Scott S. Craun Foundation: Round 3 day One

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

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Round 3 day One

I started my 3rd round of chemo today. After I was up in a wheel chair and unhooked from my pain medication we headed to the check in desk. All was smooth, getting dressed, getting hep-locked (off Pump), getting up to the wheel chair, going to register, seeing the Oncologist. Then the lab put their finger in it. A component was not drawn with one of the ordered labs. (so it was not really labs fault but an operator error between what was ordered by the staff and what should have been) That being the case it took a little longer to get the medication ball rolling. Not a big deal. it gave me an hour or so to send off some texts and people watch in the main lobby. *totally unrelated side note* NOW: I did have a bit of a cough this am and i am pretty sure my cold is coming back out. It will be the 5th or 6th time having the same chest cold this year.*DONE* I will receive Chemo for the next 3 days then not again until January 3rd.

This round of Chemo will potentially be a little more risky. They usually wait at least 2 weeks after Radiation until proceeding with Chemo (when on an out patient basis). I feel fortunate that my Oncologist is will to take a chance (i think because I am kinda in house, the skilled nursing facility... I am in is attached to the hospital) with me. The chance of my levels dropping very quickly is more likely for a few weeks.

Now onto the good stuff..... the........ umm, oh the........ wait there has........ My PCA is working well. A couple nights ago a friend of mine Kerri (physical therapist and owner of the monkey you may have seen pictures of on the blog) was working on my legs and I would dose of for a few seconds have sorta of a vision (not spiritual or profound, but of my messenger bag. Which had a stitched opening in the front to pull things out of). Then I would pop my head up and the word messenger bag would come out, my brain would catch the mistake and try to place it into the conversation. BIZARRE...... MOMMY'S LITTLE STONER