This is so sad!!! She was a really sweet kid!!! Please keep her family and friends in your prayers!!!





Rachael White (center) poses with her father Glenn, mother Michele and brother Zach at Relay for Life in 2002. Rachael, 10, lost her battle with cancer on Sunday.
She made every minute count

Pittsburg 10-year-old lived short, but full life

By NIKKI PATRICK
Morning Sun Lifestyle Editor
Rachael White had only 10 years, but she made every minute count before her death at 3:20 p.m. Sunday after battling cancer for half her life.

Rachael was born June 14, 1995 in Joplin to Glenn and Michele White, joining big brother Zach. On May 23, 2000, she was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a form of cancer.

From then on, her family and doctors fought the disease with everything medical science could offer. Doctors found she had three tumors, one of them inoperable, so she underwent chemotherapy.

Her blonde hair fell out from the treatment, but Rachael made the best of it. "At least I didn't have to wash my hair," she noted in a May 3, 2002 interview. "That was the good part of it."

The chemotherapy dissolved one tumor and shrank the others. In late September 2002, Rachael underwent surgery to remove them. In November she had a stem cell transplant, and in January 2001 had radiation treatment, followed by antibody therapy to strengthen her immune response. She also became one of 15 children in the nation to take part in a study of a new medication that doctors hoped would stop further tumor growth.

When her parents knew that Rachael's battle was nearing its end, they chose to care for her at home.

"I know that she preferred it that way," her father said. "Rachael had been in enough hospitals, and we were very lucky that we were able to have her at home."

White said the family received some Hospice help and was also aided by Dr. James McDaniel and Dr. Modesto Gometz.

"Rachael was born in Joplin and her pediatrician was there, and then after she became ill most of her doctoring was in Kansas City," White said. "Then I just asked them to send all her records here, so we wouldn't have to take her anywhere else. Dr. McDaniel just went way out of his way for us, and Dr. Gometz also helped."

Over the years, Rachael's courage and determination served as an inspiration for others with cancer. In May 2002 she was selected to carry a torch at the American Cancer Society Relay for Life.

"We choose somebody every year to do this, and Rachael was just a bundle of energy," said Diana Polston, who was Relay chairman that year. "If any of us needed encouragement about working to earn money for cancer research and treatment, all we had to do was look at Rachael. You talk about somebody being a fighter, and she was. My heart just breaks for her family."

White said that the family is sustained by friends, their faith and the good memories they have of Rachael.

"Even going to all those hospitals had a good part, because we met a lot of people and made friends," he said.

And, when they went to New York, Rachael met a woman who had a miniature Yorkie. From that time on, the child fell in love with the dog, and was determined to have one.

"In New York they cost $1,200, and I was not going to pay $1,200 for a dog," White said. "Then we learned that our veterinarian Laura Morland raised miniature Yorkies, and Rachael started saving up to buy one. If somebody gave her $5, it would go into her pocket for the dog."

Finally, the youngster had saved $302, and they went to see Morland. White had promised to pay any difference between the money Rachael had saved and the cost of the dog.

"Dr. Morland asked Rachael how much she had saved, and said she would only charge her $300 for the dog," White said. "I told Rachael that if she took care of the dog herself for one year, I would pay the money back. And she did take care of it for a year."

He said that the dog, Roxy, became a part of the family. "We took the dog to ball games, and when Roxy was 1 year old in April , we had to have a dog birthday party with a dog cake," White said. "Rachael invited five or six other dogs to the party. One of them was out of town, but came over to visit later."

Enrolled in the fourth grade at George Nettels Elementary School, Rachael also loved riding horses and barrel racing, and had taken part in YMCA dance.

"It was just 10 years," White said, "but we lived it up."

Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Countryside Christian Church. Burial will be in the Garden of Memories. The family will receive friends from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Brenner Mortuary.

here is her obituary:

Rachael Arianne White

Rachael Arianne White, 10, of Pittsburg, died at 3:20 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 9, 2005, at her home following a long battle with cancer.

She was born June 14, 1995 at Joplin, Mo., to Glenn D and Michele D (Galvin) White. She attended George Nettels Elementary school at Pittsburg, where she was enrolled in the fourth grade.

She was a member of the Countryside Christian Church, where she was baptized on Oct. 5, 2004. She was a former member of the National Family Youth Rodeo Association, where she competed in barrel racing; Lucky Riders 4-H Horse Club; YMCA dance. She also competed in the Weir Shodeos, and in 2002, she carried the torch for the Pittsburg Relay for Life.

In addition to her parents, she is survived by a brother, Zach White of the home; paternal grandparents, Kenny and Marilyn White of Scammon; maternal grandparents, Mike and Johnny Galvin of Vinita, Okla.; maternal grandmother, Patsy Galvin of Ketchum, Okla.; paternal great-grandmother, Daphine Wisdom of Columbus; maternal great-grandmother, Lucille Galvin of Vinita, Okla.; and her Yorkie, Roxy; an uncle and aunt, and two cousins.

She was preceded in death by a paternal great grandfather, Luther Wisdom; paternal great grandparents, Finace and Verna White; maternal great grandfather, Walter Galvin; and maternal great-grandparents, Ual and Mae Aud.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the Countryside Christian Church with Dan Muter, minister officiating. Burial will be in the Garden of Memories Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Brenner Mortuary, where friends may call after 10 a.m. Wednesday to sign the register.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Brenner Mortuary, 114 E. Fourth St.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: musicfanatic,

here is a pic of her and her family

beautiful Angel sent from Heaven
your job is done
Your time for home has come
We'll all see you again someday
but for now.. Gods will be done

LORD, DO THEY KNOW?
WHERE HOME WAS BEFORE THEY WERE BORN?
I DO.
HEAVEN!
AND I WHEN MY JOB ON EARTH IS DONE
YOU'LL COME CALLING FOR ME TOO

WOW, LOVE, LIFE IS GOOD!