Samantha's event results!
Despite the torrential rain and the near swimming pool inside the Butterfield Pavilion, you all turned out in droves! With your help we were able to raise $31,683.15 for Samantha and her family! Thank you, thank you for doing ANYTHING FOR A FRIEND!
Samantha Milbourn
Bobby and Angie Snow Milbourn, have three children. Their oldest child, Samantha, an active, spunky, 7 year old French immersion student, started experiencing upper back pain around Christmas time, 2010. Her pains worsened over the weeks following. Bobby and Angie sought answers from their chiropractor, and pediatrician. Both doctors couldn’t determine what was causing the pain. As time passed Samantha began feeling numbness and tingling in her legs and feet. When she began having trouble walking they knew something was seriously wrong.
A trip to Primary Children’s Hospital revealed the source of the problem. Samantha was diagnosed with Ewing's Sarcoma, a malignant bone tumor on March 7, 2011. The cancer originated in her T5 vertebrae. The tumor, the size of a man’s fist, crushed the vertebrae, wrapped itself around the spinal column and protrudes in to her chest cavity, pushing on the lungs. The day after her diagnosis, surgeons removed the portion of the tumor wrapped around the spinal column. This surgery relieved Samantha of the intense pain she had been experiencing and restored the feeling to her legs and feet, but left her unable to sit up (the tumor had been providing support to her spine in the absence of the vertebrae). A week later Samantha underwent another back surgery; rods and screws were placed between the T3 through T7 vertebrae to provide structure and stability. Initial tests and scans showed that the cancer has not spread to her organs or other bones.
Samantha is receiving intensive inpatient chemotherapy to rid her body of the remainder of the tumor. Fourteen rounds of chemotherapy are planned (she is currently on round 4), as well as 5-6 weeks of radiation treatments. Doctors anticipate these treatments will take place over the next year. Additional back surgeries will be required to adjust the support structures in her back as she grows.
Samantha and her family really need your help! Please join us by doing 'Anything for a Friend'!
Chelsie Hill Memorial 5K
Samantha has been selected as the recipient of the Chelsie Hill Memorial 5K on September 10th @ Hunter High School. Please check out the following link for details and registration:
http://www.chelsiehill5k.com/
About the Event
Date: Saturday, August 20, 2011
Time: 5:30-8:30pm
Activities:
•Dinner with Texas Roadhouse •Silent/Live Auction •Kid’s Corner •Bake sale/Boutique •Entertainment-Featuring Big Buddha from Channel 13Location:
Rosecrest Pavilion W&M Butterfield Park 14200 S. 6212 W., Herriman, UtahOrganizing Committee Meeting
An organizing committee meeting with be held for Samantha's event on Thursday the 4th of August at 7 pm at 8516 Shulsen Lane in West Jordan (Debbie Hone's home). The best way to get there is to take the 90th south exit off I-15 and head west to Redwood Road (1700 W.). Turn right on to Redwood Road. Take a left at 8660 S/Gardner Lane (west side of Redwood road - street just north of Bland's Nursery). The first right is Shulsen Lane. The house is set back off of the street on the left (west) side. See you all there!
If you are interested in volunteering, please click on the following link:
http://www.signupgenius.com/go/samantha1
* Samantha connecting with Cyndi Tangren at her Anything for a Friend event on the 11th of June.
Paying it Forward
"With the March 7th diagnosis of Samantha’s cancer our lives have been forever changed. We have grown in unspeakable ways. Our hearts are more charitable, our faith stronger and a whole new world has been opened to us. Our challenges have made us more aware of the challenges others are going through, and given us an instant bond with others in similar situations. As a result of Samantha’s diagnosis our back door neighbors and friends (who were at the hospital as soon as they heard about Samantha) decided to act upon a compelling feeling to get a growth on their infant son’s back checked out. Indeed the growth was diagnosed as leukemia. This news was truly devastating. Our hearts are drawn to them; we have become Primary Children’s Hospital pals and have shared some special spiritual experiences. As we work through our own situation we wish there was something we could do for them to alleviate their burden. While we lack the financial resources to help, the fact that we can “speak the same language” has been a tremendous comfort to both of us.
At this point in time we are so consumed with Samantha’s care and trying to spend as much quality time with the boys when we can, it is difficult to see how we can “pay it forward” in the short term. However, we know a way will be provided for us to reach out and bless the lives of others as we have been blessed. We have a heartfelt desire to assist others who have also been affected by a heartrending diagnosis. The Anything for a Friend event concept is a fantastic organized way to contribute and we look forward to participating in future events.
Samantha has also been blessed with a desire to help others. We have discussed with her how she can help others; she is interested in making pillow cases and hooded towels for other patients at Primary Children’s Hospital. Given her outgoing personality and strong will, we see advocating for childhood cancer causes in her future."
Sincerely, Bobby and Angie Milbourn (Samantha's Parents)
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