Angels Among Us

Welcome to Angels Among Us!

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My name is Laurena and I am a 13 year cancer survivor. My battle, like most other cancer patients, was a long one. But I never would have made it through without the help of my family and friends, who have not stopped showing me their love and support through my diagnosis, treatments, and the continuing years of being cancer free.

I started making Survivor kits as gifts for the cancer survivors we invite to the Relay for Life every year. I try to come up with new creative gifts each year as well as I make a CD with new songs that have inspired me through my years as a cancer survivor.

I started branching out by sending the kits to people I have met, or friends of friends, who had recently been diagnosed or are celebrating being a survivor, and could use some inspiration. I decided to create this site as a way to reach out beyond my community and bring hope to places I can not reach myself.

If you would like a survivor kit, or know someone who would, please click on the contact link above for information.

**Also if you have ideas for gifts, or have gifts you've made yourself and would like to donate them to a cancer survivor, I am open to suggestions! =)

FAQs

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What are Survivor Care Kits?

They are gifts for cancer survivors that include hand made goodies.

How did they start?

I started making Survivor kits as gifts for the survivors we invite to the relay for life every year. I try to come up with new gifts each year as well as I make a CD with new songs that have inspired me through my years as a cancer survivor.

Who can order them?

Anyone. They are for cancer survivors or caregivers and can be requested by anyone.

Where can they be sent?

We can send them directly to the survivor or we can send them to the person who requests them so they can give them to who they chose.

How much do they cost?

Nothing! They’re free!

Are you a non-profit?

Yes in the sense that we do not make a profit from making these kits., though we are not registered as a non-profit.

Do you take donations?

Donations are always accepted to help defray the costs for supplies to make the kits. These donations are NOT tax deductible. For more information on how to make a donation please email survivorlaurie@gmail.com.

How do I request them?

Click on the Contact link above to find more info on requesting a survivor kit!

Contact

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If you have someone you know who you would like to receive a survivor kit, please email me at:

SurvivorLaurie@gmail.com

Please include the following information:

Your name
Survivor's name
Date of Diagnosis & Type of Cancer
Address you'd like the kit sent to (if you prefer to give the gift yourself thats ok!)

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to email me! =)

Inspiring Quotes

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"You never know how strong you are, until being strong is the only choice you have"

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"If you can get up the courage to begin, you have the courage to succeed"
~David Viscott

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"I am only one;
but I am still one.
I can not do everything;
but I can still do something.
I will not refuse to do the
something I can."
~Helen Keller

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"If you have a goal, dream, or an aspiration, believe in yourself while you are on your way to your destination and you will have already arrived"

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Survivor Spotlight

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In this section I hope to post the stories of other survivors, who have inspired me along the way!

Would you like to share your story? E-mail me to be featured in the survivor spotlight! =)

Survivor Care Kits

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Survivor Care Kits are handmade gift kits for cancer survivors. They can be requested at any time from date of diagnosis to 20+ year cancer free celebrations! They are pick me ups to remind them that they are never alone through their journey.

Pictures to follow:

My Story

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Hello there! My name is Laurena and I am a 13 year cancer survivor. At age 14 I was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer of my tear gland called Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma. At the time my diagnosis, I was told I was the first person to have ACC in that location, as well as the youngest for any location. (ACC typically occurs in middle aged women in the sinus area. The youngest since was diagnosed at the age of 5). My doctors had never seen that type of cancer and in May of '95 I underwent surgery for the removal of a golf ball sized tumor from behind my eye. After the biopsy came back for ACC, I was the first person ever treated with proton beam therapy for an ocular cancer (which I am honored to say that it is now one of the most widely used, and successful types of treatment for ACC). My doctors wanted to do the radiation over my summer vacation, but due to the healing process from the surgery, and needing the approval of the board of directors in charge of the proton therapy site (there were only 2 patient treating proton therapy machines in the country at that time) my radiation treatments began the day after I started my sophomore year of high school.

Despite the recommendations of the radiation staff to drop out of school, and get a tutor, I scheduled my treatments for after school and tried to live as normal a life as a teenage cancer patient can. I was dismissed from school during my last period class (4 days a week), and only missed one day of school through the 9 weeks of radiation. I also stayed as active as I could in one of the sports I did, and one day a week taught an afterschool program. I refused to let cancer decide how I lived my life.

Without the overwhelming support from my family, friends, and community I would not be the person I am today. My old band instructor, Mr. Richard Striano, held a benefit concert for my family. Also Foley Chrysler-Plymouth of Quincy, offered to fix my parents car, but when they realized it was beyond repair, instead donated a car so we could get back and forth to my treatments. AND (as if that wasn't enough) Mrs. Maureen O'Brien, who had known my family since I was in kindergarten, organized families in my community to make dinners for my family so my mother (who worked nights, and brought me to my radiation every afternoon) didn't have to worry about rushing home from my treatments to make dinner for my family (which included my 9 year old brother, and 7 year old sister).

Because of the incredible support I received, cancer was a positive learning experience instead of a difficult one. I created this site with the hope that I can touch the lives of other cancer survivors through their battle and their journey after. Because of course... surviving doesn't stop the day your treatments do! =)

Me & My Angels at the 2008 Relay For Life