Austin Freeman Memorial Cancer Fund
Donation protected
_________________ December 10, 2016 _______________ New Goal and Memorial Fund for Austin Freeman
A new Goal of $10,000.00 has been established since the small remaining balance of all previous funding has been used to help towards Austin's final arrangement expenses. The total under Austin's picture is a running total to date since the GFM page was established several years ago. The new Goal reflects the $10,000.00 needed to help establish his Memorial Fund. We have been so Blessed to have had wonderful loving support from so many. The Austin Freeman Memorial Cancer Fund will be Established here on GFM and will continue his Legacy and Pay it Forward to those who have been "Touched" by Childhood Cancer.
A New Direction has been set for use of these funds and will be initiated since Austin has been "Granted his Angel Wings" and is now in Heavens Relm with his Lord. As most know Austin was Diagnosed with Ewings Sarcoma in 2013 and fought like a warrior to beat this disease with all his might. Austin was such an amazing child and was an "old soul" in spirit and conversation. He was extremely intelligent and intuitive at a very young age and even more so as a young 13 year old child.
Austin had a "Vision" and wanted to spread the Message of Childhood Cancer Awareness using his "Story" and he had the oppurtunity to do just that for several years, speaking at Fundraisers for the AFLAC Children's Cancer Center at Egleston Children's Hospital in Atlanta, where he was a Patient for many years. Austin and notable Sports Celebrities such as John Smoltz, Matt Ryan,Roddy White, Dale Earndheart Jr, and a host of Supporters were on many radio,tv, and associated media outlets talking about the importance of Childhood Cancer Awareness and the need for more Childhood Cancer Research Funding.
Austin's message was simple and straight forward, he told his story of how this terrible disease effected him and his family. He urged Parents and Doctors to "Listen"to their children and Patients if they continue to complain of pain anywhere in their body that did not go away or regularly return in the same areas. He talked about his treatments and terrible side effects associated with the Doctors attempts to try and cure him and destroy the Cancer in his body. He told about his many,many days and nights in the Hospital feeling sad and very sick but all the while never giving up the Fight and always smiling through the Sickness and Pain. He spoke of how the Power of Prayer,Faith, and Family helped him through his struggles and gave him a source of comfort and peace when he was scared. Austin loved animals and his dog Lucy gave him many hours of love and happiness which made him smile every time he was able to be home with her. The Therapy Dogs at Egleston Hospital that would often visit him would always be the "Bright Spot" in his time there and always brought out his love of them and smiles as big as they could be. Austin was a Warrior until the very end of his Journey which occurred the morning of October 14, 2016.
Austin touched so many people with his Strength,Courage,Faith,Beautiful Smile,Charm and Wit that he will forever be remembered by so many that knew him or read about him on his "Praying for Austin" Facebook Page.
We, as his Family want to "Continue" Austins Legacy by giving back to the Children and Families that are effected by Childhood Cancer. Austin wanted to give the children in Hospitals, soft cozy Blankets that featured Puppies ( which to Austin was every dog),Cats,Horses,or his favorite Train Engines and Classic Cars. He also wanted to give them a small Plush "Lucy Puppy Black Lab" so they could hold her and feel comfort like she gave him on so many occasions. Austin also wanted to send a message of Hope and Encouragement by giving each Family a small momento that they could have such as a small cross with a verse or saying that would let them know Jesus loves them and would always be there for them through their most trying times.
This is Austin's Legacy....a Legacy of Love,Faith,Courage,Strength, and Hope ...
We want to Honor Austin's Dream of being able to share his journey to all that will listen to bring about Childhood Cancer Awareness. We want to Honor Austin's Legacy by starting this Memorial Fund so we may have the basic means to start this project and carry out his Dream of giving back to those children in need of a little comfort as others had done for him.
If You or a Group would like to be a partner in part to Honor Austin's Memory by Donating to this Fund no matter how little or how large, we know Austin's Family will work diligently to Honor Austin and all those who would support this Benevolent Project.
We will post Updates and pictures for all to see here and also make regular posts on Austin's Facebook page which will soon be revised a little as well.
If you are a member of a Church Group or Organization that would like to hear more about this Project or learn more about Austin's Legacy and Childhood Cancer Awareness please contact us through this page or through Austin's PFA Facebook Page www.facebook.com/prayingforaustin
We have lots of work to do so we need to get started as soon as possible. Our first Hospital visit to deliver Blankets,Pillow Cases,Plush Lucy Puppies, and Family Memento Crosses to Childhood Cancer Patients and their Family will Prayerfully take place as early in the New Year as possible !!!!
______________________Major Blessings to All ____________
As Always...Thank You for supporting Austin's GFM Page in the past and we Pray this new Memorial Project will earn your future support too. Austin's Family could not have provided the level of constant Care, plus the expense of making un-told numbers of trips back and forth to CHOA each year without your support.There were hundreds of thousands of dollars spent over the years paying for Austin's Doctors,Hospital stays, Chemotherapy Meds,Radiation Therapy,specialized Pain Care and Equipment. We Thank God that these catastrophic expenses were all taken care of through CHOA and Major Medical Coverage that kicked in once his limits were met.
There were however,Thousands and Thousands of dollars that were out of pocket expenses and incidental expense that this GFM page helped to cover during the years. Approximately Six Thousand Dollars per year on average were needed over and above covered expenses. Without your support there would have been a much Greater burden placed on the Family and it would have been impossible to recover from it.
Thank You All and God Bless !!!!
The Family of Austin Michael Freeman
_______________The Beginning_________________________
Austin is 13 years old and was diagnosed with Ewing's Sarcoma,a form of Pediatric Bone Cancer, April 5, 2013 just prior to his 10th birthday. The tumor was found on his Right Pelvis area quite by accident following a visit with a Pediactric Orthopedic Doctor who took an X-ray of Austin's Pelvis after Austin complained of on going
pain in that area. The visit was for something entirely unrelated to his pelvis pain. After a biopsy confirmed a diagnosis of Ewing's Sarcoma, Austin under went treatment at Children's Hospital of Atlanta( Egleston) starting Chemotherapy right away and
then Radiation at a later time.
Over the course of the next year and a half Austin had approximately 51 rounds of Chemotherapy and 31 Radiation treatments. He was declared in remission March 22nd 2014 and recently had his One
Year Cancer Free Celebration this past March. Life had basically returned to normal for Austin and his family, which consists of his Mom and his little sister who is now six years old. Needless to say, Austin's Medical Bills were astronomical. The out of pocket expenses of traveling to and from treatments, food, lodging when needed, and other miscellaneous expenses placed quite a burden on this single mom who is employed by a small business near McDonough, Georgia. These added expenses along with other unfortunate situations has put their home is in Jeopardy of Foreclosure. To loose their home, especially now, would be devastating and would certainly disrupt the progress that Austin and his sister have made as they have finally settled in a wonderful, safe neighborhood with great schools nearby.
_______________No Longer In Remission__________________
The sad news now is, Austin is NO LONGER in remission, and he started Chemotherapy again July 6, 2015. This is a TOTAL NIGHTMARE for Austin and his family. He will have Chemotherapy for approximately six to eight months to try to shrink the cancerous tumor in his pelvis. This child has bravely and heroically Kicked Cancer's Butt once and he said, "I am going to Kick it TWICE!!!!!" That is the
Attitude of a Brave Young Man and he is Ready to Fight this Monster Again! This Family needs your Prayers and your Support to continue to
Fight all the Financial obstacles that they have and will continue to have in the near future.
Continued travel expenses, Lodging expenses and other misc expenses will continue to burden this family beyond recovery without your support.
All Resourses have been tapped out with nowhere left to turn.
________________The Fight Continues 2016____________
Austin stayed on chemotherapy until January 2016 when it was decided by his Scans that it was not working to reduce the tumor but it had grown some. His Oncologists put him on Etopiside which is an oral pill chemotherapy and he stayed on that for approximately two months with increased tumor growth. He was taken off the Etopiside in February.
In April our Hope increased as Austin was accepted in a Immunotherapy Trial Study using the drug Nivolumab which had shown great promise in Adults with advanced lung Cancer but had not been used in children with Ewings Sarcoma, thus the Trial Study.
Austin had a severe setback in early April when he was lying on the couch, turned to shift his position and his Left Femur SNAPPED and completely broke into. He underwent surgery to repair his leg with titanium plates screwed into place in three locations. To make a longer story shorter we spent a the next four weeks in the Children's Hospital Egleston for pain control for his right pelvis ,hip, and knee as the Cancer has continued to grow and press on his sciatic nerve. His Immunotherapy has been discontinued due to complications with inflammation and no positive results noted. He has been sent home with tons of pain meds to "keep him comfortable" until the Oncologists can try to figure out what to try next. They have told us that they do not think Austin can be cured however, they will attempt to find a treatment that may slow down the process of spread until a Miracle CURE can be found or God Performs His Miracle CURE.... We will take either one !!!!!! We are searching for ANY available promising Trial Studies or other proven Treatments anywhere throughout the USA, as well.....This Fight is far from over and Austin is Determined to Win this Battle !!!!!! PLease Help Us WIN this Battle!!!! #TEAM AUSTIN STRONG !!!!!!!
_________________Another Tumor Found________________
The first week or so of August 2016, Austin started to complain about having a headache off and on for about a week. They continued to get more constant and normal headache meds would not help at all. He complained of his forehead and left side of his temple feeling funny. We made a trip to CHOA and he was admitted for a couple of days had a CT and it was thought he had a sinus infection. He was put on a antibiotic and we came home. After a week and a half on the antibiotic he began to get worse and the pain in his face and neck was very bad. We took him to a local Emergency center and they did a CT of his head. Looked like sinus inflammation but the radiologist was unsure. The ER Doctor called CHOA and talked to the Oncologist on call and Austin was transported to CHOA by ambulance that night.
We stayed in Egleston Children's Hospital for two weeks after they found a mass on the left side of his face under his jaw and base of his skull on that left side. He was in severe pain and was put on a pain pump of morphine. That helped some but had to change meds to Dilaudid to Substantially decrease the pain. After five days of Radiation Therapy his pain decreased exponentially and he began to feel much better. He stayed another week to get him off the IV pain meds back on oral meds so he could go home . He is still on oral Chemotherapy and lots of other medicines. The Oncology Team has told us to let Austin do whatever he feels up to doing and manage his pain as needed. They want him to have the best quality of Life possible for as long as he can. If a new med or other Therapy comes along that may produce positive results to eradicate the Cancer cells and Tumors in his body they will do whatever it takes to make that happen. Meantime it is in Gods Hands and we Believe in Miracles!!!! Please keep Austin and our Family in your Prayers. God Bless this Child !!!!
___________Austin Granted His Angel Wings___________
It is with Deep Sorrow and Overwhelming Sadness to post that Austin Michael Freeman passed away surrounded by his loving Mom Abby, Nannah Lenny, and PaPa Cliff while at the Children's Hospital of Atlanta (Egleston) on October 14th at 8:00 a.m.
Austin fought so hard to stay with us all but God needed him to take care of all his family here on earth and welcome the Animals that cross the Rainbow Bridge and Love them Forever!! Austin will be Forever Lovingly Charished in our Hearts and Minds until the day we will see him again at Gods Pearly Gates to Welcome us to Heaven. Words cannot express the void that has been created within our soul as we will miss his being here with us every day.
Austins Beautiful Celebration of Life Service was held at 11:00 a.m. on October 20th 2016 at Lizella Baptist Church Ga. and witnessed by an overflow crowd that extended even into the Church yard. Our Family extends our most humble appreciation to all that have supported Austin and Family on his GFM page. God has Blessed us beyond our expectations and our Hearts are filled with Love for all that have been Praying so hard and sending Compassionate and Heartfelt wishes throughtout this Journey.
_________________Your Help is Needed__________________
Your Prayers,Generosity,Compassion, and Empathy are all that is needed to make a substantial difference for this humble family.
You can follow Austin 's Amazing Journey and become a part of the PFA Team at:
www.facebook.com/prayingforaustin
Thank you so much for reading this and supporting this Amazing Child and his family.
Be Blessed and Pass It ON!!!!!
The Family
Praying for Austin
Organizer
Cliff H. Rushin
Organizer
Macon, GA