"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
Today we spent the afternoon in the oncology clinic. Korrine had to have blood drawn which was not easy because she has been poked so much it is hard to find a good vein. She needed platelets. We were so excited when they had A- platelets waiting for her that someone donated. Thank You, Thank You. If she does not get A- platelets she has to get a shot of rogham to help her body accept the platelets and still her body does not accept the platelets as well. When she gets A- platelets it is the best because her body accepts the A- and the platelets do what they need to do for her body it's the best. Monday she goes in for a Cat Scan and Tuesday for more platelets and Wednesday she will have a Port Central Line placed into her chest under her skin and admitted into the Hospital to start her last round of chemo.
Platelets can be donated at: The American Red Cross 6230 Claremont Avenue in Oakland.
Thank you for all your red blood donations she is still receiving them and will be getting more red blood as well as platelets in the upcoming months. You can donate platelets especially for Korrine. The number you can call for more information is: 1-800-669-4348. Kaiser Blood Donations. She still get's her red blood from all the blood donations at UCSF. Thank You.
In the meantime we are thrilled and thankful to have Korrine home. We love you Team KC and your prayers are being answered. We are so happy!
Stay Positive and LiveSTRONG
Dana and Matt Croghan
6 comments:
We are so Happy too!!! Congratulations Again.
The Campbell's
Strong and inspirational, faithful and a miracle...just a few words that describe Korrine! Thank you for the updates so we know how to keep praying.
Enjoy your weekend together AT HOME!
the Bauer Family
There is truly no place like home! What a blessing to be in your room, with your things, in your house with your family. It warms my heart knowing you are there. Enjoy your time!
Korrine,
I just know that you must be so happy to be home... with your own things and your family!
I went out to Rohnert Park for the start of their Relay for Life this morning. (It is about an hour and fifteen minutes from Castro Valley.) It was the first time I've been at the opening ceremony. It was really great. This one was much smaller than the one in Livermore. They usually do it earlier in June so some people might be on vacation now.
I got the chance to make a luminaria bag for you... so when people are walking tonight, they'll be sending more prayers and positive thoughts your way as they pass the bag with your name in red, a band of yellow that says LIVESTRONG on it... and pink, teal, and purple hearts.
Have a wonderful weekend!
hugs and love, kathy t.
Hey Korrine........I know the girl that cut your dad and brothers hair she is really nice! Stay storng a my family and I are so happy for you! You are so faithful and strong! YOU ROCK! Have a WONDERFUL SUMMER!!!!!!!
MICHELLE ONTANO AND FAMILY
XOXOXOXO
We are so very happy that Korrine is at home. What a blessing for all of you.You are the real angel here Korrine, and we love you.
Ian and Debby
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