Disclosure: This giveaway was made possible
by Double Duty Divas and Aflac. I was compensated
to participate in this campaign, but all opinions are 100% mine. I hold no responsibility for the fulfillment of the giveaway prize.
About Aflac Duckprints
Aflac Duckprints has a great mission which is very simple, to eradicate childhood cancer.
Did you know that 75% of childhood cancers can be cured due to the donations made to the research and treatment of these disease? Aflac has passionately supported the fight against childhood cancer for nearly 20 years now! By donating more then $80 million to the Aflac Cancer & Blood Disorders Center of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. Aflac's Footprint represents the impact that they have made and the legacy they are creating.
Aflac Cancer Center
The Aflac Cancer Center and Blood Disorder Center of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta is one of the largest childhood cancer centers in the country. This center is committed to providing childhood cancer patients a bright future through advanced medical treatment, family-centered care, a child-friendly environment and innovative research. Aflac is proud to have donated more then $87 million to the Aflac Cancer Center with the goal of reaching $100 million by the end of 2015.
Childhood Cancer
Per the National Cancer Institute, the five-year survival rates for all childhood cancers combined increased from 58.1% in 1977 to 79.6% in 2003. In 2007, approximately 10,400 children from the age of 15 and younger were diagnosed with cancer in the United States. Cancer remains the leading cause of death by illness in the U.S. for people age 15 and younger. Aflac Duckprints is commited in its mission to eradicate childhood cancer. Thanks to donations made to research and treatment of this disease, 75% of childhood cancers can now be cured!
How can you HELP?
Now through Mother's Day (this Sunday, May 11th) Aflac will donate $2 to the Aflac Cancer Center for a variety of social media Duckprint activities using hastag #Duckprints.
Aflac Duckprints will donate $2 for every Duckprints tweet or retweet using #Duckprints on Twitter!
Also, $2 will be donated for every Duckprints post or sharing using #Duckprints on Facebook!
Trisha Henry Gaffney's Story
Trisha Henry Gaffney is a Cancer Survivor and mom. On Valentine's Day 1996 at 19 years old Trisha was diagnosed with embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma, an aggressive tumor usually found in the head, neck, hands or feet of young children. Trisha's was the first reported case to occur in the right ureter, the tube connecting the kidney and bladder.
After going through surgery to remove her right kidney, ureter and a portion of her bladder, Trisha spent a year at the Aflac Cancer Center undergoing chemotherapy and radiation.
Following her treatment for this rare form of cancer, Trisha Henry Gaffney was eager to put her health problems behind her. The last thing she wanted to do was dwell on the effects of her illness. She was eager to get back to school and in January 1977, she went back to Illinois, where she was a student and scholarship swimmer at the university of Illinois, to finish the last few months of chemotherapy.
Her treatment ended in April 1997, and she was ready to put her focus on all of the positive forces in her life. During her treatment at the Aflac Cancer Center, Trisha had started dating Andrew Gaffney, a fellow swimmer from high school. She had a big group of friends in Champaign, Ill. she looked forward to seeing again. In addition, she became a journalism major with the goal of focusing her energy on telling others' insporational stories of overcoming obstacles.
In 1998, a friend encouraged Trisha to visit the Cancer Survivor Program at the Aflac Cancer Center. The Aflac Cancer Center provides specialized, long-term follow-up care and helps identify and treat problems associated with the efects of cancer treatment to help survivors lead a full life, including school, work and a family of their won. However, the idea of going to even more doctors didn't sit well with Trisha.
"You don't want your cancer to define you," Trisha said, "but as you get older you realize it plays a much bigger part in your life then you're willing to admit."
Hearing More Bad News
After several years of going to general doctors for check-ups, Trisha finally made an appointment with the Cancer Survivor Program at the Aflac Cancer Center.
"After college, I devoted myself to my work and being normal," Trisha said. "I put cancer behind me. Then it reared its ugly head at 32."
During her first appointment she received her health records. She was able to gain a broad understanding of her entire healthy history, including her treatments and the issues they could cause, called late effects. After meeting witht he Medical Director, Trisha went to a fertility specialist, who delivered some devastating news.
The lab work showed Trisha's chemotheraphy and 23 radiation treatments had wreaked havoc on her body. Only one ovary was functional, and the radiation had damaged her uterus, she was approaching an early menopause and she would not be able to carry a child.
It's devastating when you can't have a family," Trisha said. "I froze my eggs that year. I thought, 'Screw you, cancer! I want my own kid."
So Trisha Took Control and Moved Forward
After her sister's best friend offered to be a surrogate, Trisha and Andrew, now her husband, became parents to Isabella in April 2013.
Isabella just celebrated her first birthday, and this Mother's Day will mark Trisha's second, thanks to the Aflac Cancer Center and its programs.
The impact of the Aflac Cancer Center isn't lost on Trisha. Without the intervention of doctors and nurses in her health, her life would be incredibly different.
"If I hadn't had my friend telling me to go the Cancer Survivor Program at the Aflac Cancer Center," Trisha said, "I wouldn't have my daughter."
Armed with the knowledge about her medications, treatments and the potential challenges ahead, Trisha is empowered to be an advocate for her own health. She knows it is survivorship that defines her, not cancer.
She encourages surviviors to take advantage of the resources available through the Aflac Cancer Center so they can become healthy, happy adults and parents if they choose.
"It is great that in this day and age, children will most likely live," Trisha said. "But once they do, they're going to have some expectations about that life."
Trisha Henry Gaffney's Story
Trisha Henry Gaffney is a Cancer Survivor and mom. On Valentine's Day 1996 at 19 years old Trisha was diagnosed with embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma, an aggressive tumor usually found in the head, neck, hands or feet of young children. Trisha's was the first reported case to occur in the right ureter, the tube connecting the kidney and bladder.
After going through surgery to remove her right kidney, ureter and a portion of her bladder, Trisha spent a year at the Aflac Cancer Center undergoing chemotherapy and radiation.
Following her treatment for this rare form of cancer, Trisha Henry Gaffney was eager to put her health problems behind her. The last thing she wanted to do was dwell on the effects of her illness. She was eager to get back to school and in January 1977, she went back to Illinois, where she was a student and scholarship swimmer at the university of Illinois, to finish the last few months of chemotherapy.
Her treatment ended in April 1997, and she was ready to put her focus on all of the positive forces in her life. During her treatment at the Aflac Cancer Center, Trisha had started dating Andrew Gaffney, a fellow swimmer from high school. She had a big group of friends in Champaign, Ill. she looked forward to seeing again. In addition, she became a journalism major with the goal of focusing her energy on telling others' insporational stories of overcoming obstacles.
In 1998, a friend encouraged Trisha to visit the Cancer Survivor Program at the Aflac Cancer Center. The Aflac Cancer Center provides specialized, long-term follow-up care and helps identify and treat problems associated with the efects of cancer treatment to help survivors lead a full life, including school, work and a family of their won. However, the idea of going to even more doctors didn't sit well with Trisha.
"You don't want your cancer to define you," Trisha said, "but as you get older you realize it plays a much bigger part in your life then you're willing to admit."
Hearing More Bad News
After several years of going to general doctors for check-ups, Trisha finally made an appointment with the Cancer Survivor Program at the Aflac Cancer Center.
"After college, I devoted myself to my work and being normal," Trisha said. "I put cancer behind me. Then it reared its ugly head at 32."
During her first appointment she received her health records. She was able to gain a broad understanding of her entire healthy history, including her treatments and the issues they could cause, called late effects. After meeting witht he Medical Director, Trisha went to a fertility specialist, who delivered some devastating news.
The lab work showed Trisha's chemotheraphy and 23 radiation treatments had wreaked havoc on her body. Only one ovary was functional, and the radiation had damaged her uterus, she was approaching an early menopause and she would not be able to carry a child.
It's devastating when you can't have a family," Trisha said. "I froze my eggs that year. I thought, 'Screw you, cancer! I want my own kid."
So Trisha Took Control and Moved Forward
After her sister's best friend offered to be a surrogate, Trisha and Andrew, now her husband, became parents to Isabella in April 2013.
The impact of the Aflac Cancer Center isn't lost on Trisha. Without the intervention of doctors and nurses in her health, her life would be incredibly different.
"If I hadn't had my friend telling me to go the Cancer Survivor Program at the Aflac Cancer Center," Trisha said, "I wouldn't have my daughter."
Armed with the knowledge about her medications, treatments and the potential challenges ahead, Trisha is empowered to be an advocate for her own health. She knows it is survivorship that defines her, not cancer.
She encourages surviviors to take advantage of the resources available through the Aflac Cancer Center so they can become healthy, happy adults and parents if they choose.
"It is great that in this day and age, children will most likely live," Trisha said. "But once they do, they're going to have some expectations about that life."
Connect with Aflac Duckprints
Twitter @Aflac
GIVEAWAY!
Aflac and Double Duty Divas would like to offer a $50 Restaurant.com gift certificate so you can treat your mom to a delicious Mother's Day dinner. This giveaway is an incentive for you to get engaged with this post and help share it across your social media sites and this will also help increase awareness and donations to further aid in the mission of Aflac Duckprints. this giveaway is open to US residents and will end at 11:59pm on Mother's Day, Sunday, May 11th.
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