The boys basketball program at Payson has just started a fundraiser today to raise some money for Jenna Edwards & Family (Jenna is the 11yo sister of two players of mine - Aaron [Sr] & Dalton [So] who has been battling a tumor on the Optic chiasm since she was 4 years old.) 1 week (Tues. 9-20 thru Tues. 9-27) long fundraiser.
Product:
Spark (Reduced price & no shipping/tax)
$20 for Box / 14 Packets ($22.95 + Shipping & Tax normally)
$50 for Can / 42 Servings ($51.95 + Shipping & Tax normally)
Mandarin Orange, Pink Lemonade, Grape, Fruit Punch
Pre-pay for products and the order will be placed Tuesday Night 9-27-11. When product arrives in approximately 3 days, it will be distributed to individuals ASAP.
Money made goes towards helping Jenna Edwards (11 yo sister of one of my players, Aaron Edwards @ Payson) for the travel and medical bills incurred in the treatment of her tumor on the Optic chiasm (located around the pituitary gland). She is doing chemo right now and has battled this off and on since she was 4 years old.
Below is the article about Jenna Edwards from the Liberty-Bee...
Jenna Edwards, 11, of Payson, donated over 10 inches of hair to Pantene Beautiful Lengths.
Beautiful Lengths is a partnership between Pantene and the American Cancer Society. The role
of Pantene is to help women grow long, strong, beautiful hair and provide the funds to turn this
hair into free, real-hair wigs for women with cancer. So far, Pantene has donated 18,000 free
real-hair wigs to the American Cancer Society’s wig banks (877-227-1596) which distribute wigs
to cancer patients across the country. (www.pantene.com Beautiful Lengths tab)
Jenna’s is a special case because she may be in need of one these wigs in the near future.
At the age of 4, Jenna was diagnosed with an Optic glioma. Gliomas are tumors that grow in
various parts of the brain. Optic gliomas can affect one or both of the optic nerves, which carry
visual information to the brain from each eye. As is the case with Jenna, it can also grow in the
optic chiasm, the area where the optic nerves cross each other in front of the hypothalamus of the
brain. Optic gliomas are rare and the cause is unknown. Most optic gliomas are slow-growing
and non-cancerous and occur in children, almost always before the age of 20.
Jenna’s tumor had gone unnoticed until late January 2004; she became very lethargic and
unresponsive. An emergency CAT scan revealed that not only was there a tumor, but it was
hemorrhaging. It wasn’t until the surgery 4 days later that it was discovered to be an optic glioma.
Although they managed to save her vision and remove 95% of the tumor, the swelling and
hemorrhaging of the tumor damaged Jenna’s hypothalamus region of the brain along with her
pituitary gland. She also suffered a stroke as a result of the surgery. Jenna spent the following 6
weeks at St. Louis Children’s Hospital in recovery, learning to eat, speak and walk again. While
in recovery she started chemotherapy to fight what was left of the tumor after surgery. After 14
months of chemotherapy the tumor had stopped growing and shrunk to minimal size.
Jenna has spent the last 7 years undergoing extensive physical and occupational therapy to
battle the lasting affects of the stroke. All the while undergoing endocrine treatments of offset
the injury of the pituitary gland. She also has periodic MRI’s to monitor the status of the tumor.
Although she isn’t always able to do what children should be doing at her age, she continues to
move ahead with a heart warming smile on her face and laugh to share.
Unfortunately, in early June of this year, an MRI revealed that the tumor had started to grow
again. Under recommendation from Jenna’s team of doctors, she has started another regiment
of chemotherapy. Her first treatment was July 14. She will receive 24 doses over a 48 week
period with hopes to again shrink the tumor. Knowing that there was a good chance that she may
lose her hair, she decided to cut off the length and donate to others in need. In early June, she
had Amy Wagner, cut it off. Amy was helpful in finding a place that would use the hair to benefit
other women taking chemotherapy.
As Jenna continues to battle this unfortunate situation, she has always stayed positive. She will
be starting 6th grade this month at Payson Seymour Elementary, and plans to attend every day
possible, even while taking chemo.
Jenna and her family would like to thank everyone in the community for there continued support.
Jenna especially wants to thank all her friends and classmates for all the cards and support they
have provided this summer. If you see Jenna out in the community just come and say “HI”, your
greeting will be returned with a beautiful smile from a courageous beautiful girl.
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