Venan-GO GOLD

09/19/2024

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The Bell.
By Angus Olsen

A lot of new followers have arrived this week, welcome to I Draw Childhood Cancer! Many have seen this image in their childhood cancer clinics and wards and might like to learn the story.

When my daughter Jane was saved from cancer back in 2017 I was so grateful. However I knew as you do that our children do not do this alone. The initial sketch for this image I intended to put the portraits of every doctor, nurse, administrator, etc who had contributed to saving Jane’s life. Hundreds of people but it was too many and looked like a pile of ants. So I zoomed in and realised I could make this image about childhood cancer everywhere not just my experiance. So rather than do clear portraits of people I made them fairly undefined so the viewer can place whoever helped them in the image. Not only that one character is looking at the viewer, calling on you to come help.
The original sketches had the child ringing the bell, I instead chose to have the bell just out of reach so it would not only be about the children who ring the bell it would also be about the children who tragically do not.

The Bell is an image about love, hope, teamwork and community. It’s about acknowledging those who have gone before us for the sake of our own children and cancer children everywhere.

https://www.redbubble.com/i/canvas-print/The-Remission-Bell-Army-Square-by-Voltusfive/74406586.T8P6B

09/14/2024

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09/01/2024

📣 CALL TO ACTION‼️ HELP WANTED‼️

🎗️Who are we?
VenanGO GOLD is a grassroots effort to raise childhood cancer awareness in Venango County. Our mission is to raise community awareness and involvement to positively impact local children and their families.

🎗️Who are we, really?
We are Amber McMillen and Elijah Daubenspeck, parents to Alister Lee Daubenspeck. Alister developed ALL (Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia) when he was two years old. Eight months later (on 3/3/20, one week after he turned three) he won his battle forever and gained his wings. His memory and light have inspired us to support other local families who have experienced childhood cancer. We kept our story private at that time for many reasons but that also meant we did not allow our community to support us.

We have carried this vision for VenanGO GOLD since 2021. The first inception was adding gold ribbon stickers to coffee cups when Amber worked at Coffee-In-Between, in Franklin. We also met with our county Commissioners to declare September Childhood Cancer Awareness Month (CCAM).

Then in 2022, gold ribbon awareness ribbon stickers continued on to-go containers at Homegrown Kitchen; and with the help of other local families impacted by childhood cancer, we decorated a gold Christmas tree at the Barrow.

In 2023, we launched the VenanGO GOLD page. We enlisted the help of our oldest daughter to create graphics for VenanGO GOLD; and Seneca Printing generously printed flyers for us to distribute. More local coffee shops (Perk Up, Woods and River, Iron Furnace, and Grandview Lookout) joined our effort to raise awareness. Smoke Cantina also had a fundraising night. Each of these locations donated a portion of proceeds to the Kirtland Cancer Foundation in honor and memory of local children and families who have experienced childhood cancer.

This past year we were ecstatic our vision was finally coming to action, but as we are bereaved parents, our momentum can be interrupted at any time. We understood last September (and even more-so now) that we cannot continue this vision without the help of our community! VenanGO GOLD is more than remembering our precious Alister. It is about ALL Venango families who have heard the life-changing and heart breaking words, “your child has cancer.” VenanGO GOLD is not only for raising childhood cancer awareness for CCAM in September, but to raise awareness year-round.

🎗️WE NEED YOUR HELP!!
This year we lost the momentum due to many factors and know this is much larger than what two bereaved parents can manage. We need help! We would like to call on our community to step up and step in to help our vision continue—without interruption due to stress or ongoing grief. We would like to set a meeting date in September for anyone willing to help us with VenanGO GOLD. The goal: organization for true and lasting community impact!

📣Details of how you can contact us to come soon!

As always, We do this in honor of all childhood cancer survivors; in honor of children still in the fight; and in memory of children taken too soon.

Always in Alister’s light and love,
Amber & Eli

🎗️Join us and GO GOLD! 🎗️

06/02/2024

Today is National Cancer Survivor’s Day. Living through childhood cancer treatment is incredibly taxing, and even when children survive, there are a host of unknowns for their future.

It is our hope every child survives, but we recognize those children who did not. This post from Momcology explains it well.

03/31/2024

As we celebrate Easter, we think of all the families impacted by childhood cancer. Strength comes in many forms. Strength is not without vulnerability. 🥚🎗️

STRENGTH OF AN EGG

Parents of children with cancer, or any serious condition,
are often referred to or viewed as having strength "like a rock". Although flattering, it isn't quite true. It is more like the strength of an egg. An egg, you ask? Yes!

If you'll think about it, you'll see my point. An egg has a polished, smooth outer appearance, with no cracks or weak spots visible. It seems almost inconceivable that the inside might not be so smooth or solid.

Most children, at some point, are shown the famous egg trick. An egg set at just the right angle can withstand enormous amounts of pressure and cannot be cracked or broken. Yet the same egg tapped gently at an even slightly different angle, will break. The contents, once so neatly concealed, will come spilling out. The no longer perfect shell will be crushed. It looks so fragile that it seems inconceivable that it ever held any strength.

A rock, on the other hand, is solid all the way through. To break it is almost impossible. If you succeed, you will find that there is nothing inside but more rock.

It takes a lot more than pure hardness to hold the hand of hope. Parents of children with cancer are not solid all the way through. We hurt, we fear, we cry, we hope. It takes a very careful balancing act to keep the shell from being shattered. "Balancing an egg" while running a household, going for chemotherapy appointments and hospital stays, keeping the family together, and holding on to the constantly unraveling ties of your sanity can be very tricky indeed. Occasionally, the angle will be off and the shell will break, shattering hope and all the neatly secured appearances of a truly fragile existence.

Unlike Humpty Dumpty though, parents of children with cancer will pick themselves up and put themselves back together again.

-Juliet Sexton

"I wrote this during my daughter Kyla's battle with a brain tumor which took her at age 4. To all of you getting up every day and putting yourself back together, I salute you. You are amazing."

02/15/2024

Today is International Childhood Cancer Day. We honor and remember all children affected by this awful disease. 💛🎗️

Did you know that today is International Childhood Cancer Day?

Childhood cancer is an international problem.

Globally around 400,000 children and adolescents are diagnosed with cancer each year (WHO Statistics)

Sadly, many of these children cannot be successfully treated which means that 90,000 children and young people die every single year worldwide.

A truly unfathomable number.

02/05/2024

February 4 is World Cancer Day. We ask that you remember kids get cancer too. 🎗️

Curing the Incurable: Spotlight on Crazy 8 for

International research teams funded by the ALSF Crazy 8 grant are trying to find cures for all children by studying the hardest-to-treat cancers. Read more about our Crazy 8 research projects: alexslemonade.org/crazy-8-initiative-projects

02/04/2024

February 4 is World Cancer Day. We ask that you remember kids get cancer too. 🎗️

Where you live should not determine IF you live.

02/04/2024

February 4 is World Cancer Day. We ask that you remember kids get cancer too. 🎗️

01/06/2024

Here is good information regarding the signs and symptoms of brain tumors. Unfortunately, many pediatricians won’t recognize these signs and might assume it is some other illness. Don’t be afraid to be persistent when it comes to your child’s health! 🎗️

🧠 Early detection is crucial when it comes to a treating childhood brain tumors. Dr. Alan Cohen, director of pediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, highlights key signs:

1. Headaches: Headaches are a common symptom in children with brain tumors before diagnosis. However, most children with headaches do not have a brain tumor. One concerning sign is a morning headache, as lying down increases brain pressure, and a tumor can exacerbate this.

2. Nausea/ Vomiting: Frequent nausea and vomiting are typical indications of the flu or flu-like conditions, but in rare cases, they may result from a brain tumor elevating pressure within the brain. If these symptoms persist or align with a headache, consult your child’s pediatrician for a specialized medical assessment.

3. Sleepiness: It’s normal for a tired child not to raise concerns, yet trust your intuition. If your child seems excessively lethargic or sleepy without an obvious reason, consult with your doctor to determine if additional evaluation is needed.

4. Sensory Changes: Based on where a brain tumor is situated, it may impact vision, hearing, and speech. While various children may face difficulties in these aspects unrelated to brain tumors, any abrupt alterations in your child’s vision, hearing, or communication should be assessed by a healthcare provider.

🏥 When to consult with your doctor:

In instances of concern regarding any of these symptoms in your child, it is important to consult the professional opinion of a trusted healthcare practitioner. Utilizing an MRI scan is a common practice to examine whether a brain tumor is the underlining cause of the symptoms.

In uncertain times, please know that CBTF is here for you. We support families from the day of diagnosis and throughout every step of their journey. You’re not alone; and together we are stronger ❤️

Learn more, visit www.cbtf.org

12/24/2023

We are thinking of every child and their family who might be spending Christmas in the hospital. Being apart is never easy. 🎗️🎄

12/11/2023

This non-profit group, Brooklyne’s Beacons, was formed in memory of Brooklyne Shambaugh who has connections to Venango County. Each year they purchase gifts for UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh—Hemotology-Oncology Unit (9B and 9C). They match up to $1000 in gifts! These gifts are distributed to families who visit units 9B and 9C, including children from our own county.

This is one way to offer support during the holiday season. 🎄🎗️

We at Brooklyne’s Beacons are excited to be able to bring back our initiative to bring light and hope to the families of children who are bravely battling against cancer.

This holiday season, make a difference in the lives of the children on 9B, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh’s oncology unit. If you buy a brand new toy and message us with your purchase amount, we will match every purchase up to $1,000.

Bringing a smile and a spark of joy into a child’s life is as easy as clicking on this link to the UPMC registry at

https://www.myregistry.com/wishlist/upmc-oncology-children-s-hospital-pittsburgh-pa/2512220/giftlist?lang=en&fbclid=IwAR0M7GnT6wTrZXgiwN7L0zyC-9Jw9WwjL1tHZ1TE-oiubn8U01aA5MFElFw

Help us continue to shine light and love into the lives of these courageous warriors.

Please message one of the following Brooklyne's Beacons, Shammy Shambaugh, Erin Wise, or Dan Continenza to let us know how much you spent so we can match the purchase.