Scott S. Craun Foundation: Another Day at the Big House

Our Mission:

The Scott S. Craun Foundation is a non-profit charity created by Scott Craun (1975-2011), a registered nurse in Honolulu, Hawaii. Before Scott passed away from Multiple Myeloma, he took the initial steps to establish a fund that could perpetually aid island-bound cancer patients. Multiple Myeloma is a rare blood cell cancer. Scott's know-how as a health care provider AND a cancer patient lent his mission a laser focus on a specific population. Relatively, there are not many myeloma patients in Hawaii (less than 400). The nearest support groups are in California. This charity will make an important difference in the quality of some of these lives. Like Scott, these patients were told, "You have an 'incurable cancer.' Eventually, you will have to take a break from your work. And the most specialized treatment centers are 2500 miles away."

Scott's wish is to provide Hawaii's myeloma patients (or one family member/care-giver) with round-trip airfare to the Continental US for any oncologist-recommended treatment not available in Hawaii. Stem cell transplant, for example, can be a key to prolonging life--sometimes by years--as it was for Scott. Twice Scott experienced the hardships of this relocation for transplant. Scott had many of us to help him through this burden and he was eternally grateful; many other patients are not nearly as networked. Scott became acutely aware of their immediate need. He left behind documents outlining a non-profit based on incremental goals and longevity as priorities over huge sums of money. Ultimate success means for us to be still providing at least one annual flight on the day Hawaii is capable of all specialized myeloma patient technology. Or, even better: on the day MM is no longer deemed "incurable."

To turn Scott's efforts into reality, we will need your help. One annual donation per person--of any amount--is welcomed, along with your suggestions, fundraising ideas, and maybe a few volunteer hours at our events. All who donate will receive a personal message from our foundation updating you on our balance, expenses, number of donors, upcoming fundraisers, and goals. The specific language in our tax exempt 501(c)3 will be transparent to all. We report to every single donor as if they were an investor, beacause they are. The way we give to patients will be on a very personal basis, and we'll share those stories here. Thank you, stay tuned, and thanks to Scott for pointing us in the right direction! We're going to take what he started . . . and keep it going for as long as there is a demand.

Scott S. Craun Foundation. Domestic Nonprofit Corporation, State of Hawaii File No. 235294 D2.

Make out checks to: / send mail to:
Scott S. Craun Foundation
2700 S. King Street
Unit 11564
Honolulu, HI 96828
ph. (808) 772-0408

CraunFoundation@gmail.com

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Another Day at the Big House

Possible Transfusions tomorrow (well later today). I only had to receive Platelets on Monday. They were 11 while my Hemoglobin (HGB) remained around 10 (which is good). I have not been short of breath (which is associated with HGB and it's function to carry Oxygen) so there is a good chance I will only need to receive a platelet transfusion today as was the case on Moneay, and a slight (35%) possibility that I will not have to receive either. I will know by 9am my time tomorrow (that's after a 7:30 am blood draw).

Pictured in today's post are a few of the items scattered around my desk that either bring a smile to my face... give me good luck / positive vibes and remind me of the people and places associated with them. My leg has continued to improve. Most of you know that I tore my Hamstring a couple months ago. I have been able to walk with a cane for over a week, the pain is almost gone as well. I need to start building up my strenght but that will be accomplished in due time.

side not the items are not positioned on my desk in a cluster as pictured.

To keep things short I'll just say I am getting stronger. It is not to say my chemo cycles are working. We will not receive any verification that my cancer is improving (which it is.... thanks to you guys, chemo, and a healthy diet), but sometime in December we hope to see a sign the the # of active abnormal Meyloma cells have decreased. This will have to be confirmed with / by / via another bone marrow biopsy.

Ok I am off to bed... just wanted to say HAPPY NOVEMBER 3RB