Guess who lost 15 lbs!? Oh yes. Ohhhhhh yess! I did it!! I have to say I don't look much different than I did before but I feel a lot better. Lighter, ha, ha. So to celebrate my mom let me get my hair cut, more highlights, new makeup, 5 (yes, you heard me right) pairs of new shoes, and a new skirt :) I'm excited. I look all... fresh.. for Sugarland. I don't know that fresh is the right word but that's all I can come up with.
Now, guess who also has VIP seats and tickets to the after party for Stadium of Fire!? Ahh! I'm so excited. My dad got them but he's letting me and my friend use them since he hates country music and, well, it's Brad Paisley. I'm SOOO excited! Rumor has it that Brad may actually be at the after party, but that's just what my dad heard from his friend who's on the board of director people. I hope so. I would die if my friend and I walked in there and he was like, chilling out :) Talk about insane! If he's there, I get to meet three of my idols within a month of each other. (Clint Black, him, and then Sugarland next week). Oh that would be crazy!
Nicole and I went to a ball game last night... and oh the things that happen with her...
I love her.
She's like, a sister...
Ooooooh it was pretty funny.
10 days left until my Sugarland concert! I finally (think) I packed for the final time. I'm bringing my guitar so Holly and I can rock out. It's going to be super awesome. I love that girl.
I finally have my Sugar-debt payed off!!! Yes, yes, I know, amazing! Holy cow that was a lot of $$ in a really short time. But I did it! Yay Erika!
It's gonna be so fun.
Little Miss Erika
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Special Stuff
I don't think Holly reads my blog anymore.. or at that she's grounded right now so she won't see it anyway, so I think I'm safe to tell you guys about this because I have to get it off of my chest :)
So, our trip. I'm spending a lot of time with Holly, and she's so dang kind to even invite me to this concert with her, that I thought I'd get her a little thank you present. It's definitely not much, just a little something to thank her for all that she does for me. I got her guitar picks :) Personalized ones, in her favorite color. They have her name on the front and on the back it says "Little Miss You'll Go Far..". I am soooooooo excited to give them to her you have no idea. I got an email that they were shipped today... so when I get them I may be uploading pictures as they are soooo dang cute, or at least they were in the preview. I really hope she likes them.
In other words, I'm still dying. Yesterday I was coughing so hard I started throwing up. That was pleasant. Didn't get to bed until around one in the morning and then was up again at 3:30 doing the same thing.. thankfully my mom let me sleep in until noon today so I wasn't too worn out. Had a busy day today other than that.
Provo got it's first commercial airline flight for the first time on Monday. My dad and I went to the whole grand ceremony thing . We're so dorky... that is how we spend family night :) It was pretty cool being practically on the runway as the plane landed. We're excited for the flight.. my dad and I are taking it out to Denver in July or August. Nice for a weekend get away without all the costs of the SLC airport.
I do have bad news. My baby.... my acoustic Washburn sunburst guitar that I got for my birthday last year.. has a big chip in it. I was playing next to my computer, set it down, and then bumped my recording software box and it fell on top of it. It's right above the rosette (the sound hole...), next to the neck. It's just this big white ugly mark that looks really bad when I perform at gigs. It's sound has also been falling short a bit.. when I get up to the higher notes it sounds squeaky so I'm probably going to take it in and see if they can fix my hole and my string problems.
I uploaded a new cover on my channel yesterday. Go check it out if you'd like.... look at the last blog post for my link to want to and then find it from there because I'm too tired to go get the link all over again :) It's still not my best as I'm still sick... but hey, one of these days, we'll be back to normal. I'm playing guitar in this one though so that was fun.
I'm super excited for Stadium of Fire next week... we go every year and it's my favorite part of the entire summer, last year probably my favorite part of the entire year. My friend Vivian and I went to it together last year and I'm hoping she can come to it again this year. She's a special girl and it so much fun to be around. Brad Paisley is coming this year.. LOOVE him. I applied for a Meet and Greet on his fan page so I'm praying I get one. I might die if I do :)
If I could ask you guys... my friend Zowie Kile who I introduced you to in this blog post has gone into the hospital for her fourth relapse of cancer. The doctors told her today that the chemotherapy can no longer help her, so they're sending her home. Without a miracle she won't live for very long. As for me, I believe in miracles and I believe that if every person that reads this blog post actually asks God to comfort her.. we might get a miracle.
Now, if you're reading this, I'd like to congratulate you on making it to the end of this very long blog post.
I'm very happy you were able to live through my annoying jabbering. I love you (that just made it all worth it, didn't it) ;) Have a fabulous weekend! Xox!
Little Miss Erika
So, our trip. I'm spending a lot of time with Holly, and she's so dang kind to even invite me to this concert with her, that I thought I'd get her a little thank you present. It's definitely not much, just a little something to thank her for all that she does for me. I got her guitar picks :) Personalized ones, in her favorite color. They have her name on the front and on the back it says "Little Miss You'll Go Far..". I am soooooooo excited to give them to her you have no idea. I got an email that they were shipped today... so when I get them I may be uploading pictures as they are soooo dang cute, or at least they were in the preview. I really hope she likes them.
In other words, I'm still dying. Yesterday I was coughing so hard I started throwing up. That was pleasant. Didn't get to bed until around one in the morning and then was up again at 3:30 doing the same thing.. thankfully my mom let me sleep in until noon today so I wasn't too worn out. Had a busy day today other than that.
Provo got it's first commercial airline flight for the first time on Monday. My dad and I went to the whole grand ceremony thing . We're so dorky... that is how we spend family night :) It was pretty cool being practically on the runway as the plane landed. We're excited for the flight.. my dad and I are taking it out to Denver in July or August. Nice for a weekend get away without all the costs of the SLC airport.
I do have bad news. My baby.... my acoustic Washburn sunburst guitar that I got for my birthday last year.. has a big chip in it. I was playing next to my computer, set it down, and then bumped my recording software box and it fell on top of it. It's right above the rosette (the sound hole...), next to the neck. It's just this big white ugly mark that looks really bad when I perform at gigs. It's sound has also been falling short a bit.. when I get up to the higher notes it sounds squeaky so I'm probably going to take it in and see if they can fix my hole and my string problems.
I uploaded a new cover on my channel yesterday. Go check it out if you'd like.... look at the last blog post for my link to want to and then find it from there because I'm too tired to go get the link all over again :) It's still not my best as I'm still sick... but hey, one of these days, we'll be back to normal. I'm playing guitar in this one though so that was fun.
I'm super excited for Stadium of Fire next week... we go every year and it's my favorite part of the entire summer, last year probably my favorite part of the entire year. My friend Vivian and I went to it together last year and I'm hoping she can come to it again this year. She's a special girl and it so much fun to be around. Brad Paisley is coming this year.. LOOVE him. I applied for a Meet and Greet on his fan page so I'm praying I get one. I might die if I do :)
If I could ask you guys... my friend Zowie Kile who I introduced you to in this blog post has gone into the hospital for her fourth relapse of cancer. The doctors told her today that the chemotherapy can no longer help her, so they're sending her home. Without a miracle she won't live for very long. As for me, I believe in miracles and I believe that if every person that reads this blog post actually asks God to comfort her.. we might get a miracle.
Now, if you're reading this, I'd like to congratulate you on making it to the end of this very long blog post.
I'm very happy you were able to live through my annoying jabbering. I love you (that just made it all worth it, didn't it) ;) Have a fabulous weekend! Xox!
Little Miss Erika
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Want To?
I kind of realized I've never posted one of my videos on here... so I thought I'd do that tonight. It's not my best, I've been sick and honestly at the end I'm trying to hold back a cough so much I choke up on the last note... but, hey, it works. :)
Want To - Sugarland
Enjoy :)
Enjoy :)
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Congratulations Holly!!!
I love you soooo much Holly and I'm so excited for you and so proud! Not surprising at all, I think you should've taken first, but you know that I love your voice like crazy :) You are so fabulous, can't wait to see you soon. Xoxoxoxox!!
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Never ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever say you don't want to go.
To my fellow young women... we all have that anxiety attack right before girls camp, correct? Ohhh how I wish I hadn't begged my mom to not go to girls camp. I got my wish this year. Trust me, you don't know how hard it is to be home when you know all of the other girls are up there having the time of their life. No matter how cold it is, no matter how dirty and disgusting, no matter where your sleeping, girl, it's worth it. I would much rather be in a freezing tent with the warmth and love of my entire group than in a warm bed at home by myself. I would much rather be up there at the workshops than down here on my Facebook or cell phone. I would kill to be up there right now.
Thankfully, I was able to go to girls camp for a few hours last night. It was bishop's night. It was so fun and soooo good to be back with my girls.
We had a pretty strong testimony meeting. I told myself I wasn't going to get up but when your heart is beating so fast you feel like you're going to pass out, you know it's your time to talk. And I thought that I would share that testimony with you today. Because I've never really done that before.
About 2 months ago, my grandma and my grandpa died. Growing up, my grandpa had altimeters. I can't remember a time when he knew who I was. Every time we would go to his house, he would ask me who I was and how old I was, and a few minutes later he would ask the same thing. It was the hardest thing for me. My friends would talk about the fun things they did with their grandpa and mine didn't even know I was his granddaughter. When I had heard that he had died this overwhelming sense of peace came over me. I knew my grandpa finally knew who I was, and that I was his granddaughter and he was proud of me. I knew he was watching out for me and he was there for me. I knew that he was with our Father in Heaven.
A few weeks before he died, his wife died. My uncle gave him a priesthood blessing to tell him his wife had died. At the end of the priesthood blessing, my grandpa stood up and bore his testimony. That strengthens my testimony, as he didn't know anyone else, he didn't know who was around him or who even knows if he knew what had happened, but he got up, and he knew who his Savior was. He knew the things that were most important to him.
I know these same things as they are just as important to me. I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior and He died for me on the cross. I know that He knows me, He bled for me, He calls me by name and He is watching over me. He gives me struggles to strengthen me. He is always there, no matter what I need from Him. He will protect me and do everything in His power that He can in order for me to come home to Him. He is preparing a way for me. He know what I'm going through. I know that prayer has special power in it. That you will get answers. It doesn't always come when you want, where you want, how you want it. It's not always the answer you want but it is there. I know that Joseph Smith restored the gospel and he translated the Book of Mormon. I know that he was a prophet, and I know that since then we have had strong men lead our church as prophets as well. I know that what comes out of President Monson's mouth is coming straight from heaven. He is our living prophet today. I know that I will return to my Heavenly Father again if I do what I'm supposed to, and I will do everything I can to get there. I know that without a doubt this church is true. And I leave this with you in the name of my Savior, Jesus Christ, amen.
Little Miss Erika
Thankfully, I was able to go to girls camp for a few hours last night. It was bishop's night. It was so fun and soooo good to be back with my girls.
We had a pretty strong testimony meeting. I told myself I wasn't going to get up but when your heart is beating so fast you feel like you're going to pass out, you know it's your time to talk. And I thought that I would share that testimony with you today. Because I've never really done that before.
About 2 months ago, my grandma and my grandpa died. Growing up, my grandpa had altimeters. I can't remember a time when he knew who I was. Every time we would go to his house, he would ask me who I was and how old I was, and a few minutes later he would ask the same thing. It was the hardest thing for me. My friends would talk about the fun things they did with their grandpa and mine didn't even know I was his granddaughter. When I had heard that he had died this overwhelming sense of peace came over me. I knew my grandpa finally knew who I was, and that I was his granddaughter and he was proud of me. I knew he was watching out for me and he was there for me. I knew that he was with our Father in Heaven.
A few weeks before he died, his wife died. My uncle gave him a priesthood blessing to tell him his wife had died. At the end of the priesthood blessing, my grandpa stood up and bore his testimony. That strengthens my testimony, as he didn't know anyone else, he didn't know who was around him or who even knows if he knew what had happened, but he got up, and he knew who his Savior was. He knew the things that were most important to him.
I know these same things as they are just as important to me. I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior and He died for me on the cross. I know that He knows me, He bled for me, He calls me by name and He is watching over me. He gives me struggles to strengthen me. He is always there, no matter what I need from Him. He will protect me and do everything in His power that He can in order for me to come home to Him. He is preparing a way for me. He know what I'm going through. I know that prayer has special power in it. That you will get answers. It doesn't always come when you want, where you want, how you want it. It's not always the answer you want but it is there. I know that Joseph Smith restored the gospel and he translated the Book of Mormon. I know that he was a prophet, and I know that since then we have had strong men lead our church as prophets as well. I know that what comes out of President Monson's mouth is coming straight from heaven. He is our living prophet today. I know that I will return to my Heavenly Father again if I do what I'm supposed to, and I will do everything I can to get there. I know that without a doubt this church is true. And I leave this with you in the name of my Savior, Jesus Christ, amen.
Little Miss Erika
Monday, June 13, 2011
One Word. Coughing your guts out. And Sugar Pitt tickets :)
I'm in love. Like, absolute obsessiveness with this new writers site I found. THIS is the kind of thing I've been waiting for... that little creative spark you need to get something going. It's called oneword.com and it is absolutely, positively, the best writing site I have found so far. And trust me, I've been to a lot of them. To my writer friends, go check it out. You'll probably love it as much as I do. What it does, is it gives you a word, one word (hence the name of the site), and then it gives you a minute to write about that one word. It is the most fun thing I have found on the internet. Sadly, they only give you one word for every day... so you have a whole day to dwell on that word before moving to another.
I have waaaayyy too many unfinished stories, poems, songs, ect. because of this thing.
Anyway, check it out. I love it.
For those of you who don't know, I've been sick for the past, oh, three weeks. Two days ago my mom and I went to Instacare.... came home with 7 prescription drugs. SEVEN!!! Sick much? I think yes. I'm hoping they'll start working, as my ward is up at girls camp right now and I can't go because I'm coughing so much :( I never thought I would miss camp this much but I'm dyyyingg!! I want to be up there with them SOOOOOOO bad! Pray for me to get better... :)
FINALLY I got my Sugarland tickets in the mail for their Salt Lake City show! SOOO excited. And also I got my Little Miss Project shirt today! Pictures to come soon... I'm kind of in love with it :) We've all got them for our July concert... finally I feel like I'm an official Sugarcube. And a pretty happy one at that :)
Loads of love!
Little Miss Erika
I have waaaayyy too many unfinished stories, poems, songs, ect. because of this thing.
Anyway, check it out. I love it.
For those of you who don't know, I've been sick for the past, oh, three weeks. Two days ago my mom and I went to Instacare.... came home with 7 prescription drugs. SEVEN!!! Sick much? I think yes. I'm hoping they'll start working, as my ward is up at girls camp right now and I can't go because I'm coughing so much :( I never thought I would miss camp this much but I'm dyyyingg!! I want to be up there with them SOOOOOOO bad! Pray for me to get better... :)
FINALLY I got my Sugarland tickets in the mail for their Salt Lake City show! SOOO excited. And also I got my Little Miss Project shirt today! Pictures to come soon... I'm kind of in love with it :) We've all got them for our July concert... finally I feel like I'm an official Sugarcube. And a pretty happy one at that :)
Loads of love!
Little Miss Erika
Friday, June 10, 2011
Are you sick of hearing about Sugarland yet? :)
I won't lie.... I have packed, unpacked, packed again, did some more unpacking, then packed, unpacked, packed.... well, you get the picture... for our Detroit trip about a billion times and we're still 28 days away. Obsessive much? Yes I am. I want to make sure everything is absolutely perfect for this trip. Perfect. I want to be sure that I have everything I need, and everything I want. It's an 8 day trip, you know, I need every pair of socks I can get ;) But honestly, I am FREEAAAKKKIIINGGG out. I mean, it's Sugarland I'm meeting! I love them. Like, these guys have always been my inspiration and practically my life! And not only that, but I'm meeting them with Holly!?! It's unbelievable. Like, I get legit chills just thinking about it. I might die before we even get on the airplane. The good thing is, is that we're stopping for a few days in Chicago/Milwaukee before we go to Detroit, so we'll be busy there which means less time to sit around thinking about it like I would be doing at home. Less time to sit and think, means less time to freak out, which means less time to try to plan everything out in my mind, which means less disappointment, which means less upset Erika, which means more happiness with Sugarland :)
We're leaving on July 3rd, flying into Chicago, and spending the night in Rockford. The next day we drive to Milwaukee. We spend the Fourth of July there, then drive to Chicago the next day, spend Tuesday night there, and then we fly to Detroit Wednesday night. We're staying in this rockin' hotel right by the river on Wednesday and Thursday. Thursday I believe I'm doing something with Holly. Friday we switch hotel to get closer to the venue. Holly and her step-mom will be staying in the same hotel as us that night :) Parrrrttttyyy!! Saturday we're going suuper early to the venue to do LMP (Little Miss Project) stuff. Finally!! I get to be part of the LIIIIVEEE version!!! I'm so excited. From there on out I'm just tagging along with Holly to all of the stuff we gotta hit.... our meet & greet, sound check, the actual concert and what not. Saturday night I believe we're back in our other hotel... don't ask me how that's gonna work as I assume we're going to get home from the concert puuurdy late. Sunday.. I don't know what we're doing Sunday and then Monday we fly home.
Pretty exciting huh? I'm like, DYYYINNGGG!!!!
Erika
We're leaving on July 3rd, flying into Chicago, and spending the night in Rockford. The next day we drive to Milwaukee. We spend the Fourth of July there, then drive to Chicago the next day, spend Tuesday night there, and then we fly to Detroit Wednesday night. We're staying in this rockin' hotel right by the river on Wednesday and Thursday. Thursday I believe I'm doing something with Holly. Friday we switch hotel to get closer to the venue. Holly and her step-mom will be staying in the same hotel as us that night :) Parrrrttttyyy!! Saturday we're going suuper early to the venue to do LMP (Little Miss Project) stuff. Finally!! I get to be part of the LIIIIVEEE version!!! I'm so excited. From there on out I'm just tagging along with Holly to all of the stuff we gotta hit.... our meet & greet, sound check, the actual concert and what not. Saturday night I believe we're back in our other hotel... don't ask me how that's gonna work as I assume we're going to get home from the concert puuurdy late. Sunday.. I don't know what we're doing Sunday and then Monday we fly home.
Pretty exciting huh? I'm like, DYYYINNGGG!!!!
Erika
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Eeeewwwwwwww
I don't usually get horrible bloody noses. But today, I swear, it won't stop bleeding. It went for over an hour this morning, then stopped a little and now it's going full force again. Uuuuugggghhhhh.
Monday, June 6, 2011
:)
So every once in a while.. I do little performances here and there, nothing big, most of the time at little fairs or cafes or stuff like that. But the other day something huuugeee happened. Nothing out of the ordinary, I mean, I was just performing in a bistro up in Salt Lake with a friend when we started singing a song I had written for Ans, my little friend who died of cancer back in December. Someone then walked up with a cup, that I'm guessing they were drinking out of minutes before (that made me laugh) and then threw some dollar bills in it and asked if I could donate it to the Band of Parents Foundation in Ansley's name. I don't usually get emotional when I'm up there singing but I just about broke into tears. Soon lots of people started coming up. It wasn't even supposed to be anything, but we raised $114.82 and it has all been donated to the BOPF. <3 <3 <3 <3 People are good, my friends. That man that first walked up to me is a person I would have never guessed would be willing to do such a thing. He started this chain reaction because of his huge heart. If you were there that night, thank you. If you donated, a big hug and a kiss to you. If you would like to donate, go to www.bandofparents.org and click on donate. Every dollar helps.
I love you. I love you. I love you.
Little Miss Erika
I love you. I love you. I love you.
Little Miss Erika
Sunday, June 5, 2011
OHHHHHHH MYYYYYYY GOOOOSHHHH!!!
BEST NIGHT EVER! Last night was the bomb. Like, you can't beat it. Trust me, like, not even meeting Sugarland could top this.
Now, everyone knows I'm a little bit of an obsessive Sugarland fan, a few people know I'm an obsessive Reba fan, but not too many know that I am a die hard Clint Black fan. Well here comes the truth boys and girls, I am even more of an obsessive Clint Black fanatic.
So out in Eagle Mountain, they have this thing called Pony Express Days. Each year they wrap it up with a concert and fireworks. This year Clint Black headlined the concert. I got the presale tickets as a member of his fan club. Oh yeah baby :)
So we get to the amphitheater a little late, but that's okay because we found a really great seat up in front to the side of the stage. Then, when the opening act came on, everyone started moving up against the stage. So, I went along hoping to get right against the stage for Clint. Boy did that happen. He was seriously 2 feet away from us and there were moments where I could put my hand on his shoe, grab his leg, or pull him straight down into the audience. Of course I touched the shoe... and then leg... but that's as far as I got. He seriously touched my hand like 3 or 4 times and then held my hand for like 10 seconds. 10!!! Oh my gosh. I probably looked like an idiot I was beaming so
hard!!! Goodness Erika...
There was a time in the concert when they brought out another mic and a stool for him to sit on. Dead serious, he was RIGHT in FRONT of ME!! He kept looking at me and smiling because I was smiling so hard. I was DYING. I could hardly breathe. In one of his songs... I held up a heart and him and shouted "I LOVE YOU CLINT!!!!" and he looked RIGHT AT ME and smiled even HARDER!! Ahhhh and then... and then on TWITTER HE posted THIS!!! About ME!!! He remembered who I was!!!!Then, after that song he walked up to me and asked (in front of everyone, but without a mic) if I knew all the words to all of his songs. Practically fainting, I shouted back at him YESS!!!!! He smiled at me and said "You think you're my biggest fan, don't you? Because I sure think so." And I practically screamed at him "I AM!!!" And then he smiled really big and started singing again!! That was the part that I seriously almost fell over. I had a conversation with CLINT BLACK!!! I was in HEAVEN! Talk about StArStRuCk!!
Oh my gosh. By the end of that concert I could hardly talk, let alone breathe. I felt like I was DEAD on CLOUD 9!
SOOOOOOOOO AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It just feels like one big crazy dream.....
I lOvE yOu ClInT bLaCk!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3
Erika
Now, everyone knows I'm a little bit of an obsessive Sugarland fan, a few people know I'm an obsessive Reba fan, but not too many know that I am a die hard Clint Black fan. Well here comes the truth boys and girls, I am even more of an obsessive Clint Black fanatic.
So out in Eagle Mountain, they have this thing called Pony Express Days. Each year they wrap it up with a concert and fireworks. This year Clint Black headlined the concert. I got the presale tickets as a member of his fan club. Oh yeah baby :)
So we get to the amphitheater a little late, but that's okay because we found a really great seat up in front to the side of the stage. Then, when the opening act came on, everyone started moving up against the stage. So, I went along hoping to get right against the stage for Clint. Boy did that happen. He was seriously 2 feet away from us and there were moments where I could put my hand on his shoe, grab his leg, or pull him straight down into the audience. Of course I touched the shoe... and then leg... but that's as far as I got. He seriously touched my hand like 3 or 4 times and then held my hand for like 10 seconds. 10!!! Oh my gosh. I probably looked like an idiot I was beaming so
 | ||
| Almost got the shot of him slapping my hand!!! :) |
There was a time in the concert when they brought out another mic and a stool for him to sit on. Dead serious, he was RIGHT in FRONT of ME!! He kept looking at me and smiling because I was smiling so hard. I was DYING. I could hardly breathe. In one of his songs... I held up a heart and him and shouted "I LOVE YOU CLINT!!!!" and he looked RIGHT AT ME and smiled even HARDER!! Ahhhh and then... and then on TWITTER HE posted THIS!!! About ME!!! He remembered who I was!!!!Then, after that song he walked up to me and asked (in front of everyone, but without a mic) if I knew all the words to all of his songs. Practically fainting, I shouted back at him YESS!!!!! He smiled at me and said "You think you're my biggest fan, don't you? Because I sure think so." And I practically screamed at him "I AM!!!" And then he smiled really big and started singing again!! That was the part that I seriously almost fell over. I had a conversation with CLINT BLACK!!! I was in HEAVEN! Talk about StArStRuCk!!
Oh my gosh. By the end of that concert I could hardly talk, let alone breathe. I felt like I was DEAD on CLOUD 9!
SOOOOOOOOO AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It just feels like one big crazy dream.....
I lOvE yOu ClInT bLaCk!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3
Erika
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Childhood Cancer Facts - These make me cry
Facts About Neuroblastoma Cancer
- Neuroblastoma is the 3rd most popular cancer among children and often the most difficult to treat.
- It is the most common tumor found in children younger than 1 year of age.
- Every 16 hours a child with neuroblastoma dies.
- Neuroblastoma is a very aggressive cancer, and nearly 70% of those children first diagnosed with neuroblastoma have disease that has already metastasized or spread to other parts of the body. When disease has spread at diagnosis and a child is over the age of 2, there is less than a 30% chance of survival.
- Approximately 1,000 children are diagnosed with neuroblastoma in the United States each year.
- Doctors have known about neuroblastoma for approximately 35 years.
- Neuroblastoma is primarily diagnosed in children younger than 5 years.
- The cause of neuroblastoma is unknown, and it is more likely to occur in males than females.
- Neuroblastoma has one of the lowest survival rates of all pediatric cancers.
- 70 out of 100 neuroblastoma patients have a period of remission. Of those 70, 35 will relapse. Out of those 35, 20 -30% will go into remission for a second time. Most of that 30% will relapse again and not have a chance to grow up.
- Neuroblastoma is difficult to diagnose in small children, and its progression is often rapid and painful.
- Of all cancer research money, pediatric cancer gets less than 3%. Neuroblastoma itself gets even less than that.
- Neuroblastoma accounts for 8% of childhood cancer cases, but is responsible for 15% of all childhood cancer deaths.
- Childhood cancer is the number one disease killer in children.
- Childhood cancer is not a single disease, but rather many different types that fall into twelve major categories.
- There are no widespread FDA approved drugs or treatments available today designed to specifically treat neuroblastoma. Treatments include chemotherapy drugs designed for different types of adult cancers.
- Cancers are extremely rare in children, yet many cancers are almost exclusively found in children.
- Currently there are approximately 40,000 children undergoing cancer treatment in the US.
- September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, which nationally goes unrecognized.
- It is becoming increasingly apparent that childhood cancer “is for life.”
- 3 out of every 5 children diagnosed with cancer suffer long term or late onset side effects such as heart damage, chemo induced secondary cancer, lung damage, infertility, hearing loss, growth defects and more.
- At present childhood cancer cannot be prevented and occurs regularly and randomly, sparing no ethnic group, socioeconomic or geographic class.
- It is estimated that 1 in every 450 adults is a childhood cancer survivor.
- Cancer symptoms in children – fever, swollen glands, anemia, bruises and infection – are often suspected to be, and at the early stages treated as, other childhood illnesses.
- There is no known cure for relapsed neuroblastoma.
- In the past 20 years only one new cancer drug has been approved for pediatric use.
- 14,000 children will be diagnosed this year with cancer. That is the size of 2 average classrooms every single day, year after year.
- Pharmaceutical companies fund over 50% of adult cancer research, but virtually nothing for kids.
Facts about Childhood Cancer
Today 46 children will be told they have cancer.
1 out of 5 of them, will not survive.
1 in 330 children will be diagnosed with cancer and the average age of those, is 6 years old.
Cancer is the number 1 disease killer of our children......
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
We are family...
The Roof.Oh yes. Like the fanciest restaurant in the state of Utah? That's The Roof I'm talking about. We ate dinner there last night for my Grandparent's 50th anniversary. Talk about entertaining... it was a pretty funny night, lots of good food, the deserts were A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. I feel soooo fat today :) It's a good kind of fat.
I love my crazy, awkward, interesting, entertaining, downright idiotic family :)
Little Miss Erika
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