STORIES
Family
DONATE

Tracey Toomey

by Emily and Angela from Statesville

"One day at a time..."

Tracey Toomey was adopted from Korea into the Toomey family. She was diagnosed with a rare form of Leukemia called CML, or Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia. Within the past year, things have started to go downhill. Her only hope was to receive a bone marrow transplant. She has already received the transplant and is now beginning chemotherapy. In a childrens' book called "One Thousand Paper Cranes for Peace: The Story of Sadako Sasaki," a young girl received leukemia from the radiation of an atomic bomb from WWII in Hiroshima. Sadako believed that if you made one thousand cranes, she would get over her sickness. Sadako reached one thousand cranes, but sadly died on the morning of October 25, 1955.

As everyone knows, inside a hospital, there isn't too much excitement, joy, or color. These paper cranes that her family and herself made, gave her strength and the will to carry on and fight this disease. The same goes for Tracey. In her room, no flowers are allowed, because the area has to be sterile and clean. So to bring her joy, her family, friends, and even strangers with good hearts have banded together to create paper cranes for Tracey... one thousand of them. In the time that she has been diagnosed, which has only been a couple of years, the family has surpassed the goal of one thousand cranes, and is continuing on with their efforts. This sickness has brought communities and families together, to fight for Tracey. Tracey has taught us that people who might have had differences, or not know each other can get together for a common cause. Maybe everyone in the world is not so different, after all.

Look at the cranes! (Facebook( Team Tracey Group))
Look at the cranes! (Facebook( Team Tracey Group))

With all of the ups and downs, we are continuing to live life to the fullest. Tracey has given us all the strength to keep our heads up and be optimistic for whatever tomorrow may bring. God bless and always take each and every day, one day at a time.

Tracey (Facebook from the Team Tracey Group)
Tracey (Facebook from the Team Tracey Group)

Page created on 3/24/2010 12:00:00 AM

Last edited 3/24/2010 12:00:00 AM

The beliefs, viewpoints and opinions expressed in this hero submission on the website are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the beliefs, viewpoints and opinions of The MY HERO Project and its staff.