September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

The Yianas family, along with their friends, family and entire church community is rallying to bring visibility to the thousands of courageous children who battle pediatric cancer, including their own much loved warrior, Theofanis.

By observing Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, you will become an advocate for the brave children who are unfairly stricken with this disease, their families who unceasingly fight alongside them, and the support organizations that provide compassionate assistance to patients and families.  And very importantly, you'll bring awareness to desperately needed and under-funded research programs whose ultimate goal is to eradicate childhood cancer forever. So, please observe Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and show your support for Theofanis by proudly wearing your THEO bracelets each and every day!

WITH LOVE, FAITH AND PRAYER, HE WILL WIN!

Several weeks back, the Yianas family received a call from Father Andrew Georganas with news that the Saint Demetrios Parish Council unanimously voted to host the 2011 "Taste of Greece Fall Glendi" for the benefit of our beloved Theofanis. They lovingly and graciously announced that all the net proceeds from the event will benefit Theofanis' fight against Neuroblastoma. The event will be held on Saturday, September 24th and Sunday, September 25th on church grounds in Elmhurst.  Humbled by their church's generosity and immensely grateful for their support, Kosta and Eleni have established The Yianas Family Fund to help defray medical costs and most importantly, make donations to Neuroblastoma research for finding better treatments and ultimately a cure! 

So to all the wonderful friends and family, and to all the volunteers who are giving their time, talent and effort to this event, you are doing more than raising awareness of childhood cancer, you are bringing hope and comfort to Eleni, Kosta, Theofanis, Demetra and Sophia. You are helping answer their daily prayers that a cure can one day be found!

THE SPOT

Theo's recovery after Chemo #5 has been fairly good. The first few days after coming home, he dealt with some nausea, vomiting and stomach pains.  He was taking three different anti-nausea medicines in two-hour increments around the clock. This made him extremely tired and weak.  But as the nausea waned, Eleni and Kosta slowly took Theofanis off the medication and were carefully monitoring for any signs of a fever. His counts were stable, then drastically fell as he entered the 7-10 day critical point where he was neutropenic. His body managed to fight and his temperature managed to stay below 99.5, but his counts lunged low to the point where he made two visits to the hospital for blood transfusions. On Tuesday, he went to the SPA for red blood cells and then on Thursday he went in for platelets. With some aches and pains in his tummy and some sniffles throughout the week, needless to say, Theofanis was not able to be in school much. Theo did go to his first soccer game of the season when his counts were stable. His energy was expectedly low, but he still played very well.  It continuously amazes his parents that, except for his hair loss, it is hard to tell that this beautiful child is enduring such a great burden that so many would shudder to accept.

Theofanis is scheduled for a CT scan on Tuesday, in preparation for his upcoming surgery. The scan will focus on his adrenal gland near his left kidney, where the primary tumor is located.  Eleni and Kosta's fervent and constant prayer is that the scan will show that the chemo treaments have reduced the size of the tumor and that it can be completely resected. Eleni and Kosta will then meet with Theo's surgeon, Dr. Liu to review the surgical plan to remove whatever remaning cancer cells of the primary tumor. Theo's surgery date will then be confirmed. Dr. Liu implanted Theo's central line in his chest, and Eleni and Kosta have much confidence in his experience and ability.  After Theo recovers from the operation, then he can begin Cycle #6 at Comer.

 

THEO HAS BEEN SMILING!

 A stranger sent a smile in the mail this week, and a few friends are squeezing some lemons this weekend...all for Theo. 

A package arrived in the mail from an unfamiliar address in Missouri. It contained two "Happy Hats" and a note that read, "I said a prayer for you while I made this and I wanted to put a smile on your face today. I hope it helps to know that a stranger is thinking of you and hoping that you get better soon. -Kathy" So, to Carol Chiligiris' friend, Kathy, who heard about Theo's fight against Neuroblastoma, thank you for putting a smile onto Theo's face. He especially loves the Angry Birds hat! His sisters love them, too!

A few 3rd grade girls from Emerson Elementary School in Elmhurst decided to set up a lemonade stand in honor of Theo. Not all the girls know Theo, but they want to help him fight cancer, nonetheless. So, stop by the corner of Fay and West Avenues in Elmhurst for a glass of lemonade. Be sure to tell Lea P., Georggia S., Maya R., Olivia Q., Arianna C. and Kayla R. that they are kind and good friends. Tell them that you are proud of them, too. Because that's what Theo and the Yianas family plan on doing Saturday when they visit the girls' lemonade stand!