"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
What a day we had yesterday. We spent the day at the oncology clinic. When we got Korrine's blood test results from Monday it showed that her counts had dropped and it looked like she would need a transfusion. Korrine was also having cramping on her right side in the liver area. We have to be really sensative to how Korrine is feeling because this is how we monitor her. The first signs of problems are cramping and soreness on her right side in the liver area. We had to have an emergency Cat Scan and we are still waiting for the results. When we got back to the clinic after the Cat Scan the blood tests that they took showed her counts looked good and that she wouldn't need a transfusion. This is a true example of a day in the life of a oncology patient, you just never know what your day is going to be like. The good news from the immediate C.T. was that the liver is not bleeding and we are waiting for further results. Korrine's scans are difficult to read so it takes time. We believe everything is fine and this is just precautionary, given her history. Korrine does look good, she is eating and blood work came back good. These are all good signs.
Afterwards Korrine was able to enjoy a Water Polo game between the two high schools. That was her goal to see the two high schools play each other in a Water Polo match. She loved every moment of it and loved seeing all her friends and their families.
We had the privilage of meeting a long term choriocarcinoma survivor from Scotland. She is the longest choriocarcinoma cancer survivor in Great Britain. She was an inspiration to Korrine and our family and we were deeply touched by her visit. She was a comfort to Korrine and their is something special about being able to talk with someone who understands and can offer support and encouragement. Thank you for taking the time to visit and offer encouragement you are an amazing women and it was a privilage to have met you.
Thank you to First Presbyterian Church for the lovely luncheon you put on for Korrine last Sunday. We enjoyed ourselves so much and Korrine was so happy she was feeling well enough to attend. Thank you for the yummy pasta, salad, bread and of course dessert. We may go to different churches but we are all one big family.
Stay Positive, LiveSTRONG and never give up Hope and Faith.
Dana and Matt Croghan
16 comments:
Thanks for the update...it's great to hear all your fun news! Hope the CAT scan comes back clean. I love picturing you out watching water polo and at a luncheon. That is so sweet! Love, Lorri
Korinne,
It was so awesome to see you yesterday at the LHS/GHS waterpolo games. You look wonderful and that beautiful smile of yours is contagious as it was plain to see that everyone who laid eyes on you was smiling from ear to ear. We look forward to the day you are back in the game and we will all be there cheering you on, even if that means cheering for GHS :)
You are always in the minds, hearts, and prayers of our entire family.
Love, Mary Dunn
(Keith Testerman/Courtney Dunn's mom)
Hey Korrine!!! I'm glad your blood tests are looking good! That is excellent news and I'm so glad to hear it!!! It was WONDERFUL seeing you at the pool yesterday!! Thank you for coming it was awesome!!! :)
I love you so much and am always praying!!!
Love, Alex Accornero :)
Hi CutiePie!!
I'm so glad you are feeling well enough to get out and have some fun.
Hope the tests come back clear and it's clear sailing from now on!
Sending many hugs and love all the Croghans!
Love,
Sue
Thank you for the update Dana! I remember Korrine daily in my prayers and continue to pray that she is cured from this cancer, and that she is finding happiness during this journey! God Bless you all! :-)
Hey Chica,
How are you doin'? I was so happy to read that update! I hope all of your results come back, saying you are healthy and well. I hope to see you soon!
Love, Anja
Hi Croghans!
It was wonderful to see you this week, at church and at teh LHS GHS game. Im very happy that you have been feeling better lately :)
Keep it up Korrine!
Love,
Emma
HI korrine! I am glad to hear you are doing well! Thank you for the update Mr and Mrs Croghan! ;) I have sent you and email wanting to know if i was aloud to come and visit korrine and of course the rest of the croghan gang! I also wanted to make your family cookies but i need to know what kind korrine is aloud to have! And i would love to make them her favorite kind as well!! You are in my prayers! Love you so much! You are my inspiration and your experiences have truly touched me!
Love,
Audrey Walke
Dearest Korinne,
We are so thankful that you are feeling better. It must have been fun to see all your friends and eat yummy food. We pray that we hear more updates like this one!
Dearest Croghan family,
Thank you again for keeping in touch. It really helps us have faith and hope.
God Bless your family,
Liz Ben James Pam
Korrine,
I'm so happy to hear you got to go to the high school water polo games. I am sure you had a GREAT time and truly did enjoy seeing your friends.
I'm thinking of you everyday (Sean, Mom and Dad too) and hoping each day brings a bit more energy. I know those lab/clinic days must seem so long...
Take care of you!
hugs and love, kathy t.
Yeah Korrine. Doing "normal" is music to my ears. It also reminds me to take nothing for granted.. the joys of simple things.. bless you sweet girl. May you enjoy many new days of health and happiness.. you truly deserve it.
love your Sister in Christ
Sandi
We're so happy to hear Korrine is out on the town again enjoying what she loves! I can't wait for her to be back in the water again!
We pray with all our hearts for healing and strength, and really praise God for bringing a precious "big sister" into Korrine's life - one who has fought this fight herself!
You are in our hearts and prayers always!!
Love,
The Gilberts
Wonderful news that you were feeling well enough to go to the LHS vs. GHS game! Keep living STRONG, we are right here praying for you~La Familia Cortez
Hi Korrine,
Glad to hear the good news about your blood work and we were
so happy to see you back at the pool with your dad! We are always
thinking of you and wishing you the very best.
Renee, Jeff & Family
It was great to see you Sunday, 10/05, at church. You are still just as beautiful as ever We pray for you every day. Keep living strong. We love you and all your family.
Bernice and Chester
Korrine-
We are glad your blood tests are looking good! You are in my prayers every day! LIVESTRONG!!!!!
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