Virginia

Virginia Beach mom started nonprofit to help families dealing with childhood cancer

Published

1 week ago

April 25, 2024

Virginia Beach mom started nonprofit to help families dealing with childhood cancer

Crissy Johnson used journaling to document her thoughts, fears, revelations and heartaches during her son David’s cancer journey.

She compiled a stack of 15 paper journals, replete with details on treatments, medications and key caregivers, throughout the years. Johnson found that pouring her heart and soul into a journal helped her cope and provided a safe, creative and cathartic outlet after her son was diagnosed at 18 months old with neuroblastoma, a cancer that develops from immature nerve cells.

“I spent a lot of moments in the bathroom silently crying, but then put on my happy face to help get the rest of the family through,” she said of being in “survival mode.” “We just do what we have to do for our children.”

David, now 8, is cancer-free. He’s a Virginia Beach third grader who loves to play sports. He checks in with his oncologist every six months.

David Johnson, pictured in June 2017, was diagnosed with pediatric cancer at 18 months old. (Courtesy)

But it was the first four years of his life — in and out of Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters — that rocked the world of Crissy and her husband, Rodney.

Six rounds of high-dose chemotherapy required David to stay in the hospital for 26 days each time. Radiation treatment meant 20-day stints. Tumor resection and immunotherapy equaled more time away from his family, which includes three older siblings.

Johnson, a former medical assistant, said having some familiarity with medical jargon helped her understanding, which was both good and bad as she learned and digested more about the tumor attached to her son’s left kidney.

“I wasn’t comfortable with saying the word ‘cancer’ for a long time,” Johnson said.

But the words came when she wrote about her family’s experiences in two books, a memoir published in 2018, “Fighting for King David,” and “Residue of War,” an anthology of mothers’ stories, released in 2022. Both are available for sale on Amazon.

In 2020, she created MomAdvocate Foundation, a nonprofit aimed at helping other families affected by childhood cancer.

“I realized that the resources we needed were limited,” she said.

Crissy Johnson recollected the financial burden they endured to cover the cost of fuel for trips back and forth to the hospital and the added cost of takeout meals for the family of six.

That’s what led her to start the Fuel For The Journey program, which provides gas and grocery gift cards to local families in Hampton Roads with a child undergoing cancer treatment.

And as a nod to David, the foundation also hosts King David’s Costume Drive. David wore a Superman costume throughout his treatments, which Johnson said “allowed him to be an actual kid.”

Now in its fifth year, the foundation received more than 100 donated costumes last fall for pediatric oncology patients in treatment at CHKD to wear, Johnson said.

“We believe that every child deserves to experience the joy of dressing up and letting their imagination run wild,” the foundation’s website says.

Johnson volunteers her expertise to help other people turn their journal entries into books. All she asks for in return is a donation to the foundation.

“Community is everything to me,” she said.

Nikysha Noris read “Fighting for King David” during her son Xavier’s cancer treatment, which began in February 2021. She started her own charity event, Run for Xavier, to help others dealing with pediatric cancer. She is grateful another Virginia Beach mother shared similar experiences, including developing support outlets.

“We spoke the same language,” Noris said.

Sandra J. Pennecke, 757-652-5836, sandra.pennecke@pilotonline.com

___

If you go

What: 2nd Annual Cancer Awareness Gala, a night dedicated to celebrating survivors, honoring caregivers and supporting those still fighting.

When: 6-9 p.m., Sept. 15

Where: Luxury Affairs Event Center, 4010B Victory Blvd. Portsmouth

Tickets: $75-$100, Momadvocatefoundation.org/events

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Virginia

Letters for May 5: Virginia Beach council members who opposed collective bargaining better be on site working the next disaster

Published

6 hours ago

May 4, 2024

Press Room

Letters for May 5: Virginia Beach council members who opposed collective bargaining better be on site working the next disaster

For shame

Re “Virginia Beach rejects collective bargaining of city employees” (April 30): Virginia Beach City Council has made the decision not to support collective bargaining for its employees. What a shame. Our city employees do their best to keep things running smoothly. They do this, despite some challenges in working conditions, despite the fear of the consequences of speaking up about problems encountered on the job and despite pay and benefits that are not on par with other regions in our state.

It would be wise to study our city versus Chesterfield County, a much more accurate comparison than to our surrounding jurisdictions. For the council members who voted against collective bargaining, please let me know that the next time we have a jet plane crash in our city, you will respond without hesitation, even though that could permanently endanger your health and safety. Our firefighters, emergency medical services personnel and police officers responded.

The next time we have an attack in the city workplace and police officers, EMS personnel and firefighters respond to that emergency, I hope you will do your part and respond as well, even though your life would be in danger. You can arrange for a photo op to show to your constituents. The next time we have a major storm move through here with damaging winds, rains and flooding and our first responders and our public works folks are out in the elements to help all of us, please let me know that you will do your part as well.

For all of these emergencies, you simply need appropriate gear, training, years of experience and a willingness to truly serve our community. I’ll be waiting to hear from you.

Ginny Diezel, Virginia Beach

Help needed

“It takes a village to raise a child” is a well-known proverb that emphasizes the importance of a community positively interacting and providing for children to grow up in a safe and healthy environment.

Children are innocent, reliant, sweet and sometimes sour beings who are oblivious to the world and its hardships. As parents, we need our families, neighbors, churches and businesses to play their roles within the village and take accountability to assist with child care. Together, we should ensure that we all thrive and secure our jobs and future.

Expenses mount and being a parent is challenging, especially with the cost of living. All businesses are entitled to make a profit, but the real profit is when we start supporting the needs of families in our community. It would be ideal to have affordable and alternative child care centers in our communities that are friendly to people with disabilities and offer after-school care and recreational activities.

We propose finding a way of giving back to our families, where the burden of child care is no longer a discussion. We need the support of community resources, along with businesses and professionals agreeing to work together to provide coordinated care.

Care is love and support from those around you every day. Together, we can decrease our level of violence and poverty while increasing prosperity for our youth, who are our future.

Chiquita Hubbard, Virginia Organizing member, Newport News

Clean energy

This year Virginia lawmakers advanced multiple measures to promote cleaner air, lower energy costs and foster economic growth — efforts that will create good-paying jobs and attract clean energy investment.

Gov. Glenn Youngkin now has an opportunity to sign into law a policy within his energy plan, which calls for leveraging federal energy investment. The crucial policy to achieve these goals is the Virginia Clean Energy Innovation Bank, which will free up millions of dollars of federal clean energy funding under the Inflation Reduction Act. Introduced by Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell, this legislation passed out of the General Assembly with bipartisan support.

The Savings Achieved Via Efficiency Act from Del. Michael Webert and Sen. Creigh Deeds recently became law. This legislation “strengthens energy efficiency standards that were set to expire next year. It also renews the authority of the State Corporation Commission to approve energy efficiency programs for Dominion Energy and Appalachian Power,” according to an April 29 article by energynews.us.

Youngkin signed into law legislation expanding distributed solar generation through shared solar programs. This ensures an equitable energy transition by increasing the number of Virginians who can access solar.

When implemented in tandem, these bipartisan policies will help purify our air, create good-paying clean energy jobs, lower electric bills and secure a cleaner energy future in Virginia.

Heidi Dragneff, Virginia Beach

Student debt

A recent Daily Mail headline read, “Biden cancels $6 billion in student loans for 317,000.” The article stated, “President Joe Biden’s latest handout brings the total forgiveness to $160 billion for 4.6 million borrowers ahead of November’s election. It doubles-down on Biden’s promise to wipe out student debt after the Supreme Court ruled he could not take the sweeping action he wanted earlier in his administration.”

This debt is not cancelled; it is merely added to the other handouts this administration has strapped on our backs. Please do not vote for this socialist puppet.

Dan Bahen, Chesapeake

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Virginia

Virginia basketball lands transfer guard from Florida State

Published

12 hours ago

May 4, 2024

Press Room

Virginia basketball lands transfer guard from Florida State

CHARLOTTESVILLE – Virginia has its first transfer portal pickup of the offseason, adding Florida State guard Jalen Warley on Saturday.

Warley, a 6-foot-7 former McDonald’s All-American, averaged 7.5 points, 2.8 assists and 2.6 rebounds per game last season for the Seminoles, and can play both point guard and shooting guard.

Warley, who grew up in the Philadelphia suburbs, visited UVa on Thursday as coach Tony Bennett continues his work to remake a roster that loses point guard Reece Beekman and forward Ryan Dunn to the NBA draft, forwards Jordan Minor and Jake Groves to exhausted eligibility and wing Leon Bond III and guard Dante Harris to the portal.

Inside the redshirt years of Virginia’s Christian Bliss and Anthony Robinson

Warley was a starter for FSU the past two seasons and gives Bennett his first in-conference transfer. UVa has seen guard Casey Morsell (North Carolina State) and forward Justin McKoy (North Carolina) transfer to other ACC schools, but, until now, the players the Cavaliers had brought in had all been from outside the league.

With two incoming freshmen and the addition of Warley, Bennett and his staff still have three scholarships open for the 2024-25 season. They’re hoping another McDonald’s All-American prospect, point guard Trent Perry, accepts one of those.

Perry, who decommitted from Southern California after coach Andy Enfield left for SMU, visited Virginia in April.

Virginia has two players – point guard Christian Bliss and forward Anthony Robinson – who redshirted last season. But the Cavaliers, who finished third in the ACC, then lost in the First Four to Colorado State, are still in the market for another guard and post player.

In addition to handling the ball, Warley could address another need for UVa – offensive punch. He scored in double figures nine times this past season, including putting up a career-high 23 points for FSU in a road loss at Louisville.

Warley also had six points, seven rebounds and two assists in a home loss to Virginia on Feb. 10.

The Seminoles’ leading scorer in that game and for the season, VCU transfer Jamir Watkins, is also in the portal.

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Virginia

Virginia “Ginger” Lee Horning

Published

19 hours ago

May 4, 2024

Press Room

Virginia “Ginger” Lee Horning

Cedar Rapids

Virginia “Ginger” Lee Horning, 74, of Cedar Rapids, died May 2, 2024 at Dennis & Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy. Services: 10:30, Monday at Teahen Funeral Home by Pastor Levi Andersen. Burial: Evergreen Cemetery, Vinton. Friends may visit with the family on Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m., at the funeral home and after 9:30 a.m. before the service. Ginger’s family would like those attending the visitation and or the funeral service to feel free to wear Chicago Cubs attire or Cubs colors.

Ginger is survived by her husband, Garth Horning; son; Garth and Jaylene Horning of Cedar Rapids; daughter, Greta and Trevor Sholes of Walker; grandchildren, Garth and Brianna Horning of Marion, Annika Horning of Alamosa, CO, Grace Ingram of Valparaiso, IN, Rylea Sholes, Andrew Sholes of Walker, Caryn Horning of Ames, Eisa, Torsten, Jurgen, Kjersten, Harm and Soren Horning all of Cedar Rapids; great-grandchildren, Garth, Maggie, Toby, Lucy and Caleb Horning and Georgia Ingram; sister, Michelle and Bob Kuder of What Cheer; brother, Kyle and Karen Reynolds of Cedar Rapids; sister, Kitty Reynolds of Cedar Rapids; brother, Paul and Kim Reynolds of Cedar Rapids; brothers-in-law, Larry Horning and Craig Horning both of Deming, NM; nieces Jaime Boesen and Eunice Turner; and nephews Matt Reynolds and Jarod Reynolds.

She was preceded in death by her father Jonathan Horst; mother Ruth Reynolds; in-laws, Lewis Horning and Maxine Lint; grandson, Wyatt Ingram; and sister-in-law Barb Horning.

Virginia “Ginger” was born on July 29, 1949, the daughter of Jonathan and Ruth Marshall Horst in Iowa City. She graduated from Jefferson High School in 1967. On December 14, 1966, she married Garth Horning at Olivet Presbyterian Church in Cedar Rapids. Ginger was the matriarch of the Horning family. Later in her life, she worked as an antique dealer and as a Scentsy consultant.

Ginger enjoyed gardening, traveling and spending time with her family. She always made time to attend her grandchildren’s activities as they brought her a lot of joy. She was a lifelong fan of the Chicago Cubs and Green Bay Packers. Ginger was the glue that held her family together and she will be missed dearly.

Instead of flowers, memorials may be directed to Dennis & Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy or Olivet Neighborhood Mission.

Online condolences can be left at www.teahenfuneralhome.com.

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