I am sitting here watching my beautiful grandson sleeping, thinking of the children no longer with us. The true warriors, our children who never had a chance to grow up, our teens who never experienced dating, and our young adults that will never experience the joy of being a parent.  

Yes, it is once again September 30, and a lot has not changed in the past 8 years. Our children are still getting cancer, long term effects of chemo are so uncertain, long term life expectancy is low, and, yes, our children are still dying.

September is a time for us to reflect on the families that have traveled this journey. The survivors with uncertain futures, my friends who lost their children to this horrible disease, their children who lost their brothers and sisters to cancer, the grandparents who hurt for the ones not here.  

I know that my son would have been an awesome uncle to Cal. I won’t lie it makes me very sad when I think that Cal will not get to “be silly” with his uncle. He will not get to enjoy watching Manchester United soccer games, he won’t get to learn all of his uncle’s “sweet” soccer moves, or the opportunity to just sit and talk with his favorite uncle.

Where will we be next September? How many of your friends and family will join “the club”? We don’t like this club, in fact we hate being part of this club, but the seasoned members are here to help the new members on their journey, a journey they never thought they would be on. We never thought that childhood cancer would be part of our journey - now it is weaved into us-it is part of who we are.


With Hope We Continue To Smile,
Jeanine Aubuchon
President and Founder of CJ's Journey

The thing about Childhood Cancer is that for those of us who have been impacted it isn on our minds year round. It doesn't just come up for us in September, although that is definietly a difficult month. 

For the blog today I wanted to share with you a excerpt from my journal. This is what it is like to lose a child to cancer every single day.

Please remember all the parents, siblings, grandparents and extended family during this month. Childhood cancer should not happen to any family and I am on a personal mission to do everything I can to prevent it.

Your donations during the month of September go directly to the CJ's Journey Sarcoma Research Fund with Siteman Cancer Center. Even $5 can make a difference in the lives of so many people.

Thank you for continuing to support our mission.

With hope we continue to smile, 
Jeanine Aubuchon

I thought that surely childhood cancer was already taken care of - I was terribly wrong! Really, what is more important than our children, our future, your future? The answer is NOTHING.

September is a time of change - summer has begun to fade, fall colors are arriving, and a new school year has begun. But equally, if not more important, is that September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and this Sunday, September 13th is National Childhood Cancer Awareness Day. I am asking that for one day you help us spread the message by letting your friends and family know how important September truly is. Without increased awareness and action, cancer will continue to take our children, grandchildren, brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews and friends away from us.

Yes, children still die from cancer - trust me when I say I did not realize that this was still happening at such a high rate until CJ was diagnosed.  I saw his friends on the hospital floor slowly lose their battles with cancer. I saw children as young as nine months up to the age of 18 battle with everything they had only to lose to their disease because we have not provided sufficient funding for research to improve their chances. I didn't realize that we were still using drugs over 30 years old to treat our children! It seems almost impossible to imagine this especially since so many medical discoveries have been found.  

I ask that you please help us spread the word and make a difference - Take action on September 13th, before it happens to someone you love.

It is easy to get involved. We ask that you #GoGold by wearing gold, or yellow, Sunday, September 13th! Take a photo wearing your gold and share your picture on social media using #CJsJourney and #GoGold (extra points for holding our printable sign). Change your profile picture and cover photo and encourage your friends to do the same. Tell the world why you fight, why you bring awareness and most importantly why you take ACTION. All this information can be found HERE!

Stay Positive, Be Happy and Continue to Smile ... Jeanine

This month CJ’s Journey has several opportunities for you to get involved. Find out how here >>

Thank you so much for honoring CJ by supporting our efforts. A day does not go by that I do not think of my son - his humor, his wit, his love for life and that smile...I really miss that smile. But, because of the support that you have provided and the friendships that have been made-well, that is what keeps me going and I thank you for that.

Stay Positive, Be Happy and Continue to Smile....Jeanine

Well, it looks like we did it! I am completely blown away by your support during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. I set out with a very lofty goal - to raise $1,000 in just 30 days for Sarcoma research. I decided to face my fear in the hope that together we could raise money for Sarcoma research and we did! 

Like most people I try to live my life with little fear. We all know this isn't always easy, but whenever I feel consumed with fear I think of my little brother. After witnessing how he approached life and his diagnosis with grace, wisdom and love - never fear - I know that my little fears are nothing to worry about. 

Yes, I'm nervous, but no longer am I fearful. I have such an amazing support system that came together to raise the money for Sarcoma research and I know you will all be giving me that little push I need to step off the ledge - after that I know my brother will calm my nerves and enjoy the ride with me.  

The CJ's Journey community is truly amazing. Thank you for standing with us during September as we brought awareness to this devistating disease. As we remembered those who lost their battle to cancer and honored those still fighting.  As we joined together to spread our message of HOPE.

We look forward to the next year for CJ's Journey and the many children, teens, young adults and their families we will meet, help and ultimately be touched by.  We look forward to the many volunteers who will help make CJ's Journey possible.  We look forward to spreading HOPE - for at the end of the day that is why we do what we do.

With hope we continue to smile.
Love, 
Michelle

If you would still like to donate there is still time. 
Please visit http://www.cjsjourney.causevox.com to donate.

At age 24, James has been diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma. James is a successful young man who owns his own landscaping business. Not only is his truck his livelihood it is also his mode of transportation for his numerous visits to Barnes Jewish Hospital for treatment. James requested that we repair his 2001 truck so he could carry out his day-to-day routine while battling cancer. CJ’s Journey fulfilled his request and replaced his brakes, muffler, installed a new seat belt, and new transmission. CJ’s Journey was able to grant this request for James through our Journey Support Program.

Let’s face it with a cancer diagnosis you no longer get to always choose what you want to do, or when you want to do it.  Your treatment plan of chemotherapy, radiation and multiple surgeries, not to mention the sickness you feel from these treatments begins to dictate your unwanted “new life”. Many of these children, teens and young adults want to feel a sense of normalcy after a diagnosis. We find this especially true in young adults, who are often in college, have jobs and often have families to care for as well. This is where CJ’s Journey comes in - we have made it our goal to make a difference in their lives. To help them enjoy the little things in between the treatments.

At 21, Andy, was also diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma. Like many young adults receiving treatment for cancer he turns to his video games as a much needed relief after long hours of chemotherapy. Andy’s request was to make his game playing even more enjoyable with a new 64-inch television. CJ’s Journey was able to purchase and deliver Andy’s new TV, which you can see by the photo below just made him smile from ear to ear. Andy’s new television was another product of the Journey Support Program.

Treatment for cancer requires long hours while chemotherapy and radiation AKA poisons are pumped into your body. The pain that these children, teens and young adults endure can be unbearable. While they are dealing with the pain everyone is wondering if the treatment will work; will the tumors shrink; will I live or die? These throughts would be difficult enough for a 50 year old individual, now think about these thoughts as a child, teen or young adult just barely 25.

We know we can’t make the pain go away, but we are able to make a difference in a patients life because of your continued support. I thank you for helping CJ’s Journey make a difference in the lives of children, teens and young adults fighting cancer - we couldn’t do what we do without you.

Stay Positive, Be Happy and Continue to Smile…Jeanine

September is a time of change - summer has begun to fade, fall colors are arriving, and a new school year has begun. But equally, if not more important, is that September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and this Saturday, September 13th is National Childhood Cancer Awareness Day. I am asking that for one day you help us spread the message by letting your friends and family know how important September truly is. Without increased awareness and action, cancer will continue to take our children, grandchildren, brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews and friends away from us.

Yes, children still die from cancer - trust me when I say I did not realize that this was still happening at such a high rate until CJ was diagnosed.  I saw his friends on the hospital floor slowly lose their battles with cancer. I saw children as young as nine months up to the age of 18 battle with everything they had only to lose to their disease because we have not provided sufficient funding for research to improve their chances. I didn't realize that we were still using drugs over 30 years old to treat our children! It seems almost impossible to imagine this especially since so many medical discoveries have been found. 

I thought that surely childhood cancer was already taken care of - I was terribly wrong! Really, what is more important than our children, our future, your future? The answer is NOTHING.

Yes, there has been an increase in the the number of childhood cancer organizations joining the movement to change this. Yes, great strides have occurred in the last few years to benefit certain types of cancers, but this is not fast enough for me. I ask that you please help us spread the word and make a difference - Take action on September 13th, before it happens to someone you love. 

It is easy to get involved. We ask that you wear gold, or yellow, tomorrow September 13th! Take a photo wearing your gold and share your picture on social media using #CJsJourney and #GoGold (extra points for holding our printable sign). Change your profile picture and cover photo and encourage your friends to do the same. Tell the world why you fight, why you bring awareness and most importantly why you take ACTION. All this information can be found HERE!

Stay Positive, Be Happy and Continue to Smile ... Jeanine

I just want to start by saying THANK YOU to all past, present and future supporters of CJ’s Journey. We would not be here without all of you and your desire to make a difference. If you are not already aware September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month or as many in the childhood cancer community like to call it - Childhood Cancer Action Month.  Why the change? Because now is not just a time for awareness, but a time for action. A time to donate and make our voices heard that the lack of funding for this devastating disease is unacceptable. Here at CJ’s Journey we have several programs supporting children, teens and young adults, but we devoted September strictly to research.  

This September we have added a twist to our fundraising efforts. Michelle, our daughter and board member, has agreed to zip line through the Columbia River Gorge if she receives $1,000 in donations via her fundraising page.  Watch the video below to find out why this is so important and a little terrifying for her!

We are very fortunate to provide funding for research right here in St. Louis. All money raised goes directly to the CJ’s Journey Sarcoma Research Fund at Washington University. With your past support we have donated nearly $12,000 since January 2013 to Dr. Brian Van Tine, supporting his groundbreaking research.

There are over 50 types of different sarcomas. Children and adults can both develop sarcoma, although it is more common in children at 15%. However, sarcomas in young adults account for about 1%. Due to it's rarity and small chance of survival the funding for new treatments and research is minimal. With this information, you can see why it is so important to support sarcoma research - especially in regards to the childhood and young adult cancer community.

Thank you again for all of your support in CJ's memory and for supporting our efforts to put an end to childhood cancer. Be sure to check out our September and Get Involved pages on how you can take action. Now is the time to step up, take action and make a difference!

Stay Positive, Be Happy, and Continue to Smile ... Jeanine