Mommy's Time Out Magazine March 2018 | Page 15

Goodness! Where do I begin?

McKinley is thriving and doing awesome. She is now officially off all medicines even the prophylactic anabiotic she was taking on the weekends and truly loving life. We took our first family vacation out-of-state this month and took the kids to see snow. We are definitely not taking anything for granted and enjoying life to its fullest.

Now on to the gala and really exciting things. I truly can’t put into words what it means to have the support of so many amazing people with in the Lakewood Ranch community. Not just the members of this incredible group that have supported me and my family (and many other families) but also the generous community of donors, businesses, patrons. I get so emotional thinking about how blessed we have been and what an impact you (The LWRMG) have made on Love McKinley Inc. Putting together an event of this size with an auction and raffle of over 100 items is a huge undertaking. The “auction girls” that I worked side-by-side with and Lori Morgan who orchestrated it & organized it flawlessly was unbelievable. Love McKinley has walked away raising almost $18,000 because of the help of the Lakewood Ranch moms group and this amazing gala. We had a representative from Johns Hopkins all Children’s Hospital speak at the gala to explain a little more about what our moneys is going too. We truly are making a difference and I couldn’t be more proud.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for each and everyone of you supporting our family, my sweet girl McKinley, and our cause. It truly leaves me speechless.

xoxo,

Karen

McKinley is doing really great. She's loving school, LOVING dance & enjoying being off chemo meds. It really is amazing how much she's grown, how much she's developed & how much more personality she has since she's stopped chemo. All things are looking great which is wonderful news. We've been very busy with advocating & promoting childhood cancer awareness month & attending a lot of events. We did have one scare at this months appointment but all was confirmed negative with an ultrasound. Myself, a few other "cancer moms" & McKinleys oncologist were all concerned about a vein by where her port was placed especially since she had a clot in the past. But all was confirmed ok with a quick ultrasound (Thank God). I'm not sure I'll ever be able to take a deep breath but I do try too. We are praying for a Halloween at home this year (last year we spent 8 days in the hospital fighting a nasty virus over Halloween). And although the nurses & staff came by her hospital room to trick or treat, I'm actually looking forward to sweating & fighting bugs on Halloween night this year. It's the little things 😉 Thank You as always for keeping McKinley in your thoughts & prayers.

xoxox,

Karen

MCKINLEY'S CORNER