Rachael has been dubbed a Princess Tomboy by her family. A few minutes withthis charming young 7-year-old and you will quickly see why. She embraces all thethings little girls are supposed to love: art, ballet, piano lessons from her Dad, dolls anddressing like a princess. However, her older brother Marc, 10, has had a big impact onRachael. From him, she has learned to play soccer and air hockey, climb trees, gocamping and play computer games. She likes to win, but she likes her wins to be fair and square. She also builds with Legos—little houses and hangars for Marc’s Lego fighter planes! It’s easy to see through their interaction that Rachael and Marc have a very special relationship.

Rachael’s close family was hit hard in 2009 when she was diagnosed with malignant melanoma atthe age of 5. Two surgeries and other treatmentshave restored her health, but sunscreen, sunprotective clothing and hats are now an importantpart of her daily life, no matter what the activity.Her treatment for cancer was hard on the wholefamily, especially the family separations: Mom andRachael in the hospital, Dad and Marc at home.Watching other children in treatment helpedRachael develop empathy for others and their needs.

Rachael today is a vibrant, healthyand intelligent second grader.She enjoys school in herhometown of Corpus Christi,Texas. She keeps a journal aspart of the curriculum ather elementary school.Her goal is to be anartist. With herwhimsical HappyAngel in the 2011Holiday Collection,she is well on herway to achievingthat goal. Anddoes she worryabout cancer inher life? “No,” shesays, “Mom does that for me!”

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One word describes Jameisha—passionate. She is passionate about life, family, religion,friends and caring for other people. Her joy and enthusiasm bubble up in every smile and inher warm interaction with everyone she meets. Her philosophy is to live life to the fullestand to your full potential. She lives by that philosophy every day.

“Meisha” was diagnosed with Burkitt’s lymphoma three weeks after she finished the secondgrade. She says CAP’s art classes provided an escape from treatment. Jameisha’s artworkpublished in the new children’s board book 1 2 3 Fun! reflects her childlike view of life at that early age. Once she graduated from high school, shemoved on to college and was helped by CAP’s scholarshipprogram, funded by product sales.

Today, Meisha is 22 and a student at the University ofHouston Main Campus, where she majors in healthpromotion and disease prevention with a minor inpsychology. She already is involved in many things thatwill help her achieve her life goals. She is a member ofPower 4 Life Ministries, Inc., a Christian outreach group in Houston. They help with health fairs that teach nutrition for children, give free eye exams and promote a healthy lifestyle for parents.Underserved communities are another of her passions—helping people who don’t have access to resources they need. She is also Chair of the Collegiate CancerCouncil—UH that aims to educate the public about cancer prevention.

After graduation, Meisha wants to go intopublic health and disease prevention. Shealso would like to be a motivational speaker.She says it is important for people to beencouraged and to believe they can dowhatever they dream. Encouraging andmentoring can change someone’s attitude for a lifetime. Someday she wants to return to MD Anderson and give back what theinstitution gave her—hope and healing. She says it is the smallest thing she can do,to give back to MD Anderson’s patients.Meisha says, “I’m a life to be continued.”We want to watch that life, Meisha, andcheer you on along the way, for we have nodoubt that all your goals and more will be fulfilled.

Caitlyn age 15, is a high school sophomore in Katy, Texas. She is a good student andan avid soccer player. For two weeks this past summer, she went to Germany with hersoccer team! She loves to shop and socialize with her friends. She and her motheralso work as volunteers with the Lady Bird Chapter of the National Charity League.

Caitlyn’s encounter with Burkitt’s lymphoma was brief, intense and very successful,but the lessons she learned through rounds of chemotherapy still resonate in her life.She and her family have started a non-profit organization called Keep Kids Connected. After her own battle with cancer, Caitlynwanted to give back to other children fighting cancer. The goal of Keep Kids Connected is to help every childbattling cancer or any life-threatening illness by enablingthem to stay connected to family and friends while theyare away from home or isolated from visitors. They dothis by providing a Netbook computer to children.Caitlyn knows first hand that contact with family andfriends can brighten spirits and help children forgetabout their treatment while they are connected. Thefamily raises money through donations and by hostingan annual spaghetti dinner. From the last dinner, they raised $5,000 to purchase computers andgave another $5,000 to the Children’s CancerHospital for research.

Caitlyn has learned a great deal from her cancertreatment. She has participated in Camp A.O.K.the last two years—one of the programs funded bythe Children’s Art Project. She learned that beingbald was no big deal at camp. All the other kidsunderstood what she was going through. Her desire to help others grew out of her treatment, and it has also helped her focus on a career choice. Caitlyn would like to be an anesthesiologist at MD Anderson so she can help in thetreatment of childrenwith cancer. Thatwill be another longjourney, but we knowCaitlyn has the stayingpower and determination to make it!

Long is a native of Vietnam, and he and his family have traveled a far distance for him to be treated at the MD Anderson Children’s Cancer Hospital. His treatment for leukemia began in Vietnam, but his father thought the treatme nt there was ineffective. Like fathers everywhere, he wanted the best for his son. The father’s search for the besttreatment brought them to Houston and the MD Anderson Children’s Cancer Hospital. At first it was only father and son in the United States, but the mother and baby sister were soon able to join them, bringing their family back together. Their plans for the future are still uncertain, as Long’s treatment continues. His prognosis is very good, and his parents say the MD Anderson team is amazing!

At 11 years of age, Long has easily adapted to the new culture, American food and routines in the hospital. His English is great so there is no language barrier. He attends classes at the in-hospital school where math is his best subject. He says he’s good at math, but “not into it.” He participates in all the activities at the hospital, including CAP’s regular Tuesday art classes. A short time ago he won a prize for a poem written during theWriters in the School program, a segment of the Educationand Creative Arts Program at the hospital. On a recentfield trip to Houston’s Metro Rail Operations Center, heenjoyed “driving” the train in the simulator where theengineers are trained. Through heavy black smoke and a big dust storm, he kept the train on the tracks.Driving a taxi in the side-by-side automobilesimulator, he did a great job until his taxi crashed into a train! No problem—remember, these weresimulators, but they were lots of fun!

Like most boys his age, Long loves to play soccer. Healso enjoys discussing sci-fi ideas with his father—dream machines that could bring benefits tohumans. To reach his dreams, he knowshe must study hard! He is interested in space science, his violin, andaction/adventure video games. He also adores his little sister,Mai, who is three, and he is a very good big brother! Mai adores her Long, as well, andlaughs when he teases her.Family is an important part ofLong’s life. Pulling together with the MD Anderson team,they are working their waythrough his cancer treatment.

Joshua age 12, is part of a big family: mom Ruth, dad Gordon, brother Ted, and sistersMiriam, Dorothy and Rachel. The family works together and plays together. It is thisbig family that has supported Josh in his treatment for medulloblastoma, a braintumor that already has required six surgeries, plus chemotherapy and radiation.Originally from Tempe, Arizona, the family moved toPearland, Texas so Josh could be treated at theMD Anderson Children’s Cancer Hospital.

Joshua is home schooled with his siblingsand is intent on learning everything he can.Math is a favorite subject and reading is soimportant he considers it a hobby! He is very involved in church and can memorizescripture after one reading. When he is notstudying he is involved with Boy Scouts ofAmerica, where camping is a favorite activity.Josh already is climbing the ladder from Tenderfootto Eagle, a planned effort of earning merit badges andcommunity service, culminating in a big Eagle Scoutproject. In the summer, Josh takes all of his siblingsto Camp Star Trails, one of the programs fundedby the Children’s Art Project. It’s a great weekof fun and activity for all.

Josh avidly follows his favorite sportsteams—the Phoenix Suns and theArizona Diamondbacks. Food and eatingare also favorite activities, and he creditshis mother’s wonderful cooking for thispreference. Among his favorites areJames River Waffles and CheeseburgerSoup. He also loves the French toasthis dad makes on Saturdaymornings. Learning, eating,scouting and playing with thefamily’s Wii are all favoriteactivities, but Joshua hasa more important basis forhis life. He calls it CTR, or“choose the right.” A shortvisit with this young mantells you he will alwaysfollow the CTR path.

F eaturedChildren

For more information about supporting the MD Anderson Children’s Art Project

Please visitwww.childrensart.org

Click Here to view all the 2011 Holiday Cards and gifts

created by pediatric cancer patients!