As many of you know. My wife's cousin's daughter Mira (4 years old) is is fighting cancer 
  
Mira is a child with incredible spirit and personality. Mira loves  
many things- her big brother (Jackson), her grandparents (many of  
them!), uncles and aunts, playing outside, and creating art. Mira is a  
fighter. Through all of her treatments, those around her could see  
that any set backs were only going to be temporary. Mira has  
endured several surgeries, 6 rounds of high dose chemotherapy, 33  
days of radiation to her brain and spine, as well as an experimental  
treatment at Sloan-Kettering. Mira had many complications from  
her cancer, but was making great progress in her recovery, when  
she was diagnosed with recurrent ependymoma in January 2008,  
two years after her initial diagnosis. She had surgery to remove  
that tumor and will enter into further treatment soon.  
  
My wife Julie decided, through the St Baldricks organization has raised over $800 
for cancer research. I'm proud of her and i'm posting this as a Kudos. 
  
Pictures of julie 
click on the link "Particpant Information" for update pictures 
  
  
Here is a poem that Julie wrote  
  
Ode to Saint Baldrick’s Day  
In Honor of Mira Brouwer 
My cousin’s 4 year old daughter- diagnosed with brain and spinal cancer Jan 2006 
By Julie Paulus 
  
There we went as we were, 
Just floating through life. 
There we went as we were, 
And then like a knife, 
  
IT slashed through our world. 
Turning life upside down. 
IT rattled our doors. 
IT kicked us around. 
  
The IT was cancer, 
we’ve now come to know. 
The IT was cancer, 
Never friend – ever foe. 
  
It comes to the rich. 
It comes to the poor. 
It could come after YOU. 
It could come after YOURS. 
  
Now it’s one thing if it happens to he or to she. 
It’s one thing if it happens to you or to me. 
But when it comes to our children, 
That’s something else to consider. 
When it comes to our children 
That’s something else 
Altogether. 
  
Children should be happy, light-hearted and free, 
Allowed to be healthy and simply LET BE! 
  
But that’s not how it happens, 
Cancer disregards age. 
  
So what do we do with our anguish and rage? 
  
WE CUT OFF OUR HAIR! 
And hope for donations 
WE CUT OFF OUR HAIR 
Shouting this proclamation – 
  
NOW LISTEN HERE cancer! 
LISTEN UP! 
LISTEN CLOSE! 
  
We’ll raise lots of money. 
We’ll find out how you tick. 
We’ll take you to school. 
We’ll make YOU get SICK! 
  
We won't let you take precious children away… 
You won’t steal one half-hour of one childhood day! 
  
There now you have it, 
This kick-cancer’s-butt-rhyme, 
Do something with it. 
Now is the time. 
Make a donation, 
Or cut off your hair. 
Do what you can. 
To show that you care. 
  
  
I will be getting my hair cut off on March 13th to raise funds for childhood cancer research – I’ve set a goal of raising $500 – not sure if we’ll make it with just a few weeks time – we’ll see.  If you can help with a donation just:  
Click this link http://www.stbaldricks.org/participants/sh...tKey=2008|28745 
-	Choose ‘donate online’ and use a credit or debit card or you can download a donation form and send a check to St. Baldrick’s directly or; 
-	You can mail me a check (5 White Oak Bend Rochester, NY 14624) made out to ‘St. Baldrick’s Foundation’ and I will complete a donation form for you and mail it in or 
-	Donate by phone 888-899-BALD 
  
All donations are 100% tax deductible! 
  
Please send this along to anyone else you know who would want to help. 
  
THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! 
Julie Paulus 
  
To learn more about St. Baldrick’s: www.stbaldricks.org 
  
  
  
Maybe I'll do this next year 
  
Nick in RaChaCha