JAY'S JOURNEY (NEUROBLASTOMA)

G'DAY MY NAME IS " JAY " I'M 13 YEARS OLD & LIVE IN AUSTRALIA WITH MY DARSLY MUM,DOG SNOWFLAKE & MY MATE PORKA. "I HAVE NEUROBLASTOMA - IT DOSNT HAVE ME" I WANT TO RAISE AWARENESS OF NEUROBLASTOMA SO WE CAN FIND A CURE SO NO OTHER CHILDREN LIKE ME HAVE TO SUFFER I HOPE I CAN INSPIRE EVERYONE TO HELP ME FIND A CURE & SPRED THE WORD ABOUT "NEUROBLASTOMA & ME". STRENGTH - COURAGE - DETERMINATION - HOPE & INSPIRATION CANCER IS NOT KILLING ME - IT IS PUSHING ME TO LIVE.

Friday, October 27, 2006

I WON an Australian AWARD

JAY'S (Smile Mail)
P.O. BOX 2075
Fountain Gate 3805
Melbourne - Victoria - Australia
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G'DAY it's JAY
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It's good to be back as you can see by the photo below I am still looking a bit sick - I tried to give you all a big smile - because I always believe a smile will always make me feel better - my face is a bit puffy still - I am not feeling the best but getting on with what I love to do - give hope to others and I wanted to come and see you all because I have missed cheering you all up and missed all my friends.
Before I start my darsly mum has something to tell you all

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"NEWS FLASH - NEWS FLASH"
This is darsly mum and I am so excited - why am I excited you ask, well that is because I have the most wonderful son and I am so very proud of his achievements.
I received a phone call yesterday (Thursday 26th October) I saw the phone number was a Sydney number and could not even think of who it may be.
The lady on the end of the phone asked - is the Bron the son of the special boy Jay, hesitantly I replied YES and then she told me the best news I have ever heard in my life.
I cannot go into details right now - but JAY has won an AUSTRALIAN AWARD for - this is all to do with his battle with cancer - his journey in life and his ability to give others hope - he has been recognized for his strength and courage and ability to help others and to raise awareness of Neuroblastoma.
Jay and myself will be flying to SYDNEY on the 21st November - 2 nights accomodation in Sydney Hotel - on 22nd November the awards ceremony takes place in front of all of Australia and the media and will be on the Today program.
I can't tell you what the award is yet - due to media coverage and the ceremony not being until 22nd November - I hate keeping secrets but this is a very important award and I was in total shock to hear Jay had won the award, I had to get the lady on the end of the phone to repeat it for me - I started to cry and could not believe they chose Jay, she said he is outstanding he just stood out and we had to select him as the winner.
I can't give the details of what the award is - I want to - but it is going to give Jay the opportunity to full fill his goal in life and that is making sure everyone knows what NEUROBLASTOMA is and to find a CURE.
This award is going to do so much - Jay has achieved his goal in getting the Awareness out there about Neuroblastoma and he has been recognized for it and now he has the opportunity to get the message out there even more.
I AM THE PROUDEST MUM IN THE WORLD
and can not reveal the details - until after the ceremony because the Award has not been annouced.

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G'day everyone - I have been very sick and have not been able to do any work on the computer. I am sorry it has been about 2 weeks since my last journal. I have wanted to do my journal but my headaches have been so bad I have not been able to concentrate on anything. I have been worried about all my friends and been thinking of you all so much and I have not even been able to come visit you all. Darsly was going to do a journal and visit my friends but with me being sick she said that I come first and the computer comes lasts (that's my darsly for you) she always takes care of me. The last 2 weeks have not been great, I have been vomiting, the headaches are so bad it is like someone hitting me continuously with a big hammer and the leg pains are just as bad and still we cannot get an answer to why I have the headaches. Migrain has been ruled out - the specialists last time I saw them said my symptoms are not that of Migrain, but did not refer me on to anyone who might know the reason. These headaches are really bad and they have stopped me from doing a lot of things over the past 2 weeks, usually I don't let anything bring me down, I try very hard to get on with life and do all the things I love to do, but these headaches have been the worst ever and they are getting worse each time - so some answers would be great. I don't like being sick, but It has been part of my life for a long time, I am sure I have been given all these challenges in my life for a reason (sometimes it is very annoying) but I know I have been given these challenges for a reason and my journey with cancer has not been without purpose. Through my illness - I have been able to help so many, not only other kids but also doctors to understand my illness and the different effects it has - and helps them understand this horrible disease (well I don't like to call Neuroblastoma a disease because In my opinion it is not) a diesease is something that can be passed on and is catching - NEUROBLASTOMA is not something that can be transmitted and is not catching so I say it is an ILLNESS. Through my battle with Neuroblastoma I have opened the eyes of so many around me and have made aware how life really is precious. Life is far too short, my illness has taught me you must not take life for granted - there are no guarantees in life - there are no guarantees for the future and that is why we must all live each day today because tomorrow never comes. Believe in your dreams - I could be on this earth until the day I am 80 or my future could hold just one more day - we just don't know - dream the biggest dreams and live the fullest life every single day - be thankful you wake up in the morning. Through my illness I have met people I would not normally get the opportunity to meet - it is sad that a child has to have a terminal illness to be able to do such great things and meet such great people. I have met families I would otherwise not have met even though we have only met over the internet we all join together with the same purpose in life and that is to find a cure for childhood cancer. My life has only been a short one - 11 years on this earth - but I have in that short life achieved so much, and if I can continue to achieve by touching the hearts of others, by giving people hope where they may have given up, by giving my strength and courage, by raising awareness of NEUROBLASTOMA then I know I have done a great thing. To be recognized for what I have achieved is an achievement in itself and I am very proud that my purpose in life has bee acknowledged. I got up this morning feeling a little better, but would like to feel a lot better which I know I will soon, so all of you little one's out there battling at the moment, you pat yourself on the back and tell yourself you are PROUD OF YOURSELF, because battling cancer, battling Neuroblastoma is not easy and you are all very very special and should be very proud of yourselves - no matter how tough things get a SMILE is always something seen on a cancer child's face - no complaining ever - no winging ever just a huge SMILE. I am going to battle on and I am not going to let any illness get me - I am here I am a survivor and I am going to continue to be a survivor and find a cure for Neuroblastoma. Did you know that there is no direct government funding into the research of Neuroblastoma - drug companies only fund research in to illnesses that will make a profitable return for their chare holders - this SUCKS because NEUROBLASTOMA is not one of those illnesses. The government here will not fund the protocol for Neuroblastoma, that is why poor families have to try to raise money to go over seas to give their kids a chance - something that should not be - some families just like mine, we cannot afford the cost of going overseas, lots of families can't do it, lots of families unfortunately don't get the opportunity because their children die because of waiting to find the money so they can go. It's time the government here got of there BUTT - we have an election coming up here in Australia - how about getting your butts into gear and give money to reaearch for NEUROBLASTOMA and atleast fund the protocol instead of giving money to the most unnecessary things in life - what is more important - SAVING A CHILD'S LIFE - or giving thousands of money to a SCULPTURE - I am sure you can figure that out. Anyways guys it is good to be back, I am not feeling the best still but I wanted to do my journal because so many people are worried about me, and I thank you all so much for your concerns, even the wonderful people who have their own children going through so much right now - you take the time to worry about me and I appreciate your kind words so very very much. Thank you for all the wonderful messages I receive.

Me with my Wonder Drum Teacher ANDY

See the photo above, that is my wonderul Drum Teacher. His name is ANDY and he is the drummer for the PETE MURRAY band here in Australia - wow I could not believe he wanted to teach me the drums and I can't wait each time my drums lesson day come around. If you get the chance to listen to a PETE MURRAY DVD I am sure you will all want to go out and buy all his DVD's. Andy is teaching me the song BEAUTIFUL - it was funny - he said, OH I think I know that song - I have played it so many times. Thank you ANDY for being my teacher- you are the best teacher ever.

Me with my best mate MICK

Is this a funny photo or what - this is my best mate MICK - YEA I know you are all laughing - we look like the typical AUSSIES - we have to wear those broad brimmed hats because of the heat out here - if we do not have our hats we are not aloud to play out side. We have GREEN - BLUE - or WHITE SHIRTS , I wear a different color each day and we must wear blue pants or shorts. This picture was taken on our FETE we raised lots of money for sports equipment for the school

Jim Carey my fav comedian

While I have been sick - I did get the chance to watch a couple of DVD's whilst I was home - and of course I pick Jim Carey - he is just like me (SILLY AND FUNNY). I watched ACE VENTURA, darsly sat and watched it with me - it was so funny we watched it again and still laughed and laughed. As I always say to all my sick little friends LAUGHTER IS THE BEST MEDICINE - so grab a funny DVD and get your parent to have a laugh as well - having cancer doesn't mean it always has to be doom and gloom. Jim Carey - Adam Sandler always pick me up when I am not feeling so good.

"CAMP QUALITY"

Why "CAMP QUALITY" is so important to me and thousands of kids battling Cancer. Children are our greatest gift. It takes caring and concerned individuals to shape a better tomorrow. When a child is confronted with a physical illness, peace of mind has a therapeutic effect on the body and the benefits of a CAMP will provide kids with cancer an opportunity to learn new skills and make new friends with other kids all of which strengthen their ability to cope with their illness. I have been on many camps and I don't know what my life would be like without camp quality in it - in my opinion the best things about "CAMP QUALITY" is the wonderful volunteers who make things so much fun - and the worst things about camp is having to come home. SENDING just one child on camp costs a lot of money - caring hearts change the lives of a child living with cancer - PLEASE open your heart and donate to Camp Quality so they can continue to put smiles on the diles of kids like me living with cancer. don't think of giving as a duty - think of giving as a privilege.

JAY

www.jaysjourney.org

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Monday, October 16, 2006

Graduation Camp 2006 (Jay sick)



JAY'S (Smile Mail)

P.O. BOX 2075
Fountain Gate 3805
Melbourne - Victoria - Australia
*****
G'DAY it's JAY


THE SURVIVOR MOVIE (Who I am - A true Survivor)

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MY HEALTH

Update 25th October - I am sorry we have not done an update, but time spent at the computer is time away from JAY and he needs my time right now. He is not well - severe headaches - vomiting - leg pain - and at a stage of I don't know where else to go to - a barrage of tests do not give the answers - a little boy doesn't vomit day after day and have severe headaches for no reason. The answers I am after - the answer I will find - just keep going to doctor after doctor until I am given an answer instead of being shoved under the carpet all the time (frustrating). If any AUSTRALIAN doctor out there can give me a straight answer as to what is going on then feel free to put a private message in guestbook - have not found one doctor yet who can give me an answer. He doesn't have migrains so WHAT IS CAUSING THE SEVERE HEAD PAIN???? The vomiting - if any one can tell me please let me know - this has been going on for far too long now and I am getting really frustrated that doctors palm me off just like they did when Jay was first diagnosed and who was right then I WAS.I am sorry for venting but I am not happy - day after day Jay is home from school, I am struggling enough not being able to work and can't go out to work anyway because I have a continuously sick child. Anyway - I will leave it at that - I will attempt to do a JOURNAL for Jay on Friday - I thank everyone of our wonderful friends for caring about Jay and worrying about Jay, please keep him in your thoughts and help him get better. (DARSLY MUM)
Living my life to the full - that is what I am doing. Although I have health issues which always plague me - and probably will for the rest of my life, I am getting on with life and getting on with the second chance I have been given. Being diagnosed with not one but two Cancers - NEUROBLASTOMA and GANGLIONEUROBLASTOMA - GANGLIONEUROMA (I will explain them in my next journal) Neuroblastoma being the worst and most aggressive and deadly of them and is something you never wish upon any other child, but I defied the odds stacked against me and I am still here and I am very grateful to be given a second chance at life. My next journal I am going to write something about my illness so I can get more awareness out there about it - the more people who know about NEUROBLASTOMA the better. We are all aware of many common cancers, but Neuroblastoma is not a cancer people know about - I say I have Neuroblastoma and people say WHAT - I would like people to say - oh yes we know about that horrible cancer - but unfortunately they don't know about it because there is not enough awareness about it. So in my next journal or the one after when I get time I will be doing a big write up about what I have had to go through, about what I still go through, all about my illness and what can be done and what people can do to help find a cure. Finding a Cure is my goal, helping to stop this cancer is my goal, helping other parents to see there is HOPE when it comes to beating Neuroblatoma is my goal, to find that CURE so no more children have to suffer is my goal. I will keep on fighting for the rest of my life to stomp out this horrible monster of a cancer. The spot which sits on T11 - T12 of my spine - it will not get me - it cannot be removed it is inoperable but it will not get me, it will not stop me from living . My headaches and my leg pain are all effects of the cancer but they will not stop me either. With any illness in life, you must always be positive - being diagnosed with a terminal illness doesn't mean it is always the end. The word Cancer doesn't scare me, why be afraid of it, cancer doesn't always mean your life is over. Stay strong and positive and always believe you will win over cancer (I DID). All who are touched by Neuroblastoma should know that we do go through the same things and we should all support one another, we are all on the same mission in life and that is to keep us NB kids well and to beat Neuroblastoma, I know lots of kids with NB, I can't visit everyone but I have a list and long list of NB kids, not just me and we should all support one another on the journey we have been given - if I can give hope to just one child, give encouragement to another, give strength to more then I know I have done something - it may not seem a lot but each message I get from people really puts a smile on my dile (face) and makes me that more determined in life not to let NB get me again. My day's are not all good days, there are day's I don't talk about, there are day's people never get to see, people see the happy smiling Jay and that is who i want people to see (the behind the scenes stuff) well I am sure only the cancer families know what I am talking about). Cancer will always be a part of my life no matter what - through the good, the bad, the great, the horric times me and all my cancer friends will fight on 'Wouldn't it be great to be able to just eliminate cancer for good' lets not dream it, lets get out there and do it (donate to Neuroblastoma Research & other cancer so it can be eliminated for good). Sorry I go on and on, and sometimes around in circles, but i write what comes to my head at the time and I don't have a headache today so I am just writing and writing. (LOL)
MY PA
MONDAY 16th October - Today is the anniversary of the day my wonderful PA died - he is my darsly mums father and we miss him lots. My pa battled Cancer - he had Mesithelioma which is asbestos poisoning. Pa was a great Pa and it was not fair that he died from this horrible cancer. Pa is buried in the country where he use to live and we will be going up there soon because darsly wants to go clean up his grave. Losing my PA was hard, it made me more determined to fight my cancer NEUROBLASTOMA - I did not want to die like my Pa. My Pa was a healthy man, no one new anything was wrong with him until one day he complained of a sore arm - then he was diagnosed with cancer and he was gone in 6 months. I miss you lots PA and always think of you. My darsly mum said I look like PA and I am very much like PA.
THE WEEKEND
SATURDAY 14th October - It was a quiet weekend this weekend, we stayed home and had fun with my darsly mum seeing I had not seen her for a week. My mate Mick was aloud to stay the night and we had lots of fun and did not go to bed until 2am in the morning.
SUNDAY 15th October - Mick and I got up early then darsly got up and made us PANCAKES (yum), Mick was aloud to stay for the day and we went for rides on our bikes. I had one HEADACHE on the weekend but it went away quickly and I could still have fun playing. Mick had to go home about 5.30pm because Monday is a school day.
GRADUATION CAMP 2006 to

Wow - what a week it was on my graduation camp for 2006 - it was not only lots of fun, but also very very HOT here - we had temperatures in the high 30's (HOT HOT HOT) but we all made sure we had a wonderful time and here is what I did. Only a couple of headaches and no nose bleeds.
MONDAY 9th October - Darlsy took me to school where we all assembled outside the gym at 8.40am. We all had a briefing with all the teachers first and then the Coaches arrived and we loaded up the Coach with all our luggage. I was very excited because I had not been on a school camp - I had only ever been away with CAMP QUALITY so to do away with my school friends I was really looking forward to it. The Coaches were all loaded up and we had just a few minutes to say good bye. I gave Darsly a big hug and kiss and we departed for our Adventure to PHILLIP ISLAND ADVENTURE RESORT. Phillip Island where we have the little fairy penguins and is a tourist spot - just click on Phillip Island Adventure Resort and you will see the beautiful place I went to. We all waved goodbye and off we went. We stopped on the way for morning tea had feeding time with the PELICANS. After morning tea it was then on to the RESORT. We unpacked our luggage, was allocated a cabin and I was in the cabin with my mate Mick. We were given a welcome lunch (which was real yummy) and then we assembled for Orientation of the campsite and rules. After that we had an activity session before early dinner which included - HIGH ROPES - TEAM RESCUE - LOW ROPES - BOULDER WALL - TWIN FLYING FOX - RAFT MAKING and CANOEING. We were exhausted but that was not the end yet of day one, still more to come. We had early dinner because we had to get on the Coach to go to the PENGUIN Parade (jus click on to PENGUINS PARADE (Phillip Island) and you will see the Penguins - night time viewing and explore the display areas. It is so great - the little Fairy Penguins each night make their way up the beach to their burrows after a big day out catching fish - we sat in the grand stands which were built to view the penguins and they woddled their way up the beach to their burrows. We got back to camp late but were allowed to watch a DVD and then bed time.
TUESDAY 10th October - It was up early for breakfast - we had to fuel up so we could get through todays activities. In the morning after breakfast we had two sessions of activities which included the GIANT SWING and ARCHERY. After lunch we had MINI OLYMPICS (so funny) and in the evening after dinner we did a NIGHT WALK to SMITHS BEACH - it was a beautiful hot night and so nice on the beach and night time (we all got a bit wet and splashed each other) but it didn't matter it was a hot night.


WEDNESDAY 11th October - Another big day of activites and a day which hit 36 degress celcius (very hot and hot northerly winds) was the hottest October day in 100 years. We had breakfast and then had four sessions of different activities. In the evening after dinner we did a thing called AMAZE "N" THINGS (This was a fun fun outdoor amusment place where I got to play mini golf - they have an upside down house - yea true) and a maze and lots more and later in the night we did a night walk to see creatures of the night with our torches.
THURSDAY 12th October - We were in for another very hot day - hotter than yesterday and the winds were blowing a very hot northerly - the temperature reached 35 degrees celsius and we got to swim today. In the morning we walked to SMITHS BEACH - we did ROCKPOOLING with a PARK RANGER - he explained all the creatures in the sea and the rock pools - we palyed beach games and made these HUGE sandcastles. In the afternoon we did two rotations of activities - one of them a FREE CHOICE. During this time the pool was open and of course I was going swimming (in this heat where else do you want to be). We were of course supervised by a qualified instructor. After dinner we had a DISCO - it went on all night (well real late anyway) .
FRIDAY 13th October - OH it's the day we come home. In the morning we all had to pack up our belongings and tidy the cabins. We all had a great breakfast and then departed for the NOBBIES BOARDWALK (so cool). After that it was lunch time and we stopped at COWES main beach and had a wonderful lunch. Then it was time to say goodbye to PHILLIP ISLAND and the Coaches headed off to our school. We arrived home about 3.15pm where Darsly was there waiting for me.I got home and it all caught up with me and I fell asleep on the couch (darsly said I was asleep for hours) and seeing my little dog Snowflake was great, darsly had given her a wash and put a bandana around her neck to make her look beautiful, and she did, and when I walked in the door she gave me lots of kissed (she missed me lots and I missed her) she is my best medicine.




Laughter - is - the - best - medicine

My dog Snowflake Laughs

Take the time to Smile today

Take the time to Laugh today

Take the time to make someone else Laugh today

It doesn't take much to make someone happy

JAY

www.jaysjourney.org



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Monday, October 02, 2006

What a Headache


JAY'S (Smile Mail)
P.O. BOX 2075
FOUNTAIN GATE 3805
MELBOURNE - VICTORIA - AUSTRALIA
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"G'DAY MATES it's JAY"

Sorry it took me so long to get a journal done - but I have had a few headaches all week and it has been hard to sit at the computer - I can't think properly when I have headaches. - I think I wrote all over the place this time - oh well at least I got it done.
LUCKIEST KID ALIVE
As you all know, my cancer I have battled is NEUROBLASTOMA, and I believe I am the Lukiest kid Alive - because I see so many little kids who just don't make it - I sometimes wonder about if that could be me - it could have been me, but for some reason I was given a second chance at life, not many people get a second chance at life and that is why I feel so lucky. LUCKIEST KID ALIVE - I'M STILL TICKIN - I'M STILL KICKIN and I am so thankful for that. If ever you get the chance to be given a second chance at life - make the most of it, that type of opportunity dosn't come knockin very often. While I am gone, I have asked darsly mum to write a few things about my journey with Neuroblastoma, she has a lot of good memories and not so good memories to tell, but in my case I guess the good memories out weigh the bad because I am here to tell my story. Not many NB kids get the chance to tell their stories because unfortunately the majority of the kids with NB do not survive, this is not because they gave up, NB kids never give up, it is only because their little bodies have just had enough and each NB child although we have the same illness, we all tackle NB differently. I am hoping that I can give hope to others who have kids with NB, hopefully by letting others know you can survive NB will give them the hope to continue the fight and never give up, the main thing is to always be positive, ask questions don't be afraid, if you don't get an answer get another opinion, and stay strong for your child. Darlsy stood up for me, darsly fought for me, she always asked for the truth, she knew if doctors lied to her and she would go in fighting for me day after day - a list of questions she would have and she would not leave the doctors office until she had ticked off each question and made sure it had a truthful answer beside it, if she was not happy with an answer she would go higher and get another opinion. Fight for your kids, don't give up on them and believe that there is hope in beating and surviving NEUROBLASTOMA.
HEALTH
I am doing ok - and lots better than a lot of other sick kids but I still have my problems and worries about my illness. The headaches are the worst, I just wish they would go away for good, they have been going on far too long and still the doctors don't know why I get them - but as I said further down the page darsly has her suspicions as to why and believes it is the spot on my spine at T-11 - T12 pushing on a nerve which is giving me the headaches (maybe darsly should be a doctor). This question was asked to a doctor not long back and we were told it is not possible - well we know other wise it is possible, and very much so possible. My tests still show the spot sitting on T-11 T12 of my spinal cord and it is a worry and if it is causing other problems such as my headaches and leg pain then darsly wants some answers but we are not getting them because we have to wait so long to see a specialist, why do we have to wait so long, that is just the way it is here. Anyway , darsly is still pushing to have the cause of these headaches known and the leg pain as well as the nose bleeds, WHEN a child has a medical history and one of battlin cancer and not just a little cancer but a very aggressive cancer NEUROBLASTOMA you would think the doctors would have concerns and would do their utmost to find the cause of others problems, but they don't - and it is frustrating, and more so for me because I am the one who has to put up with the pain - the head pain, the nosebleeds, the leg pain. Is it going to go away, is it going to get worse - well it aint going away and it has been getting worse so I think it is time we got some answers.
WHAT'S COMING UP
Lots of things are coming up - lot's of CAMP QUALITY fun - many Christmas parties with all the Cancer support places I am with - this year non of them clash so I will be able to go to all of them which is great, each year I can usually only go to one because they they have then on the same day, but I get to go to three this year (WHAT FUN). I also have some Triathlons coming up, of course I do those to raise money for NEUROBLASTOMA RESEARCH and also raise money for CAMP QUALITY, so I have been trying to put in a bit of training for those. I do what I can, when I can during the year to raise as much money as I can in any way I can because I want to find a CURE for NEUROBLASTOMA and also I like to give back to the cancer charities who do so much for me - so I have lots on my schedule seeing the weather here in Australia is getting warmer the Triathlon season has started so you will be hearing lots about the events I will be participating in and also the runs I will be doing.
THIS WEEK GONE ON GRADUATION CAMP
Monday 9th to Friday 13th - I am going on my GRADUATION CAMP with School. All the year 6 students are heading off to Phillip Island for a week of fun and it looks like the weather is going to be great during the week for us. All packed and ready to go - I have a niggly pain in my head but it is not going to stop me from going on camp so off to school darsly took me as the buses leave at 8.30 am this morning - so I will see you all when I return and let you all know about my week away after I get home. When I get home hopefully I will have some photo's to show you (that is if I remember to take some photo's - we have lots of activities during the week. I know I am going to miss darsly mum a lot - wow this is the second week away in just a fortnight - I want to go on the camp but it is a long time not seeing darlsy mum again and I know she misses me heaps when I got away and she worries a lot. Hopefully the week will go really quickly and I will be home in no time.Darlsy will take a photo of me getting on the bus and put it up. (I am not letting this niggly headache going to wreck my camp). Well must go guys - gotta go catch the BUS - COACH which is taking us to camp - please pray I don't get any headaches or nosebleeds because last week was a real bad week for those headaches. See you all when I get home on Friday.
THE WEEKEND
Sunday 8th October - Today is the BIG RACE - as you know I just love V8 Supercars and BATHURST is the biggest V8 Supercar race in Australia. I have never been to Bathurst because is is a long way from us but hopefully one day I will get to go. It is a very special race this weekend, in memory of PETER BROCK the race driver who died in a bad race crash a few weeks ago and my mate. Peter was called the king of the mountain because he won Bathurst 9 times and no one has ever done that before. A special memorial trophy was made for today's race to be presented to the winner at the end of the day. The race is 161 laps around Bathust and that is a very long way and it takes all day. The race was finally won (after lots of big accidents) and was won by my FAV V8 driver CRAIG LOWNDES. News Flash The V8 driver who had a terrible crash at the track yesterday died tonight - he had terrible injuries (another special V8 driver gone). 7pm I started to get a real bad headache, they just come on for no reason, I was just sitting on the couch and this pain starts in my head - I was not feeling very well at all. I hope it goes away because I don't' want to miss my big camp away tomorrow. Darlsy said I should go to bed and lay down and get a good nights sleep and hopefully it will be gone by the morning.
Me with Craig Lowndes (Winner of Bathurst)


Saturday 7th October - It was a beautiful day, darsly let me go down to the indoor pool for a swim, I stayed there for a few hours. Then Darsly took me to the Music store - I want to learn to play the DRUMS, I really love the drums and would love a set of DRUMS. This big music store has a big section for learning instruments. The guys at the store were great and they let me have a go at the drums (so cool), see the BLUE drums they are the one's I would like to have, darsly said maybe Santa might bring them for Christmas (I really do hope so) I know they are expensive and hope that I might be lucky enough to get the DRUM KIT. One of the guys showed me a few things and they said I could could come back any time and have a go on the drums. Darsly booked me in for some drums lessons and not just with a normal person who plays drums - my lessons are with one of the top drummers in Australia - he is the drummer for one of our top bands here in Australia (how cool is that) I will tell you more about that band another time. I have to wait one week to have my first lesson because I am going away on camp for a week, but when I come back my lesson will be on a Thursday night at 6pm (I can't wait) I am so excited about learning the drums, I have wanted to learn the drums for a long time. I did not want to leave the music store but we had to go. 1pm We have the biggest V8 Supercar race here in Australia this weekend, it is BATHURST 1000 and it is a huge race and I watched it on the tv today, it was just the qualifying for Sunday but very exciting. (Two drivers) had a really bad accident and they are in hospital in a critical condition with bad head injuries and other injuries (it was an horrific accident) and I hope the drivers will pull through but their injuries are life threatening. 3pm I went for a ride on my bike and my tire popped, so that was it for my ride. Darsly will get the tire fixed during the week, I think I ran over something because there is a split in the tire. 4pm My mate Mick came around and he had his bike and I had to use my scooter and we went to the park for a while then came home and played in my toy room and then had go on the playstation which I don't use that much but darsly said we could have go for a little while. 6pm Mick had to go home and I went up to the school with him and we got bullied by some kids up there - one of them punched Mick in his back and I called Darsly because I had my phone with me and of course Darsly stormed up to the school and the bully kids just ran as soon as they saw darsly. They are kids from school and they always bully us but I am not afraid of they. Mick was ok, he did not get hurt but darsly rang his mum a let her know that Mick was hit by these kids. I came back home with darsly and the rest of the night was just spent relaxing and getting some stuff together for my camp.


JAY and the DRUMS (he dreams of having)



THE WEEK JUST PAST
Monday 2nd October - My first day back at School after two weeks of holiday. We are getting great hot weather here in Australia now so that means we now have to wear our hats at School. We are not aloud out to play if we do not have our hat's (that's the rule). The first day of School was ok, and we have lots of things planned for the last term of the year. It was great to see my mates (the one's I did not get to see over the holidays). All we did today at School was go over our schedule for this term - and the rules. Because we are all Graduating we have strict rules to follow it is hard to explain but we have to sign a contract regarding behavior and if we are given warnings or time outs or re -thinks and we accumulate 3 of them during the term then we are not aloud to go on any of the graducation excusions and things. It is not good that school comes to the point where you have to sign a contract and it is all because of the BULLIES in the school and the one's who always miss behave. It was a long day and I came home with bad headaches, it started earlier in the day and did not go away.
Tuesday 3rd October - It was Fitness day at school, well the whole term is Fitness theme and today I played GOLF, I love playing golf, I have my own golf clubs but we used the ones at School. We also got to do other sports such as JUMP ROPE, ball games. During day a got a real bad HEADACHE, I sat down for a while, it sought of eased up and I stayed at school. We talked about our up and coming School Graduation Camp which is next week - I go away for one week (that will be lots of fun). I gave up my lunch time (as I do most day's) to help the teachers and the Principal with things around the school - I sometimes rather do things for the teacher than be out in the hot sun - because my head hurts more being out in the sun. After school my mate MICK came around for a little while to play but I got another real bad headache and I could not play any more so he went home. I tried to do some of my homework but I was not feeling the best and my head was hurting a lot so I went and lay down. Darsly gave me some medicine to help with my headache. Darlsy mums back is still very sore - sometimes she says I wonder if it was a good idea having the SPINAL surgery because I don't feel any better, my back is in so much pain all the time. I hope Darsly 's back get better, she is not aloud to go to work and it is making life very hard because she is not aloud to go to work and she worries a lot. Darsly is still waiting on the when the next APPOINTMENT with the Surgeon is but she has not got it in the mail yet - it is suppose to be around November but not sure what date, so she has to wait until then to have another scan - and find out what the Surgeon says about her back and of course she is going to push him to say yes you can go to work, but she dosn't think he will say those words.
Wednesday 4th October - HOT DAY TODAY - YIPPPPPPPEEEE 30 Degrees Celsius today and it is a Total Fire Ban in Victoria today - because we have had the driest Winter all the land is very Dry and Fire can start at any time - Fires are bad here down under. I got up early and got ready for School - the headache had gone and hopefully I wont get one today. Best I stay indoors today seeing it is going to be so hot. 3.30pm I made it through the day , it was a very hot day at school but it was not headache free. I got home and just wanted to lay down - blasted headaches, I was not feeling good at all when I got home from school. Darlsy is fed up the headaches aswell and has put her foot down with the doctors - surely they can find out why I get the headaches - if they are not migrain then wheat are they - the doctors say I don't have migrain, then there has to be a reason - you don't just get headaches for no reason. Darlsy is going to go get my eyes checked, but I do have good eye site so we don't think it is that. Darlsy has her own thoughts on what it might be and I bet she is right, lets see if any doctors can figure it out.
Thursday 5th October - Not feeling that good today so I stayed home. Can't concentrate at school when I have a headache, and all the noise of kids yelling and screaming and loud teachers don't make it any better, so Darlsy let me stay home today. I stayed in bed and had a big sleep, that makes my head feel a bit better, it was not a good day out side anyway - not like yesterday's big hot day, can you believe it rained today. Darlsy's back is very sore today, she said she feels really stiff and it is hard to bend to do things and it huts a lot, so both of us are no use to each other (lol) me with my continual headaches and darsly with her bad back.

JAY (not well - bad headaches)


Friday 6th October - I wanted to go to school today because we have the inter school sports away at another school and did not want to let my team down. I was feeling a bit better so I said to Darlsy I am going to school. We left on the bus at 9am to the Berwick School which is about a 15 minute drive, we had lots of different sports we doing and I was in the VOLLEYBALL team, there was also, football and soccer and netball. 12 noon WE won - we all did well in all the events and beat the other school, we came back to school very excited - and NO headache today which I was very glad about. 3.30pm My teacher is not a very nice teacher and have had lots of problems during the year, all the kids in my class have - to cut it short - she should not be teaching kids, she yells a lot, she is nasty, mean, she locks us in the room she puts paper over the windows so we can't see and lots more. Anyway my darsly has been to the principal about her many times this year so has many of the other parents and today was the last straw - I can't go into details but my darsly was mad and my teacher was crazy and my darsly let her know that and went to the principal and demanded I go into another teachers class the the last term, I feel sorry for all the kids in my class because she treats us all so badly. Darlsy would not leave the principals office until the principal did something. He agreed with darsly that the teacher did something she should not have done and will be reprimanded for it. I have never had a bad teacher ever at the school I go to but this teacher is the worst and none of us kids in the class like her. She is so mean and nasty and should not be near kids.
My dog Snowflake - She deserves a mention today - she is my little mate and we do everything together. She is such a sweet little dog and she is my best medicine. I don't know what I would do with out my little Snowflake, when I am sick she knows I am sick and she sits on my bed next to me waiting for me to get better, she will not leave until I get better (what a great little dog). If you don't have a dog and you have a sick child I recommend you get a little dog because they are better medicine than what doctors like to hand out. I feel so much happier when I have my little Snowflake around me. When I am in the hospital not having Snowflake is sad, but as soon as I get home I always feel lots better because Snowflake is there to greet me and be with me. Snowflake is my mate for life and has had a lot to do with me staying out of hospital (NATURAL MEDICINE) a best friend.
MY DOG SNOWFLAKE

MY FRIENDS

Sorry I will not be around this week to visit you all - but I have asked my darsly mum to drop in on you all (well - as many as she can). I think of you all even though I have not been around to visit lately. I have not forgotten any of you - you are all in my thoughts each and every day and I have a huge list of friends to visit. To my little mate Zac here in Australia, good on you mate - Zac had a brain surgery on the 7th October to remove a tumor, the little trooper not only pulled through ok, but he was wide eyed and talking away straight after his surgery and he can see better than when he went into srugery - they got all the tumor how good is that. Zac had trouble seeing out of one eye, but he can see better than he ever has, that is such a great news story - good on you Zac. My other little friend who is an NB friend I have known for a very long time, her name is Megan and she had spinal surgery on 6th October, you see the Neuroblastoma left her in a wheel chair and a bit of trouble with her spine so she needed an operation and she has pulled through the surgery and is doing ok, but in a lot of pain - darsly knows all about pain with spinal surgery and we really know that it must be hard for little Megan, but you know what, Megan is so strong and so tough and we know she will fight on just like she did to beat Neuroblastoma.

I just want to say a big G'day to some friends before I go off to camp: Colette - Lenzie - Patty - Zac - Karen - Kira - Julianne - Brenda - Heather - Stacy - Alex - Riley - Kassidy - Critter - Nic - Zoie - Ian - Summer - there are so many of my friends and sorry if I missed you off today but I do think of you all. Remember to always stay strong and positive no matter how tough things get and keep a Big Smile on the DIle (Face) always.


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School holidays over - back to School


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JAY'S (Smile Mail)
P.O. BOX 2075
FOUNTAIN GATE 3805
MELBOURNE - VICTORIA - AUSTRALIA
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THE SURVIVOR MOVIE (Who I am - A true Survivor)

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"G'DAY it's JAY"

BACK TO SCHOOL - Oh yes - today Monday 2nd October it's back to School for our last term, and for my graduation. WOW can't believe I am going to GRADUATE in just a couple of months time. My last week of the School holidays was fun and below is what I got up to.

Camp Quality was loads of fun as you know, and lots of us all came back from camp SICK, yep something must have been going around and I was not the only one who came home sick, but I did not want it to ruin my last week of holidays - so I just got on with having lots of fun.

Nose Bleeds & Headaches - What a pain they are - they did not ease up at all during the week, the nose bleeds more so, each time I wanted to go do something (fun) my nose would start to bleed. These nose bleeds and headaches are not going to stop me from living my life that is for sure - might put a stop sometimes for a while to activities but I am not going to let them ruin my life - I have fought too hard to stay alive - not going to let headaches and nose bleeds bring me down.

During the week - I went to the pictures with my best MATE Mick and we saw the Movie WILD - we had to take his younger brothers with us but that was ok. I liked the SNAKE in the movie - he was so cool. After the movie we went and got some lunch and then I was a loud to stay the night at Micks house. WHAT a noisy place it is with his brothers running around yelling and screaming - my place is not like that - it is nice and quiet with only Darlsy and me.

The next day was Darsly mums Birthday - She always say's - OH it's just another day - too many to count now. But is it always special to me because she is my special Darlsy mum and I would not be here if it was not for Darlsy. I gave her a big kiss and hug and gave her a pink bracelet and a dolphin card. We had to get ready early because we were going to the big open range zoo today with Camp Quality and it is a long drive.



Werribee Open Range Zoo - We left the house at 8.30am and started the drive to Werribee Open Range Zoo where we met up with the the people from CAMP QUALITY. It is wonderful that camp quality put all this on for the kids. It was about a 75klm drive for us to the zoo from our house. The Open Range Zoo is where all the animals get to rome FREE and it's HUGE. There were Giraffe, Hippo's, Rino's, Byson, Antelope, Zebra, Leopards, Camels, so many wonderful animals to see and Darlsy's favorite of them all the wonderful MEERKATS. I could not get Darlsy away from them, she loves them so much, she wanted to put one in her back pack and take it home (but of course you are not aloud to do that) . The MEERKATS are so tiny and so funny to watch. We took some photo's of them so you can see. They take care of one another and one stands guard to make sure there are not predators around. We have a TV show here and it is called MEERKAT MANOR, it shows a family of MEERKATS called the whiskers and what they get up to all day. It is a great show and we never miss it each Sunday night. We went on the SAFARI bus, it takes you around the zoo to see the wild animals up close. We were the monkeys in the cage and the animals were free. We got real close to the RINO'S, and they had a baby one. On the SAFARI bus the driver - her name was PAIGE she explained all about the animals and passed things around the bus for us to touch and hold - see the photo of me with some ANTELOPE HORNS - can't remember he name of the Antelope but the horns felt soft. The Safari tour took over an our and when we got back it was LUNCH time.
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Camp Quality - The put on a wonder BBQ lunch for all us kids - it was so YUMMY, lots to drink and each and lollie bags at the end and ice - cream.

Souvenier Shop - After lunch Darsly and I went to the Sourvenier shop, of course Darlsy wanted to get a MEERKAT (not a real one) a stuffed one. She finally found the one she wanted and I got a Safari Bus to add to my collection of buses and cars and darsly got a MEERKAT post card.

Education time - We went with one of the Zoo Guides to go see some other animals. We went into this like class room, it was set up with exhibits - there were Frogs - Possum - Snakes - Lizards and lots more. She brought out a snake for us to touch and she explained all about the snake - then she brought out the Possum - he was so cute, he was a ring tailed possum. Then the Blue tougued lizard who was very cold to touch.

Wonderful day - Came to an end, we had done everything and seen everything at the Zoo and it was time to head home, another 75klm trip home. We thanked all the people of CAMP QUALITY for having this day for us and we headed home. We arrived home about 6pm and we were very tired but had the best day out.




The phone rang - At 10.30pm - we were in bed, but darsly got up to answer the phone - there was this funny strange voice on the end of the line - it was our friend Mona from Texas, she rang to wish darsly a happy birthday. I got to say G'DAY to Mona, it is so strange listening to the funny accient, way different from the way we talk. Darsly talked for a little while, and was so surprised and happy to get the phone call.

Darsly got some flowers - You will be able to see the beautiful flowers in the photo, they were sent from a wonderful friend Siobhan from Pennsylvania in the USA. Darlsy loves pink and they are beautiful flowers just like my Darsly.


The rest of the week - I had lots of nose bleeds, not so many headaches but lots of nose bleeds but tried to make my last week of school holidays enjoyable. I rode my bike lots (no I did not crash) darsly got my bike fixed so I could ride it - and not one crash. We took Snowflake for lots of walks and gave her a bath - she loves having a bath and goes crazy running around the house after we have dried her.

Yesterday - Sunday was our last day before going back to school so darsly let me and my mate Mick go down to the local indoor pool - the weather is getting so nice here and POOL time it is. Darsly dropped us off at the Indoor Pool where Mick and I had loads of fun for 2 hours. They have a big WAVE pool, that's so much fun. Darsly picked us up after 2 hours and it was time to go home and get my stuff ready for SCHOOL for Monday.

To my Friends and to anyone - Remember that life is short - no matter what, make the most of it, don't let simple things get you down and stop you from doing what you want to do.


Awareness - My goal in life is to find a cure for NEUROBLASTOMA, to raise awareness of the horrible monster - although I have Neuroblastoma, I still like to go cheer up all kids no matter what illness they may have. None of us kids asked to be sick, no child wants to be sick and no parent wants their child sick. The cancer journey is a hard one, it is a tough one, but the only way you get through it is to be TOUGH and to always stay positive. My illness has taught me a lot of things in life - it has changed my life and made me the person I am today. It has taught me not to be selfish and to be thankful for everything you have and not only to care about myself but to care about others and that is what I do. Although my life has been tough, I have learned to be tough and to never give up. I have learned I am not the only one who is sick, there are so many kids out there with so many different illnesses and if you all could take the time to just think of one or two other kids a day then I know I have made a difference and also made a difference in their lives. I may not be doing it as tough as some kids right now, but I have done it real tough through out my life and I still have lots of problems which are related to my cancer - the spot that stills sits on my Spine, it is there, I know it is there, it may not be doing anything, but it could, but I try to not think about it and get on with living my life and getting the word out there about my illness NEUROBLASTOMA and giving hope to others parents who may have wanted to give up. All I can say is you NEVER GIVE UP, never give up hope, us kids are tougher than you all think and we will never give up so don't you ever give up either. Sometimes when I visit other kids, and do my best to cheer them up, I know I have done a good thing and made a little difference in their lives. I can't always visit everyone - I try to, I think of all my friends even though I can't always come visit. To all the parents and friends of sick kids, give them a HUG a day, tell them you love them each and every day - a hugs costs nothing, to say I love you costs nothing and never have negative thoughts, be positive, don't focus on what you can't do - think about what you can do. If we all did one good thing a day - then the world would be a better place. My aim, my goal is to beat NEUROBLASTOMA flat, to squash it up and kick its butt out that window so far so it would never return to annoy another child again - a big ask, this can be done if you out there would donate to NEUROBLASTOMA research, the more money donated, the more research can be done in a quicker amount of time so a cure can be found - so if you are able to give a little then please do so - you may save the life of a child like me.

Whats coming up - I go away for another week next week - this time a weeks camp with my school - it is the GRADUATION camp.
Thank you everyone - For visiting me, please don't for get before you leave, please sign my guestbook so I know you have dropped in.

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