"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
At 3 am this morning, an operation was performed to try to find the source of Korrine's internal bleeding. The procedure did not find the source and the doctor has let Matt and Dana know that at this time they are not able to stop the bleeding in Korrine's liver. She is contacting UC Med and Stanford and they are researching moving her and performing a procedure to stop the bleeding as other measures have not been successful at this time This is very serious. She is not able to be on any pain medication at this time. She has not been able to eat anything for over 10 days.
Our prayer is that the bleeding will stop and that she will be moved to a facility where the operation on her liver can be performed as quickly as possible. Matt and Dana appreciate all of your prayers - as you can imagine, they are very concerned and holding on to faith and hope at this time.
35 comments:
Korrine, Dana, Matt and Sean -
More than ever, my prayers are with you. I know God has a plan for your family. I pray that He grants you all peace and strength during this most difficult time. There is still a miracle to come.
All,Everyone is thinking of you at this difficult time.
Dear Croghan Family,
My heart, soul and prayers are with you.
Your Friend Always,
Joy
Miracles happen every day. Angels reach out of the big blue sky and touch us with their healing hands. Korrine is such a beautiful young lady inside and out and she will be saved. She is in God's hands and we trust in his plan.
May God be with you all at this time and we are praying for that miracle to happen. We are thinking about you so much at the difficult time. Our hearts are reaching out to you.
much love The Riddiough Family
We are praying hard and holding you all tight in our hearts today. We are believing God for a miracle.
Korrine, you are so amazing and are giving us a new definiton of the word "STRONG"
Ps 62:5-7
Jan, Dan, Melissa, Luke and Derek Gutierrez
You are in my prayers constantly! God has great plans for you and I pray you feel his hand of comfort on you this day especially.
Dear Croghan family,
I have only had the pleasure of meeting you Matt, many years ago when you coached my daughter Nicole Larsen. Nicole told me about Korrine and what a very special and brave young lady she is. My prayers go out to you and your family. As we all know God works in mysterious ways and I pray to him now for your miracle. God Bless you all,
Kris Real McGinty
Korrine, Sean, Dana and Matt,
My prayers are with you all for comfort, courage, continuing strength and another miracle for precious Korrine.
To each of you, LIVE STRONG.
With God’s Blessings,
Judy Welsh
(Betsy’s mom, and Nate & Emily’s grandma – the Webkinz grandma)
Hugs and strength to you all. Positive energy flowing to Korrine to fight this latest battle. She WILL win the war.
Linda Morrison
My prayers are with you!
Korrine,Dana,Sean & Matt
Our thoughts and prayers are with you. We love you.
Steve,Kristen,Delaney,Scott & Shea
Dear Korrine, Sean, Dana, and Matt,
FAITH, HOPE, AND LOVE. That is what we pray for you each day.
We love you,
Bobby, Sara, Emily Maureen and Bob
Dear Croghan Family,
We are covering your family in prayer and asking God for a miracle of healing. Our hearts are with you!
Rick, Corey, Paige and Brandon Bauer
May God be with you all during this time. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Dear Croghan Family,
May God's healing hands touch you with comfort through your struggle. I hope that he guides you and those working to help you with the speed and accuracy that you are depending on. Stay strong and Be Positive.
The Campbell's
Hello,
I was talking to a friend on the phone the other day complaining. I stopped asked how can she be so positive as she will more than likely lose her job within the next month. She stated that she prays daily for what she has, she prays daily for family and friends, she just prays daily. I told her Thank You. Thank you for my prayer.
It is said that God does not give us the strength or courage He gives us the opportunity for them. God has given us Korrine, OUR OPPORTUNITY FOR STRENGTH AND COURAGE.
Cathy Locke
We are on our knees pleading with you.
Dana, Matt, Sean and Korrine~
I am keeping you all in my prayers. Especially You, sweet Korrine ... your beautiful Spirit and Grace inspire and awe me. May God continue to watch over you.
Love and Hugs~
Cindy Brian
Croghan family,
I think about you all day and have you constantly in my prayers. If anyone deserves a miracle, it is Korrine. God bless your wonderful family.
Love, Ana Rosa
You are in our thoughts & prayers. They say prayer is powerful in large amounts, we have asked everyone we know to pray for Korrine. May you all find the strength,courage, faith and understanding during this difficult time. Miracles do happen and we are praying for one!
Love, The Mata's
Dear Korrine, Matt, Dana and Sean:
Our hearts and prayers are with you, and we pray for God to give you strength, wisdom and courage for each day. We pray wisdom for the doctors and teams working for Korrine. We also are asking the Lord touch sweet Korrine with peace, comfort and a deep sense of calm in this storm.
Love and prayers to you all,
The Gilberts
To Korrine - I am sorry you are so sick today, and I hope you can get better soon. Right when my mom told me that you are really sick today, I ran to my closet and put on my Team KC shirt. Tell Sean I miss him at school and hope to play Webkinz and Toontown with him soon!
Love,
Nate Wilson, Sean's friend
Dana and Matt
I think about your family constantly and I pray that Korinne and Shane will be able to take that "First day of High school Picture" together next year. I was going through our Arroyo Mocho scrap book and found their K-3 pictures. Soooo Cute!! I am so sorry your family is going through this.
Truly,
Victoria Pope
Korrine, you give beautiful a new definition. You have always been so happy, and been able to push through everything life has thrown at you. We never really talked, and I never new much about you, but I do remember walking into that first day of core, and seeing that amazing smile on your face, and just thinking, 'I wish I could make myself feel as happy as that girl portrays herself to be.' And then one day, I got it. It's not about making yourself smile, or forcing yourself to always be happy, it's about letting yourself absorb the good that is around you, and using it to your full advantage. Now, I'm not in a religious family, and I haven't been brought up studying the works of the Bible, but you are in my prayers, even if they are silent. Korrine you are my hero, and I can never repay you for the enlightenment you shined on my life. You are the strongest indiviual I have ever come across and I love you.
Please know that we continue to pray, pray and pray for all of you. May God grant you your miracle today........
Stev, Torri cameron and McKenna Nagy
Hey Korrine I hope you Get past this stage you are at. We all at Mendenhall Are praying for you.
Dear Korrine, Dana, Matt and Sean,
Our prayers are with you all. We know God is good and He will take care of Korrine. We will keep Korrine in our prayers and we know God will help her get through this.
Love always, The Dalys
(McKenna, Josh, Cece and Shawn)
Croghans, we love you so much and are partnering with you in prayer today as always.
the Hoaglands,
Jack, Arla & Mary
Dear Croghan Family,
We live in a time where the Heavens are open and miracles do happen! Our thoughts and daily prayers are with Korrine and all of you during these trying, challenging and difficult times.
LIVE Strong and know that your family is in our thoughts and prayers!
The Young Family,
(Steve, Shari, Matt, Connor and Lauren)
Our lives are like the course of the Sun...
At the darkest moment there is the promise of daylight.
There WILL be brighter days ahead.
We will continue to keep you in our thoughts and prayers.
The Palomba Family
The Croghan Family~
I'm thinking of you!!! Stay strong!
God knows this world loves, admires, and adores the Croghan family. You're all constantly in my thoughts and prayers, along with the thoughts and prayers of all of those who have had the pleasure to meet you.
Korrine: we WILL make it to the beach for your late birthday celebration! Until then, keep your head up and show the world how strong you really are! I love you sweetie!! and of course I love you too, Dana, Matt, and Sean! Call if you need anything at all.
Love you and miss you all!
Julie
Miracles happen to those who believe in them. We believe in miracles.
Prayers so liveSTRONG continue...
The Heinz Family
Johnny, Stacie, Tabby & Zac
Hey Korrine,
I haven't met you but my friend told me about you and I thought I would just say hello!
I'm the girl who lost an arm to a shark...
I just want to encourage you and remind you that we all go through different thing and crazy hard times for a reason! Yup, we may never fully understand why of what for but we can rely on Jesus for are strength and be thankful no matter what!
From the sounds of if you are amazingly strong and keep that up!!!
I could never imagine going through what your going through, but what I went through I would never take back ever cause of all the great thing that have come from it!
Most of all never forget that Jesus loves YOU!!!!
p.s. You encouraged me!
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