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Hi All, Just an update to let you know the Ball was a great success for it's very first year. Though we only had 76 people attend we are proud to announce we are making a Donation to the Rabekah's Rainbow Fund in the amount of 3,011.86. Yay! Glenn and I are so thrilled with how amazing the night was and can't wait to do it again next year. Thank you to all who attended and for those who could not attend but made donations. We could not have done this without you. On another note, I was reading this morning in my Everyday thoughts book and wanted to share

May you have joy after your trials, like a Rainbow following a storm.

Even now she continues to shine hope, faith and love on all of us here. God's promise is almighty and everlasting.

Thank you all again, with much love. The Hicks Family

Dear Friends Due to a small amount of tickets sold for the Masquerade Ball we have made it a Charity Evening with dressy/casual attire or whatever you choose to wear! We are also opening it up to all ages. Tickets are still for sale at patientsweb.org/rabekah. They will not be sold at the door, final count needs to be in by thurday April 16th. The evening will be a social event with music, dancing, food, cash bar and raffles. We do apologize for the inconvenience. Hope to see you there. If you wish to have a refund due to this change please email us through the website and we will be happy to do so. Thanks, The Hicks Family

Hi Everyone,

Just a reminder that ticket sales end this friday! Final head count has to be in by saturday morning. Hurry up and get your tickets!!!

Just a reminder, Tickets for the Charity Ball can now be purchased on Bekah's Website through paypal by credit or debit! Tickets sales will end on April 10th.

Hi Everyone,

Just letting you know we now have a link on this page for our Masquerade Charity Ball with all the event info and you can also purchase tickets there as well. Be sure to check it out!!!! Hope to see you all there.

Much Love, The Hicks Family

It's hard to believe that an entire year has passed already. Glenn and I often say that it feels like forever ago since we held her in our arms but still hurts as if it were only yesterday that she passed. We did gather at her grave yesterday for a small intimate memorial which was truly beautiful. Once again we entered the site without trouble, the weather was spectacular and we read the stone and for the first time for some family, saw the image on the stone in person. Glenn and I each wrote a little something to share on her behalf, we all shared in song, another Rainbow Bouquet of balloons were sent off and it was just perfect. In the afternoon Glenn, myself our Girls and a few other family and friends made way up to the Hospital to gather in the PICU for our annual In Honor of Rabekah Day. We were able to see some of the nurses and Doctors we hadn't seen in a year. Glenn and I had recently purchased 3 small slushy machines and donated them to the Hospital as part of the endowment agreement that every year on March 10th we will gather at 4pm to honor her memory and offer free slushy's to the entire 8th floor. We also had another surprise for the 8th floor,,, I was able to purchase a wig and a gown so that I could dress up like Princess Arial and visit all the children on the floor. I had a few helpers that were busy making slushy's and delivering them as we went from room to room visiting and offering face painting and fake tattoo's. I just have to say that on such an incredibly sad day for both myself and Glenn, that was the most wonderful experience ever. Just to walk into a room and see another child's face light up in the midst of whatever illness they are fighting, there really are no words. I know that Rabekah would have loved a visit from her Princess and to be able to give back and know that for 5 minutes we were able to reach out to another and share a smile together, certainly makes all that we have been through a little easier to understand. The entire staff on the 8th floor as well as the staff of Health care Charities are just such wonderful people. Without all of them this day for our family wouldn't have been as perfect as it was. My friend was able to take some great shots of us all at the Hospital and we hope to have them up soon for everyone to see! A million Thank yous to everyone for your thoughts and prayers of support that helped guide our family through this painful time. We love each and every one of you so very much, The Hicks Family

We are proud to announce our:

1st Annual Masquerade Charity Ball Saturday, April 18th 2009 8:00pm - Midnight At Spectacular Event Center 395 Griffin Road, Bangor

Formal Attire with Mask is required Ages 18 and Up Hors D' oeuvres Cash Bar, Music, Dancing Contests, Raffles and much more...

Come enjoy an unforgettable night in Support of Rabekah's Rainbow Endowmnet Fund established in memory of Rabekah Hicks to help support children at EMMC who have been diagnosed with a Terminal Illness.

This is a ticket only event and must be purchased in advance and presented at the door upon arrival for admittance.

Tickets are $25.00 each and can be purchased now by calling 270-1104 or by mailing your check (made payable to Rabekah Fund)along with number of tickets desired and your return address to Shannon Hicks Attn: Tickets 25 Loon Lane Frenchtown TWP, Maine 04441

Ticket sales end on April 9th and will not be sold at the door! If you cannot attend but wish to make a Donation you may send it to the address above and write the word Donation in the memo line of your check or money order. If you wish to Donate a Basket for Raffle or wish to Sponsor this Event please email us through the link above. Thank you all for your Support and we hope to see you at the Ball!

Imagine being locked in your own body. Imagine not being able to speak, walk on your own, see, or even swallow your own food; while having complete cognitive abilities and independent thought. Imagine waking up every morning and experiencing the sensation of losing the use of another finger, toe or limb at a pace that shuts down your entire body within weeks. You are trapped, without hope or without a lifeline to the world around you. Now imagine you are just 6 years old.

Brainstem glioma, otherwise known as DIPG, is a disease which affects the most innocent of all victims – children who just want to grow up and dream. And just at the time that they are planning their first day of kindergarten, it hits without warning and without mercy. In the beginning it appears to be a migraine, loss of balance or even slurred speech. Within hours or days, the effects become more noticeable as the child becomes paralyzed and unable to eat. Soon, the glioma will restrict vision, ability to talk and sometimes breathing. By the time treatment is sought, it may already be too late. Even those that discover it early are frequently left without options. This is because there is no cure.

Brainstem glioma is just as elusive as it is deadly. Even today with superior advances in cancer treatment, brain stem glioma prognosis is regarded openly by experts as dismal in medical articles and it is recommended that these young patients receive advanced and experimental treatments due to the severity of the disease.

DIPG (diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma) is a disease which strikes at the heart of childhood and it is a disease in desperate need of a cure. And at the same time, there may be no better place to start the search. Lung cancer has a survival rate of 80% if caught in the early stages to less than 5% if caught in stage 5. Breast cancer has typically an 80-90% survival rate. Leukemia has a 48% survival rate. At the same time less than 10% of DIPG children will live longer than 18 months from diagnosis. Survival is even more rare.

DIPG affects the pons portion of the brainstem, rendering nervous system function impossible. Symptoms include double vision, inability to close the eyelids completely, dropping one side of the face, and difficulty chewing and swallowing. Unfortunately these symptoms usually worsen rapidly because the tumor is rapidly growing.

DIPG, for all its difficulties, presents an opportunity for all forms of cancer. It is one of the most resistant of all cancers to chemotherapy treatments, it affects primarily children that have historically led innovations in many other forms of cancer, and with a dismal prognosis, alternatives are few. Put together, these obstacles offer researchers a chance to revolutionize cancer research and prevention. It is even suggested that a cure to DIPG might result in a cure for almost every other type of cancer. For this reason, the cure starts now.

It's up to you... 90% of children with DIPG cancer are left without options. There is no established treatment and there are no cures. Unlike many other forms of cancer, DIPG children must move from experimental protocol to experimental protocol in the hopes that this is “the one”. But sadly, with every experimental option costing upwards of $250,000 and taking two years to develop, there are not many options. And when you consider that there are less than 100 cases per year, it isn’t economically worthwhile for most drugs to be specifically developed for DIPG. Yet, DIPG may in fact provide the best hope for a cure for all cancers. Unlike other forms of cancers, DIPG affects primarily children who may be able to withstand more drug types and concentrations than most adults. Also, unlike other types of cancer, most victims of DIPG don’t consider the impact of side effects into their decision to pursue treatment. The cure starts here... Help today with a donation to www.thecurestartsnow.org , or show your support at a regional event for CSN. Our goal is the establishment of one protocol per year ($250,000) and we can use all the help we can get. CSN is an IRS approved non-profit charity with a staff of 100% volunteers, thus ensuring your donation goes where it's needed most.

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