Delainey – 4 – Leukemia

Delainey was diagnosed with B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) on November 21, 2011. This diagnosis came  3 weeks before her 3rd birthday. She had continuous ear infections for a month before. When diagnosed, she was categorized as high risk because her white blood cell count was extremely high. As a result of this, she would need to endure a longer treatment plan. Delainey has endured 13 months of  intensive chemotherapy treatments. The first month after her diagnosis, she was in the hospital 25 of 30 days because of a blood infection. She was hospitalized 2 other times in the first year due to blood infections. She spent her 3rd and 4th birthdays in the hospital but finally on December 28, 2012, Delainey entered the maintenance phase of her treatment. She will be in this phase for a total of 2 years. Throughout her treatments Delainey has not lost her amazing spirit or infectious personality. Whether in the clinic or hospital, she loves to go and visit the other kids and enjoys playing with them. Delainey is always full of big hugs and smiles, she also never meets a stranger! Please pray for sweet Delainey and her family as they go through this journey.

Here are photos from our Journeys of Hope session. I hope these photos will help you put faces to your prayers for this family.

As always, feel free to leave comments on here, the family can see them! Leave some words of hope and encouragement for them to enjoy!

To learn more about Journeys of Hope Tulsa contact Katie Cariker at katiecariker@yahoo.com

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Advertisements

CureSearch Walk & Team T-shirts

Direct link to register for the Tulsa CureSearch Walk with Journeys of Hope:

 http://www.curesearchwalk.org/faf/search/searchTeamPart.asp?ievent=1047063&lis=1&kntae1047063=D5FC4AF22AF3405F86F4510F8E1EC4C8&team=5489609&tlteam=0

Update

First and foremost, JJ is doing great and is recovering from the surgery. He has a follow up appointment on the 16th &

will have his port put back in shortly after that to start doing chemo again. He only had to lose one organ, a single kidney &

God is working in his life : ) Continue to pray for JJ and his family as they keep walking on this long road to healing.

Follow JJ’s journey on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/277762529009613/?fref=ts

I’m happy to announce that Journeys of Hope is getting out there! I am so thankful for everyone who is passing the word on to families and other organizations.

1st on the list: the upcoming CureSearch walk for childhood cancers…

Some of you guys have been asking how you can help…I’ve got a great opportunity for you to join in on something great! CureSearch is an organization that funds research for childhood cancers…CureSearch walk is September 28th, 2013…NOW I know that’s awhile from now BUT I wanted to let you all know!

Adults/$10 & 15 and under are FREE!!! YES FREE! This is a very family oriented event so bring out the kids and we can all enjoy the event together!

There will be lots of activities and games along with prizes for the kiddos!

Simply go to this link and click “join our team!” As always, if you have questions please contact me: Katie Cariker- katiecariker@yahoo.com

http://www.curesearchwalk.org/faf/search/searchTeamPart.asp?ievent=1047063&lis=1&kntae1047063=D5FC4AF22AF3405F86F4510F8E1EC4C8&team=5489609&tlteam=0

I will be dong a t-shirt pre-sale and I will post the photo of what the shirt will look like on here in a few days…they are $10 and proceeds will be donated to CureSearch

2nd on the list: amazing organizations I want to mention that I’ve come in contact with so far!

Emmy’s Heart (Oklahoma Chapter): FOX 23 news segment about Emmy’s Heart Oklahoma featuring 3 year old Delainey- http://www.fox23.com/news/local/story/Emmys-Heart-Tutus-capes-for-children-battling/XhWMDxfmxkutla5TKqXE7w.cspx Visit the facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/EmmysHeartOklahoma

Happy to volunteer my services to Make-A-Wish Oklahoma chapter. Visit them on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/makeawishoklahoma

Visit them on the web at: http://www.randomactsofpurpose.com or on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/randomactsofpurpose

Despite what some may think about “PINK” this organization actually helps women, men & children!!!!

There are many different “chapters” of Turn Tulsa Pink (ie. Jenks, Bixby, Sperry…)

find them online at: http://www.turntulsapink.org or on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/PinkTulsa

Lastly, Families Fighting Childhood Cancer, a part of Oklahoma Family Network (http://www.oklahomafamilynetwork.org) & find Families Fighting Childhood Cancer on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/familiesfightingchildhoodcancer

3rd thing to tell you all about: some of you have been asking how you can get bracelets for Holly (https://www.facebook.com/Fighting4Holly), JJ & Delainey….

Holly’s bracelets are $3/1 or $5/2 & the bracelets for Dealainey and JJ are $3/1

If you’d like a bracelet contact me at katiecariker@yahoo.com and I will get you in touch with the right person to purchase them : )

JJ – 19 months – Neuroblastoma

Hello everyone, I’d like you to meet JJ.

JJ was 14 months old when he was diagnosed with stage 4 Neuroblastoma after being taken to the doctor for a rash. On September 26, 2012, he had a biopsy done on the tumor, which confirmed the diagnosis. When the tumor was biopsied it released adrenaline which in turn spiked JJ’s blood pressure up to 214/118 and put him in the PICU for 8 days. To this day he still takes 4 blood pressure medications daily. JJ was in the hospital for a total of 18 days that first time. Since then, he has had 7 rounds of chemo that last anywhere from 3-5 days & has one more to go. He will receive that 8th round of chemo after the major surgery coming up next week on March 14th to remove the tumor as well as his Spleen, left Kidney and a portion of his large intestine. Throughout his treatment he has been hospitalized 9 times but he always remains in good spirits. He started walking after his 3rd round of chemo, the doctors think it’s because the tumor shrunk some and he could finally balance enough to be able to walk. JJ is always happy and always learning new things despite his situation.

“He has had so many prayers from people around the world it never ceases to amaze me how God has touched our lives with this little boy and touched so many other people’s lives since he was diagnosed. We believe that through God and our prayers that our JJ has a purpose here in this world. We believe he will remain strong and beat a cancer that only gives him a 30% chance of surviving, because for us JJ is a little superhero!” -JJ’s mom, Heather.

Please pray for JJ and his family. The surgery he will undergo next Thursday, March 14th, will be a 10-15 hour surgery & DOCTORS say there is only about a 20% chance he will survive the surgery. BUT we serve a big, mighty God who is a God of miracles. Stand in faith with us! Pray that God will guide the surgeons’ hands during the surgery and that JJ’s body will be strong and handle it well. Please pray for peace for the family and safe travel to OKC for the surgery. JJ will be admitted to the hospital Wednesday and the surgery will take place first thing Thursday morning. Let’s spread the word and get tons of prayers for JJ and his family.

Here is a Tulsa World article written about JJ:

http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=732&articleid=20130223_11_A13_CUTLIN54603

To follow JJ’s journey stay tuned on Journeys of Hope and follow his Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fighting-for-Jj/180614795408610?ref=ts&fref=ts

Here are photos from our Journeys of Hope session today. I hope these photos will help you put faces to your prayers for this family.

I had the opportunity to pray with the family before they left and JJ even gave me a hug and a kiss, he is oh so precious. Thank you for all of your prayers I know Heather and John appreciate it! I will try my best to keep everyone updated. Be blessed.

PS- Feel free to leave comments on here, the family can see them! Leave some words of hope and encouragement for them!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Hannah – 11 – Mitochondrial Disease not otherwise specified

Hope you all are having a blessed day! I want you all to meet Hannah!

Beautiful Hannah is an eleven year old who has a heart to become a missionary and world changer. She is determined to prove to the world that no matter the odds stacked against you, you can do anything. Those odds do NOT have to determine your future. Her spunky personality was challenged at a very young age when it was clear that she had some very serious health issues that put stress on most of her organ systems. It is thought that her condition is related to a genetic condition called a mitochondrial disease but, one thing that is clearly NOT in her DNA is quitting! When Hannah was six she had a feeding tube placed to help support her metabolic needs. Currently, and for the last five years, Hannah has carried a special backpack (or been attached to an i.v. pole) that holds a special pump and tubing that run directly into her stomach. The pump forces the necessary nutrients through special tubing and a valve that is implanted in her stomach. During the time when she was the most ill, she endured 25 hospitalizations in a two and a half year time frame, was sometimes sleeping 20 hours a day, and was on 32 medications. Because of the complexity of her health challenges, the family needs to travel to see her specialists in New York, Cleveland Clinic and the New Orleans area. With many prayers, the excellent care from her specialty teams and God’s miraculous healing in her life Hannah is doing better. She is currently on a minimal amount of medication and is enjoying the opportunity to attend school and make new friends. It is also no surprise that she planning her first mission trip.

I hope that Hannah’s story can be a source of hope and encouragement to you and your families current struggle(s). Prayer is so powerful! Let’s continue to lift Hannah and her family up in prayer that she may continue to thrive and be the healthy, vibrant eleven year old God intended her to be!

To follow Hannah’s journey visit her CaringBridge at: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/hannahjordan

Here are some photos from Hannah’s Journeys of Hope session. Be blessed!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Holly – 15 – Leukemia

Everyone, meet Holly!

Holly is a vibrant 15 year old and was diagnosed with T-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in June of 2012. She will receive 2-2.5 years of treatment. After a long road, Holly is now on the maintenance phase of her treatment!! Holly has a very special story, she went into remission 8 days after being diagnosed. Holly has been showered in prayers since everything started. Please keep Holly and her family in your prayers as she finishes strong!!! If you’d like to follow Holly on her journey you can visit her CaringBridge site, http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/hollybenningfield

Here are some photos from our session, enjoy!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Journeys of Hope’s misson

Hello to all new Journeys of Hope followers!

I started Journeys of Hope because I saw a need. Many times families who have ill children are overwhelmed financially with medical bills and do not have the means to have portraits done of their child and their family. My heart was hurting and continued to hurt. God wouldn’t let it leave my heart and mind. I often think, “But how can I? I am just twenty-two years old” and every time I let that thought enter my mind I remember 1 Timothy 4:12 which says, “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example…” I believe that God has placed this on my heart for a purpose; to bless others. We are blessed to be a blessing! Listening to what God wants us to do, despite our reluctancy and doubts-that is the best path we can take and he will always be faithful. Thank you to all my friends and family who have encouraged me to step out in faith and do this. I know I am taking on more than a full load including school but I know God will help me accomplish everything he has called me to do!

————————————————————————————————————————————–

The scripture for Journeys of Hope comes from Hebrews 6:18-19 which says,

“…we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us. This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both secure and steadfast…”

Journeys of Hope is a part of Katie Cariker Photography & Design. Journeys of Hope seeks to bless families who have children battling life threatening illnesses with beautiful portraits. The service is offered in Tulsa and its surrounding areas. Journeys of Hope seeks to bless these families not only with the lasting memories of portraits but with prayer as well as raising awareness of the illness at hand.

Please help this become successful in blessing families across the area by spreading the word. Contact me at katiecariker@yahoo.com or at 918.406.5543