HELP MY FRIEND : Jaden Duttine's Story

If you are here reading Jaden's story in an effort to help with his Jingle Bell Auction.  Please read this story and then click HERE to be directed to the JIngle Bell Auction home page!  Lots of great stuff, celebrity items as well!

Life is so precious. So much that we take for granted. Silly blogs we write, complaints about our situations... and then we're knocked on our ass when we either experience true hardship ourselves, or the worst ever... we watch our children do so.

Have you ever looked at your baby and said... Please God...

This is my college friend Julie. This is her husband Joe.

Julie was always quite a character, funny and personable. A killer smile and a kick ass attitude. We lived directly across from each other in the Freshman Dorms. We all became fast friends. Who couldn't love her and her personality? Smart and sassy , she was so much fun.

I caught up with Julie a year or so ago. Thanks to Facebook.

She has two little beautiful boys Joey 4 and Jaden 2. They are best friends.

She is married to the love of her life Joe. They live in the Pittsburgh area , very near to me.

This is where I am reaching to the poetic Gods, for help trying to articulate in text what I have never experienced in my heart. Articulate it in a way that allows you to feel what they are now going through.

When I caught up with Jules she shared with me her own personal struggles the past few years have brought her. Battles with cancer. Jaw dropping would not be accurate.

She described a cancer to me that she has refused to give in to. A cancer she has used her kick ass attitude to pummel daily. She is only 34. I will tell you that she continues to battle.

Julie's light of her life are her children. I'm sure you can imagine that they've kept her moving. She's fights to remain here, for them. She has fought hard.

I'm certain she's traded many talks with God in her hours of needs. I often wonder what she's said to him. I often wonder what I'd say myself. What I'd be willing to trade to stay on Earth with my children for just another day. I will tell you that cancer, will not be the worst thing she'll ever go through.

Last week Julie and Joe's life was once again turned on it's end. Their worst fears realized. Their two year old angel, Jaden ,was diagnosed with metastatic neuroblastoma. This sweet sweet face, was hiding a monster.

A sweet sweet baby boy. A baby boy whose back began hurting which ultimately led to an MRI that shed light on what was causing such pain. After his heart wrenching diagnosis he is currently receiving treatment at one of the best facilities in the nation, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh.

Can you imagine? If this were you? These are real people. I know them.

Today he underwent surgery to insert his central line ( for chemo). While on the table the surgeons decided to go ahead and remove the tumor in it's entirety. From what the surgeons have told Julie and Joe, it was the best surgical outcome they could hope for.

However, it has spread his lumbar vertebrae , skull bones and thoracic areas. He will need additional treatments to attempt to eradicate it from his tiny little body. He begins chemotherapy this Thursday. This tiny baby boy, will go through aggressive chemotherapy that ultimately ends in harvesting his own cells in preparation for a bone marrow transplant.

They need a miracle.

Julie's updates on Facebook have allowed her to quickly broadcast to friends... what they are going through. Can you imagine having to type these words about your babies???

WE need a miracle! My baby JADEN was diagnosed with metastaticneuroblastoma. We r in children' hospital. PLEASE PRAY.

Thank you everyone for your support, prayers and good wishes. We just found out thatJaden will need a stem cell transplant and we will be getting the process started this week. Please visit the websitelotsahelpinghands.com. We will be updating that site with what is going on with Jaden. Please keep praying, that will be the ultimate healing.

Today is the big day... surgery, bone marrow biopsy, central line. Yesterday's bone scan showed spread to thoracic and lumbar vertebrae and skull bones. Our poor little angel needs a miracle. Please keep praying we hear SOME good news today.

We count our blessings today. The tumor was confined to the adrenal gland and they were able to remove it easily. The surgeon told us it was the best surgical outcome. We thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers. Chemo is planned to start Thursday.

I have always wondered why this blog has been successful. Little ol me.. having these wonderful people who follow and laugh with me and at me. I think that I know now.

I'm calling to all of you now. Calling for help.

I actually know these people. I know this mom. She could be you or me.

Please .. I am asking for two things that you might have that will help this sweet angel. Help for Jaden, for his "mummy" Julie his daddy Joe and his big brother Joey whose 4 year old mind is unable to wrap around the magnitude of this nightmare.

For all of them. I ask for your prayers.

Help for them to find strength. To make it through some very possibly dark days ahead. Pray for the surgeons, the doctors. Pray for their knowledge and skills.

Julie will have to quit her job as an oncology nurse to care for her sweet love, to remain by his side, to hold him and rock him while he receives treatment. She will of course have it no other way. There's no where else she'll be. Joe is an ironworker.

As you can imagine this process will financially strain the family beyond reason. The days ahead will be difficult enough. Worrying about how they are going to pay for their house, their cars, their bills..while they battle... should not cloud their thoughts. Thoughts they need for Jaden.

This is where I come in.

If I can use these fingers to ask so kindly and eloquently for your help. Help from friends, my mommy friends who have laughed with me and shared their own lives. To reach into your pockets, your piggy banks, your laundry jar... to help this family. To donate your hard earned money for this child and this families future.

. My mommies who are falling to pieces reading this. I need you. Julie needs you. Joe needs you. Jaden needs you.

If I can have you rally for this family in whatever way you can. In whatever monetary amount you can spare. Even a simple dollar. A dollar. It will help.

If It will be one dollar less that Julie and Joe will have to worry about. They can focus on hugging their little nugget. Their little nugget who is fighting the fight of his little life

If you are led by my words, by a higher power, by your kind heart to donate your hard earned money...there are several ways.

Please click on the link below to use paypal. There is a specific donation site set up. You can use bank accounts or credit cards. Please note however, that the powers that be at Paypal.. do take a small percentage as fees.

Two: The best option.

If instead you would like to send a check and feel more comfortable donating in that manner. Please make your donation out to

Joe Duttine

or

Julie Duttine

You can send the check directly to

Citizens Bank

Caste Village Giant Eagle Attn: Jaden Duttine Fund
5260 Grove Rd Pittsburgh, PA 15236 Even one dollar is honorable.

If I can spread the word... Then this blog and all the time I've spent building it into something I'm proud of.. will be worth it.

If you can post on your own blog and share the link to Jaden's story... words cannot express to you my thanks.

I looked at my children today and I fell to pieces imagining what Julie and Joe are going through. I traded with God myself. I begged.

I am humbled by their strength and I am praying as I never have... for a miracle.

Thank you for your time and for listening.

Hug your babies. Love on them. It's all to precious. I will keep you updated on the sidebar.

Much love and complete and utter thanks.

debby

ALSO.. PLEAse feel free to participate in WISHES FOR JADEN.

Update: Message from Julie

A message from Julie: 8/12/09

You are absolutely amazing! I cannot even begin to thank you for what you have done. As Joe and I were reading your blog this morning, tears streaming down our cheeks, I felt like I was reading about someone else, like this is just not happening... like I will wake up from this horrible nightmare. But then, my poor little angel cries out in pain and I am quickly reminded that this is real. We have a huge support system and are very blessed to have such wonderful people in our lives, you included. Thank you again from the bottom of our hearts.

UPDATED TO SHOW FUNDRAISING EFFORTS ETC.:

Please send in those picture wishes for Jaden.

Please join the Prayers for Jaden group on Facebook.

Please donate in some manner if you feel led.

FUNDRAISERS:

For those of you in the Pittsburgh area. There are several upcoming fundraisers planned.

August 15th

7pm- Midnight

Melrose On Brownsville Road

Donations taken at the door.

50/50 raffle

August 19th

Sylpada Jewelry Party

6pm-10pm

South Park Club House

August 22nd

Homestead Elks ( 1 block from the Waterfront)

229 E. 9th Avenue

Homestead PA

10 dollar admission to benefit Jaden Duttine Fund

Bring an appetizer or dip to share.

August 27th

Max and Erma's Restaurant

Greentree/ Mt. Lebanon

Upon presentation of a specific flyer

( please email me for the flyer supahmommy@comcast.net)

20 percent of the proceeds will go directly to the Jaden Duttine Fund.

Good on takeout or eat in ALL DAY LONG.

THis upcoming November will host a HUGE fundraiser for this family.

If you are interested in donating a product or basket for auction please contact me and I will put you in touch with the proper people.

It is my hope that Jaden remains in your thoughts as the days wind on and as his battle continues. As your days continue...think of him. Here are some pics to remind the world that this little boy is a fighter.. and so is his family.