DIPG Kids - Sweet Valentina

VALENTINA BRAVIN

Age: 5
New York
Diagnosed on 7/21/11 at 4 1/2 yrs old.

Valentina Bravin's caring bridge site

This was taken from their most recent blog post about Valentina's health...

"Unfortunately, this most recent MRI report of 1/12 indicates disease progression as well as spreading into the cervical spinal cord and other local areas of the brain and auditory canal. Not at all what we expected to hear. Talk about being blindsided..."

"PROGRESSION" is a term that no parent wants to hear with regards to cancer. It means that the tumor is growing and usually growing rapidly. With DIPG... progression usually means there is nothing much more they can do for your child. The 'grasping at straws' portion of the journey. Whenever I hear of another child going through the different stages of the journey it really makes my heart stop. I can put myself in their shoes and can understand what they are going through at times, while other times, I can only imagine what lies ahead for Oliver.

Please keep Valentina and her family in your prayers. We ALL need something to hold us up and gift us strength to deal with so many things on a daily basis.

DIPG Kids - ANGEL Ashlyn

Ashlyn Breanna Poole

Forever 21
7/31/90 - 1/23/12

One of Ollie's original works of art!

Please continue to pray for the other children battling as well as the families that have recently lost their children. A sweet young woman that I've been following passed away on the 23rd. Ashlyn Poole was 21 years old, from Virginia and had a cat named, Oliver. Of course I felt an instant connection to her! Oliver even drew a picture of her cat for her on her birthday which is in July as well. Her mom said that she had it sitting up on her dresser so she could always see it. They ordered a Team Ollie t-shirt that she proudly wore to her check ups. She seemed like such a sweet and loving young woman. I would have liked to have met her and her family. Please pray for her family, her boyfriend and all that loved her. I know it is a devastating loss for them all.

Angel Caleb

Caleb Lanz
November 16, 2001 - September 24, 2011

I was horribly saddened to hear of Caleb's passing a few days ago. I've been following his journey from the beginning as he was diagnosed with DIPG a month after Oliver in January 2010. From seeing photos, reading his Caring Bridge site and chatting on facebook with his mom, he sounded an awful lot like Oliver. I'm sure they would have LOVED going fishing and four wheeling together! His family is in Canada and he has a little sister that is about a year younger than my daughter, Eden. I've been thinking quite a bit about her and how she's doing. It's so difficult to think about. I wish I could be there with Shelley and so many other moms that may feel as alone as I do many times to be a support and a shoulder to cry on. I hope she knows how much my heart aches for her and all the families, especially the mommas that have lost their babies to this disease. Please see his sweet face and continue to pray for his mom, dad and sister as well as friends and other loved ones that are adjusting to life without him. CONSTANTLY thinking of them with love...