Struggling during the Holidays with cancer ❄️ The Reason Angel Tree Started ❄️
Going through cancer treatment for me has been a great struggle to keep up with everyday duties and especially during the holidays. Every single day I wake up thinking how am I going to get through the day and get stuff done (sick, low energy, or just don’t feel good) whereas before cancer I woke up everyday with energy thinking what am I going accomplish or get done. The first year I was I on treatment for my 4th cancer relapse (targeted therapy and chemotherapy-2012) I experienced a new struggle that I had never encountered with my previous cancer treatments. We had our daughter, family that we always hosted which I did almost all the shopping for (25-40 people) and the Christmas lunch. I love shopping (so it’s fun and not work, lol) but it was a lot when I was healthy with normal energy, so when the holidays arrived I didn’t know how I was going to get through it. Thank god I have a support system and we could afford to pay for help as well when needed!!!!!! Many families that go through cancer may lose part of a salary or all of it when they can’t work and on top of losing income cancer is EXPENSIVE!!! I have always said… I don’t know how families with lower to middle incomes get through this due to all the added costs of cancer. One day I am going to add a list of all the expenses that cancer can add to a person or families. Ex. Prior to this cancer relapse I cooked and cleaned ALOT more, since...
19-yr-old, Madison, mother of a 2-yr-old son, puts up her fists and takes cancer head on!
Meet the Forner Family… a Jamie’s Hope Angel Tree Family: A young stay-at-home mom of a 2-yr-old son is surprised to learn that she has Ewing Sarcoma. The family struggles with a lot of late ER trips, surgeries, vomiting non-stop, a chemo bag 24/7 for two weeks at a time. With her biological parents out of the picture, she is being cared for by her in-laws. Her sister, Ashley, has been there every step of the way. She also has her mother-in-law who works lovingly by giving Madison shots in her stomach and draining the fluid out of her lung. Her in-laws love her unconditionally and are devoted to her recovery and treatment. Madison is grateful that she is showing some signs of improvement. Her tumors are shrinking, though she still has a long journey ahead. The Forner Family consists of Madison (19), Austin (20), Travis (2) and Laura (Mother-in-law). Join us Thursday, Dec. 4th from 6-9pm as we raise funds to help struggling Houston area families who are battling cancer. Event details and donation options here:...
22-month-old Nolan, just beginning his life, suddenly battling a very rare case of cancer…
Meet the Day Family… a Jamie’s Hope Angel Tree Family: Misty and Greg, are true Texas born high-school sweethearts. They met at age 16, became fast friends, started dating a year later, attended college together and married a couple of years after graduating. They both worked hard in school and in their careers to set the foundation for the family they planned to build together. In 2009, they welcomed their first son, Carson, to the world and in 2012 they were blessed with their second miracle, Nolan. In August of 2013, they bought a brand new home and moved to Cross Creek Ranch in Fulshear, TX so that their boys could attend great schools. However they remain active members at Sugar Creek Baptist Church, which they have attended since 2009. They could be seen most weekends playing outside with their friends, with big friendly smiles and waves to those who passed by. On April 10th, their plans came to a halt as Greg and Misty received the news that every parent fears; their sweet 22-month old son, Nolan, was diagnosed with Cancer (Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma). His case is extremely rare for children his age. Thus, he was put through rigorous testing prior to the diagnosis – including a lymph node biopsy, two CT scans, a bone marrow aspiration, three spinal taps, a PET scan, antibiotics and various blood tests. They were overwhelmed and exhausted! Their lives have been turned completely upside-down! This has caught them emotionally and financially off-guard. Although they have medical insurance, it does not cover the entirety of the costs that they will incur in the 2+...
Single mom, Michelle, was diagnosed with Melanoma in August of 2012; a battle she continues to fight.
Meet the Swaim Family… A Jamie’s Hope Angel Tree Family Michelle currently resides with her aunt and uncle in Willis TX. She is staying with family so that she can be closer to MD Anderson treatment facilities. She is unable to work at the present time due to the fact that she would lose what little benefits she is able to obtain for her medical expenses. She has had three surgeries to remove lymph nodes under her arm, neck, and head. She has little range of motion with her right arm and awaiting physical therapy. Her chemo started April of 2014, with radiation treatments from Nov 2012- Dec 2012. Her next visit is scheduled for the first week of December- where more scans will be taken. She currently is taking chemo pills and hoping that the spot that has appeared on her lung will be gone. She still has a cyst under her arm that will need to be removed but nothing has been scheduled so far. She has two children, a son and a daughter. Her son resides in San Antonio. Her daughter is a teen who has struggled to deal with her mother’s diagnosis and constant care. Join us Thursday, Dec. 4th from 6-9pm as we raise funds to help struggling Houston area families who are battling cancer. Event details and donation options here:...
14-yr-old Estela, diagnosed in 2012 with a blood fungus (Leukemia) is in and out of the hospital with a very weak immune system…
Meet the Gomez Family… a Jamie’s Hope Angel Tree Family Estela was first diagnosed in 2012 with Leukemia. When she received her 1st chemo treatment, she had a reaction and got fungus in her blood. She became so ill that she was admitted to ICU for about a month. She was then readmitted for a full six months. This has been really challenging for the family with only one parent, her father, Genaro, working. He works in construction and has been in and out of work. Their family lives far from the hospital and have to travel back and forth a lot for routine treatments, including doing daily chemotherapy via pills and monthly intravenous Chemotherapy. She is being treated at Texas Children’s and has to go there every 2 weeks to check her count. Their family struggles, but still maintain a hopeful outlook. They are a family of six, including mom, Gloria, father, Genaro, Isabel (15), Estela (14), Gloria (7) and Raphael (3). Join us Thursday, Dec. 4th from 6-9pm as we raise funds to help struggling Houston area families who are battling cancer. Event details and donation options here:...
5-year-old Alex had always been a very happy, sweet and crazily active little boy… that was until he was no longer able to walk and now battling for his life.
Meet the Mendoza Family… a Jamie’s Hope Angel Tree Family: On March 26th of this year, Alex began complaining of pain in his legs. At first they thought it was due to him jumping off of his brother, Christian’s, bunk bed. They took him into orthopedics thinking he had an injury and found he was perfectly fine… at least that’s what the orthopedic said. They went home and called his pediatrician. Two weeks later, Alex couldn’t even walk. His legs continuously got worse and bruises began to appear. His pediatrician told them to come back in and 3 days later, they were told that Alex had Acute Lymphoid Leukemia (Philadelphia positive). Due to a blood based fungal infection, he and his family had to stay in the hospital for 6 straight months. On top of this, just one month after Alex’s diagnosis, their home was burglarized and everything was stolen. All of their electronics (TVs, X-box, tablets, and more) along with the kids’ games; the only entertainment they had with Alex due to his limited physical abilities. 5 months later they were finally able to go home and have been in and out of the hospital since. Since his diagnosis their lives have changed forever. Their sweet boy has had to undergo painful after painful procedure and it breaks their hearts as parents to see him cry and having to hold him so that he can get pokes and medicine. Alex is truly inspiring to them. Despite all he’s been through, he still always smiles and plays and loves people. They are very proud of him. Although they are...
The Jamie’s Hope Third Annual Masquerade for a Cure Gala was a Sell Out
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE The Jamie’s Hope Third Annual Masquerade for a Cure Gala was a Sell Out Summary|An A-list crowd joins together to raise funds for personalized medicine research at MD Anderson Cancer Center Houston, TX |October 31, 2014 – The already gorgeous Corinthian in downtown Houston set the stage for the exquisitely decorated, frost-themed evening boasting towering crystal candelabras, aerialists, ice queens and more this past Friday as tuxedos and ball gowns flooded the room at the Jamie’s Hope Third Annual Masquerade for a Cure Gala presented by I.W. Marks Jewelers. For the first time, the gala benefiting targeted therapy research at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, sold out with 300 guests in attendance. The guest list surely impressed with attendees such as Cal & Hannah McNair and Brian & Megan Cushing. Also in attendance were devoted supporters and Honorary Chairs of the gala; Brad & Joanna Marks, Kevin and Caroline Walter, Chris and Jenny Myers, Bob Allen, Chita Johnson, John and Elizabeth Ehrman, Dr. Quang and Staci Henderson, Katie McCall, Brent Milam and Lara Bell, Angela Lipsey, Dr. Lamar and Theresa Roemer, Michael Chabala, Fred and Karisa Gallucci, Billy Frank, Trey and Jessica McCreary, Peter Remington, David Thomas and Lauren Thomas. Each year the Jamie’s Hope Foundation works hand-in-hand with EnVogue Events to produce this over-the-top event and they have yet to disappoint. With in-kind sponsors such as DJU Productions, Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steak House, Jackson and Company, Houston Party Tent and Event, Over The Top Linen, The Perfect Affair Special Events, and Lounge 4 Events, Jamie’s Hope is able to provide a...
Dress Accomplished by H. Harloquin!
Finally got my dress accomplished!!!! The owner Haley of H.Harloquin dressed me for the event and was AMAZING!!!!! I was worried about chemo/treatment making me fluffier this year For the first time I dreaded dress shopping and put it off hoping I would drop a few pounds after I started working on major changes to my diet. Since last year I gained weight likely due to all of the wonderful medication that goes along with cancer. Soooooo my plans got put on hold for a short amount of time due to us recently putting a contract on a house finally (so moving, trying to sell our house, I am also the broker which means more work and closing might actually fall on Friday or Saturday, complete CHAOS!), Chemotherapy + Targeted Therapy, a recent severe pain episode that almost sent me to the ER our HUGE annual Gala, and of course life!! So……. my future goals to make changes to all areas of my lifestyle to help fight my cancer, severe fatigue, energy, etc… is right around the corner and I am excited and hopeful!!!!!! I am soooooooooooo SICK OF BEING SICK!!!!! So everybody will see the puffier version of Jamie this year, but what I am really excited about is seeing everybody in the future after I have changed my life Anyways…….. I was unusually surprised by how wonderful dress shopping ended up being considering how insecure I was feeling about myself. I never imagined I would find a gown this easy (or actually Haley found, lol). She already had several in mind making it super easy for...
Absolutely! Memorial Magazine
For Heaven’s Cake
Special Thanks to For Heaven’s Cake for providing the fabulous themed cake at the Jamie’s Hope Masquerade for a Cure Gala!
Jamie’s Hope Founder & Inspiration, Jamie Gilmore, featured on the cover of Absolutely Memorial!
If you don’t receive this magazine in your mailbox… here’s a great reason to start! Jamie’s not only the cover photo but Absolutely Memorial Publisher, Lara Bell, wrote a three-page article speaking on Jamie’s daily struggles. We at Jamie’s Hope are eternally grateful for the opportunity for Jamie to share her story through AM. Lara, from the bottom of our hearts… Thank You! Check out the digital version of Absolutely Memorial here: http://issuu.com/absolutelymemorial/docs/memorial-october-2014/1 Lara Bell and her husband, Brent Milam, are serving as Honorary Chairs of Jamie’s Hope Third Annual Masquerade for a Cure Gala on Friday, October 24, 2014. For tickets & more information on the gala, please visit www.JamiesHope.org/Masq2014 or email...
Jackson and Company
Special Thanks to Jackson & Company for providing over $10,000 in in-kind support for the Third Annual Jamie’s Hope Masquerade for a Cure Gala!
60 Days and Counting…
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Golf Tournament For a Cure 2014 Photo Gallery V
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Golf Tournament For a Cure 2014 Photo Gallery IV
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Golf Tournament For a Cure 2014 Photo Gallery III
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Golf Tournament For a Cure 2014 Photo Gallery II
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Golf Tournament For a Cure 2014 Photo Gallery I
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Houston Party Tent and Event
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