Miracles 4 My'isha

#SmileThroughItAll

Category: Princess warrior

She beat cancer over a year ago, so why so worried? — January 15, 2016

My'isha being My'isha. Beautiful and happy as always.

She beat cancer over a year ago, so why so worried?

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My’isha finished treatment July of 2014. It took just over a year to clear my daughter of the stage 4 neuroblastoma that tried to take over my baby girl’s body. Some people don’t realize, that the treatment itself can cause secondary cancers, not to mention the recurrence rate of around 40%. This explains the CT scans every 6 months.

So, when my daughter looks like she is starting to loose weight, I contact her PCP to check on her weight gain…

And when, according to her chart, she shows no significant weight gain for close to 6 months, we order labs…

And when the labs come back “reassuring”, we wait for her next set of routine scans…

So, when they see a swollen lymph node under her arm pit, we keep an eye on it…

And, when I notice it has grown in just 48 hours, I contact her PCP again…

And, when she says she wants it out in a week for biopsy, we go to see the surgeon.

So, when the surgeon examines the lump under my daughter’s arm, and says it is concerning and he wants it out sooner than later, and he proceeds to tell me WHY My’isha’s oncologist does routine scans, what do we do now?

Now, we wait. We wait for surgery. We wait for pathology results. We wait for phone calls.

We enjoy this somewhat normal life we have now. We enjoy each other. We enjoy our princess warrior as she is today. We wish for the best. We prepare for the worst.

Living the life of a cancer family is not what I had planned for myself and my family. It seems this life choose my daughter and because My’isha is the absolute most amazing little girl we have ever met, we chose this life right back.

We will be starting My’isha on CBD this week Some people may not agree with our decision. Yet others may criticize us for waiting so long. All I know is that as mothers, we do our best to make the right decisions for our children. I do not know what is under her arm, although I have a pretty good idea based on how quickly it grew and it’s unresponsiveness to the antibiotincs.

Best case scenario: They remove it successfully with no complications. Benign and no further treatment. <<<< This is what we are hoping and praying for folks!

Donations can be made direct to Miracles 4 My’isha’s paypal. We also have #NoOneFightsAlone keychains, car magnets, and gold pins, as well as handmade hemp items listed at http://www.facebook.com/Creations4Miracles4Myisha

Please share our websites and blogs as well. As always, #SmileThroughItAll and THANK YOU so much for reading. #ANewKindOfMommy

Here we scan again… — January 7, 2016

Here we scan again…

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Here we go again. It has been 6 months since My’isha’s last routine CT scans. This time, we are a little more nervous.

You see, back in 2012, we were in the ER for a cold. Upon doing the chest x-ray, the doctors notice a blood clot of hemorrhage on My’isha’s left adrenal gland. The physicians didn’t think much of it and said we will follow-up in 6 months unless anything changes. Before the 6 months was up, we noticed My’isha’s weight had leveled off, which led to further testing and eventually the ultrasound that revealed the tumor in my babies abdomen.

So when we hear that her weight has leveled off yet again… well… we are a little nervous to say the least.

All it takes is one growth to land my daughter back in the fight for her life. A fight that is lost by 0ver 5 children daily. Almost 2,000 children will die of cancer this year. The truth is, My’isha could be one of them. It is a tough pill to swallow, yet it is the reason we live each day truly blessed to have her in our lives. She just keeps smiling and making the world a little brighter each day.

Creations 4 Miracles, gifts for childhood cancer warriors — September 20, 2015

My'isha's B.M.T bithday was on her actual 2nd birthday.

Creations 4 Miracles, gifts for childhood cancer warriors

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Creations 4 Miracles 4 My’isha 

I began by making shirts for Stevie Tre and My’isha on her first birthday. Thinking back, I had to have been inspired by the boutiques I was shopping at for My’isha in Oklahoma and Colorado Springs. I managed a Chuck E Cheese in Oklahoma City and I saw my fair share of SUPER CUTE birthday party themes, and I couldn’t go to my job with a lame party, right?

My'isha's 1st & Tre's 3rd brithday at Chuck E Cheese in their handmade birthday shirts.
My’isha’s 1st & Tre’s 3rd birthday at Chuck E Cheese in their handmade birthday shirts.

Here is the shirt I made for Stevie Tre’s birthday. I had so much fun! I met him choose the patch that he wanted and the style of number, and I did the rest with some help from my cousin Stephen Burke.

243143_10151070729622073_1520222223_oHe loved the shirt and wore it many times after his birthday.

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Here is the onesie I made for My’isha’s 1st birthday.

This is the first onesie I made for My'isha.
This is the first onesie I made for My’isha.

At this point, she had not been diagnosed with cancer, but we had recently found out about her 6q25.3 microdeletion.

She was already so much of a princess, turning warrior, by her 1st birthday.

The front of My'isha's 1st birthday onesie.
The front of My’isha’s 1st birthday onesie.
The Princess Warrior's 2nd birthday and BMT bithday onesie.
The Princess Warrior’s 2nd birthday and BMT birthday onesie.
My'isha's B.M.T bithday was on her actual 2nd birthday.
My’isha’s B.M.T bithday was on her actual 2nd birthday.

By the time her 2nd birthday came around, she well into chemotherapy, and she received her stem cells from her stem cells transplant on her 2nd birthday. I HAD to make a onesie for that day!

I have made a couple of shirts for myself and friends for fundraisers and to send to folks who were able to donate a certain amount to My’isha’s B.M.T. Birthday.

I still have 2 of the shirts I made, one hangs above her bed, and the other is tucked away for safe-keeping.

Fundraiser tee worn at our first fundraising event.
Fundraiser tee worn at our first fundraising event.

My’isha and I had earned a reputation from a local radio station, called 1Blunt Radio, of Colorado Fans. They invited us out to a tail gate party where they were to dedicate their newly released, Colorado Fan, song to My’isha. Here are a couple of onesies I made for that season.

My'isha's Bronco sleeveless onesie
My’isha’s Bronco sleeveless onesie

That was the year we went to the Super Bowl too. Go BRONCOS!

My'isha's longsleeve Broncos onesie.
My’isha’s longsleeve Broncos onesie.

The actual shirts themselves are the most expensive part. I am willing to personalize gear the you already have or find something new. Also check out our handmade jewelery made by My’isha’s oldest brother Alijah.

Small items Alijah, Xavier, and I made for My'isha's fundraiser.
Small items Alijah, Xavier, and I made for My’isha’s fundraiser.

All funds that are put into paypal.me/miracles4myisha will go towards obtaining materials to deliver to children who are inpatient during an event or occasion. I am looking to have a nice size delivery for the Children’s Hospital of Colorado by Christmas time. For more information please do not hesitate to email Miracles4Myisha@gmail.com or reach out to us via Facebook as well.

Creations 4 Miracles 4 My’isha — September 10, 2015

Creations 4 Miracles 4 My’isha

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If you have been following us on Facebook, then you already know about our arts and crafts. If you are new to our story, please read on.

My’isha was a very special baby all the way back to when she was in my tummy. She is missing a piece of her 6th chromosome which makes her a special princess. She has also beat cancer, while she was learning to walk and communicate. That pretty much makes her a Princess Warrior.

I, am just her mommy. I do my best to support the amazingness this young lady brings into this world. When we entered the world of cancer treatment, I found myself researching and doing everything to keep My’isha happy and comfortable while not neglecting my 3 boys.

There came a point when my busy-body kicked in, and I had to do SOMETHING. I wasn’t leaving My’isha at the hospital for any amount if time, so trying to keep my mind occupied led to an awakening of my creativity.

So, Creations 4 Miracles 4 My’isha is a Facebook page for me to show off the creations I or My’isha’s brother’s, Alijah and Xavier, have made either while My’isha was going through her treatment, or afterwards trying to make money for my family.

I had to have something to do, all those lonely nights in the hospital. So, I rediscovered arts and crafts. It was probably one of the best things to happen to me over the past few years. I love to create things for people.

Here are some photos of the items I have left. I am putting them up for donations on Creations 4 Miracles 4 My’isha. All you need to do is comment on the photo of the item you want, the amount that you are willing to donate for them item. Then, you go to paypal.com/miracels4myisha and make your donations. Once your donation is received, we will send you the gift you posted on.

Funds from this fundraiser will go towards My’isha’s birthday party. Her birthday is a week before her brother Xavier, so it makes it a little tough to all of the things we want to do for them. All contributions will go straight to making sure they both get the birthday celebrations they deserve.

It is a little ironic that #ChildhoodCancer #Awareness month falls on My’isha’s birthday month. She will be 4 years old this month, and this is her last year of preschool before she moves on to Kindergarten. I am so excited for her!

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These are a few key chains handmade by myself and My’isha’s brothers.
Handmade hemp necklace with black and silver charm
Handmade hemp necklace with black and silver charm
Represent the Denver Broncos with this set of a necklace and bracelet, or choose the bracelet alone for a brighter blue and orange.
Represent Colorado and our Broncos with this set of a necklace and bracelet, or choose the bracelet alone for a brighter blue and orange.

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This handmade choker has very cute purple accents. Perfect for wearing with anything.
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Show your Colorado pride with this handmade necklace. 
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This necklace has a retro feel to , with a Colorado Style Peace sign charm and glow in the dark beads and thread. Perfect for a room accent AND fashion accessory.
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Handmade charm and necklace. This collaboration is all handmade in Colorado. Show your Colorado pride in a way that makes a difference.
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It’s just her hair, guys. No big deal… — September 5, 2015

It’s just her hair, guys. No big deal…

/Mommy (Aisha)/3 Comments

135763_10151069031322073_2048460913_o …or so I thought.

How long does a mommy wait to put her baby girl’s hair into pony tails?

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I waited 3 boys and 10 years to finally have my baby girl. I had been practicing since I was a little girl for this moment. I could not wait to braid her hair and do pony tails…

…and then one day, she was staring Neuroblastoma in the eyes, in her piggy tails.

My'isha staring Neuroblastoma in eyes.
My’isha staring Neuroblastoma in eyes.

After her first cycle chemotherapy, things began to change. 884496_10151349277792073_690425226_oI was finding more and more of her hair in her bed. When she slept and played, it was like there was a long-haired puppy in the crib with her. It bothered me to see her hair all over the bed throughout the day.

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So I talked with the nurse. She was starting to get small bald patches in her hair and I wanted to keep her curls and be able to share them with my mom and mother in law. This is her first haircut, right? It wasn’t like we could just go to a hair salon. So I started with the sides first.

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Her top pony tail was just too cute too cute off. So I left it alone. However, the next morning was a reality check. I didn’t know if my cutting her hair triggered more loss. It was unlikely, but what I did know, was that there wasn’t much time to save what was left. So…

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I cut it off… I cut it all off! I cried and I cried. I could not look at my daughter, my one and only, my long awaited baby girl, without crying. I felt awful for taking it all away. Taking away what we waited so long for. For the first time, I had to call my mommy. I really could not look at my own daughter without crying my eyes out.

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I let go of the blame. I realized it wasn’t me that took her hair. It was the chemotherapy that took her hair. As cruel as it seemed, it was necessary to keep my baby girl alive. It wasn’t long before I realized, that her hair was just the beginning.

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She soon lost her eyebrows and eyelashes too. Her whole head was baby bottom smooth. Her scalp was dry. The worst and most obvious part, was that now, she officially looked sick. She looked like a cancer patient. If there was ever a moment of reality, this was the first. I used a little oil to moisturize her scalp, but now…

…she really IS sick.

The chemotherapy is beginning to take it’s toll on her digestive system. She quickly loses most of her ability to taste, as well as the desire to eat, or even hold food down when she does want to eat.

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Her hair quickly became one of the least of our worries.

Soon, her beautiful, shiny, smooth bald head was just another fashion accessory, along with her NG tube and my various tape jobs..

Thanks to another family Beth and Mia McDowell, we were inspired to embrace her new beauty!

That is how tattoos became a part of My’isha‘s therapy, and a fun hobby to bring more awareness to childhood cancer. Not to mention it stopped people from mistaking her for a boy.

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We had such a great time with them! I appreciate the inspiration and hope the warriors at 10-Strong provide to families at the Children’s Hospital in Oklahoma City. They were just great, and I couldn’t imagine starting our journey anywhere else!

This was the beginning of My’isha versus Neuroblastoma — September 3, 2015

This was the beginning of My’isha versus Neuroblastoma

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My'isha staring Neuroblastoma in eyes.
My’isha staring Neuroblastoma in eyes.

This was the first post I made on Facebook after receiving “the phone call”:

 Aisha Sawyer added 4 new photos — with Brenda Bland and 28 others.

March 6, 2013 ·

My’isha Dawn Amira Chavers
The sweetest most affectionate most cuddly precious little princess. PLEASE PRAY FOR HER. She has overcome so much in these short 17 months. She has already been diagnosed with a microdeletion of her 6th chromosome causing her developmental delay. She is ahead of the game when compared to other kids with this condition. She’s pulling herself up and cruising and waving and pointing and giving kisses and high fives. She is showing so much progress…and then this: She had what they thought was a blood clot that would dissolve. Instead, over the past 6 months it has been growing. The Dr. Called and said it’s either a tumor or cancer and it requires further testing. She’s already having at least 1 appt per week for her therapy plus checkups and testing. My baby girl…. My beautiful baby girl… Pray long and hard for this beautiful baby. If u know her and have met her your lucky and you can feel a piece of my pain. If you haven’t met her… When you do she will make your darkest night the brightest day with one smile and if you hold her the world will stand still for a few moments. She will take your heart away! Share her story and raise awareness of her personal triumphs. I hope that so many people pray for her that the lord gets tired of it and just heals her. I know that’s not how it works but a mommy has to hope for the best. I will keep you all posted. Thank you heart emoticon

'My'isha Dawn Amira Chavers The sweetest most affectionate most cuddly precious little princess. PLEASE PRAY FOR HER. She has overcome so much in these short 17mts. She has already been diagnosed with a microdeletion of her 6th chromosome causing her developmental delay. She is ahead of the game when compared to other kids with this condition. She's pulling herself up and cruising and waving and pointing and giving kisses and high fives. She is showing so much progress...and then this: She had what they thought was a blood clot that would dissolve. Instead, over the past 6 months it has been growing. The Dr. Called and said it's either a tumor or cancer and it requires further testing. She's already having at least 1 appt per week for her therapy plus checkups and testing. My baby girl.... My beautiful baby girl... Pray long and hard for this beautiful baby. If u know her and have met her your lucky and you can feel a piece of my pain. If you haven't met her... When you do she will make your darkest night the brightest day with one smile and if you hold her the world will stand still for a few moments. She will take your heart away! Share her story and raise awareness of her personal triumphs. I hope that so many people pray for her that the lord gets tired of it and just heals her. I know that's not how it works but a mommy has to hope for the best. I will keep you all posted. Thank you <3'
'My'isha Dawn Amira Chavers The sweetest most affectionate most cuddly precious little princess. PLEASE PRAY FOR HER. She has overcome so much in these short 17mts. She has already been diagnosed with a microdeletion of her 6th chromosome causing her developmental delay. She is ahead of the game when compared to other kids with this condition. She's pulling herself up and cruising and waving and pointing and giving kisses and high fives. She is showing so much progress...and then this: She had what they thought was a blood clot that would dissolve. Instead, over the past 6 months it has been growing. The Dr. Called and said it's either a tumor or cancer and it requires further testing. She's already having at least 1 appt per week for her therapy plus checkups and testing. My baby girl.... My beautiful baby girl... Pray long and hard for this beautiful baby. If u know her and have met her your lucky and you can feel a piece of my pain. If you haven't met her... When you do she will make your darkest night the brightest day with one smile and if you hold her the world will stand still for a few moments. She will take your heart away! Share her story and raise awareness of her personal triumphs. I hope that so many people pray for her that the lord gets tired of it and just heals her. I know that's not how it works but a mommy has to hope for the best. I will keep you all posted. Thank you <3'
'My'isha Dawn Amira Chavers The sweetest most affectionate most cuddly precious little princess. PLEASE PRAY FOR HER. She has overcome so much in these short 17mts. She has already been diagnosed with a microdeletion of her 6th chromosome causing her developmental delay. She is ahead of the game when compared to other kids with this condition. She's pulling herself up and cruising and waving and pointing and giving kisses and high fives. She is showing so much progress...and then this: She had what they thought was a blood clot that would dissolve. Instead, over the past 6 months it has been growing. The Dr. Called and said it's either a tumor or cancer and it requires further testing. She's already having at least 1 appt per week for her therapy plus checkups and testing. My baby girl.... My beautiful baby girl... Pray long and hard for this beautiful baby. If u know her and have met her your lucky and you can feel a piece of my pain. If you haven't met her... When you do she will make your darkest night the brightest day with one smile and if you hold her the world will stand still for a few moments. She will take your heart away! Share her story and raise awareness of her personal triumphs. I hope that so many people pray for her that the lord gets tired of it and just heals her. I know that's not how it works but a mommy has to hope for the best. I will keep you all posted. Thank you <3'
'My'isha Dawn Amira Chavers The sweetest most affectionate most cuddly precious little princess. PLEASE PRAY FOR HER. She has overcome so much in these short 17mts. She has already been diagnosed with a microdeletion of her 6th chromosome causing her developmental delay. She is ahead of the game when compared to other kids with this condition. She's pulling herself up and cruising and waving and pointing and giving kisses and high fives. She is showing so much progress...and then this: She had what they thought was a blood clot that would dissolve. Instead, over the past 6 months it has been growing. The Dr. Called and said it's either a tumor or cancer and it requires further testing. She's already having at least 1 appt per week for her therapy plus checkups and testing. My baby girl.... My beautiful baby girl... Pray long and hard for this beautiful baby. If u know her and have met her your lucky and you can feel a piece of my pain. If you haven't met her... When you do she will make your darkest night the brightest day with one smile and if you hold her the world will stand still for a few moments. She will take your heart away! Share her story and raise awareness of her personal triumphs. I hope that so many people pray for her that the lord gets tired of it and just heals her. I know that's not how it works but a mommy has to hope for the best. I will keep you all posted. Thank you <3'
Looking back and reading this post along with many others before this, I have to admit that I knew something was going on. I am sure many mom’s feel the same way. I had so many emotions going on at the moment. I just wanted to know as much as I could possibly know about what they were talking about, but as most of us know, and a lot less of us understand, it takes a while to take care of testing and results and treatment road maps and everything else they need to do before giving you answers. I spent the majority of the next 2 years waiting. Waiting for results, waiting for doctors or meds, waiting for the end… whatever that may be. It is terrifying to hear the words tumor or cancer. It is terrifying to watch your baby vomit beyond control and not be able to tell if they are in pain or they just simply don’t feel well. It is terrifying to think about having do to a funeral for the child you gave birth to. I did my best to prepare myself for the worst, but hope for the best, and we always tried to smile through it all!
Every parent was chosen for this battle just as their child was. Our battle is over… in a good way. Today, 7 children will lose their battle and gain their angel wings. Today, 14 parents will lose their child to cancer. Yet, of the total funding for cancer, pediatric cancers only receive 4%! It really makes no sense considering the amount of adult onset cancers that are due to lifestyle. When it comes to donating, it is hard to tell which group to support. I encourage you to do your research before sending your money to fund pediatric cancer research. Find out where the money is going.
A lot of people told me they didn’t know what to say to me when I said my daughter was diagnosed with high risk stage 4 neuroblastoma. I am not sure I would have known what to say. I would just say, “I am here for you,” and then REALLY be there for them. We always need help with meal preparation, clothes, fundraising, and mommy time is ALWAYS needed and not always taken. Not all of you reading this blog will be cancer mommies, some of you will be grandma’s, or sister’s, or aunts, or friends, please know, that cancer affects all of us. No one likes to see children suffer for no reason. Please, find a family and see what you can do to help. Just because the battle if over, doesn’t mean the dust settled.
To help Miracles 4 My’isha get ready for her 4th birthday at the end of this month, we have opened her fundraiser account on paypal again at paypal.me/miracles4myisha. If you would like to send cards or decorations or anything of the sort, please contact us on our facebook page http://www.facebook.com/miracles4myisha.
Thank you for reading and as always, thank you for your support!
March 27th 2013- Day one of chemotherapy for my one and only daughter — September 1, 2015

March 27th 2013- Day one of chemotherapy for my one and only daughter

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Day one of treatment:

Today is My’isha’s first day of chemotherapy. I have been waiting for this day some I received that call. The call when the doctor said there was a mass in My’isha’s belly and it may be cancer. These past few weeks have been a roller coaster of emotions. Today, I woke up unrested and extremely anxious, butterflies, panicky, shaky, the whole 9… I was told yesterday my beautiful baby girl has high risk stage 4 Neuroblastoma. I wasn’t able to hold a regular conversation the rest of the evening. No matter how well Dr. Meyer prepared us, no matter how much research I did, I wasn’t ready for today. Just like I was expecting, stage 4, but after he said it, and explained the treatment plan, I wasn’t ready for the flood of emotions that rose so quickly I almost dint have enough time to get out the room before tears filmed my eyes. This morning I needed to reach out. I needed to know what to expect from a mother’s perspective. I couldn’t call me mom or dad as I normally do for support. No, that’s not he support I needed this morning. I needed the support of another mom whose baby has been through this. I text a mom from 10-Strong. 10-Strong is a group of moms who have formed a bond on this 10th floor of OU Children’s oncology floor. She told me she would come visit with me today and she did. She was one of the best things that happened to me today. She validated the emotions and thoughts I have had over the past few weeks. She helped me feel normal again. I keep getting reminded through other moms and resources that I’m not the only mom going through all of this and I’m definitely not the first. Other moms before me have set up the programs and groups I need so I can focus on getting My’isha better. I have to be strong for her. I have to get used to the cancer lifestyle for a while. It is our strength that is going to get My’isha better…

March 27th, 2013 on the 10th floor of OU Children’s Hospital

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