Fundraiser Auction For Liam Begins Wednesday at 10am

Hi, everyone! I hope you are enjoying the beautiful weather this weekend. I wanted to let everyone know that Liam's Fundraiser Auction will go live on Wednesday, March 13th at 10am! We have some amazing items up for bidding that I think you will love. We have Zipz Shoes, a Aden + Anais baby package, gift cards, a Sibu Beauty Spa Kit, and much, much more!

We are holding this fundraiser on Facebook. Be sure to check it out by liking Children Teaching Mama's Facebook Page and going to our Fundraiser For Liam Photo Album. All the rules are under the first picture.

What will the money be used for? Liam has something called Neurofibromatosis, which causes tumors to form in his brain. He currently has 3 tumors and is going through extensive chemotherapy treatment to shrink the tumors. All money collected will go towards travel and medical expenses for Liam.

We thank all of the amazing sponsors who donated items and hope you will take a look and bid! Also, if you would like to donate for our next fundraiser or know someone who would, please email me at childrenteachingmama@gmail.com.

Seeking Fundraiser Auction Sponsors

Hi, everyone! I hope all is well! I am currently putting together a fundraiser auction for my son, Liam, who was diagnosed with a condition called Neurofibromatosis when he was just over one year old. This disorder causes tumors to grow in the brain which can cause a variety of health issues. We found out then that he had  two tumors, but they were not growing and would be monitored closely by his neurologist. However, in September everything changed. His tumors began to grow and, at three years old, he began chemotherapy to help stop growth and shrink the tumors. He has been going through treatment since October, with two hour trips to and from Atlanta each Friday. 

Liam Playing with Papa and Brother!

He was actually doing pretty well with treatments and we were hopeful a few weeks ago when he got his MRI. A week later we found out that the tumors were not shrinking, but, in fact, they had grown, almost doubling in size. We just began a new chemotherapy that will be much more intensive, with trips to Atlanta each week for at least 6 months. For this reason, we are reaching out to companies, representatives, and brands to help support Liam in his battle against Neurofibromatosis. 

We are currently looking for sponsors to participate in an online auction to help raise money for Liam's treatment and expenses. We will make an auction via my Children Teaching Mama Facebook page with all proceeds going towards Liam's expenses.The auction will also be advertised through several other blogs with PR1-PR4 ratings to increase interest and viewership. In addition, we will constantly advertise via Facebook, Twitter and Google+. Each sponsor will be featured in a photo with their name, website link and any other information you would like included. As a PR3 blog with over 40,000 combined followers, I know sponsors will be pleased with the advertisement received.

Being Silly With Big Brother!

If you would like to be a part of this worthy cause by donating items to be auctioned, please email me at childrenteachingmama@gmail.com or you can even donate money by clicking here. If you know someone else who might be interested in sponsoring, please feel free to share this information with them. We already have some awesome auction items, including a Sibu Beauty Spa kit worth $125, a $50 Novica gift card, $100 My Little Legs gift card, Zipz Shoes, and many, many more! This is going to be a great auction!I often write about Liam on Children Teaching Mama, but we have also created Liam's own blog. Life With Liam and Facebook page, so friends and family members can keep up with his progress and support his fight with NF. 

Please let me know if you have any questions at all about the auction. Thanks to all who have already donated in some way. We really do appreciate you and thank you so much for your help!

Liam's Fight With Neurofibromatosis Has Officially Begun

Last week we got news that no parent should ever receive. We found out that Liam, my little loving three year-old boy will start chemotherapy next week. He has something called Neurofibromatosis (NF), something I planned to write about on my blog 2 weeks ago, and I did, but couldn't bring myself to post. Liam has gone through MRIs for 2 years now, every 6 months to track tumor growth. See, NF causes tumors to grow and although they can grow anywhere on the body, they are known to
grow in the brain. Liam currently has 3 tumors and until last week, they were not growing and no intervention was necessary. Everything has changed and this journey has just begun.

Two weeks ago, when I wrote the other post, Liam was getting his 6 month scheduled MRI and I felt it, the mother's intuition, that something was different this time. I just knew it and decided not to post because I didn't want to jinx anything. The truth is, he has been through so much already and has beaten the odds every single time. We knew this would eventually happen, but it wasn't a reality until last week... an it is still sinking in.

We are waiting for the call now an every time the phone rings, I think it is the oncologist calling to schedule putting in his central line. That is, after all, the first step to this process. Then, the week after the central line is put in, the chemo treatments will begin. We will travel to Atlanta once a week for 13 weeks and I am terrified of the unknown. I can barely stand to see my son get put to sleep for MRIs every 6 months, much less, suffering daily from chemo. I want to run away with my little boy and never let this happen to him. He's such a happy little boy and I don't want his love of life to change... ever, but this will change us all.  He truly has a smile that makes everyone around him smile an I never want him to lose that.

This is the beginning and I will try to document everything that happens as we go down this long road. After 13 weeks of chemo, we will get a short break before going back for another 9 weeks. It;s going to be tough- physically, emotionally and financially for our family. For this reason, I started a fundraiser for Liam. I want to do something amazing for him, especially after the first 13 weeks come to an end. He deserves something wonderful and I would love for you to make it happen! I don't know what we will do yet; it really depends on the amount of money we raise, but we are thankful for any donations, which will be used only to benefit him in some way- be it gas for our travels, medicine or other little miracles that will bring a smile to his face. Click the Donation Button below to donate any money for Liam.

I will write more about NF and Liam's journey as we go along. Thoughts and prayers are always welcomed as are encouraging words. We hope you join us along the way as we beat NF and fight for a cure like so many other brave boys and girls out there.

My Little Man, Liam- An Update

Hi, everyone! I wanted to tell you a little about my son Liam. About this time last year I was writing a post about birthmarks. My oldest son, Josiah, has a Port Wine Stain on his leg, just like Gorbachev has on his head, but not as red. Liam, I had noticed, had several Cafe' Au Lait Spots. As I was researching birthmarks for the post, I came across something disturbing- "having six or more café au lait spots greater than 5 mm in diameter before puberty, or greater than 15 mm in diameter after puberty, are cardinal diagnostic features of neurofibromatosis type I" Clicking on the link about neurofibromatosis I was even more disturbing.

As soon as Liam woke up the next morning, I started counting and, in total, he had about 12. I scheduled an appointment with his doctor immediately. Liam has always had a big head, but we didn't realize how quickly it was growing. The doctor said his head growth was off the charts and referred us to a neurologist.

The neurologist was concerned with him having neurofibromatosis (NF), too, or hydrocephalus. We had an MRI the very next day and everything came back normal. We were relieved, but no questions were answered. Did this mean he didn't have NF? No, it only meant he didn't he did not have any tumors yet, which are caused by NF.

Almost a year later, this January,we were referred to the neurologist because his head growth was off the charts again. Another MRI was ordered and this time we weren't so lucky. They found two tumors in his head, one buried deep in his brain and the other is right behind his eye on the optic nerve. They are, at least, non-cancerous, but can cause some major issues, including blindness, learning impairments, and much more.

So, what happens now? We have been referred to a neurosurgeon who will order another MRI and decide if the tumors are growing, what needs to be removed, and what can be removed. It's likely the one inside his brain cannot be removed.

Liam is such a happy little boy and has no idea the struggles ahead of him. NF causes tumors for the rest of his life. As we did last year, we just have to wait and see. He has a tough road ahead of him with surgeries and other procedures. In the meantime, we will be praying and hoping for the best. I hope you will do the same.

I'll keep you update on his status. If you notice several Cafe' Au Lait Spots on your baby, please get them checked out. NF is a disorder better caught early than later.