Childhood Cancer Awareness Month💛🎗

As you may know, September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Ivory Ella supports many different causes throughout the year, but this is one we hold particularly close to our hearts. Over the past few years, we have donated more than $70,000 to the cause.

 

This year, the collection remembers our late friend, Megan Bugg, who lost her fight in early 2022. 10% of the net profits made from the collection will be donated to the Megan Bugg Global Rhabdomyosarcoma Research Laboratory at cc-TDI in her honor. The donations will be used to fund the training, supplies, and ongoing salaries for full-time scientists to continue cutting-edge research. Megan's goal was to create a world where no child had to suffer like she did. We intend on helping her continue to chase this dream.

 

 

One of the most special opportunities we have as a company is the chance to use our platform and audience to raise awareness for the cause. This year, we connected with numerous children, parents, and families that are fighting, recovering, and educating others every day of the year. Here are some of their stories:

 

"This is Lizzie , she’s four years old. In February of 2022 she was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. ALL is the most common childhood cancer. It is a cancer of the blood in bone marrow. Symptoms include bruising, paleness, nosebleeds, joint pain, fatigue, headaches, and fever. Lizzie still has over a year of treatments but she is a fighter!

Btw she takes her piggy Marvey everywhere, they’re a package deal 💛."

 

“My 5 year old daughter Charlie is currently fighting medulloblastoma, a childhood brain cancer, for the second time. Childhood cancer is the entirety of our lives right now. Awareness is so important and it’s an honor to share Charlie’s story.”

- Taylor Meza, Charlie's mom

  

“I am a 2x brain cancer AYA (adolescent young adult) and we can do hard things.  We don't need to keep up with our peers, we can rewrite our futures.  We are able to have positive impact on the people around us, by sharing the good and bad times, we don't always have to be "inspiring" to make a difference.  I used to think I needed to "Fake it Till I made it" but I just have to “Face it till I make it"."

  
 

“I was diagnosed with T-cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia in 2019 at the age of 7 years old. I fought through 861 days of chemotherapy treatments and rang the bell in January 2022 at the age of 10. Throughout my fight and beyond I will continue to bring awareness to childhood cancer and advocate for other kids like me.”

  

“I was diagnosed with cancer when I was 17 years old. Since then, I have been a big advocate for childhood cancer. I went through a few surgeries, multiple rounds of chemotherapy, missing out on my senior year of high school, and many side effects from chemo, including seizures and infections that I had to be hospitalized for. Now, I am 6 years cancer free and working as a pediatric nurse. I love sharing my story with my patients and their families to help them through these difficult times.”

  

 

“I am a Ewing’s Sarcoma survivor. I was diagnosed at 4 years old. I am now 12 and have many late effects from treatment including kidney disease, scoliosis, and delayed growth.”

 

“I was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia when I was 5 and finished treatment when i was 7. I think a lot of people believe that a cancer fighters journey is done when they grow their hair back, but I am 8 years chemo free and can say that it is a battle every single day. I hope that no survivor or fighter feels alone and know that their silent struggles are still very real and it does get better.”

 

 

“Luke is a survivor.  He has completed treatment for stage 3 rhabdomyosarcoma. We are passionate about finding a cure!”

-Kristin Fowles, Luke's mom

 

 

“I was originally diagnosed when I was 17 years old, with Ewing’s Sarcoma, during Christmas of 2018. Ewing’s Sarcoma is a rare pediatric bone cancer. I went through one year of treatment, which included: 17 rounds of chemotherapy, 7 surgeries, 30 blood transfusions, and fighting off sepsis. 
After being 1 year cancer free and finishing 1 year of college, in 2020, I discovered a swollen lymph node on my groin. After having it biopsied, almost 2 years to the day I was originally diagnosed, I found out that I had to fight Ewing’s again. This was Christmas of 2020, when I was 19 years old.
This time, my cancer had spread to my lung. I underwent another year and a half of treatment which consisted of: 6 more surgeries, radiation to both of my lungs and groin, multiple blood transfusions, and 12 more rounds of chemo. Finally after 2 cancer diagnosis’ and 4 years of fighting, I am now in remission as of 3 weeks ago!
Throughout my battle, as well as Megan’s, we supported each other constantly. Megan’s determination to raise money and awareness for pediatric cancer was unmatched by anyone that I knew in the cancer community. After her passing, I know that she continues to inspire so many to continue the fight for her.”

 

RAVEN | @ravenncurryy

“I am a childhood cancer survivor, I was diagnosed with ALL (Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia) at 22 months old.  I underwent 2 1/2 years of chemotherapy for treatment.  I celebrated 18 years chemotherapy free in February of 2022.  I am twenty two years old and I advocate every September for Childhood Cancer Awareness, for those who didn’t make the fight.  Children are worth more than 4% of government funding.”

 

 

 

“Our daughter Camilla is been fighting stage 4 neuroblastoma for 2 years this cause means so much to us, we want everyone to know about childhood cancer”

-Camilla's parents

  

 

“I’m a pediatric cancer survivor. When I was 12 I was diagnosed with a super rare sarcoma cancer tumor in my rib cage. I was in treatment filled with very intense chemotherapy, 6 weeks of proton radiation, and 7 surgeries in the time span of 11 months. Now, 5.5 years cancer free and starting college, I would love to spread more awareness about cancer research, funding, and treatments, as for there was no treatment plan for my type of cancer and it was a shot in the dark if I would recover from it. I’ve always loved this brand and I’ve followed it for many years. I’ve been writing songs and wanting to become a professional songwriter ever since I became diagnosed. I’m starting music college in Nashville Tennessee this year and plan to major in songwriting and music business. Music I believe is a huge part in how I got through it all because I don’t know what I would do without it in my life. I hope I can help your cause anyway I can by also incorporating music in a way because I would love that!”

 

 

“I am a childhood cancer survivor and take pride in bringing awareness to this cause through my talents and social media platform.”

  

“I was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma (bone cancer) when I was 9 years old. I have been in remission for about 10 months. I had 12 rounds of chemotherapy and 36 rounds of proton radiation treatment. Throughout my entire battle with cancer I continued to stay positive, play soccer and work out!”

 

 

“I am a two time pediatric cancer survivor. When I was 15 I was admitted to the hospital because I had unexplained fluid and masses in my lungs.  After many tests and surgeries, I was diagnosed with stage 4B Hodgkin’s Lymphoma which is a cancer of the lymphatic system. I began inpatient treatment and chemotherapy. My treatment plan consisted of five rounds of inpatient chemotherapy, each round lasting nine days with a two-week break in between. The chemotherapy left me with a weak immune system that was incapable of protecting me from germs.  I was unable to attend school, or just hang out with my friends. Once I completed five rounds of chemo, my life started to return to normal. It was amazing to have my life back, but soon Covid began its spread. Just when I felt some return to normalcy, I was back to wearing masks and staying home. Shortly after Covid arrived, in May of 2020, I found out my cancer had returned.  Just months after being cleared, I was again diagnosed with stage 4B Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.  On top of the complications surrounding a Covid world, I was faced with a more extreme treatment plan this time. This aggressive treatment plan consisted of an initial phase with multiple rounds of chemotherapy, followed by high dose, intensive chemotherapy, and finally a stem cell transplant.  In addition to starting new medicines right away, I spent a significant amount of time in the hospital throughout my treatment. While this experience was difficult, and I endured pain, surgeries, and countless side effects, I was able to go through it all and come out stronger. I was able to graduate high school a whole year early and now I am attending college to become a child life specialist and help more kids like me."

 

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Before September ends, think about the actions you can partake in to make a difference in Childhood Cancer Awareness all year long. You can click here to #GoGold by shopping our Childhood Cancer Collection that donates to the Megan Bugg Global Rhabdomyosarcoma Research Laboratory at cc-TDI 🎗