Derrick Nixon

Hello Friends,

Grace's neighbor on the 8th floor at Sick Kids during bone marrow transplant in March of 2006 was a 17 year old boy named Derrick Nixon. Derrick has Lymphoma and has recently relapsed for the second time. Grace and Derrick both had autologous (using their own stem cells, Grace's from her stored umbilical cord and Derricks from a harvest done from his own marrow early in his treatment protocol) bone marrow transplants. Due to Derrick relapsing post this autologous bone marrow transplant, he now needs another bone marrow transplant, this time using a donors stem cells. His immediate family was tested (mother, father, brother and sister) without success. He is now reliant on finding an unrelated match. If he does not find an unrelated match to facilitate this second transplant, doctors at Sick Kids have estimated that he may only be able to survive his disease for another 6 to 12 months. DERRICK NEEDS YOUR HELP!

Yvonne (Derrick's mom) writes:

Myself, Craig, Taylor and Chelsea are not a match for Derrick's bone marrow transplant. I'm asking for your help please. I'm looking for a suitable donor for Derrick. If you can please go online at www.blood.ca/registry for the unrelated bone marrow donor registry and complete an application. You will receive a phone call within 24 hours with information regarding blood testing and closest location nearest to you.

If you are able, please pass this message on to your family, friends, co-workers and neighbours.

Thanking everyone for their support and kindness during this time.

Love from the Nixon Family

All that is required of each of you is to go on line and fill out a brief application. You will then get a phone call letting you know where you can go to have a simple blood test done. You will then be added to the registry. Each time someone like Derrick is in need of bone marrow an extensive search is done comparing the blood tests on file of those who are members of the registry to the blood work of the patient in need. If you were to be a match for someone in need a simple day surgery would be required of you, no incisions, only needle marks from the extraction of a bone marrow sample that will be used for the patient in need. From those that I experienced during my time at the hospital, the extraction was usually taken from the hip area and the discomfort involved was usually controlled with just Tylenol... it is such a small sacrifice to save a life. PLEASE use the link above in Yvonne's Email to register today. You could save a life!

Mama misses you baby.
Les

P.S. Ian and I are going out of town for a few days spanning the first anniversary of Grace's death. We look forward to seeing you all at The Walk. In my absence my father Hal will be taking care of last minuet Walk details. He can be reached at hal.compagnon@woodwyant.com

Scotia Bank to Match Community Donations!

Hi Everyone,

Things continue to move forward with regards to The Third Annual Walk for Grace. I've been told that The Burlington Post ran an article on the front page on Sunday Sept. 19th in anticipation of The Walk. I did not receive my paper yet so I have not had the opportunity to read it. I hope it generates awareness with regards to pediatric brain tumours and interest in The Walk so that we hit our goal of 100 - 150 walkers.

A friend of mine works for Scotia Bank and they have a donation matching program. For every dollar donation generated in the community they will match it up to $5000. That means every dollar of pledges that each of you generates actually translates into $2.00. Good luck with securing your pledges and just a reminder that all donations over $20 will be issued a tax receipt and there will be HBC gifts for those of you generating the most pledges.

Ian and I are planning a week away from Aug. 31st to Sept. 7th. This time for us is very conflicted with confirming details for Grace's Walk, anticipating the first anniversary of her death as well as preparing for Eli's arrival. We are hoping this time away helps us slow down (Ian especially) and refocus on simple things that often get lost in the ciaos of life. It's so difficult for us not to dream of how wonderful our worlds would be if only Grace were still with us. Whether she would understand that a baby brother were on his way. Where she would be developmentally... would she be excited to return to nursery school? Would she now be riding the two wheel bike with training wheels that our neighbor had given us in anticipation of her full recovery? Would she want to be in gymnastics or swimming? I'm sure she would have definite ideas on how she would like to spend her time given how her personality was already so strong when she died. Not a minute passes without reflecting on how life would be with Grace still by my side. I miss her terribly.

Yesterday I attended Dawson's forth birthday. This is his second birthday since completing treatment and with every one that passes it is more promising that he will remain well. Dawson and Grace had similar brain tumours and were on the same treatment protocol. It is incredible to see him thrive given what he has endured in his short life. He is an inspiration.

I hope you are all doing well and having good luck raising money and awareness for pediatric brain tumour research via Grace's Walk. We look forward to seeing you Sept. 9th.

Mama misses you baby.
L~

My car was found!

Hi Everyone,

I hope this note finds you all well. The police "recovered" my car last week and it is what they describe as being in "excellent" shape. That basically means that there was no frame damage... all aesthetic... so my car is at the body shop being fixed and I should have it back at some point late next week. I'm very happy to have it back. It's a great little car, with tons of memories, not to mention it's paid for :-). All of the printing for Grace's Walk was still in the car. They just took some of my work stuff but nothing that isn't easy to replace. We ended up with the best of a bad situation which is always nice.

Ian continues to be busy with work and deck building. I'm busy with work and house stuff taking a stab at no cleaning lady in anticipation of being on a much tighter budget once I'm off work. My mom's going to repair a couple of pieces of Grace's crib linen so we can use it for Eli. I may start working on the nursery soon. All is well with the pregnancy. I packed on 8 pounds last month and when my OB broke into her "it's most likely a lot of water retention" speech I told her not to bother since my weight is so far down on the list of my priorities that I could care less if I put on 18 pounds last month. She told me that there was no need for me to be a "sacrificial lamb" in order to bare this baby. Which is true but really, what ever it takes... I'm game.

I continue to read in order to manage my existence without Grace. I'm reading an autobiography by Elizabeth Edwards (John Edwards' - Vice Presidential Candidate in last U.S. election- wife). She's probably best known for her battle with breast cancer but she is also surviving the death of her oldest son, Wade, who died in a car accident at age 17. After Wade died she and John decided to to have more children when she was 48 and then again at 50. Not to replace Wade but in hopes of injecting some joy back into there world. They still actively parent Wade's memory and her heart still aches 10 years post Wades death, but her younger children have provided some relief by injecting joy back into her daily routine. I guess this is also my hope, some relief in the form of simple joys. There are theories out there with regards to "Replacement Child Syndrome" (effecting children who are born after the death of an older sibling) and the difficulties involved in managing it but when having to choose between managing this or living a life without a child to parent on a daily basis, I'll choose the Replacement Child Syndrome. I do plan for Eli to know Grace well. It actually amazes me that Grace's best friend Nicky still speaks of her although she was just shy of three when Grace died. I was minding Nicky last week and she was sitting on our bed watching a T.V. show while I cleaned my en suite. She got down off the bed and came over when I started cleaning the tub and said "remember when Grace and I took a tub together in that tub?" Of course I did and I'm so grateful that she did as well. Seems likes Grace was here for such a short amount of time that there was such limited opportunity for her to make her mark in hopes of being remembered. I know Ian and I will live with her in our hearts forever, but it helps to know that she lives in the hearts of others as well.

Mama misses you baby.
Lesley

Pledge forms for Grace's Walk

Hi Everyone,

I hope this note finds you all well. Ian is keeping busy with work and deck building. I'm doing my best to keep the emotions in check for Eli's well being and we have been full speed ahead organizing Grace's Walk. Unfortunately sometime Thurs. night, my car was stolen (out of our driveway) and there have been no traces of it since. I'm definitely bummed that I've lost the car that Ian and I drove Baby Grace home from the hospital in. The back right head rest remained indented from where her baby seat was anchored and I used to like to look back at her spot and think about our drives to Springridge Farms. I was hoping to drive that car for many years to come and I'm hopeful that it will still be found although Ian feels that it may be pretty beat up and it being found may not be a good thing if it is. Unfortunately, we also lost all of the printing for Grace's Walk as well. It was in a box in the back seat of the car since I had just started to put up posters and distribute pledge forms. I'm trying to get everything reprinted ASAP but the posters will be delayed being put up and I'm going to rely more on each of you to print your own pledge form off the web site since I will not have as many available for distribution as originally hoped. You can find the link to print off the pledge form under the fundraising tab of Grace's site (www.gracestanley.org). I'm still very hopeful Grace's walk will still be a big success. Please solicit as many pledges as possible. Every dollar counts!

Mama misses you baby.
L~