UPDATE – 10:36 p.m. EST 9-12-2001

At 5:40 p.m. PST, Faith Fulmer transitioned from this plane and left behind her parents, family and – by that time -0 25,798 of the closest friends anyone could hope to find in this world.  We can thank the creation of Facebook for that.

Louie and Jolayne Fulmer, and grandparents Annie and Allan King and close members of the family were there at bedside at the family’s home to say goodby and to honor the fighting spirit of a little one who struggled valiantly…but against a rare form of childhood cancer that proved implacable.  Death took only the body; the soul and Faith’s love remained in all its glory.

More details as they come, but it appears that there will be a large public memorial at Table Rock Fellowship, followed by interment at the Eagle Point Veteran’s Cemetery.

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LET’S FAITH IT! - That eight-year-old Faith Fulmer in a small town in southern Oregon, whom so many of you are beginning to know so well, has not been blessed with improved health in her fight against a rare form of childhood cancer.  She is no longer undergoing radiation treatments, but is now at home in a hospice environment surrounded by her family and friends.

She needs all the positive love, energy and prayers possible to be directed her way, and as many well-wishers to see her through her all-too-short passage in life.  As no one could possibly describe this moment better than her mother, Jolayne Fulmer, I am directing you to her latest update:  http://on.fb.me/pKno94.  I don’t know how she does it, but Jolayne writes hope into every line.

When this blog was created (it seems) ages ago, a seven-year-old Warrior Princess was recently diagnosed with a severe bone cancer of the upper left arm.  Friends and family immediately created a FB page last year, where her followers grew from a few, to then over 1,000, and on August 1 of this year reached 4,216.  (This jumped to 7,806 by the evening of 8/3)   People, from all over the world and far from her home in southern Oregon, now follow her trials, share her triumphs, suffer her defeats, smile at her smiles and rage with her against the cancer and its attack on her frail, tiny frame.

I have no doubt that her FB followers and their energy and prayers have been essential in keeping this young lady alive and encouraged.  In that light, I wish to provide a new goal.  Milestones are so important.  It is the wish and hope of  her family that her Facebook followers can reach 20,000 – and soon.  Attaining that magical number will not likely serve as the tipping point being prayed for daily – a miracle cure – but it is a number that delights Faith.

Please read about her courage, and then lend her some of your own.  I have left my last year’s entry intact (below) so that you can get an idea of the distance she has traveled for one so little.  I don’t think she could have made it this far without the loving companionship she has attracted.

So, please “friend” Faith and past this request on to your own friends and family to do the same.  And, if you can put further time aside to do so – send a postcard to her c/o PO Box 5473, Central Point, OR 97502.  It will be prized.

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This unfortunate but courageous seven-year-old afflicted with bone cancer of the upper left arm – deserves more and more supporters on her Facebook page.

Her left arm has been salvaged from amputation, but not every reading has been totally hopeful.  So, please visit and include yourself amongst world-wide visitors who are cheering for her and her recovery.

Now, here’s a very early update for her present and future fans…

Faith is back home in southern Oregon after undergoing more chemotherapy and is now wearing a brace to keep her arm below a 90-degree angle so that she doesn’t end up with a “frozen elbow.”  This requires massaging the 10-inch scar to keep the scar tissue from solidifying.  Not fun for this little girl today…but will be for the capably-functioning gal of tomorrow.

HISTORY:  To those new to this blog, it appeared that Faith’s left arm was destined to be removed earlier this year - until a few miracles set in.

First, thanks to “horsing around” she complained about her arm being “popped.”  A trip to the doc and radiologist in April showed a fracture in the upper arm/shoulder near the growth plate.  Within three weeks this arm was three times the size of the other…and the xrays showed a tumor.  By the first week in May she was undergoing chemotherapy – a ten-week program.

Before long…when the chemo showed no effect…the doctor conversations turned to radical surgery…and the need to remove the left arm at the shoulder.  As her mother put it, “…when I heard the actual words spoken out loud, was that my stomach lurched.  Almost immediately, that feeling was replaced with the thought that I’d rather have a beautiful, precocious, smart, funny, loving, happy little red-head with only one arm, than none at all.”

A date for surgery was set.

On a chance recommendation, Faith’s parents were referred to Dr. Ernest Conrad of Seattle Children’s Hospital.  They drove Faith and her records and X-rays to a 5:00 meeting which lasted unti 8:00 p.m., and the Doctor said,

“We will operate tomorrow.”

That took place on June 9 and the arm was salvaged after an almost three-pound tumor was removed.  Dr. Conrad’s people then teamed with Dr. Linda Stork’s unit at the Doernbecher Children’s Hospital in Portland to begin a specific chemotheraphy program.

Meanwhile, in the background, “Faith’s Friends” have organized to provide financial and emotional support.  When this this blog debuted on June 5, there were just around 300 “Faithbook” friends – now that number is 1,553 and climbing.

If 1,000 supporters is powerful – can you imagine 2,000?

Faith’s FB page, “Faith’s Friends,” can be found at: http://bit.ly/djOulS.  Her parents, Louis (a southern Oregon policeman) and wife, JoLayne, live in Central Point, OR.  Many, many driving miles from Portland and Seattle.

I am inviting you to consider becoming “Fired Up for Faith” and joining others on FB for prayer and support – both emotionally and financially.  every $5 for gas, or $2 for a meal, can make a difference for her parents.

This is the first time I have “gone personal” in my blogs…but couldn’t keep something as important as this to myself.

Here’s to all parents/mothers/fathers/brothers/sisters/family who have similar trials before and behind them.

I know that Faith and her family will be drawing on that wellspring of love and prayer.

Finally, for those unaware of Osteosarcoma, it is the eighth most common form of childhood cancer – or about 2.5% of all malignancies in pediatric patients.  Rarely does it occur in someone as young as Faith – mostly striking teenagers.

Statistically, Faith is one of perhaps 50 children annually who will suffer this disease.  Unkindly, Faith became one of those statistics.