A tall man's hand

I was just at the grocery store moments ago and passed a short woman trying to reach the top shelf in aisle 3. The product this woman was going for was soy sauce. Me being just 5' 10" I didn't attempt to help this 5' 2" lady. I didn't do it because I was snubbing or ignoring her helpless grasp but I did it because it was too tall for me. As I was watching this lady come up short an extraordinarily tall man came to this woman's rescue. He not only reached the soy sauce, he could see on top of the shelf and rescued lost bottles that had fallen far back.

The reason I mention this unusual observation is for a reason which I'll share in a moment but I have to explain my day first. I was getting ready for work this morning and I was all alone with Garth our dog. He looked so uncomfortable and sick. His weight and muscles in his neck and limbs have disappeared. I took him in 2 weeks ago for blood work and all sorts of other things. The tests all came back negative. The blood work found no cancer and the Doctor has no explanation for the major weight loss. So I felt OK, I guess, because they had no explanation. But I could tell that something was wrong. I gradually saw the decline happening more and more the last 2 weeks but we had high hopes for him. He is 10 years old and I'm realistic about Labs and life expectancy but I have family members scratching for alternatives to the fact that he is growing old. One of my teammates here believes its a chicken bone lodged in his throat. Another has it due to sadness. All sorts of reasoning but the truth is he is old.

I decided to take him into the Vet immediately today because I love my dog with all my heart and felt like I had taken the Vet's word that there was nothing wrong out of convenience. I could do the x-rays and send him to the university for open chested this or that but where does it end. So I had my son go with me to the appointment and the doctor said that his tumor we removed months ago had grown inward into his spinal column and has damaged and infected his nervous system. He is in irreversible pain and sickness.

I asked Christian to step out of the room as me and the wonderful Doctor talked it over. She said it was time to let him go. My heart broke and I could hear my child sobbing in the other room. I explained that I had to take Garth home for all the rest of the family, and so we decided to wait until Thursday so we can spend a couple of days with him. They administered pain medicine for the delay. I can't tell you how hard it is to see my boy cry uncontrollably all night long. He knows it's for the best but he is young.

We decided on Thursday because we have Children Mercy spinal taps on Wednesday and Kaylee is going to be occupied and sick Wednesday. I know that we all have responsibility towards our families and I take pride that I look out for us. I might take more pride in the fact I have a family I get to call my own and a family I can make the decisions for. Believe when I say that I don't make the decisions solely but I initiate the action when I see it needs tending to. Today I wish it wasn't one of those situations but it is what it is. We have to do what's best for one of our family members and unfortunately it means he won't be with us anymore.

So back to the tall man. This man's height was an advantage and definitely an asset at a time when needed. He lent a helping hand to a fellow human being who needed it. I had to lend my hand to my son today because he needed me as he felt more sadness then he has in sometime. I was lucky to be there for him to reach that place he needed me to. It wasn't the top shelf but it was a certain place that needed a special hand to lift his spirits. I can't make miracles happen but I am lucky enough to be called dad and be the one that my child hugged and held as he worked through his hurt. For that I felt honored and I felt like a father who did his job for the day!

John Rossi Ireland

I'm writing a book. My book is called Inflicted. It has to do with my daughter and our journey but it also deals with me. I'm making great strides on my novel and have found that I am going through a reflection period as I navigate through my life. One of the things that I keep coming back to is the influential people who helped shape me and guided me when I was in desperate need of direction. One in particular was John Rossi Ireland.

John Ireland lives in San Diego and he was my boss. I was hired on at first to be the family driver. From there it lead to the shopper for the resort John owns in Cabo San Lucas. The resort is called Rancho Leonero and it is north of Cabo. A shopper is someone that does the purchasing for the resort. Boats, fishing gear, linens, and almost anything you could imagine. Then I became his assistant. Assistant might be too formal but I was like a son who did whatever I was told. John was gone out of the country on average of 3 weeks out of the month. So I was the guy that made sure things were taken care of in the States. I would move his daughter into college, I would pick up jewelry for his wife's birthday, or any other chore one might need someone to do if you were a busy man.

John was the biggest business man I have ever came into contact with. He had his hand in so many business deals that it was amazing just being in the same car, room, or plane. The influence was priceless. His business savvy was next to none but the kindness, generosity, and positive role model went well beyond admiration. It became qualities and attributes I set my sights on. I wanted and still want to live my life like he showed me. His actions and demeanor deeply impacted me and made me. He taught me that business accomplishments are only a fraction of what a man is measured by.

John taught me that being successful in business can happen to anyone but living a good and righteous life is something that takes more work. He believed if you treated everyone with respect and in a fair manner then good things would follow. My first impression of John, before I knew him, was that he made his money because he had money. But it was his teachings to me that money can be made from all walks of life. Good people, bad people, and lucky people can all catch a break. It was his belief that only fair and good people can sustain those good fortunes. If you do bad then it will eventually catch up to you. If you make all the money in the world but don't sleep well then you are only working on borrowed time. A well rested man dedicated to his family can preserve his wealth, health, and reputation by treating everyone with dignity.

John couldn't and wouldn't tolerate pompous individuals. If you thought you were above his limo driver, Michael Quijas, or any of his employees then he would tell you. I remember him telling one passenger that I was more important to him then any business investor because I looked out after him and his family. It made me feel good that he consider me the guard of the family Jewels. His family!

Well I wanted to share my story about the best person I've ever come across in my journeys. I never really got to say thank you to John because he would never have it. Sometimes you can offer someone a slice of bread if they're hungry for immediate relief or in certain circumstances you give someone something that lasts a life time. My time with John was a well of knowledge that has shaped me and directed me to be a great man. So John Rossi Ireland I thank you for teaching me how to be a better man, father, and husband. Thank you.

The picture above was taken on June 23, 1998, exactly 9 years to day that we got official results of Kaylee's cancer. For the record, I was suppose to hold that fish in the air when the picture was taken but my arms wouldn't allow it because I fought that fish for some six hours.

20 Years...

Tammie had her 20 Year High School Reunion on Friday. It was a blast! It was held at the Cashew downtown and we had such a good time. I have to admit that I have had so much fun with Tammie lately. We had the event this weekend and we enjoyed ourselves. We also went to the Earth, Wind, and Fire concert a few weeks ago and it was the best! Last weekend we went out with Tammie's brother and sister-in-law and ended the night at my sister's house with a bonfire and drinks poolside. So much fun. Life is fun when you enjoy the company you're with!

Her class looked really great. Everyone told us that they prayed for Kaylee when they heard about her and the sickness. I think Tammie was really glad to see everyone. Tammie looked really nice and her smile was there all night. I went to the same high school so I knew everyone too. It was a night to remember.

I was so glad that everyone asked about our kid. Everyone had their pictures of their kids and it was nice seeing every one's family. I'm amazed how people start families and move across the country and start extensions of their family tree. We all live life and hope for the best. Life.


I love to see people who are enjoying life. I also like to hear stories of perseverance. So many people talked about their divorces or their first marriage and it's nice to see people who move on and have nothing but good things to say. I kid you not, I didn't hear one bad story from anyone. Everyone had great things to talk about. We had plenty of drink, conversation, and good company to last a while.

Well it is time to go. We hope you have a great day and a terrific week. Please say a prayer for our little friend Kerry Magana, we hope she gets well enough to leave the hospital soon.

So what do you do?

I'm happy to announce that Kerry Magana is doing great. My good friend from the Guadalupe Center, Christina Jasso, gave me the news today. I was scared to call because I wasn't really wanting to deal with bad news if there was any. A weak position to take but I avoided all calls from the hospital this weekend. So if you called and I didn't answer SORRY!

Tammie's 20 Year Class Reunion is this weekend. I haven't decided whether I'm going or not. It sounds fun but I'm not sure if I'm up to it. I'm wanting to go in a way because my reunion was tough with Kay in the hospital but then I remember it was painfully boring for me. Not the people but the whole "so what do you do now?" I do like that this one is at a bar instead of the reception hall ours was held in. I can camp out at the bar if I get socially detached! Who knows. Have a great week and love the one your with.

Please include Kerry...

I want to ask everyone to pray for Kerry Magana. Kerry is having a difficult time right now and can use prayer. Her fight is tough right now and we need her to get through the next couple of days and a helping hand from God would and will be nice.

I have been keeping my distance from the hospital because it is emotional for me. We spent so much time there last year fighting major sickness that I hate to see hurting. We were there yesterday for Kaylee's treatments and I couldn't make my way up to see Kerry. I have to do my part for her outside the hospital. I work better outside the institution than inside.

Kaylee is feeling sore from her spinal tap. Her little back is hurting from the procedure. Her taste buds are wacky from the chemo she has to take. Kaylee does chemo everyday at home but travels to the hospital to get an ugly dose of something called methatrexate once a month. Kaylee never complains.

We were talking earlier about Kerry Magana. When we started our fight at CMH Kerry was a patient that we looked at as a kid on the fast track to recovery. To see her now makes you realize that this disease is totally unpredictable. I hope she doesn't suffer with this sickness to much longer. I want the health she deserves to return. I want her bone marrow transplant to be successful and I'd like to see her back to school.

If you want to help a beautiful kid, a kid who could be yours or mine, say a quick little prayer for her. When we were down and anyone asked if there was something I needed, I quickly responded that a prayer would be nice. So tonight I ask you to do the same for my friend Kerry Magana.

Checking In...

Hello there. It feels like an eternity since I last wrote anything. We are doing fine and Kaylee is feeling really good these days. I just wanted to fill you in on our progress. I have been busy with my business and trying to do good things.

Kerry Magana received her bone marrow transplant last week. I have been trying to help as much as I can. I am including the latest story in the KC Hispanic News.

http://www.kchispanicnews.com/images/v12n01/kchnv12n01.pdf

Everyone has been so good to the family and everyone was helpful to me. We still haven't received word back about Grandma but we are waiting. I feel we will get her here. Well I have to go before I start drifting off. If anyone would like to help this family in any way please let me know. I think any assistance is helpful. Kerry is going to be in the hospital for weeks and her mother is not working much.

LSW Titans...

Kaylee started school last week. She is so happy to be back with her friends and her routine. I like watching her get her little life back. I have to admit that I missed taking her to and from school last year but we have a new year ahead of us. I guess the Quijas family is getting back to normal.

Christian is in eighth grade this year. He doesn't like his schedule or team as they call it but what do you do. Christian is such a good kid. He never causes any problems for us and has never got a detention or anything. So we have the start of yet another school year. Amazing.

I can't tell you how nice it is to pick Kaylee up from school. Kaylee told me she loves school and you can see it when she walks out of the doors. Her attitude is so wonderful and refreshing. She is scared to drive to school right now but I'm sure she'll get more comfortable as the year goes on. That's about it with us. Have a good day tomorrow and enjoy your family!

Me and InAd TV...

Hello at 1:18 am in the morning. I am switching out software in computers remotely and I'm tired. I have limited time to work on my restaurants. They are open on average 14 hours per day and I have a certain window of opportunity to work on them. So I usually start really late or real early. I hate early morning but I wish I had it in me.

I wish I was one of those people who could wake at 5:00 am with coffee in hand and knock out some work, but it's not me. I'm up really late and sleep til 8:00 am. Although I had to be in early today because I had computers to fix. I rolled out of bed at 7 and headed to the office. It was much earlier then usual. I put a hat on and bolted out the door. I may have been there earlier but I couldn't find any toothpaste in this house. If one of the kids get low they will steal ours. Today I made my way to Kay's bathroom and couldn't find any. Went to Christians and there was none. So I ended up finding some Hello Kitty toothpaste in Kaylee's drawer and did my business. I wouldn't suggest Hello Kitty toothpaste!

I cringed all day thinking about my writings from last night. I censor what I write but didn't last night. It is best not to broadcast your problems or struggles, especially when it is there for everyone to read. But I finally looked at the blog and decided to leave it where it is. It seems so fake to think I have to always act or put out the perception that I'm doing good. I am doing good but I have problems. We all have problems, but today my problems seem larger than usual.

I so want to succeed at this niche business I've created. I am number one on Google when you type in digital restroom advertising. I have so many companies who call. AMC, Exxon, Live Nation, JE Dunn, McDonalds, Truck Centers, and Businesses across the US. I just can't seem to land that one job that will take me where I need to go. I believe that I could start a nationwide channel in restrooms. While you're doing your business I'm doing mine. I put content in front of you while you have a moment to kill. I can outfit office parks with TV's that run information to employees. My systems can be updated immediately and can be subsidized with outside advertising. Hospitals can tell you about blood drives and Volunteers while the Pharmaceutical companies pay for my systems so they can have a stage to tell you why you should use their product. I need someone who can help me land these deals or help me educate those people who make decisions.

So if you know that person who might have that thing I need please pass on my info. There has to be someone out there who believes that they can make things happen. I have something here but need to mine it out. Digital is the oil and steel of our time. The market is wide open for creative minds. If you know a Rockefeller or Carnegie let them know about me and InAd TV.

10 Out of 30...

Moments ago I went into Kaylee's room because I could see her light on under the door. I was letting the dog out and it caught my eye. It is after midnight and she should be a sleep. I went in and there she is sleeping on the end of her bed. The lights were on and the TV was blaring. I turned everything off and looked at her as I left the room.


Kaylee had chemotherapy today and I'm sure it has made her sick. This is her life right now. This is what she is dealing with tonight at 12:16 am on August 21, 2008. All my problems went out the door when I walked out. I have nothing to worry about. This is a fact but hard to accept because I'm only human. I still worry and get consumed even after looking at this beautiful child fight to get comfortable in her bed. I mean I worry about her but my hyper-focus on the sickness is gone. It has transferred over to me and my personal problems. All my thoughts are consumed with this business that has out grown me.

I fired everyone at InAd TV. Everyone. I am by myself running this company. The burden, yes burden has me thinking. Is all this worth it. You try to make a living doing something you dream up but it becomes work. This last few years have been all about passion. Now it's about sales, software, and sleepless nights. I worry tonight because I have software in 30 restaurants that is malfunctioning. At least 10 of the 30 have called within the last 12 hours. The other 20 will start calling tomorrow. I hate to go to sleep because the morning will be here too soon. I'm supposed to meet a billboard company at noon, give a speech an hour before that, and be at my office by 1:30 to test drive my new website for my new company called 10freeappetizers.com . I have a screen out in Fuel and a TV out in Mickey's Irish Pub that needs tending to. I am supporting the Crossroads Music Fest and need to have videos up and running by tomorrow. The list goes on and on. What do I do?

I have investors who want to question my decisions and my direction. I can never ask for anything because I can do it all my self but I'm starting to question my limits. When does a person say too much? Does everyone carry the same load? Maybe I'm venting and you too have a kid who has cancer, maybe you too do business with a company like the Cordish Group who just spent $1,000,000,000 on a development in downtown KC and don't understand software issues, and maybe you too spent all morning with Steve Dunn from JE Dunn Construction trying to land some skyscraper digital business. Maybe you carry the load better then I do. Maybe I complain and you don't. Maybe, just maybe, we all carry a load.

I know that my daughter is tossing and turning from a shit load of chemo she had to take today. So my days aren't that bad if you compare them to others. I have direction and I have purpose but sometimes the load feels like it's getting heavier and heavier. I'm only human and facing trying times but it will all work out. I should feel fortunate that my tossing and turning tonight is from stress and not poisonous medicine pumped through a port implanted in my chest. I guess I should be grateful.

Purposeful Evening...

It's almost 11:00 pm and I'm still at the office. I have so many things to send out, respond to, and follow up with. I think all those things mean the same thing but you get the picture.

I thank God I have somewhere to be. I have a family member who is going through a tough time and he's lost. I hate to see people get lost. We all have to have purpose or confusion sets in. I wish him the best and I hope someone gets through to him. I've come to the conclusion that you can only be saved if you want to! If I didn't have purpose then I'd be lost.

Check out Kaylee's commercial below. I keep playing it because it is so cool. Take a look and have a good night. Try to find purpose and love the one you're with!

Cool and Happy...

I had a good day today. I was all over the city fixing computers. I was with a friend early today and I commented how I was sick of running around. I have to be here, there, and everywhere. I worrying about my salesmen, I worry about my locations, I worry about the computers scattered through out the city. I worry about 100 plasma & LCD screens. I worry about the advertisers, I worry about advancement, I worry about investors, I worry about bank loans. I worry about my restaurant owners, and I worry about health.

Although today, during the course of my day, I came to the conclusion that I enjoy doing my thing. If I was doing it on someone else's clock then I'd be miserable. But sometimes the grass seems greener on the other side. You do your daily thing and it seems like your neighbor's grind is more appealing than yours. Relationships, work, or possessions can be viewed the same as well. They have have something that I want. Or do they? It doesn't always happen to me, it isn't something I dwell on, but every once in awhile I start eyeing everyone else and their thing.

It didn't take long for me to snap out of it today though. My home was so comfortable when I arrived home. The air condition was nice and cold. Tammie had brats on the grill and Christian had both of our golf clubs ready for a twilight tee time. Kaylee was getting ready to head to a friend's house and all the pets greeted me at the door. It doesn't get any better then that.

We might not be the richest family, we might not be the happiest family at times, but we are family and we are comfortable. I think providing comfort for your family is very important. If you have comfort sprinkled with some love then it is all good. What more could a man ask for? Well my advice to you is this. Be happy with what you have and if you feel it isn't right then try to change it. Set your thermostat low, have plenty of charcoal or propane, and keep your eye on the ball. It's those people who search for things outside their home that ultimately find out that the grass is the same across the street or around the block!

Hitting the Road...

Hello my friends! I am laying in bed tonight fighting to fall asleep. I am going through the stage where I want to stay up late and sleep a little later. No good. I need to be at the office earlier these days and it is hard.

Kaylee is feeling good. She had a spinal tap last Wednesday and it caused a headache that lasted nearly a week. Kaylee's poor little head was hurting badly. Today she is feeling better. Kaylee is getting ready to start school in August. We are excited. I forgot to warn everyone that Kaylee got her Driver's License a couple weeks ago. She has been enjoying her freedom that comes with the privilege of having a license.

Kaylee got the Jeep Cherokee but wanted a little Mercury Cougar. I assured her we will explore her options down the road but the Jeep will work fine for now. I think Kaylee is a great driver and I'm so excited to see her go down the road. I might have missed the beauty a year ago of just watching things, simple things unfold, but now I observe with appreciation. Take my word when I say "slow down and enjoy the ride!"

Lights, Camera, Action...

http://www.kmbc.com/video/16981761/

Did you see Kerry's interview? If not then click the link above. It was on tonight at 6:00 and 10:00 pm. It was nice and hopefully someone will see it and be touched. I think a lot of this is political. The hospital has worked hard and the Social Workers have also done an amount of work on this case but it just sat there. It was fragmented. It needed a dad who is fighting sickness with his kid to get in the ear of the people who can help assist in this case. If you write the letters then you call the recipient to get an answer after you send the letter. If no one calls or writes then you call and write again.

I thank Sara Visomirski at KCTV 5 for sending my email to Maria Antonia at KMBC 9 news. They both are alumni at the University of Miami and Sara sent her my email. I have done advertising and promotions for KCTV 5 for almost 3 yrs now and called in for a favor to Sara. Sara immediately sent the email on Sunday and we did an interview on Wednesday. That is getting things done quickly, thank you Maria and Sara.

Maria is such a nice woman as well. She is professional but caring. I'm sure she had her heart tugged by this little girl too. We all want our kids to be comfortable. When you see a child missing that comfort or when you see a young child having to do things you couldn't imagine your kid doing it really hits home. It makes me want change, assistance, or solutions for any kid fighting such a circumstance. Please keep reading because I might need some help from you soon!

KMBC 9 News...

Maria Antonia traveled to Children's Mercy Hospital today and interviewed Kerry. It is scheduled for tomorrow. I do not know what time but keep your eyes open for it. I was not included in the piece. I had my gel in, teeth flossed, and my shirt ironed but it didn't matter. It was all about Kerry.

I am so proud of Kerry and her mother. Kerry is not feeling well so everyone had a mask on. She wasn't bothered by it. Her mother Claudia had her hair done and was excited. I was in and out because Kaylee was getting treatments. We were at the hospital all day. It was boring. We sat for hours waiting for our spinal tap. Well I didn't get a spinal tap but you know what I mean.

I want to thank everyone for their input on how to help. I want to also thank Randy and Stacy Sharp for actually getting this going. If it wasn't for you and your emails I might not have started this campaign. I want everyone to know that sometimes we all need help. My voice is strong enough for Kaylee and Kerry. I just want comfort for my kid and Kerry. I can't imagine Kerry needing something and someone not being there for her. I can't save the world but I can start with a beautiful little girl named Kerry Magana!

Grandma: Part 2

I want to update everyone on my Honduran efforts. I am filling out paper work for Kerry Magana's grandmother's Visa. I have Congressman Emanuel Cleaver on board to write me/us a letter of support. I secured Senator Bond's office yesterday. Today I made contact with Claire McCaskill and hopefully she will sign a letter as well. I have countless businesses ready to submit letters as well.

I feel grateful that so many people have offered to help. I need more though. I need everyone to sign a letter, a signature or something to show the Consulate that Kansas City cares about their children. I started a website called caringforkerry.com that should be up soon. Does anyone have any suggestions how I can get signatures? Would I write the letter and put it in a blog then have the end user copy, paste, put it in a email resend it to me through email? I am up for any suggestions. I need thousands of signatures. I need to get it going asap. I'm tired and could use any help.

KMBC 9 is doing a story tomorrow on the situation. Thank you Maria Antonia. I only wish I could figure out the signature campaign. Please feel free to email at michael@inadtv.com if you can help me figure it out. I pray we get this little girl's family here.

Goodnight,
MQ

Angels, Curves, and Potholes...

If there was any reason why my family had to be struck with cancer, childhood cancer, I would suspect that it was for me to do something good with it. At first I thought that I had done something terrible to deserve such a diagnosis. My child was paying for something I may have done. I went over every scenario and came to the realization that God doesn't give you more than you can handle and he certainly wouldn't have a child endure this pain for the sins of her father.

Friday I traveled to Children's Mercy to get some documents from Kerry Magana's mother. As I sat with her mother I asked her if she ever wonders why God would do something like this to us. She looked at me and said her faith was still in place and she believes that God has delivered her angels. He has put sorrow and hard times at their door but also supplied people like me to help in her journey. People like me?

Claudia explained that we have seen each other over the coarse of a year but never really talked. She explained to me that the last time we saw each other she needed someone and it happened to be me that appeared. That particular day as we talked and held each other as our daughter's lay unconscious getting their treatments, her home was being burglarized. She obviously didn't know it at the time but got through it later that day knowing that I had joined in on her fight with this sickness and paper work needed to get her mother here. Our conversation and my commitment to her and her family helped ease her pain. So was it a coincidence that we happened to land at the same hospital with the same diagnosis? I can't answer that but I do know that I have a voice and strength for both little girls and I intend on using it to help in our fight to recovery.

I'm aware that I can't save the world, just as I'm aware that I can't fix every pothole in the country. But this situation, this little girl has crossed paths with me and I'm determined to lend my hand. I ask you to do the same. It was normal for me a year ago to hear the sad story and for me to tune it out. Well it has occurred to me that things don't happen by mistake. My kid got sick. I had to learn to live with the fact that our surroundings such as the hospital presents death. We hear about it, we see it, and we fear it. Is it coincidence that I'm writing about it and your reading about it? Maybe one of you are supposed to help Kerry Magana. Maybe through a chain of events it was destined for you to be touched by my story, by these children's stories. I believe everything happens for a reason.

I'm going to put together a letter I hope each of you will copy, paste, and sign and resend to me so I can forward it on to the Embassy in Honduras. This little girl needs a voice. A nurse told me,"You can't expect every parent whose kid gets struck with cancer to be as a caring as you and me." I'm sure it was supposed to be a compliment but I then realized she was talking about Kerry's mom Claudia. She minimized this poor woman's lack of communication, tough economic hardship, and support as non-caring. Well let me tell you something. If I was still in Los Angeles, a single dad, with 2 other mouths besides Kaylee to feed I'm not sure I could do it. Oh, throw in I couldn't speak English well, little or no job skills, and no family or support system. Would all that adversity discount my love for Kaylee? Not at all.

We are given a certain path/road. Some of these roads will be scattered with potholes and blind curves but it is essential to know that hope, faith, and an occasional angel will help guide you through the toughest terrian and on to a smoother coarse.

Caring for Kerry...

The story about Kerry Magana came out this week in the Kansas City Hispanic News. Click the "Caring for Kerry" title to read the entire story as it appears in KCHN.

I ASK YOU PLEASE HELP ME GET THIS STORY OUT TO THE MEDIA. IF YOU KNOW ANYONE WHO MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP PLEASE SEND THE ARTICLE OR BLOG TO THEM. I NEED THIS STORY TO BE SHARED. I NEED THOSE DECISION MAKERS IN HONDORUS TO KNOW THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE IN KANSAS CITY WHO CARE ABOUT THIS LITTLE GIRL. I NEED YOUR HELP SHARING THIS STORY.


Kerry Magaña is 15 years old and fighting for her life. She is battling leukemia. Her fight for life is taking its toll on her body and spirit leaving the once energetic teenager tired and wishing that her mother could be at her bedside as she faces her cancer treatments. Stress and anxiety rule Claudia Sabrera, Kerry’s mother. She struggles with the need to be in three places at once. As a single parent, she must be at work so that she can provide for the other two siblings in the family household. When she is not at work, she feels that she must be home with the other children. She can’t leave them alone. She has no family to help her care for them or Kerry. Sabrera has had to make hard choices lately. She has missed work to try to be at the hospital with Kerry. Now her work hours have been cutback. The family is in turmoil and struggling to make ends meet. Sabrera does not know where to turn. Kerry was diagnosed in 2006 with ALL Leukemia and was in critical need of a bone marrow transplant. Following treatment, Kerry’s leukemia went into remission. While trying to find a bone marrow donor, she had a relapse in December 2007 and the family faced a life or death situation. Her daughter battled the disease and it appeared that the treatment had worked. While she was in remission in February of this year, Kerry worked hard to educate the Latino community about the importance of Hispanics registering as bone marrow donors. She attended the three hour bone marrow drive held last February at Bales Baptist Church in the northeast area of the city. Her future looked bright when a bone marrow donor was identified, but before the transplant could take place, her cancer returned. She is currently recuperating from her latest bouts of treatment. She is scheduled for a transplant on August 11. The cancer is beginning to take its toll on the young teenager. She is tired and disheartened. Previously, the spirited teenager was a beacon of hope and high spirits, spending time in the hospital visiting other children in the cancer ward. She would talk to the parents and the children about losing their hair from the cancer treatments; she would introduce the children to members of the hospital staff and try to make both the parents and children at ease while they were going through their treatments just as she was. Michael Quijas met Kerry while his own 15-year-old daughter was in Children’s Mercy hospital diagnosed with leukemia. “We would stay weeks at a time at Children’s Mercy on the pediatric cancer floor. Kerry came into the room and she talked to my daughter. At the time Kerry had no hair and my daughter was beginning to lose her hair. She sat down, they talked, and she showed us what it was to wear a wig. … She helped my daughter out and her visits with us and with the other children and families was priceless.”
While at Children’s Mercy Hospital, Kerry has a social worker and a Child Life Specialist assigned to her. “Their job is to reduce the stress and anxiety that accompany the hospitalization and other aspects of health care here at the Hospital,” said Jessica Salazar, Manager of Media Relations at Children’s Mercy. “They will meet with the child and help them and guide them through what they are dealing with as a patient. They will prepare the child for medical experiences, they advocate for patient and family rights and they normalize the environment
for the patients.” Even though Sabrera knows that Kerry has hospital staff with her as she goes through her medical treatments, it tears at her heart knowing that she cannot be there to comfort her and reassure her that everything will be fine. “This is difficult for me and for her. She is preoccupied with getting ready for her operation and I am preoccupied with worrying that she is taking her pills. I know that her sickness makes her very tired to where she just wants to lay there and sleep and sleep. I want to be the person that is there to make sure that she takes her pill, make something for her to eat and give her food.” At the same time, she is aware of the needs of her other children. “It is something I cannot control. I cannot be guarding the kids for 24 hours. I can’t break myself into pieces to be everywhere. … I have not lost my faith but this is very hard, to get out of work, come home to cook and take care of the kids and then go to the
hospital it is difficult. … I want things to be stabilized.” As a parent, Quijas understands what Abrera is experiencing emotionally and knows how important the familial touch is. “Just to have
that family member there to rub her back when the child is getting sick, to administer the
medicine or to just make sure they are comfortable while they are battling this. I think that everyone wants a little bit of comfort whether you are an adult or a child, there is something about having someone there with you,” he said. “She wants to be there but she has two other mouths to feed and she has to keep a roof over their heads. I saw Claudia on one of the treatment days for Kerry at the hospital and she told me, ‘I need my mom’ I need someone to help me,” added Quijas. Sabrera has tried to bring her mother from Honduras to the United States. She has sent money to her mother, sent papers from the hospital proving the gravity of the situation. Sabrera has found the situation untenable. Her mother must apply for the visa in the Honduran capital, Tegucigalpa, a distance of five to six hours. “She has to leave for a whole day to be there early in the morning for the visit. Then they turned her down without saying why.” Sabrera explained that her mother would have to apply again and pay the nonrefundable
application fee once again to get another hearing, which she fears will turn out the same. “She not only loses the money for the visa but also the travel cost because she lives so far away.”
Quijas has taken steps to see if he can get local and federal politicians involved in helping to bring the grandmother to the United States. He has contacted Congressman Emanuel Cleaver and Julie Myers, assistant secretary of Homeland Security for U.S. Immigration and Customs enforcement (ICE), to see if they can help expedite the paperwork for the grandmother. “Since I have been in this campaign to help them, I have been told that this is not an emergency to bring the grandmother here,” explained Quijas. From where he stands, he cannot imagine a more critical situation. “Until you are there with your child, and it is hard enough being in the room with your child, to think about your child being there by themselves going through this kind of sickness, it is really about making your child comfortable, which contributes to the well being of that person,” added Quijas. “This visa is a necessity. Someone needs to be at the hospital for that little girl while she gets her treatment.”

Dr. Mount...

My family went to a party last night. The party was a Jewelry Party and it was hosted by a woman named Kaye Mount. Kaye was our home school teacher this last year. She was my daughter's teacher. Normally kids may have 6, 7, or 8 teachers during the day - we had one. We had Kaye Mount.

I write about Kaye tonight for a reason. Kaye Mount is such a special part of our family that I feel obligated to tell everyone. The friendship sort of symbolizes this past year. We had Kaye come in like all the other professionals. Kaye was just like all the other knocks at the door when this thing started. We were assigned a teacher, similiar to the specialists that were being assigned daily at that time. There was a job to be done and Kaye was given that job. We really didn't care if it - the teacher - was a he or a she. Tall or short. White or black. It was business. Kaylee needed a teacher to keep her on track. Kaye was given the job.

Looking back, it was one of those introductions that were like so many at that time. Our sickness was thick and the salutations polite and proper but insignificant. When you are in a fight for your child's life everything else doesn't really matter. I was on auto-pilot. Hey, how are you? Here's my kid now lets get this done!

Week after week past and we had our ups and downs but Kaye arrived at her usual. The relationship blossomed in rhythm with Kaylee's health. Before long that insignificant relationship became the cornerstone of our recovery. We had someone that felt our pain but was professional. Kaye kept Kaylee in the loop. Kaye's scheduled appointments at the Quijas household made Kaylee get up and about. This routine directly contributed to the health of my child. Although Kaye doesn't have her medical degree, she is a doctor in my eyes.


I'm writing about Kaye tonight because Kaylee and Tammie felt like they were part of Kaye's family yesterday. They arrived at the party and everyone knew who they were. They fit in with Kaye's family and friends like they had known them for years. That professional demeanor Kaye brought to the door that first day was just the thing we needed. It was right on cue with the whole sickness thing. As time went by that relationship progressed into something so much more than a pupil and the teacher. It grew into friendship that will always be. I thank you Kaye for being there. This situation we went through demanded that we have a professional. It just happens that our professional brought more to our doorstep than a degree. Kaye Mount was our teacher, is our friend, and a savior to this family. Thank you Kaye!

All Aboard...

A couple of months ago I gave a speech at CMSU for young entrepreneurs. I kept referring to my experience as a bus ride. You head out on your journey, your ride, and you have all sorts of people come along for the ride. Some people get off during the cruise and others stay on. There's some that matter more than others. But eventually everyone leaves.

If trying to make something out of nothing isn't hard enough, throw in emotional attachments that dissolve. It hurts. Well it has happened again. My right hand man, Ken, had to go. The direction my company has been going isn't or hasn't been right. I had to make a decision, a tough decision to go a different direction. It's like a relationship ending. The bus has pulled over and another passenger has to go.

Ken was such an important part of my business and important part of my family. He made sure that my business kept running while my daughter fought her sickness. He made it to appointments when I wasn't able to. He was the boss and I'm thankful. Unfortunately things run their course and change has to be made. My dreams are exactly that, my dreams. I have suffered for this dream, sacrificed for this dream, and have committed myself to this dream. I have to steer the course.

So I guess what I'm saying is that life is like a bus. People come and people go. Some stay longer then others but the majority all leave sooner or later. Everyone has a journey, or a road to take. The bottom line is that this is my bus - my life - and it has to make it down the road. The tires have to be aired, the engine has to be oiled, and the vehicle has to be fueled. Your destination is yours and you have to get to where you need to be internally, spiritually, and physically. I can not afford to get too attached to any outside influences or people that might slow me. I have to keep on keeping on. I enjoy company and welcome companionship but eventually everyone disappears. The one constant is me, my bus, and my map.

I want to thank everyone who has sent me an email recently. I enjoy the reading emails from friends, and those from strangers as well. I try to respond to all of them in a quick time frame, but if it takes longer than usual I'm sorry. I will get to it.

I went swimming today and it felt great. Kaylee also took up the

Sweet 16...

It was Kaylee's birthday today. We started our celebration last night. Kaylee and four friends wanted to go to Chubby's on Broadway last night, or early this morning. I drove her and the girls down there around 12:30 am. We drove around, had breakfast, and sung songs until 3 am. It was fun. I'm a fun dad - I think.

Tonight we took 10 people to Buca di Pepo. It was a great dinner. If you've never been there you should go. We ate way to much. The night was fun and the day was special. I could not help but think how grateful I am to have my daughter. I've had a great 16 years with Kaylee. I look forward to another 50 years.

Well I'm going to sleep and I hope you have a nice weekend.

Fourth in line...

Have you ever noticed or witnessed someone taking their time to look good, smell good, or carry their self in the right way? My son for example takes more showers then anyone I know. They are quick but he loves to feel good. Christian also wears Cologne. He loves to smell good. He likes body spray. His trophy's are in order as is everything in his room. I feel so great as a father to watch him do all he can to feel and look good. I say this because it's Christian and I love him. If he liked to wade in the mud and smell a little stinky then that would be fine too. It just happens to be the opposite.

I remember my grandpa always looking really sharp. He wore a hat and always had a suit or tie on. He always looked so nice and proper. As a man today I appreciate people who have a certain style. I look at these people, those I know and some I don't, but always wonder where their sense of style came from. Was it their grandpa? Was it their dad? Does that impression rub off? Maybe someone made a decision as a child not to be like those he grew up around? Maybe someone was around smelly people as a youngster and decided to be the total opposite as an adult.

I for example made a decision that I would be active in my kid's lives. I strive to be a good father. I have faults and shortcomings but my life is my children. My father made a decision when I was a baby, he made a decision even before I was born, that his time and his life was more important then the family's. He decided that it was more important that he eat before his children. He chose to spend our last dollar on his needs. He made decisions that benefited him, not us. I've made the choice that I'm fourth in line when it comes to my family. There's three others in front of me.

I love my mother and I wonder if she ever watched in the background as I put Cologne on. When I feathered my hair did she smile. Did she cry when she noticed that I was equipped with a kind heart. Maybe my focus wasn't a clean and spotless room but maybe it was my kindness that demanded attention. Who knows.

Rumor has it that my sharp dressed grandpa worried that I was too caring. He warned my mother she should watch out for me because he thought that I might get hurt later on in life. Because I loved too much. How much of that is true I'm not sure. But maybe it was true and maybe he made that comment because he observed something special in me as I notice those special things in Christian, my son. Maybe my mom made a man that does care, who does notice good smells and certain styles, and occasionally cries from sadness and from happiness. Maybe my mom showed so much love to me and my sisters that I followed her lead. What ever the case may be, I love life, I love my family, and I just love to love.

True...

I love to write. Tonight I had planned to watch some DVD's from BlockBuster but got distracted when I started writing and couldn't stop. I find comfort when I express myself with words. I never scored a high grade in English as a kid, but feel I express myself somewhat good with a keyboard or pen. Who needs to score good grades in English when you start blogging? might do find it as a great escape as I get older. ather funny that I find such relief in putting words down. I love to read my entries. I cannot tell you how great it is to document your day. I go back and read about me and my family and it is awesome. I memorialize the moment. Maybe I'm no Edgar, Walt, or S.E. but I enjoy my journal.

So many of the cancer parents tell me they wish they would've documented their story. I'm sure most wouldn't broadcast them, but I did and I'm owning up to it. I made new friends from it, rekindled old friends from it, and shared the pain of a parent. Hopefully no one will ever have to feel it but if you do, you should know that I made it and you would too. Sickness sucks you down but it's what you do with it that matters. You can swim or sink. I have chosen to stick and move, jab and undercut this cancer. If it had an eye I'd poke it!

Well it is getting late here in the Quijas Household and I must go. But before I do I want to share a quick story. I have been stressed out lately. I go from battling this thing with Kaylee, not caring about the rest of the world to being completely absorbed with things outside my household. This morning I had to go to Granfalloon North to fix some issues that have been weighing InAd TV down. Some upgrades to the system and software. I love to go on service calls because I don't have to focus on anything but that. I get to work on the task at hand and everything else is minor. Well I get on the road and I start stressing. Is the owner mad about this? Did I do this right? Should I do this? Did I do this? Could I do.... It is absolutely ridiculous.

So I'm getting myself worked up as I take the 45 minute ride up north. I really shouldn't let anything bother me because my daughter is feeling great. She had 7 friends over last night and she's happy. So today should be a happy day. My mind is crazy. I'm happy for my kid but stressing out over things that aren't really that important. Back and forth. I get to Granfalloon and the owner walks in. Nancy the owner says "How's your daughter doing?" I started to cry. Yes - it seemed like I had started to turn over a new leaf and was leaving the crying thing behind me but old habits are hard to break.

I looked her in the eye and said "We are doing great!" We are. The night was so beautiful because Kay was being a kid with all her friends and it hit me that all my thoughts about this and that are insignificant. I explained to Nancy that it is such a roller coaster. Worrying about health then spinning on a dime and worrying about my business. Nancy looks at me and says "All this stuff, all this day time filler stuff, is insignificant!" She said, "this building, this job you're doing will be here in 2, 3, or 4 weeks from now. So why sweat it."

True. Why worry about things that aren't hurting me or my family. Sure I might need to address a few things but I'm not hurting anyone and no one is hurting us. Not sickness, not anyone or anything. So I should be grateful. But sometimes I feel guilty if I don't stress. I feel like I should have some sense of urgency today. My grief stage is over and I should "Cowboy Up" and get busy with this problem here or there. But the truth is, I'm not breaking any laws and I'm not hurting anyone. I'm just a guy trying to make an honest living.

So I need to accept that there's always going to be something that doesn't get done. There's always going to be something I could have done better. But as long as I get up every day and work to do better then I will never lose. True!

To my old friends...

I want to tell everyone about a few messages I've received lately. One was from Karin Marrow Livella. I went to school with Karin at St.Agnes. Karin surprised me with an email yesterday. Thank you Karin. I feel honored you would remember me! I was happy to hear from you and the family looks awesome. It has been so long. And you thought I forgot about our Mr. Dalton, Mr. Landers, and Sister Marcella days! No way.

This year has brought about so many people from my past. It is so nice to hear from people from so long ago. It means a lot to me when people take the time to write, place a call, or send a message. I think it's awesome when you think about your memory of someone. I remember everyone and I have memories of anyone that I came across in my youth. I often wonder if I made an impression. Does anyone remember me? So when I get a message it makes me feel good.

I also received a message from Kent Fossland yesterday, another classmate who I hadn't heard from in years. He told me his experience with cancer and I thank you Mr.Fossland. I love to hear other stories about sadness and sickness. That might sound bad but it makes you respect other people and their journey. They say with pain comes growth. I wouldn't wish it on anyone but this experience has made me appreciate my life and those around me more then ever.

One last blast from the past. Nanci Noble. Nanci is the mother of Jill Sandin, well it's Jill Green now, but it was Jill Sandin. Jill was a girl I liked my freshman year in high school. We attended JC Harmon High together. We were both new to this big school and some how made a connection. My grade school was Rosedale and hers was Argentine. We were both new to high school and out to make new friends when we met. Jill was my first date I ever had. We went to a school dance together and I remember being so nervous. I don't recall all the details but I do remember eating with Jill and her mother. It was out of the ordinary for me to go anywhere with a girl so the memory is still vivid. Jill was a cheerleader and I remember thinking how lucky I was to go with her. Every one liked Jill but she was my date. Her mother Nanci sent me such a nice email about a month ago and it made me feel great. First, that she would remember me. Second, that she would take the time to wish my beautiful daughter best wishes. Sometimes you think you go unnoticed but every once in awhile you make an impression. Maybe I made one back then, who knows, but it was Nanci that made one in June 2008. I haven't ran into Jill in years but I know she's doing great and married a great guy from our neighborhood.

I'm watching my sons baseball game and better get back to it but I thought I'd drop a line. If we haven't talked in awhile send me an email. If you have something good or bad to say I'd like to hear it. My email is michael@inadtv.com and once again I want to say thanks to Karin,Kent, Nanci and everyone who has sent encouraging words!
MQ

Hopefully you'll never know...

Have you ever been sick? Have you ever had a family member sick? Have you ever had your child sick? Hopefully not, but chances are you've had to fight some sort of sickness in your life. The thing about sickness is it's usually associated with the the flu, the cold, the stomache ache. The next level generally hits a family member. The relative who comes down with something that gets the whole family talking. The Uncle in Fresno with the stroke, the Grandma with a tumor, or your Mother with breast cancer. All of these scenerios are devastating but come second to the day you have a doctor tell you that your child has cancer. Give me, my sister, my mom, or anyone I know those hurtful words "you have cancer" but please spare my kid!

In a perfect world we might never have to utter those words. But it's not a perfect world and we have to take each diagnosis but it does happen. My mother has went through cancer, my sister, and my uncle. you can never prepare for the words CANCER when it comes to your child.

One Year Ago Today...

I reprinted my first blog below. I published it on June 29, 2007. What a difference a year can make. I can't explain those first days. It was so surreal. I was confused and hurt. The doctors are convinced that it was delivered to me for a reason. I think they may be right. This word leukemia, this disease called cancer, has changed me. I'm humbled. I'm full of compassion and I look at every thing differently.

I now notice things that I once didn't. Today for example I noticed this man's hands at our baseball tournament. These paws were rough. They looked as if he had broken his fingers, smashed a few fingernails, and changed more then enough motor oil. (Bare with me for a moment because this is going somewhere.) As this man put his other hand on the bleacher I noticed his thumb was missing. Ouch! I then looked at his family. He had his wife, his daughter who was roughly Kay's age, and his son. This father had a t-shirt on with his son's uniform number on it. I watched him for a minute. This stranger was interacting with his kids. He was a good father from all appearences. I went back to his hands. These beaten digits were that way because he was providing a life for his family. He was working with his hands somewhere to pay tournament fees. He was aquiring arthritis for the fancy sunglasses his daughter was wearing, and for the flip flops his wife was sporting. I saw family when I saw his hands. This disease has made me look past the cosmetic appearence of a man and his tortured hands. It has made me admire a man for the hard work he has endured to provide for his family.

Please enjoy my retro writing and please consider helping me find a way of getting Kerry Magana's grandma here:


Almost 15….What really matters? A question that can produce so many different answers. I’m not sure what my answer would've been a week ago. To be honest, I really wanted to own a Bentley Continental GTC in the next year or so if I hit the lottery. A custom chopper. A lake home. I thought those things mattered. I thought status was important. But a week later I can tell you its health. A healthy child. A healthy child that you kiss goodnight as you tuck them into bed.My name is Michael Quijas and I am sitting next to my daughter as she fights for her life. Seven days ago my daughter was admitted to the University Hospital in Columbia, MO for symptoms of Leukemia. That was Thursday June 21, 2007. On Friday June 22, we were delivered the bad news that she did test positive for Leukemia and treatment had to start immediately.
The whole event was surreal and a week later it is still numbing. I am coping, crying, and questioning everything. Why? Why my little girl? What did she ever do in her short little life to deserve such a devastating diagnosis? The doctors & nurses tell me it’s a process that every parent goes through but I still have questions and anger.My first day, technically before the official results were in, I had hospital staff tell me how sorry they were. The doctors, nurses, & even the receptionist expressed condolences. I was confused. Why the hell are these people giving me sympathy? I didn’t want it, they could keep it.I have to do something theraputic while I sit here so I've decided to document my experience.June 24, 2007 11:43 p.m. - I am sitting in a hospital room at University Hospital in Columbia, MO.. Room 6-E44 to be exact. The time is 11:43 p.m. and I am fighting a battle with my daughter. This battle is against leukemia. This battle started three days ago on June 21, 2007. The news or I should I say diagnosis came in around 8:15 p.m. and it was like a hammer hitting me in the head.
I was at the hospital for a shot, pill, or Tylenol. Not the news that my baby had Leukemia. We wanted to spend an hour at the most getting some quick fix and head back to our baseball tournament. But life has has a way of throwing a curve ball.Kaylee Marie Quijas was born on July 12, 1992. I’d like to say she weighed 6.6 oz. but it would only be a guess. I do know she was born in the afternoon and it changed my life forever. I swear I have never loved a girl as much as I love my baby Kaylee. It was love at first sight.It is eighteen days until her 15th birthday. This is the summer before her sophomore season in high school. Almost fifteen! The sad thing is that I can not do any thing to ease her pain.We started chemotherapy yesterday and it has demolished my baby girl. She is so sick that I can not recall being in the presence of anyone as ill as this little angel. Her spirit is at its lowest and I’m scared. I’m scared that her low immune system could allow a simple virus to ravage her defenseless body. I’m terrified that her body, or her almighty father God, might decide to call it quits. The worst nightmare a parent could ever have.June 26, 2007 12:05 a.m. - Today has been a better day for Kaylee. She is still sick and weak but was more alert then yesterday.June 26, 2007 9:10 p.m. - Our day has been exhausting. Visitors are coming left and right and we are trying to entertain in a sense. The drive here is 2 hours long. So when some one travels that distance to see you, you feel obligated to meet & greet but we are worn out. The support from our family and friends has been incredible.June 26, 2007 11:48 p.m. - I just arrived at the Ronald McDonald house. I feel grateful to be accepted into the house but would give anything to be at home with Kaylee. I keep having negative thoughts about Kaylee’s recovery. I’m optimistic about her improvements but concerned about her ability to fight off infection and virus’. I will keep my concerns to myself.June 27, 2007 11:06 a.m. - My night went rather well considering I slept in the Ronald McDonald House alone. I was unfamiliar with the surroundings but felt blessed that I had a place to sleep. I am amazed at the “workings” of this whole illness thing. There are people to comfort you, people to feed you, cloth you, house you, assist you, and almost anything and everything a family might need to cope with this terrible disease called cancer. I am making a commitment to contribute to these organizations when I can do so.June 28, 2007 11:37 a.m. – Today Kaylee is looking spectacular! Her color and skin looks so much better. She is still sleeping. Exhausted. Worn down. Beat up. But she was told that if she doesn’t start eating and drinking she will not be able to go home.Her resilient spirit is second to none. I am so proud of her and her strength.June 28, 2007 9:13 p.m. – Sometime today around 3:00 p.m. the doctors came in to tell us or advise us on a certain “situation”. It seems that Kaylee's liver is having troubles. It is irritated and unhappy and should rest. But the treatment (chemotherapy) she needs today will in all probability upset the liver even more. But if they delay treatment for the cancer it will continue to grow and her life would be in grave danger. But if we did delay treatment it would give her liver additional time to heal. We all agreed that extinguishing the cancer is the top priority and we can only pray her liver will survive and rebound. We’ll just cross that bridge when it comes.
June 29, 2007 9:20 a.m. – I took Kaylee for a stroll in the wheelchair today.She had herself an egg & sausage biscuit in the cafeteria. Chocolate milk washed the two bites down. Her eyes are bright yellow from the unhappy liver. She is so beautiful even when she looks sick. Her manners have never disappeared even though she can hardly talk. It is always "thank you."I also took Kaylee outside for a minute. I needed the wind to hit her face. I wanted her to hear the birds chirping. It is those little things that we take for granted every day. I love my daughter more than I can say.

Grandma: Part 1

Dear Representative Cleaver,
My name is Michael Quijas. I am a proud father of a young 15 yr-old girl who is fighting cancer, leukemia. We were diagnosed on June 21, 2007. This last year was very hard and unpredictable. We have been fighting for our daughter's health and have had to dig dip inside to get through certain days. We were blessed with a strong family, with friends, and community that rallied behind us.

Along our journey we made friends with other families battling similar sickness in their kids. I write you tonight about one mother in particular, a mother that is struggling to keep her family afloat. Her name is Claudia and her beautiful daughter's name is Kerry Magana. Claudia is a single mother with 3 kids. She has no family or friends to help her. Until recently she had been riding the bus to work, she has walked to Children's Mercy Hospital from East KC, and she has had to let her sick daughter ride the bus alone to get her chemo in the clinic. Since Claudia is the only provider in the home she is forced to leave Kerry daily so she can work to keep a roof over the family's head. She needs help, she needs your help.

Kerry's grandmother lives in Honduras and has tried unsuccessfully to get a Visa to come stay with the family until Kerry's bone marrow transplant is complete. They deemed Kerry's case not an emergency. As a father who has a child battling the same disease, it is an emergency. This little girl is fighting alone daily with no one to over see her taking her meds, (with blood disease you could sleep all day and not even know it), the bone marrow transplant requires that this little girl stay hospitalized for 6-8 weeks following the procedure. There needs to be someone there with her. Right now Claudia has to be at the hospital every Wednesday to sign off on the chemotherapy that Kerry receives. She is at risk of losing her job due to the demands of this disease. She needs someone to help her, someone like her mother, someone to bring comfort and assistance like only a mother can. As my Congressman, as a Congressman who's a father, a grandfather I ask you to please lend your help, your hand in saving this beautiful little girl.

We need a Humanitarian Visa for this little girl's Grandmother. Please help me help them. The Guadalupe Center has been blown away by this Mother's story and is requesting an application from Mr. Ruiz. Please take a look at this application and let us know what can be done through your office/resources.

I own a TV channel - InAd TV - that plays Kansas City's top restaurants, nightclubs, and entertainment venues (The Power & Light/KC Live). If I can ever help with a cause, an event, or a campaign please know I'm here for you! Please give me a call or an email and I can give you more details or info regarding Kerry Magana.

I'm a blessed man because I can provide my family with the tools, resources, and time needed to fight this thing as comfortably as possible. I'm blessed that I get to have my wife next to my daughter daily as we fight our sickness. My wife and I both have the luxury to rub our daughter's back as she gets so sick. Imagine if you were a parent and couldn't be there for your child. I only hope we can help because if by chance this little girl passes away I don't want this mother to have any regrets! I want grandma here so she can rub the back if mom has to work.

At first I thought why would God give this to us. But now I know. He gave me this so I might help others. I just created a non-profit called - 10 Kids Insured - that will insure children lacking health care in programs such as Operation Breakthrough and Guadalupe Center. What I thought was a curse has turned into a blessing! Please help Kerry Magana and her mother. They are legal residents of the US and they need some representation. Thank you Mr. Cleaver.

Thank you,
Michael Quijas
816.651.9471
michael@inadtv.com
www.inadtv.com

Don't let the sickness steal your smile...

I was thinking the other day what advice Kaylee would give me concerning myself and sickness. I turned the tables, and thought what piece of knowledge would Kaylee bestow upon me if she thought I had the fight of my life at hand. Here's what I came up with. She would tell me never lose my smile and my sense of humor. I'm sure of it. She would never want me to surrender or lose my personality. I think if we switched roles, that would be the one thing that would deflate Kay - me losing that laugh.



I truly enjoy life and love laughing. Laughing was what got us through those first days. Even though Kaylee got severely sick we laughed, smiled, and cried occasionally. But our internal medicine was laughter. We never let the sickness steal our smile. Sure it's gotten tough at times, but we found humor somewhere. So keep your smile if sickness knocks at your door because it might be that smile that eases someones pain!

Maybe you know me, maybe you don't. Today I ask you to take a moment and read this whether you know me or not. Today I was at Children's Mercy Hospital with Kaylee and Tammie. Kaylee had to be put under anesthesia for the procedures she had to endure today. So much scar tissue has built up, she can no longer be awake for the needles and punctures.

While we were in there we ran into Kerry Magania's mother. You might remember Kerry in some of my earlier blogs. I had helped out in the Bone Marrow Drive. Kerry has relapsed and is fighting sickness. Kerry is a beautiful 15 yr-old child. She is struggling.

We were in the waiting room waiting for Kay and Kerry's mom was also waiting. We talked and her mom started crying. She said that it was so hard trying to work daily while her baby's health was declining. We talked about how it was so difficult trying to work. She said that her family consists of 2 other children besides Kerry. She had to make sure the bills are paid but would much rather be home making sure Kerry was waking up and being taken care of. Kerry like all kids are so tired. This blood disease is tiring. I listened to her tell us about her mother who lives in Honduras. She said that her mother has tried more than once to apply for a Visa but has be denied because they say this situation is not life threatening. It is! If this little girl doesn't have the proper care only a mother or grandmother can give then she is in trouble.

My heart ached. I want to help but don't know how. I called a State Representative while I sat there and he gave me a name in Emanuel Clever's office. This man is the one who might be able to help but who knows. If you read this and know or keep in touch with Julie Myers from high school, the Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security and Immigration Investigations, please give her my number. If you know someone with connections then please think about an angle to get this grandmother here. Comfort can create miracles!

Thank You...

Today marks the one year anniversary of our leukemia diagnosis. What a difference a year makes. I got a little choked up this afternoon when Kaylee started recapping that day last year. We are having dinner tonight to mark the progress we've made. I love my daughter more than words can describe. So this is sweet and simple.

I thank you God for allowing me time with such a beautiful girl whom I'm lucky enough to call my daughter. I thank you for letting me see. If it hadn't have been for that gift then I may never have gotten to see the light, the love, and the lessons from this.

Thank you!

Sleepovers and sickless days...

My troubles started last Father's Day. Kaylee had arrived home from Florida the night before Father's Day. It was Sunday, Father's Day, and Kaylee became ill. I thought she was fibbing. I reasoned she was holding out on the Father's Day because she was detached from her computer for a whole week. I told her at one point to get off the computer during our BBQ because I wasn't falling for her tactics.

Kaylee progressively got worse. During the first week Kaylee had flu symptoms. She was sick. Tonight Kaylee went to the Plaza for dinner. Last night she spent the night with Bailee Woods. Two nights ago she stayed with Allysa. Wednesday she stayed with my sister Kelly. Kaylee looks and feels so good. I am so proud of her. She is self conscious about certain things but loves her life and her situation at the moment.

Kaylee said she was so comfortable at Bailee's home. I told her how nice it was for me to hear that. The Woods picked Kaylee up last night around 6:30. They took her to their house. I had about an hour with the family. I love them. We have a friendship based off similar experiences. No hidden agenda. No false promises. Our kids are the glue that bonded us. I can't tell you how special the friendship with the Woods family is, but let me suggest a thing to you. If you ever get something as devastating as a cancer diagnosis, keep your eyes open because God might be as kind to you as he was to us when he teamed us up with the Woods family.

I'm going to bed. I have a house full of kids tonight and the sound of laughter is filling our home. I feel like I'm going to sleep exceptionally well. Have a good night and a better tomorrow!

Maybe...

I wanted to inform everyone that Kaylee does not have a fracture in her leg. We spent yesterday at the hospital getting x-rays and they showed Kaylee has no broken bones. We decided it was best to be safe so we made the trip to CMH. It took some time out of our afternoon but the news was worth the time. Kaylee must have twisted it.

Kaylee spent the night at her best friend Allysa's house last night. It is so nice to see her getting back to normal. I got a little sick with the fact that we had to travel to CMH yesterday. I thought how unfair. This kid keeps plugging away but has to deal with obstacle after obstacle. Her little body is so fragile. I always want to help her but she wants no assistance. I feel for her. Her little wig doesn't fit anymore because her hair is growing back. The hair is at a small growth she doesn't feel good with. She wears a small stocking cap to conceal her new found hair. She wears a hoodie. I'm guessing it's because her body temperature swings back and forth. When we are out in public it is obvious that she is battling back from something. I catch people looking all the time. I notice people trying to figure it out. I as the father want to scream she has cancer but that's not allowed. The majority of all people have no clue that any of us can be thrown into sickness at any moment.

I get into trouble because there are those that ask Kaylee what's wrong. Especially with her little hobble. She always replies that she twisted her ankle. I sometimes fill in the other part about cancer and Kaylee doesn't like it. I only do this when I can tell that the person is sincerly interested in what this little girl is battling. I think anyone fighting or being inconvenienced with things such as ours should be applauded. I would grab every kid and reward them if I could. I think anyone robbed of their youth, childhood should be noted for bravery. These children face things most will never face and depend on institutions and professionals to get them better. How scary. I think trying to survive is hard enough for most but being dependent on things outside the norm is troubling. What if the family you were born into has trouble providing three meals a day then suddenly they have to figure out how to get meds? It hurts me dearly to think about other families and the things that some have to deal with. Let the kids be kids, life is hard enough as it is!

I wonder sometimes if God gave me this so I could make a difference. Maybe I was chosen to handle this situation for a reason? Maybe it will be Michael Quijas who helps in some way. Maybe it is me that contributes in some way that makes things easier for families. Maybe God delivered this sickness to my door for a reason. Maybe!

St. Louis for the day...

Kaylee and I went to St. Louis for the day yesterday. We drove up there and stayed at a hotel in the downtown area. I suggested the trip on Tuesday and Kaylee quickly agreed. It was only us two that made the trip. We arrived back home today around 3:00 PM. Our entertainment was limited because Kaylee has a hurt leg. Her ankle is swollen and she can barely walk today. I think I am taking her to CMH tomorrow to have it X-rayed. We have been told that steroids and chemo can make the bones brittle.

Our intentions originally were to go to Six Flags. We determined that we wouldn't be able to walk long enough to enjoy the outing. We made the decision to go ahead with the trip just to relax and it would also give Kaylee some drive time on the open highway. I booked a room at the Millennium Hotel. I wish I could give raving reviews but the room was very small. The key worked only after 5 to 10 minutes of concentration. The room was categorized as a contemporary setting and it was. It was so hip that it was uncomfortable. Lighting in the room was horrible and light switches were hidden. The restaurant we looked forward to eating at was booked solid for the night. The taxi driver tried charging us $10.00 for a four block ride.

The time with Kaylee in a new city was priceless. We stopped off in Columbia, MO to see where everything unfolded last year. The diagnosis was almost a year exactly, well 10 days shy. Our first stop was at the hotel. I felt so emotional pulling back into town. The same front desk guy was there. He remembered me easily. I told him how thankful we were for his kindness and generosity last year. It was nice to tell them Kaylee was doing better.

Our next stop was University Hospital. Dr. Tran was our doctor who diagnosed Kay. We told the front desk we wanted to see the doctor and why. I could tell she knew our moment was pretty special. To our excitement Dr. Tran was working. So we were taken back and waited about 15 minutes for the doctor. I can't explain how good it felt being able to sit in that Urgent Care room with my daughter, to say thank you.

Dr. Tran came in and he remembered us. He gave us both a hug and a smile. He told us he often thought what happened to Kaylee. We said we were here and getting our health back. We talked for 45 minutes and then Dr. Tran walked us to our car. It was a good time. I think Kaylee and I both got something out of the trip. I only wish I had taken a picture with the doctor. Next time.

When we arrived in St. Louis we ate at Jack in the Box. We love those tacos. We haven't had Jack in the Box since we left Los Angeles. It was nice. Our night was easy. We went shopping downtown for some new things for Kaylee. We arrived back to the hotel and ate dinner in the cafe. We ended up back in the room and watched a movie. It was relaxing.

Today we did the Arch Tour. It was the first time for me and it was impressive. I'm sure Kaylee enjoyed it too. I realized something today. It is not completely enjoyable for me being somewhere without my whole family. I enjoyed spending time with Kaylee but I missed Christian and Tammie. Traveling without the whole team makes it incomplete. Next time!

Well I thought I'd share our day. Have fun and enjoy your family!

This Friday and Saturday...

Sleepless Nights...

Kaylee has been without an immune system for almost a month. Her doctors think it is the chemo that is ravaging her system and putting her at risk. We had a bone marrow test done last Wednesday to see if the cancer had come back and it showed that it hadn't. The test was done on Wednesday and all the results came back negative on Friday. On Friday night Kaylee looked soo tired and we told her. She said "how would you sleep at night if you had to wait for news if your cancer had returned?"

It was at that moment that I looked at her differently. She wasn't my kid but a person. A person scared for her health. Wow! Can you imagine the fright you or I would have concerning our health? I get caught up that this person is my kid and we are going through this together but it really is just Kaylee. I don't have to get the needles, bone marrow, or spinal taps. It is my baby but ultimately I go to sleep but does she on days like those? Apparently not. My baby but it's her sleepless nights! I love you Kaylee Marie and I'm so glad the school year is over. You are a Junior as of today, and I know this coming school year will be an awesome time in your life.

Mallory Holtman is awesome...

On May 8th I shared a story with everyone about a Softball Team from Central Washington University. The article made me feel good so I wrote the University. I loved the kindness and the compassion that took place and I thought that I would drop a line to let them know. I never expected to hear back from them - but I did. Shortly after the University received my letter they responded and asked if Kaylee would be interested in becoming an honorary Wildcat. They would be sending the apparel. Soon someone else responded and told me they had shared my letter with the team and everyone was praying and cheering on Kaylee. Then last night I received a phone call from Mallory Holtman, the first baseman, who wanted to personally tell me how much my note meant to her. Out of all the talk shows and exposure she called me and Kaylee! Thank you Mallory, the call touched me and Kay! The story can be read on my blog or by clicking the link I've included. http://msn.foxsports.com/olympics/story/8091708?MSNHPHCP&GT1=39002 Here's what I wrote to the school and team.

My name is Michael Quijas and I have a child who is battling cancer, leukemia, since June 21, 2007. I read the story about your girls softball team just now and it made my eyes fill with tears. So many times we get caught up in winning and playing and forget about the real important issues in life. Those issues or important things are how or what you did during your day to make a difference. I am so proud of the players, the organization, and your school for producing such great individuals. So many times we say that there is no "I" in team and I agree, but certain times there are moments when that one "I" can fuel an entire team to greatness. That person may have been the coach, it might have been the first baseman, or may have been the team in general but someone in your organization became that "I" I hope my daughter gets the opportunity to be. Please let your girls know that there is 15 yr-old cheerleader, Kaylee Quijas, in Lee's Summit, MO (Kansas City) who is cheering for your team/school. Although Kaylee hasn't had the chance to attend a day of school this year, due to major sickness, we are glad to say that you and your students gave us something to cheer about here at home! This may seem goofy that I'm writing, but sometimes in life you get thrown a curve ball and it's what you do with it that makes a difference. I was mad for a moment when my child got sick but it opened my eyes, and it has made me appreciate life. This particular story compelled me to write and tell you how great it was for me to read about something so special and inspiring.

Michael Quijas

Lees Summit, MO

InAd TV Goes Public

For Immediate Release
CONTACT: MICHAEL QUIJAS
MICHAEL@INADTV.COM
http://www.inadtv.com/
(877) 4 INAD TV

May 12, 2008 – The InAd TV Network will start construction on the public restrooms in the Power and Light District this week. This installation will mark the first of many public installs slated for construction thru 2009. The decision to move on public facilities was made by President Michael Quijas. “Our core business has been with restaurants and nightclubs, but we’ve decided to include and grasp the offers we receive weekly from office parks, entertainment zones, and municipalities from across the nation. Our product works for anyone who wants to inform or broadcast a message.” says Quijas. “Times are changing so quickly with technology that people are looking for new and innovative ways to keep up. Our systems allow management or property owners to greet each of their customers or tenants with a personalized message each and everyday.”

InAd TV Network is a Kansas City-based digital network channel that can be easily recognized by the signature TV’s that are placed above urinals and in the vanity mirrors of KC’s finest establishments. This unique channel gives advertisers, owners, or management an opportunity to target the successful crowds that frequent these locations. InAd TV is so effective because of the full digital commercial capability combined with sound. For more information on how to get your message across or your business noticed please contact Michael Quijas or Ken Campbell at 877.446.2388 or visit http://www.inadtv.com/.