passed away Feb. 28/05 at the age of 19 after a five year battle.
www.christophergist.memory-of.com
www.caringbridge.org/ca/christophersfight
Name: Kelly
E-mail:
Date Posted: 20:49, 29 08 2007
Message: I heard of this site through our child life workers & i think it's so up lifting & what ever we say here is totally understood by everyone. We spend so much time wondering if what we said in front of the "other" parents sounded weird. When only the parents of a child with cancer would understand what you meant! I am the mom of a beautiful 9 year old girl diagnosed in Dec. 06 with medulloblastoma. She is still in treatment.
Name: sandi
E-mail:
Date Posted: 22:41, 28 08 2007
Message: Tabitha
What kind of cancer? My son is a 13 year leukemia survivor.
Sandi
This is THE BEST site anywhere!
Name: tabitha bledsoe
E-mail:
Date Posted: 06:09, 21 08 2007
Message: I'm a newbee (as one mother refered to me in the hospital) My 3 year old daughter Skylar Carleen has just recently been diagnosed with cancer. I havent touched the computer in 12 weeks for fear of what I'd find, I'm glad I found this web-site, it has enlightend alot of dark paths. Thanks!!
Name: Tracey Saputo
E-mail:
Date Posted: 15:35, 18 08 2007
Message: I am so scared. My son was diagnosed with Burkiits Lymphoma a month ago.
Your wesite is great.
Thank you
Name: shelia
E-mail:
Date Posted: 16:47, 29 07 2007
Message: I would like to hear from some parents of children that has been through Wilms Tumor. Just some helpful suggestions, and just talk. Also anyone who has any information. Hunter is about 3 years out from chemo,and doing very well. Thanks, Shelia
Name: heather
E-mail:
Date Posted: 23:57, 28 07 2007
Message: my son isaac is in remission now for 2yrs now. he was diagnosed at 7mos with hepatoblstoma and he is doing awesome. he is my miracle, this site helped me through all the chemo,doctors, surgeries. thank you for this site.
Name: shelley
E-mail:
Date Posted: 19:27, 27 07 2007
Message: AJ's mom, FORUMS! That is what I was trying to think of! I also miss them terribly. I have to believe they were the main reason most people came to this site. I notice that there are fewer hits to the site since they left as well. Please bring them back! It was so valuable for parents with kids in similar situations with similar diagnosis' to find out the best things for their child in a more specific way than general "cancer" comments.
Name: AJsmom
E-mail:
Date Posted: 16:48, 26 07 2007
Message: What ever happened to the forums? I miss them. They were very helpful.
Name: Emily
E-mail:
Date Posted: 13:23, 23 07 2007
Message: I found this site as a link from another and sure wish I had seen the first 100 3 summers ago. Still funny now but then I needed the laughter even more so than today! (every other week in the hospital for 5 days of WAY high doses of methotrexate) They are so true and so funny and yet a year after my 6 year old finished treatment so poignant. They make me thank God for the people around us who helped and prayed and understood. 
Name: Debby
E-mail: deboracaron@squirreltales.com
Date Posted: 19:49, 25 06 2007
Message: 
If you know you signed this guestbook and the entry is missing, I was dinking around and lost a chunk of them. I know what I did and I won't do it again.
Name: Samantha
E-mail:
Date Posted: 19:46, 25 06 2007
Message: Hey! I am a thirteen year old with a brain tumor and I was looking around on the net one day and came across this site, how cool!! I really liked the "You Know You're A Teen With Cancer..." They were all so true! My favorite parts were the throwing up stuff- because of where my tumor is, it makes me throw up a lot. That plus chemo means I know a lot about puking- haha!!
Anyways thanks for this site- it's been a great boredome buster the past few days in the hospital!!! Also, I love reading about other cancer kids...I am not alone!! :) Have a great summer everyone and keep fighting!!!!!
-Sammie
Name: Rosaleen Perry
E-mail:
Date Posted: 19:44, 25 06 2007
Message: Originally Posted: 13:18, 23 06 2007
Yeaaaaaaah it's back!!! I have missed this site sooooo much!! You will NEVER know how much Squirrel Tales means to me, and how this website got me through losing our "mighty boy" Jack in 2001.
I found solace here, people who understood what we were going through. Our son Jack wasn't lucky enough to win the fight, but for those of you still in the trenches............ DO NOT GIVE UP most of these kids make it!!! and Jack is now the angel up above who can help!!
Squirrel Tales and all the people on this site walked with me through our journey and I have made many good friends from here, THANK YOU DEBBIE for coming back............and on a happier note...........June 16th 2005, God (and Jack) sent us Sarah Jane Perry a wonderful little girl who is so full of life and quite like her brother, who has helped us laugh again, and smile again.....and live again!!
Rosie Perry.
Mom to angel Jack 11/1/96-9/19/01.............TRULY A MIGHTY BOY
Name: shelia
E-mail:
Date Posted: 19:42, 25 06 2007
Message: Originally Posted: 10:58, 20 06 2007
Thanks Sandi. Hunter is playing baseball this year and he has made 7-8 year old All-Stars. So we are very busy with practice. Hunter is a very good athlete. I love him sooo much. I also have 6 other children,so we are busy doing so much. Three are in college and three in high school. Hunter will be in 2nd Grade. God is so good to us and He loves us all so much. I know God hears my prayers and He has gotten us through soo much. But you know htose times when your child has unkown fever or leg pains you just get so sick at the stomach....and then they just get up and go off running and laughing. It is good to know that everyone still has the worries. Thanks for talking with me, this has help alot.
Name: sandi
E-mail:
Date Posted: 19:40, 25 06 2007
Message: Originally Posted: 21:50, 19 06 2007
Sheila - very normal to get nervous but very glad your son is doing so well! Try not to worry until the day of - easier said than done - but keep busy with all the fun things you can think of to do. The worry never really goes away.
Name: Shelia
E-mail:
Date Posted: 19:39, 25 06 2007
Message: Originally Posted: 20:32, 19 06 2007
Message: Hi! My son was 4 years old when he was diagnosed with Wilms tumor, He is now 7 years old. He is very smart, athletic, and energetic. He has a 6-month follow up in about 3 weeks...and I seem to get nervous. Just wanted to talk.
Name: Gary
E-mail:
Date Posted: 19:37, 25 06 2007
Message: Originally Posted: 17:15, 19 06 2007
Hi there... - and a special big "Hi" to Jeanne from the "old days"... - Jeanne, sometimes it seems so long ago and sometimes it seems like yesterday, eh ?
...and Debby ? - Thank you for this blessing.
Name: Leanne
E-mail:
Date Posted: 19:36, 25 06 2007
Message: Originally Posted: 10:24, 18 06 2007
Message: This site has helped me realize I am not alone in this crazy battle!!!!
Name: chasity
E-mail:
Date Posted: 19:35, 25 06 2007
Message: Originally Posted: 23:25, 14 06 2007
Message: I Love Squirrel Tales. I don't know if I more amazed or disheartened that I shake my head in agreement or giggle at so many entries. Thanks Squirrel Tales, we definitely need to laugh about this sometimes.
Name: sandi
E-mail:
Date Posted: 19:34, 25 06 2007
Message: Originally Posted: 17:14, 02 06 2007
I am so glad to see the guestbook back up and running. Have enjoyed this webpage since almost the beginning. Lots of valuable and helpful information. My son was dx with ALL in 1993 at age 7, is now 21 and a senior in nursing school.
Sometime you have to take it a day, an hour at a time but don't give up!!!
