"Give it Up to find a cure"

A few weeks ago, I was reminded of the campaign from last February by   Kayla PerryThis is how she tells about her journey...She  was diagnosed with high-risk stage IV neuroblastoma. Neuroblastoma is a pediatric cancer that typically presents itself in very young children and infants, so from the very beginning of her diagnosis, her doctors knew she had a rare case. She received the standard protocol of therapy for her disease – weeks of inpatient chemotherapy, radiation, a bone marrow transplant, and immunotherapy – along with several other treatments along the way. The entire process took about fifteen months.Two weeks after her last treatment ended, she got a call from my doctor who told her and her  parents  that the cancer had grown, even though she had received all the therapy she was supposed to receive. He explained that the chances of her ever being cured are very low, and the  goal changed from curing the disease to maintaining the disease. Researchers know very little about neuroblastoma.  Pediatric cancer research receives so little funding, so it is very hard for anyone to learn more about it.Since then, she has divided her time between enjoying time with the people she  loves, studying for classes, taking care of her health, and raising money for pediatric cancer research. She just started her sophomore year at Auburn University, and she has dreams bigger than ever before! she  wants to see this terrible disease eradicated in her lifetime. She will do anything to end childhood cancer. What will you do?She has created a foundation called Open Hands overflowing hearts to help reach her goal.Last year she started a new campaign called Give it up This is from her blog.......Kayla has challenged OHOH friends and family to #giveitup during the month of February. Do you spend money on things like Starbucks or sodas at lunch? What about valet parking or manicures? Would you consider giving those things up for the month and donating the money you would have spent to help find a cure? We have 27 days to #giveitup and help#endchildhoodcancer. Kayla and her friends NEED a cure! Please join us as we #giveitup this month.In thinking about what to give up to help, I decided to do a painting each week and post it, take the highest bid, and give the proceeds to GIVE IT UP, in her honor.The first week, I put this wood canvas angel up...It sold and was delivered last week with the proceeds going to the campaign.This week, I put this distressed wood angel up for bid. She went for $200! YAY!!  I named her Amazing Grace and delivered her today.We have two more weeks in February so two more paintings will be listed soon. Kayla is literally fighting for her life right now. After brain surgery in January to remove a tumor, the same symptoms have returned and they have found out, the tumor has returned, bigger and more aggressive than before. I urge you to look up her page. Read about Kayla and her fight. She is making a huge difference in the fight to find a cure. Please remember her in your prayers.Linked with Sunday Sketches today.Have a great new week and Happy Valentines!!Love,Jane