Merry Christmas Carmen

Hi Carmen,

I wrote the post yesterday about the things Mommy and Daddy are doing for LLS.   Team Carmen is still doing its best to contribute in some way to honor you.   I know that where you are all of this probably seems a little silly but I hope we are making you proud.   After I finished the post I felt a little empty and needed to say more to you.

I can't believe Christmas and your Mommy's Birthday is tomorrow.  This will be our 4th Christmas season without you.    Nothing about that seems right.   I stare at your stocking and your ornaments on the tree.   I remember like it was yesterday how much you loved decorating the Christmas tree - especially the pink ornaments that your Mommy gave you.  The way you used to take all the ornaments off the little tree and put them all back on again - over and over.

A few weeks ago we spent two days at Disneyland.   This was the same time of the year that we came in 2012 and 2013.  That first year was so tough because, Disneyland was going to be your Make A Wish trip - your wish....."To Dance with a Princess at Christmas in the Snow".   Mommy and I found it so difficult to be there without you because we knew how much you would have loved meeting the Princesses and seeing it snow - "Disney style".   You are all around us but we would give anything to see the look of wonder on your face and sparkle in  your eye.    

As you know, Mommy gave me an amazing gift a few weeks ago.   A beautiful painting by our dear friend Lisa Hummell of Carmen's Cove at Hualalai.  I love how you, Trevor, Jake and Roxy are in the painting.   It melts my heart to look at the painting but I am not sad.  I am so thankful that my mind is full of great memories of you at the beach - running, laughing and dancing across the sand  Spending hours in the ocean as if you were a mermaid.   I know I can play these memories at any time.

Obviously, the gift that your Mommy and I want more than anything is to have YOU in our arms but that's not going to happen.  We are left with our memories and the feeling of you around us always. And...that's okay.

Merry Christmas Our Sweet Baby Angel

We love you Carmen.

Mommy and Daddy

Carmen's Cove

by Lisa Hummell

Go Team Carmen

It is hard to believe that Team Carmen is back for fourth year!!!

When we moved to California in May, Heather and I were concerned that it would be difficult to keep Team Carmen together.   Fortunately, the people at LLS have been wonderful and allowed us to build the team, including multiple events.

2016 will be a little different.  We have a small and mighty team of 8, participating in 3 different events;

• Chris and Heather White - San Diego Rock & Roll Marathon
• Darren Miller - San Diego Rock & Roll Marathon
• Carri McClure - Tinker Bell 1/2 Marathon
• Diego Angarita - Lava Man Waikaloa
• Andrew Hawkins - Lava Man Waikaloa
• Julia White - San Diego Rock & Roll Marathon
• Stephanie Eppig - Lava Man Waikaloa

Your support will be greatly appreciated.  Click the link to the right if you can support in anyway.

We have also found that being in California has opened up a lot of other amazing ways we can help support LLS.

I have been invited to join the Board of Directors for the Orange County Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, with my first task to help the Gala Committee organize their annual fund raising event, which raises over $500K each year to support much needed research.

LLS has a unique program called "Quest for Cures" which allows a person who has personally raised $50,000 or a team who has raised $100,000 to direct their funds to a specific research project.  This was always a goal of Heather and mine, to see if Team Carmen could raise $100K in a year so that we could support research that was reducing the toxicity levels of children's chemotherapy drugs.

This new gala event that I am involved with is called - "Men and Women of the Year", where 10 people each raise $50,000 and then direct the funds to the specific doctor and research project that they are passionate about.   I absolutely LOVE this, as so often we are not sure where our fundraising efforts go.

As always, it remains a constant struggle for Heather and I, to be involved with LLS and Team in Training.  On one hand, we know that we must do what we can to support the elimination of Blood Cancers but on the other hand each and every day we are close to the disease continues to be difficult.


As a quick update.   We are loving our time in California.  We miss Hawaii and our friends there everyday but we are happy with our move.  Trevor is excelling at school and loving exploring all the options he has in sports and other interests.  Jake is thriving and his speech is improving everyday. We found amazing health care for Jake at the LA Children's Hospital is world renown for its work in Craniofacial.

Below are a few pictures of some recent moments;

Jake having some fun with food!!! 

Trevor's big night out to see the Lion King

Trevor on the ice, wearing my jersey from when I was 7 year old. 

Trevor's first Ducks game.

A recent holiday visit to Disney's California Adventure Park

Festive!!!!

A rare picture of Heather in front of the camera with the boys at the Nutcraker!!!!

Batman.   Jake has been wearing this cape since October 7th.   Everyday!!!!

Auntie Julia's visit.   

Heather, Julia and Scott racing sleds!!!!

A recent family photo in San Diego!!!