"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
Korrine is in terrible pain. The doctors are controlling the pain with morphine every two hours pushed thru her I.V. line and she also has a patch which she wears on her arm together they are keeping her pain under control. She is not able to eat as she vomits whatever she puts in her mouth. The doctors and nurses are taking excellent care of her. She is sleeping a lot because of all the medications. She's tired mentally and physically but continuous to be courageous and a fighter. We have great faith that she will get over this hurdle. The tumor markers came out good and that is very good news. The liver has been terribly attacked with cancer, chemotherapy and new lesions, this is of great concern and very unusual. Your prayers have been answered and we know they will continue to be answered. We love and appreciate all of you.
Stay Positive and LiveSTRONG,
The Croghan Family
18 comments:
Korrine don't be scared, you are the strongest person I know, and you will get through this. You are so beautiful and I truly admire you. I have been praying for you. All my Love, Anja
Korrine -
We are praying for you daily and want you to know we care about you and your precious family. You are truly and amazing girl with such a big heart. You inspire us all. Remember that many, many people are praying for you. We look forward to seeing you soon.
Lots of love, Mark, Jacki, Ana & Christian Neumann
Korrine, you are an such an amazing, strong girl and have come so far! Get some rest and take good care of yourself! Stay positive and remember that we are all praying for you!
With Love :) Brooke
Dear Korrine
The Good Lord is holding you in the palms of His hands. You are so special to Him and to the rest of us! Know that so many are praying for you and also for the medical staff that is working so hard to make sure you are receiving the best care possible.
Love, Mrs. Scarbrough
Hi Korrine,
Don't be scared, so many people are praying for you and we have faith the they will be answered. I'm excited to swim for you on the 20th!
With love,
Emma
Thinking about you, praying for you, and sending love your way. Stay strong Korrine, and know that this phase will pass...soon you will be pain free, able to enjoy food, and the healing will begin. Until then, rest, and know that Team KC is all praying for you Korrine. Love, Denise
I want to hold you and sing you the lullabies I sang my girls. I want to share our favorite memory verses, I want to give you the comfort only God can give you. We are praying and believing. You are fearfully and wonderfully made. The sun will be out again tomorrow and looks forward to your return. We love you Korrine and we love your family.
Thank you SO much for all of the updates. The information on Korrine is very appreciated.
Korrine, you are incredible!! Stay strong Beautiful!
Love and lots of prayers,
Tricia
Dear Korrine, Matt, Dana & Sean,
You continue to be deep in our thoughts and prayers.
We love you and pray this hurdle will be a distant memory soon.
LiveStrong & we pray you feel better very soon!
Love,
Maureen, Jim, Jake & Josh
Dear Croghan Family,
We just want you to know you are all in our thoughts and prayers. God is with you. Stay strong, Korrine! "With God on my side I'm fearless, afraid of no one and nothing." Psalm 27:1
Love,
The McNairs
Dear Korrine,
Received the following story this morning and I thought of you and all that you are going through.
Unfolding the Rose
A young, new preacher was walking with an older, more seasoned preacher in the garden one day. Feeling a bit insecure about what God had for him to do, he was asking the older preacher for some advice.
The older preacher walked up to a rosebush and handed the young preacher a rosebud and told him to open it without tearing off any petals. The young preacher looked in disbelief at the older preacher and was trying to figure out what a rosebud could possibly have to do with his wanting to know the will of God for his life and ministry.
But because of his great respect for the older preacher, he proceeded to try to unfold the rose, while keeping every petal intact. It wasn't long before he realized how impossible this was to do.
Noticing the younger preacher's inability to unfold the rosebud without tearing it, the older preacher began to recite the following poem:
It is only a tiny rosebud,
A flower of God's design;
But I cannot unfold the petals
With these clumsy hands of mine.
The secret of unfolding flowers
Is not known to such as I.
GOD opens this flower so sweetly,
Then, in my hands, they die.
If I cannot unfold a rosebud,
This flower of God's design,
Then how can I have the wisdom
To unfold this life of mine?
So I'll trust in Him for leading
Each moment of my day.
I will look to Him for His guidance
Each step of the pilgrim way.
The pathway that lies before me,
Only my Heavenly Father knows.
I'll trust Him to unfold the moments,
Just as He unfolds the rose.
-----------------------------
Korrine, you are truly one of God's most precious roses.
Rob & Sherry Tanner
Korrine - I don't know you but I CARE big time and continue to check your blog and pray for you daily.
With big hugs,
Shelley
Hi Korrine,
Ian and I want you to know that we DO believe in the power of prayer, and so do all the others who have been faithfully sending prayers.
Hang in there sweetheart..This is just one more hurdle for you to get over, and we know that you will.
Love and prayers and hugs,
Debby and Ian
Dearest Korrine,
Please know that everyone at Holy Cross and Emma Smith are praying for you. You and your family are ALWAYS in our thoughts. May God bless you.
All our love, Torri Nagy and family
Korrine, although I don't know you, your story has really touched me and I just want to tell you: Keep on going through this, you will make it! You have such a positive and strong appearance and I wish you all the best!
Daniela Holzer
(Austria)
Korrine- although I don't know you, your story has touched me.
Keep on going through this- you will make it!
You have such a positive and strong appearance, you are really a fighter!
I wish you all the best!
Daniela Holzer
(Austria)
Dear Korrine!
Although I don't know you, your story has touched me.
Keep on going through this, you have such a positive and strong appearance- you will make it!
I wish you all the best!
Daniela Holzer
(Austria)
Dear Korrine!
Although I don't know you, your story has touched me.
Keep on going through this, you have such a positive and strong appearance- you will make it!
I wish you all the best!
Daniela Holzer
(Austria)
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