Thursday, May 31, 2018

May 31, 2018 : Beads of Courage part 2




Sammy fought brain cancer for 541 days. This strand of beads represents his battle, his Beads of CourageDamon Cole of Heroes & Cops Against Childhood Cancer is standing at the end of Sammy's strand of beads, for perspective. His strand holds nearly 1,900 beads. Each one a moment where he was brave, he was courageous, he was strong. Each a moment he fought for life. Some represent joys in his journey, like the silver origami crane which marks his Make-A-Wish America being granted. Or the bead for his discharge after 245 nights in the hospital. Or the bead for his 6th birthday, a birthday we weren't sure he would celebrate. Or the glass hot dog bead we picked for his first Arizona Diamondbacks game after 8 months hospitalized. Or the bead for the first time he laughed after brain surgery. For each joyous moment, there are so many more that represent moments of true strength during his struggle. Moments of pain, moments no child should endure. From his first bead, a magenta bead for his ER visit on October 19, 2016. To his last bead, a butterfly for the moment he flew to heaven on April 12, 2018. 541 days, each moment marked by a bead.
60 white beads, each one for a chemotherapy drug given.
5 glass stars represent each surgery, the first being a 10 hour brain surgery.
253 yellow beads, one for every night spent at Phoenix Children's Hospital.
47 red beads for each time he received a life saving blood or platelet transfusion.
48 pink beads, showing each time he was put under anesthesia.
453 rainbow beads, one for every therapy session he endured.
29 dark blue, for each visit to the outpatient clinic.
5 face beads, for the three times he lost his hair and the two times it grew back.
28 round spotted, each for a day of proton radiation to his brain and spine.
282 purple, one for everyday he got IV infusions.
114 black, one for every needle stick/poke he endured.
These are just a handful of the numbers, the moments. This is Sammy's story, one bead at a time.

Wednesday, May 2, 2018

Samuel "Sammy" Puma 1.16.2012 - 4.12.2018


Samuel “Sammy” Puma, 6, of Buckeye Arizona, went home to heaven on April 12, 2018 after an 18 month long battle with medulloblastoma (brain cancer). He passed peacefully, surrounded by the love of his family.
Sammy entered the world on January 16, 2012, bringing joy to his parents and family. In April of 2015, Sammy welcomed his little brother Logan into his world, and immediately grew into an amazing big brother. Sharing his world with his little brother, and a love only brothers could have for each other.
From a young age Sammy loved adventures. In his short life, he was blessed with adventures from coast to coast during the numerous road trips taken with his family. Sammy loved his home team, the Arizona Diamondbacks. Each game at the park being a new adventure, filled with hot dogs, popcorn and of course a visit with D. Baxter.
Sammy lived life surrounded by lego builds, reading books with his parents, watching Ryan's Toy Review on YouTube (among other favorites), and running around with his friends at taewkondo and school.
During Sammy’s battle with cancer he became known as Super Sammy, although Sammy was no stranger to being Super Sammy. At age 3, Sammy was diagnosed with autism and began to learn a new way of life. He always took each day head on, living with his challenges instead of the challenges limiting his life. Cancer just became another challenge to conquer and overcome. Sammy spent his life demonstrating courage, resilience, strength, and living life to the fullest.
Sammy is survived by his loving parents, Charles and Kristen Puma, and his beloved brother Logan Puma, also his grandparents, Lori Scharnagl, Julian and Kathleen Puma, and many aunts, uncles, cousins and other relatives who loved Sammy deeply. As well as the numerous warriors standing with him during his fight against medulloblastoma. Sammy was welcomed by his grandfathers Dave Blanco and Albert “Bud” Scharnagl as he entered his eternal heavenly home.
Sammy’s Celebration of Life will be held on April 20th at 6:30pm at Desert Hills Baptist in Buckeye, Arizona.
A second Celebration of Life will be held on May 5th at 10am at Westminster Presbyterian Church in West Chester, Pennsylvania, followed by his burial.
Donations can be sent to Kristen or Charles Puma for Super Sammy’s Got Your Six, a foundation being created in his honor. 1934 E Camelback Rd #120-239, Phoenix, AZ 85016