Dear Friends:

In August of 2008 our mutual friends Melinda and Tom Smith found out in a routine check up for their daughter Cecelia that her head aches were more serious than originally believed. This started a journey that led to Cecelia’s diagnosis of a cancerous brain tumor. Although tumors found in the brain represent a challenging medical situation, the doctors believe that this is treatable and are optimistic for Cecelia’s future.

The family is making every effort to maintain a “normal” routine in anything but normal times. The Smiths are currently reviewing treatment options for Cecelia, and looking into ways they can adjust their lives to accommodate the support needs for Cecelia and the other children. We're all confident that Cecelia will return to her good health soon. The Smith’s are working with a team of specialists from Thompson General Hospital led by Dr. William Anderson. There will be an operation next week and treatment following the operation.

Since Cecelia’s diagnosis, many friends have asked how she is doing, and if they can help Melinda and Tom in some way. This alone has been of great comfort to them. The prayers and positive thoughts directed towards Cecelia’s family by the community have also been wonderfully reassuring.

The purpose of this Web site is to help coordinate the efforts of the community, without requiring the direct involvement of the Smith family. We've put together a group of volunteers to help get the Smith family the support they need, while minimizing their involvement in logistics. It will also serve as a way to keep us all up-to-date on any new developments as she regains her health. Given the up and down nature of their lives while Cecelia undergoes the treatments involved, a good way to let the Smiths know they have your support these days is through the guest book on this site.

Also, please visit the How You Can Help section to get an overview on areas where you can help.

 We appreciate your support.

The Pulling for Cecelia Team