Remembering Cooper

Cooper Bell had was a very strong and caring child.  After soccer practice one day, he complained of a headache.  Then his eye sight began waivering.  After two visits to the eye doctor, we knew it was more.  Our doctor sent us directly to the Emergency Room of Scottish Rite Hospital. 

Within one week, we were already engaged in a 6 week radiation therapy program, which included chemotherapy.  This was a forever life changing time in our lives and the lives of everyone who knew Cooper.  He was the most popular, sweet, and outgoing child you could imagine at the age of 6.  Even the older kids noticed him and his "cotton top".

Cooper's official diagnosis was a "Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma".  This is what we called "the baddest of the bad" when it comes to brain tumors in children.  It is currently an incurable and inoperable tumor.  It is treated through radiation and chemotherapy only as a way to slow down or temporarily stunt the growth of this tumor. 

The official diagnosis is for a 10 - 12 month incubation and re-growth period.  The doctors affectionately call this the "honeymoon period".  Cooper passed during the 10th month.

Our goal is to help educate families of children who come face to face with a childhood brain tumor.  By reading the diaries, or online blogs, of other families which have faced this trial, much can be learned about the road less traveled. 

We also support the local Scottish Rite hospital through donations of toys, games, tv's, or whatever the cancer wing needs.  The kids on this wing need hope, and that does not come from a broken toy.  The joy and happiness of a child need not be delayed due to a broken or missing toy.

Cooper is our guiding light, and there are many others out there which deserve the same support which he received during his time of need. 

Joshua 1:9 Be strong and courageous, for the lord your God will be with you wherever you may go.

Cooper's Garden Inc. donates to the Aflac Cancer Center at Scottish Rite Children's Hospital in Atlanta.

April 2008

We are very proud to support different ministries, foundations, and some organizations which Cooper had the opportunity to visit and reside in briefly, the AFLAC CANCER CENTER.

This year we supported the annual wish list from the Aflac Cancer Center at Scottish Rite.  We decided to purchase a specific game which would be long lasting and easy for many different patients to use, depending on age or ability.

The Touch2Play system has over 100 games and is operated only by TOUCHING the screen!  No worries about different pieces or parts being lost, etc over time. 

While we visited to see the system, a parent child currently residing on the cancer wing entered, and stated what a wonderful game this is for the kids,.  She only wished there was one for the parents as well!  Pretty good critic. 

 The Aflac Cancer Center has an annual wish list with many different types of necessary items requested.  The items on this list help the patients (kids) get through the every day practice of overcoming their illness.  These types of gifts are a great way to help support the center, and we would be happy to forward the contact information for the center to anyone interested to help support these kids!

We support:

The University of West Georgia Foundation, Inc

First United Methodist Church of Douglasville

William Russell Wilkes Foundation

In His Grip Foundation

William Russell Wilkes Foundation

In His Grip Foundation