"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
It has been a while since we updated the blog. Korrine is suffering from incredible fatigue. Her little body is worn out and very tired. Today we headed back to the Oncology clinic as Korrine was in alot of pain and cramping around the liver sight. We had to go over to the hospital for X-Rays. We will keep you informed as we find out more. It takes a long time to recover, six months to a year to regain strength and stamina after such intensive chemotherapy this is what the doctors tell us. Her blood levels are also up and down and her body is working overtime to try and heal from the surgery's, chemotherapy, cancer and all that goes with it. Not exactly the way you want to start your teenage years. Korrine will be celebrating her 14th birthday next week and this will be a very special birthday. Korrine continues to be her bubbly fun self. She makes us laugh.
Korrine really misses her friends, school and playing polo. Korrine is still meeting during the school week with her wonderful tutor and they are working very hard to keep up with all the demands of school in order for Korrine to graduate with her 8th grade class. We still get our weekly visits from our home nurses who have become very dear to our family.
Korrine met with other teen pediatric cancer patients for teen night on Monday. The kids are amazing, beautiful and inspirational. The children have been through more in their young lives than most people go through in a lifetime. Their depth, compassion and genuine love of life is to be admired and respected. The parents also got to sit and chit- chat over dinner while the teens met, it was good for all of us. We are looking forward to camp Okizu which support's families with children with cancer in May.
Korrine was granted her wish for the MAKE A WISH FOUNDATION!! We are thrilled and feel incredibly blessed.
Korrine will meet with pre-surgery on Friday and on Monday she will have surgery to remove her broviac as she has completed all her chemotherapy treatments and her white blood cell count is over 1000. Her white blood cell count was only 460 the past few weeks. Anything below 500 is neutropenic. Korrine is looking forward to her broviac being removed as she will be able to submerge herself in water. She has not been able to do that since December 16th her last Water Polo Tournament. This is very sad for a Croghan, not to go into the water for 4 months lol.
We have been enjoying getting back to a routine and daily life which is good. Your prayers are appreciated as Korrine is still healing. On the 28th we meet with our Oncology Team. We will continue to keep the blog updated as to Korrine's progress, healing, success and upcoming events such as Relay For Life. More pictures on the way and Korrine looks forward to all your private e-mails and comments on the blog as she is not able to get out much to visit as she is tired but enjoys your e-mails and cards. Lot's of good things ahead!
Joe Mitchell Elementary School did an amazing thing for Korrine pictures and updates to follow.
Stay Posite and LiveSTRONG,
Love,
The Croghan Family
6 comments:
Your family continues to inspire us and we wil continue to pray for Korrine. We look forward to following her progress over the years. To see her graduate 8th grade, to see her hair grow back, To se her start high school. We look forward to seeing her go off to college. We look forward to being a part of a little girls inspirational story of faith, courage, community and love. Thank you for sharing your story with all of us and inspiring us in the midst of your fight.
The Mendenhall's
Korrine, Sean, Dana, and Matt,
THANKS for the update! As always, you remain in my thoughts and prayers. For most of us, we go through the normal routines of work(school), weekends, chores, etc... and the days just fly by... and another week starts. The cycle continues.
Your routine for the past three months has been filled with medical appointments, labs, chemo, hospital visits, etc... and you remind us with your posts of how you each LIVESTRONG and embrace each day with faith and love!
THANK YOU again for making each of us stronger (by your example) to face the challenges life has to offer AND for allowing us to share your journey!
hugs and love, kathy
Korrine! It's so great to hear an update and happy early birthday! You are now one day ahead of me when it comes to taking out stuff - my port comes out on Tuesday! I know you must be THRILLED to be getting your tube out too! Keep resting - I am praying that you are well so very soon! Love, Lorri
HI Korrine!
Alot of exciting things are coming up! 8th grade graduation is going to be so much fun. You're 14th birthday is also very exciting. Most impotaintly your white blood cell count is up, so that means you can get in the pool! Just in time for summer, YAAAY! You're in my prayers and thoughts.
LIVESTRONG! <3
Emma
Headed back to the hospital this afternoon 4-11-08. The Doctors want to do a Ultrasound because Korrine is in alot of pain. Thank you for all your prayers and support. Please tell everyone you know "Thank You For Your Prayers and Support" Because we want everyone to know how much we appreciate EVERYTHING.
Love Always,
Dana
Hi Korrine, Sean, Dana and Matt!
This is Mrs. Vance and I saw your beautiful face and story of courage on the mirror at Swim America today. My daughter takes swim lessons there. I am praying for all of you and we will be supporting you through the raffle.
I can remember what a wonderful, warm and funny little kindergartner you were and also what a loving family you have. I know that your faith in God is helping you through this very difficult time.
Keep fighting Korrine and know that so many are praying for you. I will rpoudly be a member of Team KC.
Love,
Mrs. Vance
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