"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
Did you know that if you are blood type A-, you are pretty rare? According to UCSF, in a random breakdown of 100 people, only 6 of those would be expected to be type A-.
Korrine needs your type A- blood and platelets. Here is the kicker. Best case scenario for Korrine to get plateletes by this Sunday is for people willing to donate platelets on Wednesday morning ( giving that you have not given platelets at UCSF before).Blood usually takes 72 hours from the time of donation to the patient receiving the blood. If you have given platelets at UCSF before and you went in Wednesday morning, Korrine could get the platelets by Friday. To get the ball rolling even quicker, you could go in Tuesday afternoon or early evening. The Blood Bank opens at 8am and closes at 7:15 Monday - Friday. To do platelets, they will ask you to get there early for it takes longer. Their hours on Saturday are 9am - 4:15.
In order for this to be efective for Korrine, let me know when you plan on giving platelets and blood so we can space it out.
Also remember to tell the good folks at the blood bank that you are donating the blood for Korrine Croghan
The phone number at the UC Blood bank is 415-353-1809.
My e-mail is mcro1990@yahoo.com
Remember, there are a lot of people who need blood so even if you are not A-, you can do it. Personally I hate needles but I found it wasn't so bad and after three times, it's a piece of cake.
Thank you.
We love you
Matt and Dana
13 comments:
Our daily prayers are never ending! We continue to keep you in our daily thoughts and truly believe that this prayer ring for blood donors and the path to recovery will come quicker, because Korrine has plans to get back in the pool!
To float in swimming we need to trust the water. To thrive in prayer we need to trust God.
staySTRONG,
(((Virtual Hugs)))
The Heinz Family
Dana,
This request has been copied and sent on to 100 people. I figure with the odds given, hopefully we will find 6 new donors for Korrine.
That is what we are praying for.
Hi Croghans!
Unfortunately, I'm not rare either, but have forwarded your post on to everyone I know. We'll keep believing and keep praying!
StaySTRONG!
With love,
Sue Bakalar
I'll get the word out at work and among friends. Our family is all "O's" and "B's" but I'm sure we can round up some "A-" people.
Keeping you all in our thoughts and prayers!
hugs and love, kathy t.
I am A-, I will be at UCSF to donate tomorrow, 5/28.
Trudi Murphy
Korrine-
I don't think I am old enough and able to donate, but I know people who will be donating. I pray for you every night, and when I am feeling sad or something, I always think of you, who is battling cancer, but you still seem to look so happy in your pictures. You are amazingly awesome! Keep on smiling, because your smile is really nice and radiant.
You will get back in that pool soon, better than ever, cancer free. You will get through this fight that God has assigned you to conquer, and you will get to great places in life. Like I said in a previous blog, you are one of the strongest athletes that I have ever heard of, and I hope to meet you someday, I will be at the relay in June. As an athlete myself, I have met and played with many different teams and individuals, and sometimes, it seems like you can tell if someone is a "true athlete," who fights hard to win and be really good, but at the same time has a lot of hope, courage, and good sportsmanship, or if someone is just an athlete trying to show off, win, and be cool, without respecting the other team, and not trying their hardest, and just giving up. From all of your pictures and notes on this blog site, you look and seem like a true athlete and great sport, never giving up, praying, and always SMILING!! You are very blessed to have all of those wonderful qualitys, and that inspires me to try and do the same.
Keep on smiling! We are praying for you. You are awesome. Most importantly: Have strength,hope, happyness, and LiveSTRONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have asked a large group of local Lady cyclists to get the word out of needed donors. Parenting is such an important role -I pray for your prayers to be answered.
I received info this morning about the blood drive at Smith School. What an awesome idea! Although I have already donated for you at UCSF and therefore can't donate again for awhile, I have forwarded the info to many people I know from school, GLL and work. I'm sure we can find someone who is A-. Keep up the faith. I know we all are at Team KC. You and your family are such an inspiration to so many.
What an amazing family you are!!! I am happy to donate blood/platelets in Korrine's name on the 6th. My daughter Megan Gilmore is an 8th grader at Mendenhall. The kids at school love and miss your beautiful smiling face Korrine. We are here to do anything we can for you and your family. julie gilmore
Dana,
We are saying our prayers and keep your family in our thoughts. Last Friday I gave blood on Korrine's behalf. Not sure what my blood type is, but unfotunately I am not eligible to give platlets. Any thing we can do please reach out to us. Bill is a General Contractor and can help around the house if there is something needed. We're thinking of you!
Michaela Harrison (Emily's Mom)
I just found out that I am just A not A-, but I will still be there to donate on Friday at the school for others, I dont know much about blood types but I think you said you have to be A- to give directly to Korrine. I sure wish I was..
but glad to help others in need also. Hope this week is going better for her and that she is staying as comfortable as she can through this round. Our love to you all and our prayers are with you as always.. Tamika Riddiough and Family
heyy korrine,
your definatly one of a kind. exactly why your blood type is so rare cause you are too. well i hope that this wrong of chemo really kills all the cancrer in you. my family is still praying for you and all those out there. i hope to see you and your smiling face soon.
love always,
korrina botelho
Someone from our mom's group posted this information....what a fighter you are. I am A- do you still need donors? I didn't realize how rare we are. I would be glad to help if you still need it.
-BGAF
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