Raina's Journey

Raina's infectious laughter, capacity to love, kind spirit and adorable face conspired at every turn to carve out an ever larger home inside our hearts.  She was the great joy of our lives.  We will miss her.

Our hearts are broken, but we are determined to celebrate the life of our little girl.

Remembering Raina

Please join us for a celebration in memory of Raina.  

An open house will be held this Sunday, October 23rd from 11:00am - 5:00pm at our home in Washington. All who wish to celebrate Raina's life with us are welcome to attend.  If you don't have our address and would like to attend, please contact us at remembering.raina@gmail.com.

Many of you have asked what you can do to help.  Please consider making a donation to the Oncology program at Children's National Medical Center in Raina's memory at the following site: http://tinyurl.com/3qwsgsa

Raina V Mooberry

On Friday evening October 14th, 2011 Raina passed away.  She died peacefully, surrounded by her family.

In the coming days, we will provide more information on the blog regarding our plans to celebrate her life.

Good Old Days

Raina is not at her best this week and so we're substituting this awesome video from a couple months back.

When a smile returns to R's sweet little pug we will set about capturing it.

Done Done Done!

Raina was discharged from the hospital today after a week of feeling pretty miserable. We are officially done with all six rounds of chemo. Raina is feeling better each day but these last three rounds have resulted in a very fatigued little girl. Since it has been difficult to capture any happy pics of little Miss Raina lately, we thought we'd get into the Halloween spirit by posting one of our all-time favorites from last year.

Round 6

Raina's final round of chemo started today. She has had a rough few weeks but we are all looking forward to the end of treatment. Start the countdown to beautiful hair!

Feeling Better

Happy Labor Day weekend everyone. Raina is clearly feeling much better
now...we have been enjoying smiles and giggles all day.

Snoozin'

Raina and Penny resting this morning after a couple of rough days. We are back in the hospital for a few days while Raina fully recovers from Round 5.

Earthquake

Raina, clearly unimpressed with all the hubbub surrounding this
afternoon's earthquake, about an hour into an awesome nap.

In Training

Raina learning the ropes on Dad's Xbox.

Girls Day Out

Raina has been busy lately with a full social schedule in anticipation of her next hospital stay this week. Here she is playing with Ashlyn after lunch with Mom and Jackie.

Out on the Town

Grandma, Raina, Mom and Dad went out for some Mexican Friday night.
Delectable! Raina is walking in fits and spurts again after a few
weeks of feeling off.

No Hair, New Shoes

Raina's hair fell out again. Boo. Here she is trying on Mom's new
shoes. They almost fit.

Shopped Out

Raina and Mom went on a shopping trip yesterday and crashed
immediately upon return. Must have been hard work.

Round 4 done...and Raina's Big Announcement

Home! We arrived home yesterday evening to begin a two week break before Round 5. Here is Raina sharing her big news...she is going to be a big sister in January!

Digging

Raina digging through Mom's purse after some leftover Thai food.

Breakfast

Raina with an imitation Fruit Loop stuck to her face during breakfast today.

Hospital

Raina developed a fever tonight and so we are back in the hospital.
Boo! Penny isn't taking any chances of picking something up while
we're here!

Tricycle

Raina test driving her tricycle tonight on the way to get ice cream!  

Triumphant Return

Raina on a trip to get gelato... mildly excited to be out of the hospital.

Hooked Up

Last day of the round four stay (hopefully). Raina getting stem cells, a liquid lunch and some fluids while being monitored by various contraptions. For the record, stem cell infusion makes her smell like corn. Weird!

Round 4

Back to the hospital this week. So far so good!

Lack of good pictures due to Dad's laziness. Here's Raina and Mom on the playmat doing flashcards...

Fiddler's Picnic

Raina got to see all manner of friends and family this past weekend during a quick trip back to New York. Here she is listening to music at the (32nd?) Annual Fiddler's Picnic... in her favorite chair, naturally!

Happy Birthday Daddy

Raina proudly posing next to her chalk artwork this morning.

Queen for a Day

Raina surveying her domain from her new wingback chair... on the verge of busting out laughing at one of Dad's super funny jokes.

Mornin Pee

Work in Progress

Mom, Dad, Grandma and presumably Raina all went to bed last night with about five times more chocolate cupcake than we ought to have had. Thanks Joe!

!

Lounging

Raina lounging in her lawn chair!

Caught in the Act

Gong, Part Two

Gong, Part One

Raina ringing the gong in Philly to signify the end of her radiation treatment. Awesome! So long Philly! Thanks for all the protons!

Fireworks!

Raina and Grey watching fireworks from the comfort of the living room last night.

Tutelage

Raina teaching Dave how to work the farm shape sorter.

Home!

Raina with a balloon and a cookie (?) celebrating our return to DC!

Belly Button

Raina's response to the question "where's your belly button?"

If you poke her tummy when she lifts her shirt you are rewarded with a super cute giggle!

Hugs

More of Raina's friends visited this weekend. So lucky! Jackie, Andrew and BFF Ashlyn came up from DC. Here's one of probably a hundred hugs that transpired.

Mo' Visitors!

Granny Diane, Grandpa Terry, Aunt Darlene and Uncle Rick were in town this week. Lots of good times! Here's Raina (chowing on a soft pretzel) with Mom, Granny D and Grandpa T.

Mid-Afternoon Snooze

Raina and Bear snuggle in for a nap this afternoon.

Chillin

Raina and Grandpa Terry relaxin after lunch.

Play Time

Teeter-totter at the playground yesterday with Mom.

Fish!

Raina and her friend Carter at the Camden Aquarium this afternoon. Neat!

Lovin

Raina hugging Ben. Ben sort of enjoying it. Ethan three-starring a new level in Angry Birds.

Ben and Ethan

Ben and Ethan came to visit this weekend! After dinner Raina surprised Mom and Dad by not protesting at all when we dumped her in the stroller with the boys.

Fountain

Raina playing in a fountain at the Philadelphia zoo.

Dessert

...and one more to catch up for lack of posts this week. Hopefully this one gets us out of the red!

Raina digging in Mom's gelato before heading back home for the night.

Inspector Sour Puss

Here's Raina making her "why didn't Mom pack any chocolate?" face while inspecting her snack pouch.

Furry Friend

Raina has been making all sorts of friends up in Philly. Here's Zeus the dog and little V getting acquainted during dinner.

1000 Yard Stare

Raina eyeing a playground from across the park. We burned some energy off and went for noms at a Mediterranean joint up the street.

Friday!

Last day of treatment this week! Raina playing in the waiting room...

Hard Work

Photo op at the top of aforementioned steps. Raina climbed all the way up! For reals!

Rocky Steps

Here's Raina today climbing the steps leading to the Philadelphia Museum of Art (aka the "Rocky Steps"). Balance assist courtesy of Mom.

Sandwich

Raina after swiping mom's BLT tonight. Turns out she is a big fan... mostly of the bacon we think.