|   Monday, July 23, 2012


Charlie is a bright, friendly and utterly charming little 4 year old with a "monster" that lives in his little head.... a terminal brain tumor...Diagnosed with “diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma” or "DIPG”, Charlie was initially treated with radiation and steroids, but to no avail. This is a tumor that WILL take his life and sooner, rather than later.


"Right now, Charlie is in the ironically named "honeymoon period" of his disease. Like any normal 4-year old, he is bright, cheerful and full of life and love. All that is noticeable is a motor impairment in his speech ability, even though he talks non-stop and his cognition is above average. Already he has beaten the odds of a predicted nine month survival after his radiation and steroid treatment last year, but the tumor still lurks, unreachable, inoperable and fated to grow again at some unknown date.
Treatment possibilities have been explored, some tried. The focus now is on providing the best and happiest quality of life in the time remaining.
The disease is cruel, not merely terminal, but one where the sufferer often retains full cognitive awareness when motor functions fail in the final period."


In grappling with the horror, John and Abigail are determined that more help should be available for other families who face such a situation in the future. As a partial, but needed, distraction from the painful reality of the present they have put their efforts into fulfilling the cause of forming a foundation dedicated to families going through this horrible nightmare. Read more HERE about their foundation and the quest to conquer this disease and help families cope with this devastating diagnosis.
I ask myself daily.... why do people have to go through this? Why does this happen? What can I do to help?
What do you ask? How are you affected? Think about being handed something like this... what would you do?
If you dare, please take some time to read Charlie's Mom's journal and the letters she's writing to Charlie as they move through this nightmare of impending death. They are touching, heartbreaking and moving... click HERE to visit Abigail's Journal.

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Fought with courage and humor....   |   Tuesday, January 24, 2012





It is again, I bring sad news of the loss of another Oldham client. Mark and his sisters came to our studio almost a year ago. He was positive, upbeat and full of laughs... I'm so glad to see that he faced his death with the same character. To his family, we extend our deepest sympathies and are so thankful that they made the trip from Bay City to have Mark photographed.


JANZ, E. Mark, age 42, of Bay City, Michigan, died of brain cancer on January 21, 2012 at Bay Regional Medical Center. Mark battled cancer the same way he faced life: with humor, courage and a deep faith in God. Mark was born March 10, 1969 in Saginaw, Michigan to Edwin S. and Mildred H. (Hammerbacher-Wuepper) Janz. He graduated from Bangor John Glenn High School in 1988, where he was on the track team. After high school, Mark worked at the Meijer store on Wilder Road, where he stayed for 20 years until his illness forced him to retire. Mark was passionate about music, movies and history. In 2010, he achieved a long-time goal and took a history of rock and roll class at Delta College. He was also a dedicated blood donor, and received a life-time award for donating more than 6 gallons of blood. But most of all, he loved his family. He was a proud homeowner and loved caring for the home that he shared with his mother and his dog Pal. He leaves his cherished mother and five sisters; Sharon (Jim) Brown; Kate (Todd) Schisler; Susan (Marty) Crook; Ruth (Tim) Sutton and Jean (Don) Mead; many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins. He also leaves his Meijer family, especially his good friend Diane McGregor. Mark was preceded in death by his father; nephew Kevin Mead; grandparents Albert and Meta (Lutz) Hammer-bacher; Blondina (Kolm) Janz and Sylvester and Helen Janz. Mark's family would like to thank the employees and management of Wilder Road Meijer and Meijer Corporate Office in Grand Rapids for all their loving support and generosity during his illness. They also wish to thank Drs. Campau, Cook, Copeland, Hurt, Littles, Schisler, Sriharen and the staff of Bay Regional Medical Center and Heartland Home Health Care and Hospice-especially Shantel-for their compassionate care. Finally, they would like to thank Carol at Elsa U. Pardee Foundation and the Oldham Project for their assistance. Funeral services will take place on Thursday January 26, 2012 at 1:00 p.m. at Zion Lutheran Church, 510 W. Ivy St., Bay City with Rev. William H. Allwardt with interment following in Floral Gardens Cemetery. Visitation will be held at Gephart Funeral Home, 201 W. Midland St., Bay City from 2:00 to 9:00 p.m. on January 25, 2012. Mark will be taken to the church on Thursday to lie in state from 12:00 o'clock Noon until the time of services. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be directed to Zion Lutheran Church; to the Elsa U. Pardee Foundation or that they donate blood in Mark's name. www.gephartfuneral home.com "Death is nothing at all; I have only slipped away into the next room; I am I and you are you; whatever we were to each other, That we are still…"Canon Henry Scott-Holland, 1847 - 1918.

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Kids will be kids....   |   Friday, January 6, 2012






As a parent, we fret and worry from the time our kids are born about ear aches, sore throats and runny noses...that they'll fall learning to ride that bike or break their arm playing football, but rarely does the thought of cancer cross your mind. Rebecca P. relates the awful day she learned her son, Cayden had cancer. Having been assured by the physician's that this was "nothing" and "no big deal", "probably just a benign tumor", and cancer being the furthest thing from her mind, she arrived at the appointment, alone, with Cayden. Being taken from the treatment room, she was informed that this indeed was not only cancer, but Stage 3 Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma, that in the past month, had now invaded his entire sinus cavity and had moved into his ear canals. In shock, trying to reach her husband, Cayden was left alone in the room, now knowing that something was desperately wrong. Every parents worst nightmare began. Diagnosed in June of 2011, Cayden has now undergone two extensive surgeries to remove as much of the tumor as possible, 15 weeks of chemotherapy and 8 weeks of radiation... and is a testament to faith. Coming from a strong Christian family, faith is their cornerstone, prayer is their language and peace fills their hearts. Rebecca says, "from the beginning, I've been given a peace and know that he's going to be fine." And even though she tears up and cries, she exudes a peace that can only come from a bigger source than herself...."so many of the horrible things they told us would happen to Cayden, didn't happen. He didn't loose his hair, he didn't get burned from the radiation and his hearing is still there! We believe it's because of prayer."
Surrounded by a huge support system in a small town, they have so much love, prayer and encouragement from family, friends and the community! Cayden appears to be a 'normal' 8th grade kid, attending school when he can, thinking about a future with the NBA and enjoying his friends. He would love to become a graffiti artist...He dreams of playing in the NBA and I'm sure as everyone else, thinks of growing old. With that attitude and the power of God, I believe he will!

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