Citizens Stamp Advisory Committee
c/o Stamp Development U.S. Postal Service 475 L’Enfant Plaza, SW Room 5670 Washington , DC 20260-2437 Dear Advisory Committee Members:

My name is Jan Louder and I live in Evanston, WY. I am writing to ask you to please consider a commemorative stamp for Childhood Cancer Awareness. I make this request is made on behalf of my sweet daughter, Alecia, forever 12, who was diagnosed with Lymphoma September 2003, and went to heaven on Mother’s Day 2004. For all the children across the nation who are battling this disease, but especially for the innocent children who’s lives were cut short and potential left unfulfilled, and their families who are left devastated and forever longing, please approve this stamp.

Childhood cancer is the leading cause of death by disease in children and adolescents under the age of nineteen; only accidents claim more young lives. Outside of the small percentage of genetic predisposition, little is known about the causes of cancer in children. This year alone over 11,000 children will be diagnosed with cancer. Each day researchers, scientists and oncologists move a little closer to finding successful treatments for many childhood cancers, yet approximately 2,300 children and adolescents die each year.

When Alecia was diagnosed with Burkitt’s Lymphoma, the doctors were very optimistic and started aggressively treating her cancer. Alecia and I were shaken to the very core by what she had to endure. Her treatment consisted of several grueling months of some of the strongest chemotherapy regimens available. The chemo would make her feel so horribly terrible. We were in and out of the hospital week after week for chemotherapy, infections, complications etc.But it seemed to work and as quickly as Alecia’s cancer arrived, it disappeared.

Unfortunately it came back even faster and stronger within 3 weeks of being declared in remission. We attempted a bone marrow/stem cell transplant, which was even harder and had worse side effects (by a hundred times) than the previous treatments. Her cancer returned before she even had a chance to recover from this unimaginably horrendous “life-saving” treatment. Some would liken this experience to a place called hell. It was more trying and harder than anyone should ever have to endure, but especially a sweet innocent child!

Alecia faced cancer with such inspiring and amazing courage, optimism and sweetness. Through it all she continued to grace us with her beautiful, heartwarming smile and fun-loving, sense of humor.

Some children survive their cancers. They pay a very high price for their survival! Emerging from hard-fought battles of chemotherapy, radiation, multiple surgeries, bone-marrow transplants, etc., which often takes years of their childhood, these children and their families can be faced with late effects of these difficult treatments, in many cases for the rest of their lives.

Some children, like my sweet Alecia, do not survive. These are the forgotten children, the ones who are now lumped together as a statistic. These children are not statistics. They are the real cancer stories. Alecia wanted so much to live. She told me as much. “I don’t want to die mom! I want to get my driver’s license and go to college and have a family!” She is filled with such amazing potential, had so much to contribute, and now so much is lost. My life is empty. Alecia is gone, and I am devastated- left wondering why. It is my hope that a stamp for Childhood Cancer Awareness will lead to a better understanding of the intense struggles so many children with cancer and their families experience, during treatment and beyond. Awareness that can pave the way toward better support and understanding of the pain childhood cancer exacts on our nation’s children and their families who love and care for them. Awareness that may someday bring some meaning to the intense, painful, devastating, life-altering struggles that Alecia, and every other child who lost his/her life to the cancer beast,-- faced in their too short lives for the families dealing with these deep losses.

Thank you for your consideration of a stamp for Childhood Cancer Awareness. It would mean so much to so many.  Sincerely, Jan Louder