"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
Last week, Lance Armstrong testified in front of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee about what our country can do to fight cancer. You can read more about his testimony on the LIVESTRONG Blog. Tomorrow is LIVESTRONG Day, a day when more than 600 cancer awareness and fundraising events will take place all across the country. Tomorrow is the day when we want our entire country's eyes to be focused on the cancer fight.
- Wear Yellow
- Attend a LIVESTRONG Day event
- Pick a fight with cancer.
Tomorrow we can make a difference. Tomorrow let's stand united in the fight against cancer. We hope you'll join us and do your part to make cancer a national priority and conquer this disease.
LIVESTRONG!
16 comments:
I'll be wearing as much yellow as I can and donating platelets for Korrine. Let's all help to beat this thing!
I am going to wear as much yellow as I can!
Stay strong!
I checked out the events happening around here and Knudsen's Ice Creamery in Castro Valley is selling "yellow" ice cream all day. I'm going to get the word out to all the staff at Canyon!
My thoughts and prayers are with you all... today and always!
LIVESTONG! ~kathy t.
Hi Korrine...Yellow isn't really my color, but I'm going to wear it today in support of YOU!
You will be home before you know it! Keep resting and getting stronger - our prayers continue for your total healing and recovery.
LiveStrong [in His Strength!] Beautiful Girl!
Love, Lorri
Good morning Sunshine!
I'm am so proud to be wearing a Sunshine Yellow blouse today! It makes me feel alive and happy. The color is uplifting and all day, everywhere I go and everything I do, I'll think of you even more that usual.
I love you, Korrine!
LIVESTRONG! I know you do, everyday.
Blessings & hugs,
Arla
Thanks so much for the info on LiveSTRONG day today! Very helpful.
Prayers are said every morning, everyday for Korrine. See you at Relay.
I'll wear yellow for you and all. Much love!
Morning CutiePie!
I'm headed out, all decked out in yellow in honor of you. Hope you have a bright and sunny day, filled with as much love as you we can send you.
LIVESTRONG beautiful girl!
Love,
Sue Bakalar
I will be happy to wear yellow today! LiveStrong! ,
I am wearing my LIVESTRONG yellow shirt and hat today. I will wear my Purple for you every other day. I hope to meet you at Relay For Life.
Korrine,
When I got to work today, I could tell all of the people who read the blog last night because we all wore our TEAM KC-LIVESTRONG shirts today. (Usually people wear them on Thursdays or Fridays.)
I'm still hoping to get out for some "yellow" ice cream tonight at the event here in Castro Valley.
Thinking of you and hoping you are feeling stronger each day!
hugs and love, kathy t.
I'm wearing yellow for you korrine! LIVESTRONG!
Yellow, Yellow, Yellow, I'm wearing it for you!
LiveSTRONG
Hello Croghans!
My daughter and I did go to Knudsen's Ice Creamery last night for their LIVESTRONG event. Cassie and I both had the "Celebration Sundae." It was made with cake batter ice cream, lemon chiffon ice cream, marshmallow cream and hot fudge... and of course topped with whipped cream, nuts and a cherry.
All the workers were wearing yellow LIVESTRONG shirts and they had a table to the side with lots of information and bracelets.
I suggested to the woman who had organized the event that she should contact the schools next time. Us "school secretaries" can help get the information out to our school families.
Korrine-I'm hoping you are having a good week and feeling better each day!
hugs and love, kathy t.
Good Morning Korrine and family!
Hope today finds you stronger and with the rest and miracles you so deserve.
I went to get my blood tested yesterday and all the nurses asked about you. They said they all love you and follow your blog. :)
Praying for a good day filled with rest, healing and love.
Love,
Sue Bakalar
Still praying for you daily Korrine.
Are you still in need of platelets? I could probably get over to SF this weekend. I don't know what my blood type is, but I will get it checked.
Please update if this is still a need.
LIVESTRONG!
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