"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 needs your thoughts and prayers today. She's very sick and needs Team KC to lift her up in prayer. We love you and will share more information as it is available.
*Please refrain from calling Matt and Dana as they need to focus on Korrine. If you need to reach them, please send an email to korrinecroghan@gmail.com and your message will be delivered to them ASAP. Thank you!
28 comments:
Korrine, you and your family are in our prayers. May you be comforted by our's and all those your many friends and loved ones make on bended knee in your honor today and for the days to come.
La Familia Cortez
Livermore
matt and dana
My family is praying for Korrine and your family. All of our thoughts and prayers are for Korrine.
You are constantly in our minds and prayers, please know that we are all asking God to get you through this.
Ackley family
Croghan's,
You are in our thoughts and in our prayers - daily.
Hi Sissy,
I love you and can't wait to see you.
Love,
Sean
Hi,
How are you doing? I swam in the swimathon and got 42 laps! Our family raised a lot of money and we are praying for you everyday!!!!
I hope you feel better soon!!!!!!!
Alyssa Campbell
Don't worry Croghans, there are so many people out there praying for you! I love all of you very very much.
Emma
Constantly thinking and praying for you.
Korrine, all my prayers are centered around you. You and your family are constantly in my thoughts and prayers. Hang in there and keep fighting. So many people love you Korrine.
Victoria
Korrine,
I think about you daily. Please know that I am praying for you.
Korrine, We hope you feel better really soon. We are offering all our prayers to you and your family today. Please know that you are all in our thoughts and prayers, today and everyday.
The Muzzall Family
I am praying daily for you Korrine...praying for strength for you during these tough times, wisdom for your doctors, and peace through-out this experience. This will soon pass and you will once again be on the road to good health...With lots of get well wishes, and continued LOVE~ Denise Kofford Ü
Korrine-- All of our prayers are for you! We are thinking of you and your family every day, all day.
Staystrong Livestrong,
Lynda & David Brekke
Livermore
May you feel His presence. May you know His presence. Even when you can't, we can and do lift you up to Him on your behalf. May His peace permeate the darkest moments and His wisdom reign in the most difficult decisions. May you collapse in His arms outstretched by those that love Him and love you. May those that are there loving you be filled and refilled with His renewing strength. As always, we live in hope, trust in hope, love in hope and have faith in hope-
Love the Esmeyer Family
Croghan family~
Prayers and good thoughts for all of you.
With love,
Sue Bakalar
korrine, matt, dana, & sean,
i pray God's grace and healing will cover each of you. korrine, you are an amazing young woman. may you be filled with extraordinary strength today. you are in my prayers.
caryn (nowak) bostrom
Huge waves of positive energy flowing your way. I hope you feel better soon. I wish I could impact your healing. I pray. Wrapping virtual arms around you.
Linda Morrison
Hi Korrine..You are in the prayers of so many as news of your blog reaches across the country..May God give you and your family strength to travel this difficult journey.. Area churches will be adding you to their prayer
lists..My daughter Holly Owens sent me your blog...Sandra Guyer, Tampa FL.
Korrine,Dana, Matt and Sean, we are sending you our love, hugs, and prayers. You are in our thoughts and our hearts every day. Love, Candy, Mark, Sam and Molly Johnson
Korrine, Matt, Dana, & Sean,
We are praying for you and your family. We think of you everyday.
love,
April, Fabian, Sebastian, & Sophia
We are there with you sweet girl with love
and tons of prayers.Please stay strong!!!
Debby and Ian..Mark11 is a good thing to read.
Korrine, praying for comfort and peace for you today and each following day. God loves and cares for you.
Romans 8:25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. 26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.
Korrine, Matt, Dana, & Sean,
You are all in our thoughts and prayers and know that you are surrounded by love and well wishes! Rest and heal!
Bobbi Byrnes-Matulich
I will be praying all day today.
Korrine,
You are in my thoughts and prayers constantly. I am praying for complete healing for you and peace for you and your family. I am trusting God, our loving and faithful father.
Our prayers are with you and your family.
With love,
Kim, Will, and Allie
You are strong! You are couragous! You are a fighter!
Sending you all of our love and prayers today and always.
Cristi & Ryan :)
Hi Korrine,
You are in our thoughts and prayers today and always. You are such a wonderful young woman with a beautiful spirit and the hearts and prayers of many are here for you and your family.
We love you. Stay strong sweetheart.
Love, Kyle, Janet & Chad Hemmig
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