Bandana Ball Gives Hope to Children & Their Families in Central Texas

March 27, 2013 by · 4 Comments
Brooke Hester at 2013 Bandana Ball

Brooke Hester’s spirit of joy and hope was contagious at the 2013 Bandana Ball

Twirling and dancing on the lush green grass of Wild Onion Ranch, a little girl was wearing heart shaped sunglasses and sporting a smile that could melt a heart of stone. Though she was surrounded by a thousand other people, including philanthropists, press members, and even celebrities, she was clearly the star of the show.

And rightfully so.

Two years ago, five and a half year old Brooke Hester was diagnosed with Stage IV High Risk Neuroblastoma, a cancer that is common among infants and children, and difficult to treat. Upon learning the news, Brooke’s parents Beau and Jessica committed to do whatever was necessary, traveling wherever they needed to in order to find a cure. [Read more...]

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7 Must Read Austin, TX Topics for Your Weekend

August 9, 2012 by · 4 Comments
austin-biking-eric-brittany-highland

Eric and Brittany with matching bikes, ready to explore!

Discovering Austin, TX is a great adventure to be on. Here at the Austinot, it’s what we do every day. The Austinot is not a typical blog that posts every now and then. For us, discovering Austin is our full-time job.

We love to get the word out about everything related to Austin, TX and we are just getting started! [Read more...]

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Cancer Connection Battles Alongside Cancer Patients in Austin

July 30, 2012 by · Leave a Comment
Cancer Connection volunteers in Austin

Cancer Connections volunteers

The first time I heard the words “You have cancer” was when my grandmother, Lila Rau, was diagnosed with stage one breast cancer. My instant reaction was, “She’s going to die.”

Defying fear, instinct kicked in to fight this horrific disease. My family and I waged battle by giving our loving support, attending every appointment, discussing options, and helping my grandmother feel as normal as possible.

It wasn’t easy. Mistakes were made because we didn’t know that the cancer was spreading at an alarming rate. Within a year, Lila’s cancer had spread to stage three and her chances of a cure had dropped from 90 percent to 50 percent. The type of breast cancer my grandmother had was aggressive. After a five-year struggle, she passed. This was the most devastating loss of my life. [Read more...]

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Superhero Kids: An Austin Non-Profit Helping Families

April 25, 2012 by · 17 Comments

Let me tell you about an amazing Austin-based non-profit organization. They work hard every day to improve the lives of people who need them most.

Recently, I was introduced to this group of kindhearted Austinites, known as Superhero Kids. They quietly assist children and families who have been affected by cancer and blood disorders.

Founded in December 2009, Superhero Kids works to improve the quality of life of children and their families at the Children’s Blood and Cancer Center of Central Texas, at Dell Children’s Hospital. Their other primary purpose is to make Austin aware of the progress made in the name of children battling life-threatening illnesses. [Read more...]

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