Exciting News for Oldham | Tuesday, August 28, 2012

We've had a banner week this week at Oldham! First, we had a small article appearing within the 'fall' issue of Midwest Living magazine!

The Oldham Project excitedly announces a new 'partnership' of sorts with McLaren Health Systems! McLaren has graciously offered Oldham an office suite at their South Pennsylvania campus! We hope to be moving in sometime around the beginning of September! We are in need of some financial partners to help us get our first official office, up and running. If you believe in what we're doing or have personally been affected by what we provide for the community and would love to see Oldham move into this next stage of growth, perhaps you'll consider joining us financially to help make this a reality. If you have the resources, or know a business or a vendor who might be willing to finance any of the following, please let us know. We'd love to talk to you more about other needs, but these are the minimum we need to open the doors and get moving! Donations can be made online at our website: www.theoldhamproject.org Please specify in the memo/comments line what the money is designated for.

We each have someone in our circle of friends, business owners or vendors who might be willing to come alongside of Oldham and either purchase some of these things for us or donate the money necessary for us to purchase and becoming a 'Founding Partner' in the new Oldham expansion. Please feel free to contact us or one of our Board members to discuss larger gifts.

Thank you from all the families that Oldham has served thus far!

Apple MAC laptop- 13" w/ 8G ram- $1449

Apple MAC laptop- 15" w/ 8 G ram- $1949

Color printer/scanner/copier/fax- HP- OfficeJet 8600- $169 or HP OfficeJet 8600+ $299

Wireless Keyboard- $69

Apple 27" Thunderbolt- color monitor- $950

Wacom tablet- Intuos 5- $300

Software- Microsoft Office for Mac- $150

Photoshop- $588

If you are a business owner or know a business owner who has been affected by cancer or another life-threatening illness, please have them contact us if they'd like to consider partnering with us for any or all of these needs. We sincerely thank you.

Labels: #bebold, Be Bold Feel Beautiful, Non-profit, ovarian cancer, Susan G. Komen Mid-Michigan, Terri Shaver, The Oldham Project

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Sometimes sick looks normal.... | Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Samantha was very ill, before she even took her first breath.... diagnosed with Hydrocephalus at 28 weeks, long before she was even born, she's now endured over 250 surgeries and procedures to control the Hydrocephalus and it's complications.... the first shunt surgery when she was 2 hours old!

For those of you who don't know about Hydrocephalus, let me explain a bit. Commonly known years ago as 'water on the brain', its basically a 'back-up' of fluid in the brain due to malformations or blockages in the ventricles in the inside of the brain. Normally, we have fluid that circulates within the brain and up and down the spinal cord, called spinal fluid. Due to congenital malformations, etc, that fluid can't circulate as it normally does and it backs up inside the brain, causing fatal swelling of the brain and thus the head. It must be 'shunted' elsewhere to drain. The first surgery Samantha had was to insert the first shunt she ever had to move the fluid from her brain to her abdomen through a very tiny tube, where it's then re-absorbed. This shunt has had to be revised, repaired, changed, lengthed, unclogged and relocated hundreds of times, each requiring a surgical procedure. The abnormal pressure inside the brain then causes brain damage, slowed emotional and mental development, sometimes seizures and profound mental handicaps. These kids are always vulnerable to infections, blockages and even death from the seizures and swelling.

She may appear to look like a normal 17 year old, but the diagnosis has left its mark on her physically, mentally and emotionally. She's physically much smaller than the average 17 year old female, appearing more like a 10-12 year old. Mentally and emotionally functioning at about a 3-4 grade level, she doesn't let that affect her attitude and countenance. She just glows with happiness, despite having endured such physical challenges. She has frequent seizures and most recently, had to have open heart surgery, due to blood clots filling her heart. Another complication of the shunt.
Having been hospitalized most of her life, Samantha has been homeschooled for most of that time. She will never be able to participate with any physical sporting activities like other kids her age.

This family has endured more than Samantha's illness, having their home devastated by a fire, losing everything. Her mom shares, "Never give up hope. I let her do what she can... she knows her limitations."

Due to some very generous donations, Samantha was able to go shopping for a couple new outfits for her photo session. She was thrilled and shopped almost till she dropped!

Labels: hydrocephalus, Non-profit, Oldham Kids, Terri Shaver, The Oldham Project

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Cancer offers a cure for another problem.... | Friday, August 17, 2012

Believe it or not, Marlene J. believes getting cancer has cured her long history of depression... How can that be? Cancer being better than depression? Cancer being less of an imposition than depression? Cancer being easier to deal with than being depressed?

She says an emphatic, "Yes."

Diagnosed in January of 2012, after a routine mammogram, with Stage 1, HER2 breast cancer, Marlene was thinking she was just checking off tasks before the usual departure for their 'winter escape' to warmer climes, but she was in for a surprise. Facing only a short time of chemo and radiation, she says the entire experience has changed her outlook on life and how she spends her time and mental energy. Saying, "I've suffered from depression since 1988, when she was 'down-sized' out of her professional career." She said it really took it's toll on her, physically and mentally. Losing over 40 lbs., she now believes that she's a different person because of cancer.

Ever thankful for her special nurses at the Sparrow Cancer Center, she personally is grateful for their support and encouragement. Thanks to Sharon Cosgrove and Joann Anderson, special nurses she attributes her change in attitude to.

Go figure, cancer curing a much more devastating disease to some? You betcha. It's all about attitude and how you look at it.

Labels: #bebold, bald woman, bald women, Be Bold Feel Beautiful, breast cancer, breast cancer awareness, cancer, susan g. komen, Susan G. Komen Mid-Michigan, Terri Shaver, The Oldham Project

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"I don't know who I am anymore...." | Wednesday, August 15, 2012

"I don't know who I am anymore...." A common quote from many women that we see at The Oldham Project studios. Some refer to it as "chemo brain", some say they've "lost themselves." Kate is no different, except, she is recognizing it and attempting to face it head on through writing and journaling about her cancer battle.

A professional writer, this comes naturally to her, but she encourages all women to 'write' their way through cancer... documenting feelings, thoughts and fears. So, I thought, who better to tell her story here, than her?

"It’s About Me"

Since the cancer hammer slammed into my consciousness last July, it seems that all has been about me: “How are you feeling? I had a friend who had cancer, and she…,” This friendly question most times was followed by …and her hair grew back in really curly. “Lie still, flat on your back, and we’ll do the rest, including a rubber band wrap around your feet, so you don’t fall.” I really think it was to keep me from a slow roll and frog leap off the steel slab. “Big poke.” Whoa! That was no poke. It symbolized the entry gate for thousands of poisonous mercenaries’ steady stream into me, poised to kill both military and civilians. All these gestures and procedures and more sent to comfort and cure me, I knew in my brain (or what seemed left of it), but I remained scared, scarred, lost, overwhelmed, and unconfident about me.

I had heard about the Oldham Project from a couple of times over the last year, and thought that I did not want fancy makeup, nor a bald picture as a reminder of 2011-2012. Then, I ran into a friend at the East Lansing Art Festival, and she commented on my cute hair style. I hesitated, and then told her that my hair was just a grow-back, and that I had breast cancer. She blinked, hugged me, and said that she, too, had been diagnosed. I learned because this healthy, vibrant woman shared with me her dirty secret that if I could share what seemed a shameful ugly truth of my own, the sting could begin to cool. After this friend and I caught up on children, etc, and were about to part, she mentioned the Oldham Project. I protested that my hair was growing back, and I was feeling better, so no need now. She said, “It’s not too late, check it out.”

The next day, I googled the website, and mustered the courage to make contact. I briefly told my last year’s experience, and clicked on “send. Within ten minutes I received a compassionate phone call from Terri Shaver who set up an appointment for the next week to be made-up at Douglas J, and to go to her studio right after. Terri was so positive and kind on the phone that any reluctance that I had to a face paint and photo of a short-haired version of a previously bald woman like me disappeared. I looked forward to the event.

The big day arrived. The make-up session was pleasurable, and I traveled to the studio where Terri waved a welcome, then rushed to my car to help me carry in my clothes and props. What a breathtaking greeting. We talked briefly, and she began to spin her incredible spell.

The gift Terri Shaver gave to me that day, a breast cancer victim, not only because she is a skilled photographer, transferred me to hope for my life through her lens of empathy. Her up-and-down and round-about movements and constant reinforcement transformed me (in my mind) that day from an ugly duckling to a modest swan. I am no longer a body with a chance for survival, but a whole soul person who will endeavor to beat this cancer demon through a living a life, mind and body in this world, up to my optimum completion. It is about me. "

She's planning to write a book about walking through cancer and hopefully returning to work in the fall. She's "finding herself" through writing and encourages all women who read this, cancer or no cancer to document your feelings and thoughts... document your life. You'll look back on this time and realize what a brave thing you've done, what courage you'll have to go through anything.... what you have learned about yourself.

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| Tuesday, August 7, 2012

After a persistent cough for a couple weeks, Clara's Mom, Lisa decided she knew her child best and took her in to the Doctor to demand some labs be drawn... which determined, just 4 hours later that Clara was fighting Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia. "It was the farthest thing from our minds when we asked for that blood test, they never even eluded to something like that", says Mom, Lisa. With aggressive treatment started immediately in June 2010, Clara's hair remained intact till about Thanksgiving that year. Mom reports that Clara has been a trooper and that this fall, her "port" is due out and finally, life will get back to 'normal' for them.

"Our Doctor, Dr. Scott is very reassuring, but always warns us to 'take one day at a time." Family has rallied around the family, even Clara's uncle Jeff who created a 'port' for her toy kangaroo, which she carries with her to every treatment and hospital stay.

Looking like a normal little 5 year old, she loved playing in the camera room, dressing up in all the costumes available, playing princess, as every little girl should feel!

Mom relates, "Don't ever take anything for granted and enjoy life!" I think that's a 'given' with kids.... they never quite understand the gravity of the situation and help parents cope with their childlike naiveté. Clara has never let the expression of joy leave her sweet little face! She even directed this 'special' hairdo!

Labels: acute lymphocytic leukemia, cancer, cancer in kids, childhood blood disorders, childhood cancer, childhood diseases, Leukemia, Non-profit, Oldham Kids, Terri Shaver, The Oldham Project

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