"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
We enjoyed some time away at the beach the fresh air and nice weather sure was better than going to the hospital. We all had a great time. We came home just in time for Korrine's blood draws.
We found out Friday after Korrine's blood draws that she is neutropenic. Her white blood cell count is so low she can not fight off any illness so we are keeping her close to home and hoping she does not get a fever or we will have to take her back to the hospital.
Once you have been diagnosed with cancer you can not say a person is cancer free until they have survived at least 5 years without cancer. The hope is that after all cancer treatments have been completed that you will not see any signs of cancer for 5 years. The goal is to get through the first year cancer free.
We thought our doctors appointment on Monday the 24th would be our big appointment to find out Korrine's prognosis. We will not know all the test results, long term side affects, long term prognosis, what to expect etc. until the 28th of April, when we sit down and meet with the oncology doctors, nurses and social workers caring for Korrine. As for now Korrine has finished her 4 rounds of chemotherapy and we are thankful for that. She did lose more hearing from the cisplatinum. We will continue to do blood draws twice weekly and cat scans on a regular basis. She will also need to continue taking medications.
The cancer in her liver is getting smaller and that is good news. They will not take the broviac out until they are sure she is going to stay strong. She is neutropenic now so she will not be getting her broviac out for a while. Korrine had hoped to get the broviac out and was willing to be poked in the veins for all blood draws, medications etc. She is brave.
Korrine's 14th birthday is coming up and we are looking forward to that and her hair and eyelashes starting to grow back. She was able to Make A Wish and we are looking forward to her wish being granted as well as 8th grade graduation. We are also looking forward to Swimstrong and Relay for Life. So many things to be grateful for and to look forward to.
We could never have made it this far without your prayers and support. We appreciate the fundraisers as we felt God meeting all our needs. We don't know what we would have done without all your support. You have helped our family to survive the toughest 3 months of our lives.
Stay Positive and LiveSTRONG
The Croghan Family
17 comments:
Oh how you make me miss the ocean and the coast!!! Looked like such a great trip and of course you look darling in the blue baseball cap! Thanks for sharing your trip, it's great to see you having such a fun time with your family! Love, Lorri
Thank you for posting the update. I am so happy that your family got to enjoy a beautiful spring break and go to the coast. I will continue to keep you all, but especially Korrine, in my daily prayers. You are AMAZING Korrine! Stay positive, love each other, praise God and LIVESTRONG!
Love & Prayers, Victoria Cooper (Dana's aerobics student)
Hi Korrine!
I'm Lorri's friend from Colorado, Denise...so glad you were able to enjoy a great spring break, and are done with round 4 of chemotherapy! Yeah! We continue to keep you in our daily prayers for strength and complete healing! Hang in there soon-to-be brithday- girl! Love, One of your Colorado cheering fans that you have never met...Denise and the entire Kofford Family :-)
Korrine,
Looks like your family had a great week for spring break! The pictures are beautiful! I love the beach... When our girls were little we liked to go to Crab Cove in Alameda and play at the beach.
Take good care... keeping everyone at arms length until you are stronger. We send our hugs and positive thoughts everyday through prayers and I'm sure you feel them!
hugs and love, kathy t.
Hi Croghans!
What great pictures and memories you have of this spring break. I'm glad you got to get away for awhile, and I believe the ocean is just the place to do that!
Thank you for the update. Now we just wait and see what wonders He has in store for you next. You are one of the strongest, most amazing young women I have had the pleasure of knowing. Keep fighting, CutiePie, and stay strong!
Love,
Sue Bakalar
ohhhhh I love the beach!
So glad you got to go!
The update sounded great, tears of joy here!
Keep positive!
You sure make us all feel postive in our daily lives ;o)
I love that song "Here comes the sun", they play it at my job a lot & it always makes me feel positive
My daughter & I are getting our hair chopped on Wed, I'll share some pics
Love Maxine Hammons & family
We all know how much you love the beach! You looked fantastic!
Emma
hey korrine
im so glad to hear that everything is getting smaller asnd smaller as the time goes by. i haope all goes well. and to see you soon.
love always
korrina botelho <3
Hi Korrine and Family!
Wow! What great news to hear that you were able to enjoy our beautiful Earth as a family once again! I am delighted to know that you are resting after all that "yucky" stuff and will continue to get strong. I say prayers for all of you everyday!!!
Love, Mrs. Scarbrough
Hi Korrine,
Ian and I are thankful, right up there with all the others, for your completion of your treatments. We like to hear about what you are doing.Tell Dana that she has done a super job with her writings during this time( good job).The ocean is a great place to heal. Ian and I have been under the weather, since we were down with the grandkids. They both have been ill also.
You are the Easter blessing. I am looking forward to seeing you when you are stronger.
Please know , our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Love from,
Ian and Debby
im glad you guys had such a great time in monterey croghi! we were there as well on tuesday! too bad we didn't bump into eachother! Take care and LiveStrong!!
God Bless you,
Mary Rosa
Hi Korrine!
I was just thinking about you and thought I'd pop in and say "hello"! Hope you are feeling well and getting stronger day by day.
Enjoy your day and know you're in my prayers!
Hugs,
Sue Bakalar
Glad to see that you were able to make it to the beach for a family vacation! I am looking forward to being home for the summer and hanging out with you at the pool! You look great and are so blessed to have such a strong and committed support system. God bless you and your family! I miss you guys. :]
Love, Paula (and the rest of the Dreifuerst family)
Hi Korrine and family,
Thank you for posting the pictures of your spring break. It lifts the spirits to see you all having a great time. As always you are in our prayers. We hope for continuing good news and fun times ahead!
love, April, Fabian, Sebastian, & Sophia
Hi Korrine!
What a fantastic surprise to see you today! It totally made my day! You look so great. I hope you feel as good as you look.
Take care CutiePie and stay strong!
Love~
Sue Bakalar
Hi CutiePie!
I was just checking in on you. Hope you are doing well, and getting ready for some really sunny weather.
Keep smiling and know I'm thinking of you. :)
Love and prayers,
Sue Bakalar
Korrine,
It looked like you had such a fun spring break!Just think to live STRONG and enjoy what life has to offer!You really are the BEST!
love,
Hannah Borjon
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