Video Clips

And not to overshadow all the hard work from yesterday, but below you will find some video clips of Colten taken on Friday. Many of them have little snips of him doing something funny, cute or just being his fantastic little self.

Using his talker: Colten got his little Springboard Lite to help him communicate and this is a video of him using it to tell Grandma Amy he loves her.

Blowing Kisses Bye-Bye: Sorry for all the background noise on this one, but he is so cute when he blows kisses bye!

Way To Go Golfers!

Although the "blog keeper" could not be in attendance, I have heard that the event was a great big success! Thank you to all who showed up for the event, gave time, saw the Cowell's. Your generous support will forever be remembered and appreciated.

In addition, great BIG KUDOS to the organizers and helpers! What a fantastic way to support the Cowell's.

Christmas Wishes and Joy

Last night the Make A Wish Foundation made a little stop by the Cowell's home. They brought Santa himself and a couple of elves too. They also brought a special treat, the Batmobile! Colten got to ride around the neighborhood in the Batmobile with his daddy, excitedly signing more when they were all done. Santa did his research too. He brought Colten his very own Lightning McQueen to scoot around in from his favorite movie, cars. Everyone was able to enjoy a fun filled evening with the Jolly Old Elf himself!

Please continue to send them love and prayers. A Merry Christmas for the Cowell Crew is just around the corner and nobody deserves it more.

A little Golf anyone??

A Golf Tournament has been arranged to raise funds for the Cowell family as they continue to support Colten and his fight with Leukemia.

The gist is:

Cowell Family Benefit Golf Tournament
The Lone Tree Golf Club, Chandler
Saturday, December 19
8 a. m. Shotgun start
$65 per player

Please email aajprt@cox.net if you would like to register your team for a day of golf. I will email you the flyer that you can fill out and fax in.

We all continue to pray for Colten and his family as we approach the holiday season. The prayers are felt everyday...please keep them going.

Calling all Love, Prayers and Hope

I know that many of you who read this blog also read Erika's blog on the Caring Bridge site. If you have not done so, please visit soon. The link is to your left.

Colten and his family are continuing their battle against the Leukemia and could sure use the support of loved ones, friends, acquaintances, and strangers the like. Anyone willing to say a prayer and show some faith in the power of the human spirit to beat all odds.

Please see below for opportunities to support the Cowell's from near and far.

With love...

"Colten is our Superhero!"

Colten is our Superhero! That is what these bright orange bracelets say! We all know what a fighter he is, now its time to show our support through fashion and fun. See below for details on purchasing...

To show your support for the Cowell family on a daily basis, please email Diane Wells at Wells.Diane@chandler.k12.az.us to order one or many more. A donation of $4 per bracelet is suggested, but you could always send more!

You can mail payment to:

Ryan Elementary School

c/o Diane Wells

4600 S Bright Angel Way

Chandler, AZ 85249

Please include either a self-addressed stamped envelope for return shipping or a little extra with your payment to cover the cost of shipping.

As for an update on Colten, things are going well and he has been allowed to leave the hospital and move into the Ronald McDonald House. He is heading in for clinic everyday to continue his treatment.

The Cowell's are also famous! A story was done on Thanksgiving Day about the Ronald McDonald House, and the Cowell's got to share their feelings. Click on the link below to see Erika, Dale and Colten.

Family honors daughter on Thanksgiving

Lastly, as if it even needs to be said, please continue to send your love and prayers to Colten and his family as he continues to kick Leukemia's butt!!

Going Strong

I am sure that many of you are following Colten's journey on his Caring Bridge Journal, but I felt like we needed something new here.

Colten continues to make progress on his journey to Kick Leukemia's Butt. He has had a couple of viruses that have come up since the Bone Marrow Transplant, but the doctors assure the family that it is all normal. He is still on steroids so he remains a little puffy, but all seems to be going well.

In the last couple of weeks, I have found myself trying to remember everything that is good about our lives. It is the season for believing, having faith and being thankful. I hope that everyone continues believe that Colten will win his battle and that his family will soon be all together again soon.

Continue to send prayers to the Cowell family, they feel them every day. We are all believing that they are helping Colten get better and helping his family remain strong as they face daily battles that those of us out here can only come close to trying to understand.

With lots of love and faith heading down to the Southern part of the state.

It's time!

Colten has his Bone Marrow Transplant today, and as Erika blogged on his Caring Bridge sight, it was pretty uneventful. Now, it is just a matter of time before his body takes it in and makes him all good and healthy again.

Here is a picture of him though getting the new goods! As you can see, you don't have to be awake to get well.

It looks like a fantastic day for a walk tomorrow...please come out and support the Cowell's!

T -1 and the Countdown is Done

Just one quote for Colten as the actual transplant begins tomorrow and another step to being Victorious in the battle against his Leukemia is taken.

"Victory-a matter of staying power."

So, dear friends, please find staying power in your thoughts and prayers. Send them to the Cowell family as they take this next big leap so that Victory can soon be theirs!

Stay strong little man...for those of you who are Cruisin for Colten on Saturday, Thank you!

T -2 Days and Horsing Around a Little

Erika has posted about Colten's day for today on her Caring Bridge site. If you need the link, you can click on it to the left of this post.

He is a champ, that is for sure! So in honor of the pony visit and medicine from the equine, here is today's quote.

"You are never too old for a teddy bear!" or a Pony in Teddy Bear's shoes...so glad that today was a good day...

Reminder about his walk on Saturday, it is in an older post that you can find on the left, for more info email cruisinforcolten@yahoo.com. If you can't make it, you can always donate using the Paypal button also to your left. Or you can email cruisinforcolten@yahoo.com to order a t-shirt!

As always, prayers and loving thoughts, hugs and kisses from a far and never ending faith make fantasic donations too.

T -3 days and No Words to Share

...today, no wise words to share...just a lots of love and hugs and prayers to be sent to the Cowell's in your own words.

Please say a little prayer for them, they seem to be working after getting some good news today! Shout it to the roof tops or say it quietly to yourself...just keep on doing it in your own words.

T -4 Days and slowly making his way

Colten is in day T -4 of Bone Marrow Transplant preparation. I gotta say he is one tough little man, to be put to sleep twice a day and still go strong. So today Colten, keep going slowly but surely along your path.

"It doesn't matter how slowly you go - as long as you keep going."

Lots of love to Dale and Erika, and the Cowell Clan too...slowly but surely you are loving him well again!

T -5 Days with an Attitude to Boot

"Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference."

Keep being your bright and shiny self Colten!

T -6 Days while Climbing Mountains

"Nobody trips over mountains. It is the small pebble that causes you to stumble. Pass all the pebbles in your path and you will find you have crossed the mountain."

Just a few more pebbles for the Cowell family until they reach the top of their mountain. Almost there!

T -7 days (Right?) Just for Erika

Okay, so here is the quote of the day for today, well actually two:

This one is for Erika.."Heaven is under the feet of mothers." We know you are doing a great job caring for Colten and carrying him through this!

The second one is for the little man.."Why reach for the moon when you can reach for the stars?" I found that one on the internet, posted by another little kiddo fighting childhood cancer. Keep kickin' it Colten!

Thanks to those who continue to visit and send well wishes to the Cowell family.

Reaching with Inspiration

Colten is doing well in Tucson and is on day -8 to Bone Marrow Transplant, so in honor of that, there will be a new Inspirational Quote here everyday...something to keep us all Reaching. Reaching out to support the Cowell's from a far while Colten continues to be the strong little man we all know.

So, T minus 8 days Quote of the Day:

"Love is the most important thing in life."

We all love you Colten...Love will carry you thru this.

In other fundraising news. Don't forget about Cruisin for Colten 3 mi Fun Run. To be held Saturday, October 24. The info is down below on the blog, you can email cruisinforcolten@yahoo.com for more info and to pre-register.

It is sure to be another fantastic day to show the power of the human spirit!

Thank you is not enough...

...but thank you, thank you, thank you to all who came out and scrub-a-dubbed cars, towel dried cars, vacuumed cars, held signs so we could wash cars, filled buckets so we could wash cars, sprayed cars, drove cars, moved cars....THANK YOU...to those who so GENEROUSLY donated $$$ to have the above done to their cars! We raised more than we could have dreamt about, more than we anticipated, certainly more than plenty to show how strong the faith of the human spirit can be.

Man of the hour making his grand entrance

Working hard....little hands, big hands...any hands are helping hands!

Another GREAT BIG THANK YOU TO DANA and his crew at the Autozone at Gilbert/Guadalupe Rd in Gilbert. We could NOT have done this without you!

*Thank you to all of you who made this possible, just because you weren't pictured doesn't mean you aren't appreciated

Reminder, Reminder, Reminder!

Colten's Carwash is being held tomorrow, Sunday, October 4 at the Autozone off of Gilbert/Guadalupe. It is North of Guadalupe on the east side of Gilbert.

We will be there from 10-4 so please come by to support the family.

For those of you who are not checking in on Colten thru his Caring Bridge site (link to the left), the family is preparing to leave for Tucson tomorrow. After an attempt at a Bone Marrow Aspiration, the doctors feel it is best to start Colten on this next course of treatment quickly. Our love, prayers and support in anyway are needed now more than ever. Please, do what you can to support him and his family as they embark on this new journey.

Hope to see you all tomorrow!

Equal Opportunity Fund Raisers

Colten is home and doing well with his family. He is awaiting tests in Tucson prior to heading down there for the long term and bone marrow transplant.

Before we go any further, just a great big shout out to everyone who has already pitched in to help and those of you who are planning on doing so in the future! It really does mean a lot to the Cowell family and they are extremely appreciative of what everyone has done.

Remember that the carwash is coming up this weekend at the Autozone on Gilbert/Guadalupe in Gilbert. We will be there from 10-4. Donations to the Cowell family will be accepted for a pretty decent car wash.



In addition a Cruisin for Colten Fun Run has been set up and will be held at the end of October. You can see all the information below:

Cruisin for Colten 3 mi Fun Run, October 24

Registration begins at 730, Run begins at 9, Walk begins at 910
Cooper Basin K-8 (In the Copper Basin Development off of Hunt Highway)
28682 N Main St
Queen Creek, AZ 85243

Cost: $20 per adult, includes t-shirt, refreshments and participatin in the run/walk
Children are free

Log onto paypal and pay using cruisinforcolten@yahoo.com or you can email Lisa Chavez at crusinforcolten@yahoo.com to find out where payment can be mailed

T-shirts can be purchased on their own the day of the event for $12 . You can also buy one thru paypal, but if you need it shipped, please add $1 to the price.

Please register by October 16 so that we know how many people will be there and how many t-shirts we will need.

This is just a fun run! No prizes, awards, just good people supporting good people.

If you need more info, please email Lisa at cruisinforcolten@yahoo.com.

See you all at the carwash!!! I promise to take pics and post them after the fact :)

New Post or Re-Post?

Hello everyone -

Just checking in to say hello and update folks who may not be visiting Colten's Caring bridge site (the link is to the left if you would like too).

He is home with his family in their temporary living space for now after his counts started to go up this week. He is now awaiting the Bone Marrow Transplant! While this is a scary step, it is a step in the right direction and for healing his little body. Please continue to keep his family in your thoughts and prayers.

Also, if you came to donate, please click on the Paypal button to the left. I have had reports of the site not working properly, so just a couple of tips:

Click on the donate button

Then enter the amount you want to donate

Then hit Update Total

Then you can fill in your information or log into your paypal account

If that still doesn't work, please send me an email.

Lastly, we still need volunteers for the car wash...even for 30 minutes and hour, you can bring a case of water...anything will help us continue to help the Cowell family. The info on the car wash is in an earlier post on this blog (see below).

We appreciate everyone who has taken the time to read this and everyone who has passed it on. Keep it up!

Come One, Come All

There has been a car wash arranged to raise money to help support the Cowell family as they continue on this journey with Colten. The information is below:

Sunday, October 4th, 10 am - 4 pm
AutoZone
955 N Gilbert Rd
Gilbert, AZ 85234

They will be providing us with buckets, soap, sponges and the water...which is really fantastic!

Please pass the word to anyone you may work with who lives in the area or is even willing to drive to get a car wash for a good cause.

In addition, we will need volunteers. This is the perfect way to come and support the Cowell family by giving of your time and energy. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact:

Kris Taylor, rtaylor37@cox.net or
Amy Conover, aajprt@cox.net

If you are busy that day, but still want to help email us and I am sure we can find a way!

As always, thank you to everyone who has already pitched in and to those who will be doing so in the future!

Up and Running...Again

The Donate button to your left is working again!

Thank you so much for supporting the Cowell family.

Remember that you can copy and paste the blog link into any email, facebook page or even link it to your own blog. Spreading the word will no doubt bring Colten's healing along faster.

Paypal Buttheads!

Hello everyone,

We are currently experiencing difficulty with the paypal donation account, if you came to donate, please come back soon!

Thank you for coming here to support me!!

Colten's Story

Welcome! This is the story of a sweet, spunky little three year old who captures the hearts of everyone he meets. His name is Colten.

Three years ago, Erika and Dale were looking forward to having their first child together and bringing him into their already blended family. This young family, already consisting of seven, quickly became the biggest cheerleaders they would ever be in order to bring Colten home. Colten was a baby with Down Syndrome and would bring a new set of joy to them. It was not long before Colten was surprising everyone with his progress and winning hearts where ever he went. Colten has truly been a blessing and a special gift to his family.

In January 2009 as Colten continued to grow, the unthinkable happened. Erika and Dale learned that Colten had Acute Myeloid Leukemia. He would spend the next six months in and out of the hospital receiving chemotherapy. All of which he handled like a trooper and never lost his signature blonde hair. The entire family was relieved when they were told he was in remission in July of this same year. Colten headed for home and had a blast celebrating with those who love him at his "End of Treatment" Bash. Things could not have gone better.

But on August 28th, just weeks later, the cancer was back. And now, Erika, Dale, and their family are bracing for the next step – a bone marrow transplant in Tucson, AZ. They face months of separation of their family, the fear and uncertainty of the treatment ahead, and the overwhelming financial strain of the situation. Erika, a homemaker and daycare provider, cannot work as she needs to care for Colten. Dale, a police officer, is having difficulty managing the extra expenses of lodging, food and gas as they continue on this journey.

Erika has said, “What’s 4 months in the life of a child?” when asked how she is handling all of this. Really, what is 4 months, as long as it means that Colten is stronger and healthier at the end and truly does Kick Cancer’s Butt!

We, their friends and family, are coming together to ask for help for this family in crisis as they continue on this journey. Please join us! To give you an idea of just how little can go so far:

$10 pays for two meals in the hospital
$15 pays for a night’s stay at the Ronald McDonald House in Tucson
$20 pays for a half a tank of gas so that Colten’s family can visit him in Tucson

Click on the Donate button to the left to make a donation to Colten and his family!