"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
In this stage of Korrine's battle, she has been in need of platelets and blood. Her blood counts have been up and down and some of this now could be due to her chemotherapy as well as her liver problems. Blood is important to transport oxygen throughout the body and remove carbon dioxide and platelets are needed to control blood clotting and bleeding.
Korrine's blood type is A- so if you are A- or O- you could donate blood. If you would like to donate platelets, it doesn't matter what your blood type is. Two nights ago Korrine needed platelets but the bank was low on pre-screened platelets. Luckily the doctors at UCMed center found platelets that had been screened and she did recieve her platelets.
If you would like to give blood or platelets for Korrine here is what you can do.
1. You need to give blood at the UCSF Blood Center located at 500 Parnassus Ave. Rm. MU09.
The Phone number is 415-353-1809.
2. Anyone who is over 16 years old, weighs over 110 lbs and is in good health can donate. There are other restrictions that the blood center will go over also. When you arrive, you will fill out some papers and be interviewed. If you wish to make your donation to Korrine, simply tell them that during your interview. If your blood is not compliant, someone else can benefit. Remember though, to donate platelets, it doesn't matter what your bloodtype is.
3. A unit of blood will be taken to be pre-screened. To donate platelets, you will need to first give a prescreened unit, wait 2-3 days, and call for results that your platelets can be taken. You will then need to make an appointment for your platelets to be drawn. The process takes about 1.5 to 2 hours.
This would be a great help for Korrine and others at the UC Med Center who need blood or platelets.
15 comments:
hey,
hope everything is going as well as it can.
I wish there was some way i could help more, but for now the best i can do is pray, and thats what i've been doing and will continue to do.
GOOD LUCK!
Chris Benavidez
Dear Croghan's
You are in my thoughts and prayers,
I am praying for a huge turn-out for blood and platelet donations,
I am praying that God will provide you with the strength and courage to continue this fight.
Annet Hammond
We would be honored to be able to donate as many platelets as we can!! We're fat and healthy, but 0+. We wish we were A-, but are so grateful we can do something! Why am I not surprised that with all you are going through, you guys bring attention to the needs of others by alerting everyone to the fact that there is such a great need for blood donations? Thank you. We love you guys and send a great big hug to all of you!
We're praying for a good night's rest for you guys, wisdom for the doctors, and comfort for precious Korrine. We're also praying special for Sean. He is such a sweet boy!
Prayers and hugs to you,
The Gilberts
Croghan Family,
I am seriously thinking about donating either blood or platelets for your angel Korrine. Besides prayer, which is so important, it is the least I can do. I pray that many Team KC members will donate and help Korrine and other patients. You have so much to worry about. Having the needed blood and platelets should not be another worry.
Come on Team KC...lets' give the gift of blood!
~Cindy V.
Oh Korrine, I'm A- negative too as are my husband and my girls. How I wish I could send Scott and Ellen to donate in San Francisco.
If there is any way a donation could be made in your credit or somehow taken to you from Denver, please let us know. Scott is a regular donor if that helps in any way.
Love, Lorri
steerfamily@q.com
Thank you for all the information reguarding blood donations. I will announce this at church tomorrow and may I suggest to all members of TEAM KC to take a copy of this information to your churches and work so that others can become designated donors for Korrine as well as helping others.
Much love and prayers,
Victoria Morgan
For those of you not in the Bay Area, I just read this on the UCSF Blood Center web site: "Donating Blood Elsewhere. You may be able to donate blood at your community blood bank for your use at UCSF. However, it takes more time and there may be processing and transfer charges by the blood bank performing the blood draw. Talk to your local blood bank about their policies and guidelines. You can confirm receipt of blood drawn elsewhere and transferred to UCSF for your use by calling the Blood Availability Line at (888) 226-8806." The URL for the web site is http://www.ucsfhealth.org/adult/special/b/43082.html.
Matt & Dana - all four of us will come to UCSF Blood Bank after school Monday to be tested and to donate. I believe I am a universal donor and Cindy, Pat and Kat have all agreed to be tested, as they have not been tested before.
Keep Strong!
The Gary's
Korrine, Sean, Dana and Matt,
You are all in my thoughts and prayers throughout the day. This morning at 6 am I read about the call for A- blood (that's me!!) and for platelets.
Eagerly got myself over to UCSF this morning - piece of cake - Dublin Bart to SF, then to Muni's N Judah Line (FARE IS $1.50 - BEST TO HAVE 6 QUARTERS FOR EACH WAY!!) to the Irving St. entrance to the UCSF garage. Up the elevator to the top floor, "I" , of Mulberry Union, walked around the corner and there was the Blood Bank on the left!!!
Nurses are kind and skilled - took only about 15 minutes. They all know about Korrine and Team KC - so when you state that you are donating to Korrine, they are familiar with her donations.
TEAM KC get yourselves over there to donate your A- or an O- blood. Remember any blood type can donate platelets.
Call the Blood Bank, 415-353-1809 for it's hours - it IS open til 7:15 on on week nights. I do not know if it is open tomorrow, Sunday, but call the above number after 9 am.
Korrine, our positive thoughts, prayers and love will also flow to you via transfusion - another way to give you strength and support!!!
God Bless and Keep you all...
Judy Welsh
Korrine and family: I hope this comment finds you pain free and getting stronger. My blood won't match but I can certainly donate platelets. All out there: I'll be driving from Livermore to San Francisco to do this and my car will hold an additional 6 adults. I'd love the company and anyone who would like to join me is more than welcome. Please let me know your availability, over the next two weeks, by e-mail: cdavis@ctdavislaw.com
You all continue to be in my daily thoughts and every prayer.
Dear Croghan's
I am eager to help and donate to Korrine, I only wish that I was her blood type, but alas I am B+,and a regular donor. But I can donate for platelets. I will attempt to get childcare this week and head up to UCSF and give the platelets. I will also send out your call for blood and platelets to my church and community of local friends. God bless you all and may you all get some needed rest.
My sister Teri lives in Pacifica.She has sent out the call for blood donations and platelets to all her friends in San Francisco.They are for the most part supporters of our relay team in Livermore.Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.I wish we could do more...Kathy
Hi!
Me and my family pray every night for Korrine. On Monday morning, my whole family of five will be at the UCSF Blood center to give blood and to be pre-screened to donate platelets for Korrine.
We hope for the best, hang strong!
-The Wrights
My friend, Jenny Travis, and I did this yesterday. It is a very easy process and the people are great. I would encourage everyone to give blood to Korrine. It has to go thru a screening process, but what a miracle it would be if YOUR BLOOD actually gave her the extra strength she needs to continue her fight.
Thanks for the opportunity Kroghan Family,
Donna Gardner
hey,
I wish I was able to donate platelets but, since I am only 14 I can't. I hope Korrine gets better! :)
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