Drive the STUPID TUMOR to Outer Space! - May 15

Hi Everybody -
I finished the first week of radiation and I am really tired. Mostly now I sleep because it really makes me feel lazy and tired all the time. It also makes my throat burn and the steroid stuff makes me hungry so I am always starving! The only thing that feels good to eat is stuff like pudding and ice cream and milk. Then they started giving me medicine to make the burning stop and IT BURNED TOO! So now they changed it and its a little better. I really wish I felt better right now. I am so tired of being SICK! Mom came up with an idea that made me laugh so I hope everybody will join in. Everybody can send my mom golf balls and I'm going to color them like tumors with faces and stuff. Then my stepdad and mom are going to go to the driving range and hit the golf balls as far as they can! That will be so cool! Maybe the real tumor will get the hint!!!
Another goodo thing is that Command Scott Altman sent me an autographed picture and letter and one of his patches and when he goes up in the space shuttle he's going to say a prayer for me. Well that's all I can write for now. Thank you for reading this and send in some golf balls so my parents can whack them!
Love,
Bree

Notes from Mom:

“STUPID TUMOR”---Lately, Brianna has been struggling with all that is going on…she is becoming impatient and wants to feel better-NOW!! I mentioned in the last update her drawing of the “stupid tumor” so I came up with an idea and if you would like to help out, please feel free!! We are going to collect as many golf balls as possible and Brianna is going to color them with faces, labels, etc. Bob and I (David and Leanne-you are more than welcome to join us) will go to a driving range and smack the tumor/cancer golf balls. Brianna should get a kick out of watching the spectacle! I presented the idea to her and she laughed. I am sure she will laugh even harder watching me try to swing a club after taking at least a 3 year sabbatical! Feel free to donate golf balls or even send us your own “stupid cancer” golf balls labeled with anything you want us to cream (to our home address) I can’t guarantee that my drives will amount to much, but Bob will definitely break a record with the added incentive of smacking the tumor/cancer golf balls.
SPACE SHUTTLE---Many of you are probably aware of the space shuttle launch this week. Well, Commander Scott Altman knows Brianna and is saying some prayers while on the mission. He sent Brianna an autograph picture, letter, and one of his patches and had is specially framed. Please pray for Scott and the crew so that they have a safe return home. We hope to be able to meet him someday soon! We are including a link to an article about the mission.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/space/astronautsspotsmalldingsonshuttleheatshield
RELAY FOR LIFE---We have put together a Relay for Life team (Brianna’s Brigade) supporting the American Cancer Society. The event is to be held on June 5th at Neuqua Valley High School in Naperville, IL. Max Lacewell also has a team (Little Dude’s DIPG Warriors). Little Dude’s team is currently leading in the fundraising efforts and our goal is to have both teams finish in the top two! If we can do this, we will bring awareness to a very rare form of pediatric cancer. We are including a link to our team page in case you are interested in joining our team or making a donation to Brianna’s Relay team. Our goal is to raise at least $5,000 and after just a few days we are already 25% on our way. Of course, we want to far exceed that amount and hope we can count on your support! Feel free to send the link to any/all people you know as this event it to support the American Cancer Society and to further research to find a cure for ALL types of cancer.
http://main.acsevents.org/goto/briannasbrigade
THANK YOU’S---Finally, we want to thank everyone for their prayers and words of encouragement. We are blessed with a huge support network and our family has played a very important role. I wish we could thank every individual for everything they do, but the outpouring of love is overwhelming and it is so difficult to list them all. However, a few people need special thanks for their support over the last several weeks. Thank you to Grandma Close and Grandma Siemann for helping take care of Brianna and all of our needs. Whether it is running errands, coming to visit, or sitting with Brianna or Kaitlyn, we greatly appreciate your help. Aunt Jackie and Aunt Georgia have been very supportive as they keep in touch asking how things are going and also visiting Brianna or treating her to an outing so she can get out of the house and enjoy herself. Bob has been a great comfort to Brianna when she struggles emotionally, not to mention a huge help with daily activities, appointments and as emotional support for me. Leanne, thank you for your 7 gifts in 7 days gesture for Brianna, you are amazing! Finally, thank you to the McCoy and Schmidt families for their kindness and generosity…we are incredibly grateful!
GOD BLESS!!

Brianna's Parents