"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
The Oncology team at UCSF informed us today that the safest thing for Korrine right now is for
donors to be A- in both blood and platelets. I'm not a hematologist but it was explained to us
that in Korrine's case, platelets from blood that come from other than A- donors could cause a bad reaction.
So if you are A-, you can keep coming to donate. If you are not, like Dana and I, you can still donate because
there is a big need for blood here at UCSF and all over.
For people who want to donate platelets specifically for Korrine I think the best thing to do would be to e-mail me
at mcro1990@yahoo.com. I can tell you that Korrine does get platelets every other day if not every day. The shelf life for platelets is around 3-5 days so if we space it out, it would be more effective. During the last round of chemo Korrine's need for blood and platelets occured about a day or two after chemo ended. If this round is like the last round, that would mean that she could need platelets by Monday or Tuesday. Today she will be getting a unit of red blood for her hemoglobin count is a little low.
Giving blood is a great thing. Even though you are not A-, donate to your local blood bank or here at UCSF. I was told by the professionals here at the UCSF blood bank that less than 1% of the population gives blood. So give. It's a great feeling and you even get a juice and a donut at the end!
Thank you.
Matt and Dana
9 comments:
Hey guys,
Just read your update.I wish we could give blood for Korrine, but with our history, they won't take it. I feel sure that all you need , will be there when you need it, like always. We are both hanging in there with you and family, and look forward to seeing you when all this is past us.
Love from, Ian and Debby
Good afternoon Croghans! Jack is planning on finding the blood bank on Tuesday and giving in Korrine's name. They have asked me not to try anymore... my veins collapse... it makes it tedious! : ) Wish we could more. We love you and miss you! Hang in there! You have our prayers.
Blesings & Hugs,
The Hoaglands
J, A & M
I sooo wish I was old enough to donate blood!
But because I'm not, I'll be sure to mention the need for blood to people I know who can donate.
Good luck getting donations, and I am sure everything will turn out.
Korrrine, I can't wait to see you again when this is all over. I LOVE you and miss you! You're so strong.
Love Amity
Great information to help us get the word out and know exactly what we are looking for. I am a B+ and one of those that they also don't like to poke. They tend to go through my veins. They very nicely told me several years ago to "find another way to help in my community." I was already doing that... I wanted to donate blood!
I will get the word out... and I know we'll find some "A-" people out there.
Thinking of you all and sending positive thoughts and prayers!
hugs and love, kathy t.
Hello Croghan Family,
I will also spread the word re A- donors needed. We are sending positive cleansing energy your way and forever keeping you all in our prayers. We are keeping the candles burning. We love your incredible family.
Korrine, we can't wait to see you playing water polo in the Olympics some day! Love, Kyle, Janet & Chad
Hey Croghans-
I only have 4 more months until I can donate blood!! I don't know what type I am though, but I will still definitely donate anyways to benefit some other person that's suffering.
My dad told me he ran into Dana today. I definitely wish I was with him, but I was at the swim meet. Last week I drove by Matt over by Lucky! I waved but I don't think he saw me. That's ok, I was just happy to see him, that's all that really mattered.
Korrine-I drove by McCovey's on the way home from NCS today. I totalllllly remember how 2 summers ago we went to dinner there after a tournament right? Anyways, my favorite part of that dinner was when you ordered your hamburger and they asked you how you wanted it cooked. "Ummm, in a circle?" You said. Hahahahahaha!!!! You're so goofy!!!
Well, I will see you all soon!!
Love and Prayers ALWAYS,
Alex Accornero
Hi sweet Croghans,
Ya know, Stephen and I whispered a special prayer for u all earlier. We continue to pray always. 'Just thinking of u and wondering all the glorious things to come in all ur lives. Sean, I know you and I haven't gotten to talk very much when we've been at church, but you are on my mind a 100 thousand percent and I hope you are doing okay thru this crazy time. I can't give blood right now due to my heart stuff, but I am doing good and you will be doing gooder soon, too! Corny, but sincere. 'Love u guys, Steve and Bec (piano girl and choir boy).
Korrine:
2nd round done! Prayers for all you've asked for are coming from the Brissey home here in Dublin.
Keep your warrior spirit going, you will be back in the water like you know you will!
Love to you and your family,
Trish, Jeff and Adam
Dear Croghan Family,
Peace, Love and Prayers go your way as donors continue to give blood.
James Liz Ben Pam
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