In Memory of Baby Allison Leigh Scott

The stories of children (and their families) who struggle through adversity have always caught my attention. Since becoming a mother, these stories have taken on new meaning as it is every parent's worst nightmare to have something happen to any of their children.

Sadly, I have attended more than one funeral of a close friend's child. Instead of bringing closure, the unjust loss of a young, innocent life only brought more questions and frustration. How do parents ever find the strength to cope after the horror of losing their child?

In the summer of 2004, I came across the website of a beautiful little baby with sparkling blue eyes and the cutest dimpled smile--the kind that make you smile right back at the picture. Allie Scott was one of the most beautiful babies I had ever seen. Then, I read that she was sick. Very sick. My heart immediately broke to read that she could be dying.

The overwhelming feeling of "Why?!?" came rushing over me again. Here, this baby girl was suffering the effects of a horrible cancer, acute myloid leukemia (AML) and her harsh chemo treatment was no better.

When I noticed that Allie was born as the exact day as my own infant daughter, the tears began to gush like a broken water faucet.

At eight months of age, parents should be watching their babies struggle as they learn how to crawl, not struggling to hang onto life. Their sleep-deprivation should be from their child teething in the middle of the night, and not because they are worried their child might not make it until morning.

I felt compelled to do something. I could not sit back without trying to make a difference.

The plea to donate blood and participate in a fundraising walk in Allie's memory caught my eye. In cities across the nation, annual Light The Night walks were scheduled which would benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

I assumed that I had missed my city's walk and doubted if one was even held locally, but I checked anyway. I thought I could drive to participate in another city. Honoring Allie and other children stricken with cancer was that important to me.

I was thrilled to see there was a local walk within town a few weeks away. Why hadn't I heard about this before? Without thinking twice, I registered to walk on the national friends and family team "Allie's Angels" (now Friends of Allie ). I even had a few weeks to fundraise.

Thus, I began a new journey in my life. I was no longer a spectator.

I reevaluated my life as a wife and mother. I learned not to take moments, both good and bad, with my loved ones for granted. I found in my heart that I could make a difference one step and one dollar at a time. I experienced first-hand that the sum is much greater than its parts.

We unified as an amazing group of people who were brought together by a noble cause – to help find a cure for cancer. We were inspired by the life and death of a young baby who will never live to see the far reaches of her life's effect.

Allie would never walk. She would never talk. She would never experience a birthday. Yet Allie is still here. She is with thousands of us in spirit every day. She reminds us daily of the value of life. She reminds us to cherish our time with our children. She reminds us of the profound difference a single life can make in this world. She touched people's hearts and inspired their passion to make a difference. If you are fortunate, she may have touched your life too.

So, what can we do?

Give blood. Allie received 70 life-saving blood transfusions that gave her parents more time with her.

Reach out to someone you know who is fighting cancer with a phone call or card.

Would you walk 2-3 miles to save a life? Join us for Light The Night in a city near you.

Contribute to a cure . If Team Friends of Allie reaches its fundraising goal, a research grant will be bestowed in honor of our cancer-fighting heroes.

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness month. Please consider doing something to help make a difference so other beautiful children and their families do not have to suffer.

Be sure to give your kids a hug and tell them how much they are loved. Life is too a precious gift to be taken for granted.

(To the right is Baby Allie, her mom, and a caring oncology nurse as featured on the cover of the American Journal of Nursing.)

To read more about Baby Allie, visit www.scotthousehold.com.