A Way to Remember

All of you know that I lost my mom in January of 2006 to pancreatic cancer. This was by far the hardest thing I have ever had to go through. My mom faught a hard fight but in the end, she was fighting an uphill battle.

Here are some frightening facts about pancreatic cancer:

• Pancreatic cancer is the most fatal form of cancer. There is only a 3 to 5 % survival rate once the cancer is diagnosed.
• The number of Americans diagnosed each year with pancreatic cancer continues to rise due to poor early detection methods and a lack of treatments. Approximately 40,000 Americans will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer this year.
• Estimated new cases and deaths from pancreatic cancer in the United States in 2008: 37,680 new cases 34,290 deaths
• The allocation of funds for research in the area of pancreatic cancer from the National Institutes of Health and the National Cancer Institute is less than 1% of their total budgets. LESS THAN ONE PERCENT!

Why am I educating you all about this? Well, for obvious reasons this matter is close to my heart. There has got to be a way to change things so that other families don't have to suffer the loss of someone they love. I have frequently looked on the pancan wesite for events in Arizona and there just aren't any. I have considered starting an event but having 2 kids has sort of taken up the majority of my time:)

Well, my cousin Emily has started a nonprofit organization to raise money towards the fight of pancreatic cancer and continuing the research that is so desperately needed. This year Emily and her team will be going to Kona, Hawaii to participate in an Ironman Triathalon. All the money raised will go directly toward pancan (the pancreatic cancer foundation).

In 2008, 11 grants were awarded by PANCAN, totaling $1,045,000 in funding. This year's research portfolio includes one Fellowship, six Career Development Awards, and four Pilot Grants. Collectively, these grants support junior and senior scientists and provide funding for research in diverse fields of inquiry, including: the origin and causes of pancreatic cancer; the biology of the disease, including underlying physiological and biochemical processes; discoveries in detection, staging and diagnosis; and novel therapeutic strategies.

Since introducing the Research Grants Program in 2003, the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network has provided over $3.7 million in funding for research. This includes six Fellowship/Young Investigator Awards, 23 Career Development Awards, and nine Pilot Grants.

Any donation you make is entirely tax deductible and 100% goes towards supporting Sally's grant. We (m:motion) take no money to support our organization and PANCAN takes no money for their services either.

If you feel so moved, please consider donating to the cause in honor of my mom, Sally Loughrige. If one person can be saved through this than it's all worth it. Go to Emily's website at: www.pancan.org/mmotion.

Thank you for your thoughts, parayers and support. I love you all.

Sally Anne Loughrige

August 10,1947-January 2,2006

Someone to watch over me

I love my daddy and my daddy loves me. I will always look up to him. He will always be my hero. He is just an awesome guy!

Girl of many talents

Samatha can do it all...be a foofoo ballerina princess or a ruff and rugged gardener! It's good to be multitalented:)


I got this awesome tutu and wand at my cousin's birthday party.


I planted peas and tomatoes with daddy, it was fun!

Beaming

Cole is now 7 weeks! Time is flying by. His little smiles bring such sheer joy to our day! Samantha loves to talk to him. When he's on his tummy she cheers him on saying, "You can do it Cole" and then gets so excited when he picks his head up. She says, "Look mommy he's doing it!!!" It is so precious to watch her with him. Today she colored him and picture and took it to his room:) As a mom these are the moments I will always remember.
We love you big boy!

Sour Face

Last night Peter was putting lemons in our iced tea and Samantha said, "Daddy I want a lemon please." So Peter gave her a slice of lemon jut to see what would happen (eating lemons-not a daily habit in our house!)
Here is the result...at first she was happy with her decision to try something new. Little licks here and there. Then she must have actually tasted it! I yelled, get the camera quick!!! Here is the result...