"Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living expression of God's kindness; kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile, kindness in your warm greeting."
Mother Teresa
Cancer stripped her of everything including her life but it could not steal away God's LOVE, PEACE and the JOY that radiated through her. Korrine never stopped SMILING!
Korrine Lannie Croghan
Korrine Croghan was a vivacious 14-year-old girl who lived all of her life in Livermore, CA. She had a love for animals, sports, and most of all, family. Korrine was a straight “A” student while attending Mendenhall Middle School and was working hard in her first trimester at Granada High. She was a great friend to many and was everything that a brother, mother and father could ask for in a daughter. Korrine was the type of girl who would greet you with a wide smile and look into your eyes and truly would want to know how you were doing
Korrine & Cancer
On December 20th, 2007, Korrine was diagnosed with Choriocarcinoma with a germ cell element. Choriocarcinoma is a very rare type of cancer in teenage girls and inflicts less than 200 nationwide each year. Although the cancer started in her left ovary, the cancer had spread to her right ovary, lungs and liver. After the removal of a cantaloupe sized tumor in her left ovary on December 21st of 2007, Korrine, endured 10 months of intense chemotherapy designed for adult men.
During the course of her treatment, Korrine suffered many complications. In early April of 2007, her liver began to bleed. After staying at Kaiser Oakland for almost two weeks, Korrine was transfered to UCSF and spent a month in the intensive care unit. The doctors at UCSF Medical Center were finally able to stop her bleeding liver, but, not before it filled her abdomen with 5 liters of blood that had to be drained via a tube inserted into her stomach. On top of that, both of Korrines’ lungs collapsed while undergoing a CT scan that almost took her life. Because of that, 2 liters of fluid needed to be drained off of her lungs with the use of another drainage tube. Throughout her treatment Korrine needed numerous blood and platelet transfusions. She had nosebleeds that lasted an hour on several occasions. At one point, she had 18 intravenous tubes running through her body filled with anti-bacterials, anti-fungals, nutrition, painkillers and chemotherapy. Korrine miraculously made it through those tough days at UCSF and returned to Kaiser Hospital in Oakland. She was finally stable and was released to go home in late June. Just as things were starting to look up for her, she suffered septic shock in July that forced her to go back into intensive care at Kaiser in Santa Clara for 2 weeks.
Korrine returned home in late July and went through imaging scans to see if the cancer had disappeared. The scans always came back good, but not great. In an effort to kill and stop the remaining cancer cells, she underwent an emergency round of chemotherapy in early September. Unfortunately, it did kill the remaining cancer and her doctors had run out of options.
Korrine spent her last days at home with her family reading books and loving on her cats and dog. She passed away quietly, at home, on October 27th, 2008. Through it all, Korrine had a positive attitude and never gave up or complained. Many consider Korrine a hero.
Team KC
The Team KC website was originally started as a way to encourage, educate, raise awareness, and keep friends and family informed with accurate information on Korrine's treatment and progress. Family, classmates, friends, community members, and complete strangers rallied to support Korrine and her family through her fight against Choriocarcinoma. We were amazed by the amount of support we received, and it is now our desire to give back. In March, 2009, Team KC became an official nonprofit by joining forces with Kaiser Foundation Hospital. All monies raised by Team KC will directly benefit pediatric cancer patients and their families. All monetary contributions are tax deductible.
Our Mission: To help improve the quality of life of pediatric cancer patients and their families. We wish to supply children with fun activities, toys and anything else that will brighten and better their lives. Monies will also be used to help parents pay for bills and defray the costs of gas, food and lodging that go along with caring for a child with cancer.
Stay Positive, LIVESTRONG & Welcome to Team KC!
*This is the official Team KC website and the only website approved by the Croghan family. Please do not use content, images, or video from this site without permission. This is an effort to respect the family's privacy and ensure that all content is accurate and approved. Thank you for your cooperation.
A Note From Korrine (written after her 4th round of Chemo)...
Hello everyone! It's me, Korrine. I just wanted to take a
moment to thank each and every one of you for supporting me through emails,
visits, food, gifts, and most importantly, prayer. Without it, I probably
wouldn't have made it this far. Anyways, on a happier note, I am happy to
announce that I am feeling very good. This last round of chemo hit me pretty
hard, but I think that it is more exiting to end things with a big BANG! I will
try to start writing things for the blog now that my chemo therapy is over, but
until then, just know that I love every single one of you and I am always
thinking about my family, friends, and even the people who I've never met
before. Thanks for joining my battle and for making this experience "The
Experience of a Lifetime." LIVESTRONG! And stay positive.
Korrine Lannie Croghan
Team KC now has an official uniform. The kind folks at SlicArt in Livermore have designed a beautiful t-shirt that is now available to order. Shirts are $10 each. SlicArt will donate 100% of the proceeds from the shirt sales to the Team KC fund. For more information about ordering some of these awesome shirts, contact SlicArt:
SlicArt
3987 1st St. Units J&K
Livermore, CA 94551
(925)373-8105
9 comments:
The shirts look fanatstic-going to get ours today!!
I love the new song!
Dont worry Be happy!
Love Maxine & Sammi Hammons & family
Way cool!
I'm going to get ours today as well!
Shellee
Brandon, Colton & I got our
t-shirts from SlicART. Karen said the shirts are selling fast. I offered to do the pick up and delivery for Mendenhall if needed. Brandon has decided to wear his t-shirt for P.E. that way he can wear it everyday. It won't be long until they are being shipped all over the U.S.A.
Go TEAM KC!
Keep fighting the good fight love!
LIVE STRONG!
Don't worry......
Be happy.......
Shellee
I went to get shirts & was so happy to hear they were sold out of the kids sizes! Meaning they have sold lots of shirts! They will have more printed this afternoon...going back at 2pm
Go Team KC!!!
Maxine Hammons
Hey guys!
I bought 4 t's on Friday and they should arrive at my doorstep in The Woodlands, Texas any minute now! I can't wait to wear it! I know that when I wear it people won't be able to help themselves....I know they will ask what it is all about. When they do, it will give me the opportunity to share your story and get their promise to pray for you! I also sold my first LIVESTRONG bracelet at church today to a incredible prayer warrior. She will lift you up daily. The angels are working hard today!
Marcy Pryor
hey korrin. i got a shirt today at church. hope ur ok. GO KC!
~Kelly
I just got mine after school today. :D
I'm happy to wear it and support Korrine.
Korrine your message today was so beautiful-you are such a bright shining star from heaven. I know you dont know us that well but every time I would see you, you are ALWAYS smiling & so polite. I could see what a genuine sweet person you really are. I thought you might like this lil story. My youngest daughter Jaci(spelled different but prononced Jack-ee) is a 1st grader at Smith. Yesterday she & Sammi happily wore what they call their "Korrine shirts" to school.
Well today I put out their clothes to wear. Jaci has a hard time getting ready in the morning(not a morning person just like her mom)
She was upset & was saying what I couldnt understand-I want to wear the "something" shirt...I was saying what? the green shirt? no the "something" shirt? the red shirt? noooo the "something" shirt...finally I realized she was saying "My Korrine shirt" LOL
It was funny-I explained that she would have to wait until I washed it cuz she had gotten ketchup on it at school! Anyway I hope you are having a great day-your positive attitude is contagious. I have everyone I know praying for you. Love Maxine & Sammi & Jaci Hammons & Family
Live Strong-Go Team KC!!!
The shirts are awesome! Everyone on my polo team got one and we love them! Go Team KC!!
Love, Ana Rosa
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