Not Your Everyday Hero – Grainne Owen of Coaches Curing Kids Cancer

When I set out to write this post, I wanted to highlight some mothers that I really considered heroes. Mothering and indeed all of parenting is heroic.

However, I believe that it is in the face of adversity that we can become defined as human beings. That this is when our true character comes out.

A hero that I would like to share with you is Grainne Owen of Curing Kids Cancer. I met Grainne a few weeks ago at an event at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta.

Grainne shared with us the story of her beautiful son Killian and how she lost him to leukemia at the age of 5. Killian put up a good fight going through chemotherapy, a bone marrow transplant and an experimental targeted treatment. But this wasn't enough to keep the cancer from taking over his body.

Killian's story doesn't end there. During the last days of his fight, there was a drug that could have possibly saved him. The problem was that this drug had not gone through all of the necessary trials and testing due to lack of research funds. I honestly cannot imagine as a mother knowing that something could have possibly saved him but they could not get it.

What makes Grainne a hero is what she did after losing her child. She made it her mission to get the necessary research funded. She began to raise funds with her husband in a charity they started called Coaches Curing Kids Cancer.

“With green eyes and blonde curly hair, Killian was crazy about sports – participating in baseball, basketball and swimming anytime he was well enough during his four-and-a-half years of treatment. One of his brother’s coaches was so moved by Killian’s brave fight against cancer that he asked his team to forego buying him an end-of-season gift. Instead, he asked that any money collected be donated to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, where Killian was being treated.”

This charity is different in that it offers unique ways to honor the coach or teacher in your child's life. By making a donation, the recipients gets a certificate telling them that a donation has been made in their honor to help fight childhood cancer.

In addition to the certificate, coaches also get their choice of t-shirt, whistle & lanyard, cap or water bottle. Teachers get a certificate plus their choice of travel mug, tote bag or t-shirt.

Make no mistake about it, parenting is heroic. Parenting is also one of the most amazing things you can ever do in your life. But losing a child has got to be like losing a piece of your soul. Knowing that you will never see the bright smile of the beautiful human being that you created must be the hardest thing that you can ever do as a mother.

While Grainne didn't set out to be a hero, her life circumstances made her one.

Here is the best part of this story…that drug that her child didn't have access to? That drug has saved other children because of her efforts and that of her charity. The spirit of her child lives on the many childrens' lives saved since.

Perhaps you know a heroic mom or see one when you look in the mirror. Share your story and be entered for a chance to win $2,500 cash from Allstate. Plus four runner-ups will receive a $100 Visa Gift Card. *The five finalists will be chosen from the Entries receiving the most votes. Don't forget to share your entry and vote for your favorite Hero Mom stories at www.theblogfrog.com/allstate

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