"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
Hey Everyone. Something big has happened. Olympic Gold Medalist and world record holder Dana Vollmer will be at SwimStrong this Sunday signing autographs from 11:30 - 12 and 12:30 to 1. There will be a break so Dana can watch her very talented ( and former American Record Holder husband) Andy Grant shred through the water as he Swims Strong for Team KC!
So if you have not signed up yet or are still wondering if you want to go, wait no more! You don't have to be a swimmer because there is lots to do. We will have a world class bake sale headed by Julie Cuy. We have fantastic raffle and silent auction items (see below). We will also have T shirts for sale.
Here are some of the items are gracious, gracious donors have provided for us.
Remember, These kids and parents do not get much in providing for a decent quality of life. Some of these parents really struggle with holding things together while caring for their sick child. And the kids can use all the joy they can get!
Come on out. Have some fun and help .
Sincerely
Matt and Dana
Donations so far
Two beautiful rugs from Carpet One valued at $1,529!
Water Polo items donated by Olympic Gold Medalist Maggie Steffens
A Macintosh I Pad
A Macintosh I pad Mini
4 Lower level Tickets to the Golden State Warriors Game
4 San Jose Sharks Tickets
Tons of Wine
Go Pro Camera
Mt Shasta Get-A-Way. 3 Nights in a cozy Mt. Shasta Home
Tahoe Weekend Get-a-way ( $682 Value)
A handmade quilt from Linda Roseman
A Twosome golf package at Los Positas Golf Course that includes lunch at Beebe’s.
2 hour financial consultation with Jon Elfin
Foursome golf package at the Manteca Municipal Golf Course
Lots of sports memorabilia from Tim Brophy including a signed poster from Chris Mullen of the Golden State Warriors.
Lap top computer from AER Worldwide.
A Foursome Golf package from Willow Park Golf Course in Castro Valley
$75 Gift Certificate from Livermore Valley Florist
$ 50 Gift Certificate from Del Sole Shoes
Breakfast for two at Casse- Croule French Bakery
$360 worth of Consultations from Castle Comforts
A $200 gift certificate and wine to Wente from the Pedi-Onc Clinic at Kaiser Oakland
Gift Certificates and a basket of goodies from First Street Ale House
A triple strand rose ( yellow and white gold over sterling) necklace. Valued at $200 from Lance Cavalerie Jewelers.
Gift Certificate to Spanky’s Hot Dogs
$500 worth of dance lessons from Arthur Murray
$25 Gift certificate to Fantasy Books and Games.
Wine tasting for two at First Street Wine Company
$43 worth of haircuts and toys at All About Me Kids Salon and Woopsidaisy Toys.
Signed copies of Lunches With Mr. Q by local author Kevin Nelson.
2 free guitar lessons from ABC Music Source
Gift Certificate from First Street Designs
$50 Gift Certificate to Zephyr Grill and Bar
Choice beers and gift Certificate to Tap 25
Gift card to Strizzi’s restaurant
$500 gold sponsor from Kooly Katz Toys
$25 Gift certificate to Patxi’s Pizza
Private tasting for 8 and some choice wines from Dante Robere Vinyards
A signed Magnum of Petite Sirah and a group tasting for 4 at the Mitchell Katz Winery.
A $50 gift card and bottle of fine wine from Swirl
A Fall / Halloween themed basket from Liz Xavier
Wine tasting for Four at Rubino Estates Winery
A Private ,one hour personal training session with Donna Manning
Commemorative Limited Edition San Francisco 49er NFC Champion Football courtesy of the 49ers.
A $50 gift card from Sauced
A handmade necklace, bracelet and earring set from Terri Norris.
Family fun pack for 4 at Café Art.
12 months of coffee from Peet’s Coffee
2 / 12 month membership and other goods from 24 Hour Fitness.
2 Neptune underwater MP3 players and a lot of swim gear from FINIS.
A $100 Amazon gift card and xBox Live card.
A private tour and tasting package for 8 to Concannon Winery.
$60 Gift card to Texas Roadhouse Restaurant from Alicia G
Wine tasting for four and a bottle of 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon from Steven Kent Winery.
A Skateboard package from Street Science Skateboards
Two weekend tandom bicycle rentals from Livermore Cyclery
Kayak outing at Lake Del Valle from Sunrise Mountain Sports
And the Donations are still coming!
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