CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS POSTAGE STAMP
There is no doubt that this theme fits the criteria of "widespread national appeal and significance" as: 1) CHILDHOOD CANCER IS THE NUMBER ONE KILLER OF OUR NATION'S most precious resource: our CHILDREN; 2) Childhood Cancer results in 30x more pediatric deaths than Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) in the United States; 3) Childhood Cancer kills more children in the United States than AIDS, asthma, diabetes and cystic fibrosis COMBINED; 4) APPROXIMATELY 12,400 AMERICAN CHILDREN WILL BE DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER THIS YEAR. This works out to 1.4 children per hour and almost 34 children per day!; 5) One out of every 330 American children will carry the diagnosis of cancer by the age of 20, and 6) Approximately 2,300 American children lose their battle to cancer every year.
Although these statistics are stunning, they do not reveal the enormous impact of Childhood Cancer. The diagnosis of a child's cancer devastates the entire family. Marriages have been torn apart under the inordinate stress of a child's life-threatening disease. The unending angst wears on every part physically, intellectually and psychologically. The financial implications cannot be overlooked. Frequently one or both parents must take leave from their jobs. In some cases, they find that they are completely unable to work because of the amount of care their child needs. (Note: some children's protocols require 2-3 years of chemotherapy). The awesome news that more than 2/3 of children diagnosed with cancer will survive their disease also fails to tell the entire story. The current treatment which saves our children's lives exacts a lifelong price. These late effects may include a wide range of problems such as heart failure, pulmonary abnormalities, infertility, cataracts, hearing impairment, growth hormone deficiencies and neurocognitive deficits. Tragically, the treatment puts these children at a higher risk for other cancers later in life. The increasing survival rates will bring increasing challenges for our families, education system, medical system and workforce.
Recently, we learned that childhood cancer was again not chosen for a commemorative (1st class) stamp for 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 or 2007. We are continuing with our request for a semipostal (fundraising) stamp for childhood cancer. This, too, has been an ongoing effort, but now we are taking the gloves off and asking that it be legislatively mandated.
In August 2001 there was a submission to the U.S.P.S. of an RFP for a semipostal for childhood cancer. USPS was given the authority to issue semipostals after the first legislatively mandated stamp, the breast cancer stamp, which has raised over $25 million for breast cancer research.
It is unfortunate, but apparently clear, that the USPS has no intention in the near future to issue a commemorative stamp for childhood cancer, even though thousands of letters were written from families across the country in support of this stamp. Part of the criteria in issuing a commemorative, first-class stamp is to be nationally significant and benefit human welfare.
I AM A SINGLE MOTHER OF A TWO-TIME CHILDHOOD CANCER SURVIVOR, BAILEY McMANUS (born 4/29/96), AND MEGAN McMANUS (borth 11/14/94).
BAILEY WAS FIRST DIAGNOSED AT AGE 5, TWO MONTHS BEFORE HER 6TH BIRTHDAY, WITH VERY HIGH RISK, VERY RARE PHILADELPHIA-POSITIVE CHROMOSOME ACUTE LYMPHOBLASTIC LEUKEMIA (1/1,000,000). SHE WAS ONLY GIVEN A 30% CHANCE OF SURVIVAL.
AFTER 2-1/2 EXHAUSTING YEARS OF CHEMOTHERAPY, SHE GOT A BREAK. SHE WAS HEALTHY AND HAD ROUTINE FOLLOWUPS FOR THE FOLLOWING TWO YEARS. UNFORTUNATELY, BECAUSE OF THE AGGRESSIVE NATURE OF HER CANCER, BAILEY RELAPSED ON 3/13/07 (FIVE YEARS AND ONE WEEK AFTER CYTOGENIC/MORPHOLOGIC REMISSION), EVEN THOUGH SHE STILL HAD TO UNDERGO THE HORRENDOUS/EXHAUSTING CHEMOTHERAPY TREATMENTS FOR THE 2-1/2 YEARS).
SHE HAD A DOUBLE CORD BLOOD TRANSPLANT ON JUNE 14, 2007 AT CITY OF HOPE IN DUARTE, CA. FORTUNATELY, THE TRANSPLANT WAS SUCCESSFUL, BUT THE RECOVERY FROM TRANSPLANT WAS VERY LONG, DIFFICULT AND PAINFUL FOR HER. EVEN THOUGH SHE NEVER GAVE UP, HER BODY WAS TOO WEAK TO GO ON AND SHE PASSED AWAY ON APRIL 11, 2008, A COUPLE WEEKS SHY OF HER 12TH BIRTHDAY. MY BRAVE SOLDIER LOST HER BATTLE, AS SO MANY INCREDIBLY BRAVE, COURAGEOUS, INCREDIBLY STRONG-WILLED CHILDREN DO. SHE BATTLED VERY HIGH RISK, VERY RARE CANCER TWICE (ONE IN A MILLION CANCER) -- BUT LOST. SHE HAS HAD NUMEROUS BACTERIAL INFECTIONS (INCLUDING MRSA), 11 CENTRAL LINES, A PUNCTURED LUNG, PANCREATITIS, ASPERGILLOUS, TRALI (TRANSFUSION RELATED ACUTE LUNG INJURY -- A ONE IN A BILLION CHANCE), AND PASSED WAY FROM BRONCHIOLITIS OBLITERANS, PULMONARY HYPERTENSION, KIDNEY FAILURE AND LIVER FAILURE, ALL SECONDARY EFFECTS OF THE TRANSPLANT, AND THE YEARS PRIOR OF CHEMO/RADIATION. BECAUSE OF THE DEVASTATING EFFECTS OF WHAT BAILEY HAD TO GO THROUGH, I PERSONALLY LOST MY MARRIAGE OF 12 YEARS, AS WELL AS MY FAMILY HOME, MY INVESTMENT PROPERTY (FOR MY GIRLS) AND RECENTLY FILED BANKRUPTCY. I AM ALSO NOW COLLECTING WELFARE. NO CHILD SHOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS! NO FAMILY SHOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS! THIS HAS TO STOP! FUNDS FOR RESEARCH ARE NEEDED. STAMPS WILL RAISE THE NECESSARY MONEY FOR RESEARCH.
PLEASE APPROVE THE COMMERORATION OF A CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS SEMIPOSTAL POSTAGE STAMP IMMEDIATELY. I DON'T THINK YOU REALIZE HOW MANY PEOPLE IN THIS WORLD THIS AFFECTS. I CAN ONLY SPEAK FOR MYSELF ... RESEARCH NEEDS TO BE DONE TO CURE THESE HORRENDOUS CANCERS AND SAVE ALL HELPLESS CHILDREN FROM BEING VICTIMS AND TARGETS OF SOMETHING THAT CAN BE CURED WITH NECESSARY FUNDS.
Thank you for your time and consideration,
Erica McManus (and thousands of supporters)
GOD BLESS THESE CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILES WITH THIS HORRIBLE BEAST THEY CALL CANCER.
I am involved with kids with several types of cancer through Caringbridge pages and am a members of C.O.L.E PRAYER TEAM. I mail the kids stickers, presents, books etc and it would be my priviledge and theirs if I could use the Childhood Cancer postal stamps on these mailings. I have approximately 40 kids I check on everyday and mail items to every couple months.
I have prayed for several of these families on the Care Pages. It is very hard watching children suffer with any disease.
To help the children and their families. We need to try to do more research and put an end to the suffering for these children that are getting cancer at such a young age.
My son is a cancer survivor of 3+ years. No family deserves to go through such trials. It is unbearable as a parent to watch your child and know that you can do nothing to fix it.
My vibrant son was diagnosed with Leukemia just days after his third birthday last year. He has been one courage little boy and is fighter a battle that many will never know. Sadly, funding for childhood cancer is very low. A childhood cancer stamp would be a great way to raise money for research and get the word out about childhood cancer Praying for a cure, Nicole Kicklighter www.caringbridge.org/visit/gagekicklighter
CureSearch is a great organization that is dedicated to all childhood cancer research
HAS YOUR CHILD (OR A CHILD THAT YOU PERSONALLY KNOW, A RELATIVE OR ONE IN YOUR COMMUNITY, ) HAD (OR DO THEY CURRENTLY HAVE) CANCER? WHAT KIND OF
WHY IS SIGNING THIS PETITION IMPORTANT TO YOU? WHERE DO YOU RECOMMEND THAT MONEY RAISED FROM THE STAMP BE DIRECTED?
My daughter was diagnosed with Wilm's Tumor when she was 9 months old. After losing her right kidney and going through chemo, my beautiful little girl is in remission and getting ready to celebrate her 2nd birthday. Her treatment options were limited to adult chemotherapy drugs because drugs tested and developed for infants / children are not common. More study and research needs done to continually make advancements for treating our children. They shouldn't take a back seat to statistics. Just because there are fewer cases of cancers in children doesn't mean our children deserve fewer options.
I recommend that the funds help support CureSearch, The National Childhood Cancer Foundation.
No
No one should have to be diagnosed with cancer, especially children. A cure is important!
I know several people with different cancers and want to be an advocate for all kinds of research for curing all the horrific cancers and they way they affect families and loved ones. My thought is for childhood cancers and drugs that would help cure as well as a rare pulmonary cancer my brother died from.
yes, osteosarcoma
need fda approvals, research and pharmaceitical co. freedom to act for cures..........
My 10 year old granddaughter, Taylor, died in 2004 because of a malignant brain tumor, glioblastoma multiforme. I miss her everyday. I grieve for my daughter every day. Taylor was mouthy and funny and smart. She told her mom after I had visited one day, "I love grandma. She's funny. She's short, funny, and annoying!" Oh my God! I miss her.
This stamp is important to me because it raises awareness of childhood cancer. People may talk about this monster of diseases. It may start good conversations about how to help a child and family stricken by any one of a myriad of illnesses and problems. Thanks for listening. jl.
The daughter/grandaughter of dear friends was diagnosed as DIPG at age 2. She has responded to current treatment but more funds are needed for research immediately to find cures so we can enjoy her and others can enjoy their children for a long time to come!
Caner is a terible force. It is awful for adults but disaster for a child and the child's parents. A dear friend has a child with inoperable cancer. We must work to find cures for all childhood cancer.
My granddaughter has been diagnosed with DIPG when she was 2 years old. It is an inoperable brain tumor. It is very painful to think of my beautiful, smart, vibrant granddaughter not surviving. It is incredible that there are so many children that die from cancer, yet there is not enough focused research on childhood cancer.
I hope this petition will lead to more investment in finding a cure for Diffuse Intrinsic Pontime Glioma (DIPG). We hope our granddaughter will be the recepient of such cure and live to see her own grandchildren.
My granddaughter, Alexis, was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor called a DIPG at the age of 26 months. She had radiation with a drug initially and is now in a clinical trial for another drug after the tumor showed signs of growing. The drug seems to be keeping her stable, however, we do not know how long she will respond to it.
This petition is important to me because there needs to be more research into developing new treatments to help Alexis and other children battling childhood cancer. I would like the money donated to go for funding research for DIPG because the prognosis is so poor for children with this type of cancer and an understanding of DIPG may lead to cure of all childhood cancers.
My daughter Alexis was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor on April 11, 2008, at the age of 2. The typical life expectancy following her diagnosis is 9 to 18 months.
This petition is crucial to help raise awareness about children's cancer. Money raised should go to pediatric cancer research, which is SEVERELY underfunded. Only a minisculefraction of the money spent on adult cancers, including prostate and breast cancer, are dedicated to pediatric cancer. Help fight for our children!
My son Jake was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2006 just one day after his 6th birthday. Jake battled this deadly disease but went to be our Hero in Heaven on February 13, 2008. We have honored Jake's memory by starting a foundation. Smiles for Jake Foundation (www.smilesforjake.org) was started because of one little boy's wish to help kids battling cancer.
This petition is important to me because my son fought for his life and he never once complained. He spent his remaining time here on earth raising money to help find a cure for brain cancer so that children could live to celebrate another birthday. There is so much awareness for breast cancer but there is not enough awareness for Pediatric Cancer and we as parents to these brave children must come together and be their voice! Be their advocates to make everyone aware that kids are fighting for their lives and we must do all we can to help their voices be heard!
My daughter has been battling Osteosarcoma for almost 3 years.
My son is currently being treated for neuroblastoma. I am tired of everything always being about breast cancer and always looking for a way to advocate the gold ribbon! Now i can tell everyone to sign.
My neighbor's son, who is 13, had brain cancer and has thus far survived and now his sister who is 19 has leukemia. It is even more devastating to have 2 members of a family with childhood cancer.
Austin Adams was a boy in our community who changed everyones lives. He had an inopperatable abdominal tumor. He fought cancer for almost four years, he was only nine years old. He taught us to fight and live every single day to the fullest. I love and miss you Austin. Fly High Austin.
I am tired of hearing about children dying from something so monstrous that kids shouldnt have to even think about much less live with. I want this money to go purely to research because only with that can we have a cure.
Neuroblastoma took the life of my four year old cousin. A beautiful little girl full of love, life and spirit. Without knowing it, she taught all of us how to be courageous and brave even though we will never have to fight a fight like she did. Maggie will live on forever in all of us and we will NEVER FORGET HER!!
There should be a stamp in recognition of childhood cancer already in the making. There needs to be more awareness raised for such a horrible and senseless disease.
My signature is for my sweet angel baby, Maggie Achuff. She went to heaven August 7, 2008, after fighting neuroblastoma for almost two and a half years. She was four and a half. Please sign this petition so that no other precious children have to fight as hard as Maggie did.
Because no child or family should ever have to bear this dreadful and heart wrenching disease. A child should always have their childhood; no strings attached.
My 15 year old son, Timothy Lynn, died on Easter Sunday of this year after a 9 month battle with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia.
In memory of Austin and Jake.
Yes, my niece's little boy, Christian, had leukemia but is now in remission. Thank God.
Far too many children get cancer. We need to do more research.
My son, Logan, died of a glioblastoma lodged in his spinal cord in 2003 at the age of 20. He had to live knowing that his cancer was a death sentence. He was a remarkable young man and it was excruciating having to watch him die slowly. No child should have to endure this horror.
Cancer is a dirge on our families and takes our children from us leaving a wound that never heals. Any money should go to cancer research to keep other families from experiencing the worst of the worst.
My daughter was diagnosed at the age of 2yrs old with rhabdomyosarcoma. She lost her right leg to it as well as part of her bowel and intestine and her appendix. She relapsed 2 more times since the original diagnosis in 1994.
I would buy the childhood cancer awareness stamp before I would buy any other stamps to show everyone I support my daughter and her fight against childhood cancer and her bravery to raise money through fundraisers to support reasearch for a cure!
my daughter lost her battle with ewings sarcome feb 8 2005 at the age of 18 she was diagnosed at the age of 12 no child should have to spend their teenage years fighting for their life
we must do more reasearch on childhood cancer no parents should hear the words there is nothing else we can do there has not been the reasearch so your child is going to die
Devastating and immeasurable suffering for patient and patient's family and friends.
Funding for research is extremely important "to ensure the safety & well-being of the FUTURE of children diagnosed with cancer"! The stamp should be similar to the "Breast Cancer Stamp" which has raised millions of dollars for breast cancer research!
In December of 2006 our happy, healthy, 17 year old son was diagnosed with AML (Acute Myloed Leukemia). Since then he has gone thru numerous chemo treatments, long hospital stays, a bone marrow transplant in May of 2007 (which was successful for 1-1/2yrs) however, he suffered a re-lapse in Oct. of 2008. He is currently in remission and living his life to the fullest but we really do not know how long it will be before the cancer comes back.
Please, please sign this petition....not only do they need to find a cure for childhood cancers but they really need to find better treatments. The chemos and all the other drugs they give to these kids are so toxic and it is so scary to have this stuff being pumped into your childs body!
I am a childhood cancer survivor. I was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma when I was nine months old. I am now 25 years old, and work with families of pediatric oncology patients. Childhood cancer awareness is very important to me.
I propse that the money is sent to specific research facilities/hospitals (i.e. Children's Hospital of Philadelphia). ...plases we KNOW will use the money for research. If it is sent to a general organization such as the American Cancer Society, they can not guarentee that the money will be used specifically for CHILDHOOD cancer research. Thank you.
I am a bladder cancer survivor.
Understanding the way cancer works would also provide answers to many other medical questions. All of the research is related. I would like the funds to provide access to all the knowledge we have gained, are gaining and will gain so that lack of knowledge does not contribute to another life lost to this disease.
My wife is signature # 22082 below, and she couldn't have said it better. In addition to our son, we follow dozens of others via Caring Bridge and other websites, and it's heartbreaking to read their stories. Where are the resources to battle childhood cancer?
