A Hero in Clarke
Donation protected
Hello all! The story that follows is not my own but that of a brilliant ray of light named Clarke Ann O’Neill. First I will share with you who she is followed by the journey she and those in her world will be traveling over the span of the next 6 months +.
Who is Clarke? It makes sense to lead with Clarke’s favorite color yellow, as it seems to sum up who she is in one, tidy word. Of course yellow is her favorite color and incredibly appropriate as she is a ray of sunshine! She radiates positivity like no child I’ve ever met and in fact every time I see yellow my thoughts instantly turn to her. She loves rainbows and unicorns, Perry Gripp and Casper Baby Pants are her favorite musicians, she loves to read (6 books per day) and her favorite book is a Shine the Light : The Human Body. (This has been so helpful as she can tell the docs where all her internal organs are and their corresponding functions , making it easier for them to explain the tumor which she calls ‘The Problem Blob’ from her favorite show, Numberjacks. ) She now loves playing doctor and has been a great doctor to Blee Blee (her doll) as Blee Blee had to undergo the same surgeries and now has a port too so she can get chemo treatments as well. Docs are impressed by her knowledge and strength and one even commented that she will be the one to grow up and cure cancer someday. We need to make sure she gets through this as she’s got big things to do!! Her favorite foods besides ice cream are pickled carrots, hard boiled eggs, bars and green smoothie juice. Her new favorite thing to do is talk to her little 11week old brother Charlie as he is the first person she asks for every morning. She loves preschool and playing outdoors, especially on her Strider bike. Her smile lights up a room, literally. I am dazzled every time I see it. It makes sense that she is so amazing as her mom Alli is one fo the kindest and most beautiful humans I have ever met. Being that your vibe attracts your tribe you can imagine that Brian is also pretty cool ;)
Clarke is a unique child and amazing beyond words. I know I don’t have to sell who she is (especially if you know her!) but I do feel like sharing who she is is almost as important as sharing what she and her family are going through as I will ask you to help in any way you can by the end of this.
What’s happening with Clarke: While visiting family in MN last week a tumor was discovered in Clarke’s kidney. She bumped into a chair at her Grandpa’s house and minutes later she had blood in her urine. She started her Saturday morning at St. Elizabeth’s in Wabasha but was quickly transferred to St. Mary’s in Rochester. An ultrasound was ordered and ultimately a CT scan to try to understand how large the suspected tumor was that they saw in the ultrasound and to see if it had metastasized.
The results of the CT scan showed the tumor in her kidney to be as large as that organ and additionally another spot or possibly a swollen lymph node just on the outside of the kidney and a few nodules in her lungs. The other kidney appears to be normal. At this time, the doctors have diagnosed the tumor as Wilms, a cancer found in 500 3 yr olds per given year. It has indeed metastasized to the lungs. The good news is that it is highly treatable. Also, Mayo Clinic’s hospital has the very best doctors for this situation and they couldn’t have been in a better place for this discovery. Clarke is strong and is doing great considering everything she is going through.
What can we do to help? The road ahead is a long one with 25-31 weeks of chemotherapy in store for Clarke, including eventual removal of the kidney. This has been and is going to continue being such an emotional struggle for the O’Niell’s and though we cant alleviate much of the emotional or physical pain they will go through the very least we can do is try to alleviate some of the financial strain. Giving absolutely anything whether its $5, $50 or $500 will help. It adds up, it really does. Let’s get our ray of sunshine healed and on the road to recovery and lets do it together! We can show her, Alli, Brian and Charlie that they are far from alone.
Much love to you all and much love to one of the kindest if not THE kindest family I am lucky enough to call friends. We love you Clarke Ann O’Niell!!!
Who is Clarke? It makes sense to lead with Clarke’s favorite color yellow, as it seems to sum up who she is in one, tidy word. Of course yellow is her favorite color and incredibly appropriate as she is a ray of sunshine! She radiates positivity like no child I’ve ever met and in fact every time I see yellow my thoughts instantly turn to her. She loves rainbows and unicorns, Perry Gripp and Casper Baby Pants are her favorite musicians, she loves to read (6 books per day) and her favorite book is a Shine the Light : The Human Body. (This has been so helpful as she can tell the docs where all her internal organs are and their corresponding functions , making it easier for them to explain the tumor which she calls ‘The Problem Blob’ from her favorite show, Numberjacks. ) She now loves playing doctor and has been a great doctor to Blee Blee (her doll) as Blee Blee had to undergo the same surgeries and now has a port too so she can get chemo treatments as well. Docs are impressed by her knowledge and strength and one even commented that she will be the one to grow up and cure cancer someday. We need to make sure she gets through this as she’s got big things to do!! Her favorite foods besides ice cream are pickled carrots, hard boiled eggs, bars and green smoothie juice. Her new favorite thing to do is talk to her little 11week old brother Charlie as he is the first person she asks for every morning. She loves preschool and playing outdoors, especially on her Strider bike. Her smile lights up a room, literally. I am dazzled every time I see it. It makes sense that she is so amazing as her mom Alli is one fo the kindest and most beautiful humans I have ever met. Being that your vibe attracts your tribe you can imagine that Brian is also pretty cool ;)
Clarke is a unique child and amazing beyond words. I know I don’t have to sell who she is (especially if you know her!) but I do feel like sharing who she is is almost as important as sharing what she and her family are going through as I will ask you to help in any way you can by the end of this.
What’s happening with Clarke: While visiting family in MN last week a tumor was discovered in Clarke’s kidney. She bumped into a chair at her Grandpa’s house and minutes later she had blood in her urine. She started her Saturday morning at St. Elizabeth’s in Wabasha but was quickly transferred to St. Mary’s in Rochester. An ultrasound was ordered and ultimately a CT scan to try to understand how large the suspected tumor was that they saw in the ultrasound and to see if it had metastasized.
The results of the CT scan showed the tumor in her kidney to be as large as that organ and additionally another spot or possibly a swollen lymph node just on the outside of the kidney and a few nodules in her lungs. The other kidney appears to be normal. At this time, the doctors have diagnosed the tumor as Wilms, a cancer found in 500 3 yr olds per given year. It has indeed metastasized to the lungs. The good news is that it is highly treatable. Also, Mayo Clinic’s hospital has the very best doctors for this situation and they couldn’t have been in a better place for this discovery. Clarke is strong and is doing great considering everything she is going through.
What can we do to help? The road ahead is a long one with 25-31 weeks of chemotherapy in store for Clarke, including eventual removal of the kidney. This has been and is going to continue being such an emotional struggle for the O’Niell’s and though we cant alleviate much of the emotional or physical pain they will go through the very least we can do is try to alleviate some of the financial strain. Giving absolutely anything whether its $5, $50 or $500 will help. It adds up, it really does. Let’s get our ray of sunshine healed and on the road to recovery and lets do it together! We can show her, Alli, Brian and Charlie that they are far from alone.
Much love to you all and much love to one of the kindest if not THE kindest family I am lucky enough to call friends. We love you Clarke Ann O’Niell!!!
Organizer and beneficiary
Ashly Sehy
Organizer
Webster Groves, MO
Alli ONeill
Beneficiary