BEST SELLER Janessa's Journey - Through Her Mother's Eyes

Team Janessa

www.stbaldricks.org

This amazing story is one of hope, determination and perseverance.  Filled with anguish and uncertainty, a mother struggles for her child's recovery.   Her youngest daughter had been diagnosed with cancerous brain tumors.   Written from a mother?s perspective, Lorraine shares her most inner thoughts as she witnessed her ten year-old daughter undergo brain surgery and later, a stem cell transplant.  Determined not to be engulfed by the cancer, Lorraine demonstrates the importance of making each and every moment a memorable one.   Any parent who has ever had to encounter the unimaginable torment from witnessing their child's near death experience, will find themselves in this mother's shoes.     She takes you through their battle against cancer, and later, she explains how they cope with the after effects from the chemo treatments.  Janessa suffered severe hearing loss, stunted growth, cognitive development and both social and academic difficulties.  But that did not stop Janessa.   One year after failing all of her classes, Janessa achieved the honor roll and received the Presidential Education Award and nominated for the National Young Leadership State Conference.  This remarkable story is an incredible display of strength, courage, love and devotion.   The reader will reach for the Kleenex, laugh out loud and cheer for Janessa as she finds that one of her hardest battles of all was the one in dealing with her peers!  
                                                                    
                                                                 *Portions of the Proceeds will be donated to various cancer foundations.  
                                                                                              
                                                                                                         ABOUT THE AUTHORS

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"Janessa is a petite, spunky girl with an upbeat attitude, which has earned her the nickname “the jokester” at Camp Okizu. Janessa always tries to smile, even on her worst days. She lost all of her hair when she first went through chemotherapy, and would sometimes joke that she was having “a bald moment” instead of “a blonde moment” whenever she forgot something. Now Janessa has a full head of feather-soft hair under a huge baseball cap." - Emanuella Orr, Chico News & Review

"From our first meeting, when she tentatively removed her purple hat to reveal her bald head, careful not to shock me, I was impressed by her consideration of others as well as her buoyancy in facing her near-fatal disease." - Kay Reid, Home-Hospital Teacher

Whenever I took care of Janessa, she would have some project going ( because she was always busy! ).  She would make you feel like you were the best nurse ( or doctor or aide or food service person ) she'd ever met, and engage you in an enthusiastic  discussion of  her pictures.  For all the  time she spent in  a hospital room, she never let her great spirit lapse, let alone felt sorry for herself.  Love to you !    - Mary Jo - RN at Oakland Children's Hospital

“I received an inner glimpse of Janessa’s courage and spiritual strength that carried and sustained her through the most horrific trial any 10 year old child could ever endure.  I saw the light within her pierce through the darkness of unbelievable suffering reach out to touch innumerable receptive hearts and souls!  Her tender smile and unconditional love broke all barriers to reach out to those who felt afraid, lonely or hopeless.  Despite tremendous physical pain and emotional stress, Janessa would have the ability to still share a joke and make people laugh topped with her huge smile that beamed from ear to ear. I felt honored and privileged  to have shared her momentous journey through the deepest valley of her near death experience to her victorious battle back to health.  To have been graced by her love, caring and thoughtful ways is the highest honor any aunt could ever receive!  I love you Janessa!” -A.Jennifer, Respiratory Therapist

Janessa

UPDATE on Janessa!   With the ongoing assistance of ASL (American Sign Language) Janessa communication skills continue to improve.    Janessa currently attends a mainstream high school and has many friends.  She has excelled academically and was given the President's Education Award and nominated to attend the National Young Leaders State Conference.  Janessa is currently the President of the Cancer Awareness club.

 Janessa's Favorite Quotes:   "I'm having a bald moment!"   "We can't always have what we want in life. I didn't want cancer, but I had to deal with it."   "Never Take Life for Granted! - Live Life to the Fullest."  - "Life is an Adventure."