Baby Sam Walked in the Relay For Life Fundraiser for Cancer Research!

Last Updated on: January 22nd, 2018

Some of you may remember Baby Sam from this post, and I have to thank those of you who donated to this little girl’s fundraiser for cancer research. Today’s post is to give you an update of this brave, smart and adorable little girl, and to show off my new video-making skills!

Sam+happy

Samantha, affectionately called Sam by her friends and family, is my one-year-old niece who has retinoblastoma. This is a rare form of eye cancer, usually hereditary.

Her father, Charlie also has retinoblastoma. He now has only one eye. Sam, on the other hand, still has both, and can see well enough to spot crumbs on the floor!

Her last check-up at SickKids Hospital in Toronto revealed that her cancer has been “killed” as a result of all of her treatments. She has made many visits to SickKids since she was two days old, and has received cryotherapy, chemotherapy, and laser therapy to treat the tumors found in both of her eyes.

Sam also has glasses, stylish baby blue ones, as seen in this photo:

Sam+glasses

On June 14th, 2013, Sam walked a lap in the Relay For Life fundraiser in Thunder Bay, Ontario. She was asked to “kick off” the event, and decided to accept that honour!

Over 1000 people gathered on the lawn of Old Fort William Historical Park, where the event took place. Sam was one of the 695 participants and one of 125 cancer survivors, according to Tara Mintenko, who provided me with these numbers.

Sam, her big brother, Alistair, her father, Charlie, and her mother, Janice, were the four people who walked with the mayor’s wife at the “head” of this walk. She was the youngest participant, and is the youngest cancer survivor (to date) in Thunder Bay!

Sam was supported by many people, including her Grandma and yours truly. I brought my cell phone, which has a camcorder built into it, to the Relay For Life. I took a bunch of pictures before it dawned on me to take a video!

I also spent some time “captioning” the video I took, and am pleased with the final product. Here is the video I made of Sam, my sweet little niece!

Sam was also on the local news!

If you have been moved by the above  video, or know someone who is battling cancer, or simply want to donate to finding a cure for cancer, you can do so by visiting this link:  The Canadian Cancer Society

You can also see more pictures and videos by visiting Sam on Facebook via her mom’s page. Visit Janice and Sam here.

Thank you for watching, and for supporting Cancer Research!

As always, I LOVE hearing from you! Let me know your thoughts, feelings and reactions by leaving me a comment, please!

Oh, and in case you missed it, here is a post about what I made and gave my dad for Father’s Day!

42 thoughts on “Baby Sam Walked in the Relay For Life Fundraiser for Cancer Research!

  1. becc03 says

    What an amazing and inspiring story. I am so glad to hear that the cancer was “killed” although I read above that it could grow back, so my best wishes are with her 🙂

    • Lorraine Marie Reguly says

      Me, too! Unfortunately, there is a very high chance that they can grow back. But, we are hoping for the best!

  2. Arleen says

    Interesting moving story! Having cancer myself it is really hard to deal with. I can’t image what it is like for a child. Hope her recovery continues.

    • Lorraine Marie Reguly says

      Thanks, Arleen. Cancer definitely is tough to deal with, and my heart goes out to you, too…

    • Lorraine Marie Reguly says

      I am so sorry for your loss, Bindhurani. 🙁 Losing someone is difficult to deal with. I wish you the very best.

  3. says

    You can never start too early in getting children involved for a worthy cause!! Looks like you guys had a great time doing wonderful things for your community. That’s a star in my book.

  4. As I get older, cancer seems to enter my life more often. So I totally understand what you are saying. Like you I am lucky that many of the people close to me have managed to fight it and soldier on!! They are however not 1 year old. That must be crazy for such a small kid to deal with. Thanks for sharing this story – such a sweet kid!

    • Lorraine Marie Reguly says

      Yes, Sam’s awesome! I think it’s more difficult for her four-year-old brother to deal with, though. He is the one who gets left behind when “Mom” takes Sam for treatments. One time, they were gone for six weeks!

  5. My thoughts and prayers are with Sam and all of the family. She is a darling! I have a 10 yr. old niece, diagnosed with lieukemia three years ago. Let’s lift them all up and defeat the terrible disease!

  6. bewellbeactive says

    Great story. Really makes one put our lives in perspective doesn’t it? My Father died of cancer when I was 26 and he was 55. I have had 23 family members with some type of cancer. It’s so much more heartache when it’s a child. So glad she is doing good. What a little champ!

    • Lorraine Marie Reguly says

      🙂 She sure is!

      Cancer sucks. This was also the printed on several of the shirts worn by people at this event, and I couldn’t agree more.

      I am sorry your family has been afflicted with this horrendous disease. 🙁

  7. Jessica Fedorko says

    So moving…and so inspiring! She looks like a bundle of joy and this will probably be the story she asks you to tell her again and again when she is older 🙂

    • Lorraine Marie Reguly says

      I think she will be thrilled to read about herself when she’s older, too. I know I would be! 🙂 Thanks, Jessica, for contributing! Did you take my survey? It’s on the Welcome page…

  8. Jeri Walker-Bickett (@JeriWB) says

    Thanks for sharing Sam’s story. Her little blue eye glasses are so precious, and it’s great to hear she still has her sight and can find crumbs on the floor 😉

    • Lorraine Marie Reguly says

      Yes, it’s surprising to us, too! I think her new nickname might be “hawkeye”! 🙂

  9. mk slagel says

    What a sweetheart. I think kids in glasses are adorable, it is just a shame and unfortunate to why she has to wear them but she seems like a strong little girl who can make it through anything in life and that is endearing and inspirational. Good luck to your family!

    • Lorraine Marie Reguly says

      She likes her glasses, too, but only if they are worn outside. Indoors, she usually takes them off. I think it’s because she has a sensitivity to light.

    • Lorraine Marie Reguly says

      Sam is awesome. Did you hear her try to say “good girl” when I said it? That made my day! She knows how to do “high five”, too, and tried to say that, as well.

      I’ve missed you, Pam. It’s great to see you again!

  10. Fearless Leader says

    As a former Radio DJ, I did a ton of work with various charitable causes from Special Olympics to the Lighthouse for the Blind. I have never been so honored to have participated (through a very small donation and a little Facebook sharing, etc.) in any cause before.

    I have never met Sam and chances are that I never will, but I instantly fell in love with her winning smile and the stories from her Auntie Lorraine about Sam’s bravery and fighting spirit.

    Samantha is a beacon of Hope & Strength not just for children facing such tremendous difficulties, but for the Parents of these kids and all those whose hearts she (and the other kids) has touched.

    Sammi…you are my hero and I am so proud of you.

    With all my love,
    Toby
    Adopted Uncle

    • Lorraine Marie Reguly says

      Sam is thrilled that you have helped share this video (well, I am more thrilled than she is, if truth be told!) and she also says thanks for your donation, “Uncle” Toby! 🙂

      Janice’s team (Sam’s team) raised the most money of all the teams this year, too! 😛

      • Fearless Leader says

        For next year’s event, I hope to put it out there on two of my seldom-used (but I hope to change that!) other blogs and promote it for an extended period of time. Sam’s story will fit right in and I know that my readers and friends will jump at the chance to help make a difference with donations and “sharing”.

        Heck, maybe my family and I can make the trip to Thunder Bay to meet Sam, Jan, Alistair, Charlie and you, Lorraine. If not, just know that all you have to do is provide me with the pertinent info and I’ll put it out there like a boss.

        • Lorraine Marie Reguly says

          Awesome!

          If you decide to make the trip up here, we will have to make sure that you come when Sam is here, not in Toronto! Just keep emailing me…

  11. says

    Great story! What a happy little girl! Her smile is so beautiful and those glasses really add character. I’m so happy for her and I hope her recovery continues.

    • Lorraine Marie Reguly says

      She is a little trooper, Jan always says…

      You can see this for yourself in the video!

      She is a precious little gem, indeed. 🙂

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