[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 65 (Tuesday, May 17, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E998]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       IN HONOR OF PAIGE PETERSON

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. SAM FARR

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 17, 2005

  Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Paige Peterson, an 11-
year-old girl who passed away November 8th, 2004 after a long and 
valiant battle with cancer.
  Like most 11-year-old girls, Paige Peterson loved to dress-up, dance, 
ride horses and spend time with her family and friends. But, unlike 
most little girls, Paige spent years battling neuroblastoma, an 
aggressive and deadly cancer.
  Sustained by her extraordinary faith and spirit, Paige breathed life 
into the community of young cancer sufferers as a spokesperson for the 
Children's Hospice & Palliative Care Coalition. In her own words, she 
was proud to be a ``guinea pig'' in several clinical trails with the 
hope that one day one of these trials would find a cure for 
neuroblastoma.
  Driven by her desire to proffer the message that ``kids get cancer 
too,'' Paige met with First Lady Laura Bush, Congressman Sam Farr, 
Senator Barbara Boxer, Senator Dianne Feinstein, and hundreds of other 
individuals and organizations across the country. In the end, she left 
behind a legacy of compassion and courage and a challenge to Congress 
to enact healthcare policies which honor the unique needs of children 
with life-threatening conditions and their families, thus enabling 
children like Paige to live well and die gently surrounded by those 
they love.
  Mr. Speaker I wish to honor this young girl for her strength and 
courage in battling this ill-fated disease and speaking about her 
experience in order to generate positive change for future young cancer 
sufferers. Her attitude and goodwill have proven to be an example for 
us all. I join Paige's mother Suzanne Peterson, her father Scott 
Peterson, and members of the Children's Hospice & Palliative Care 
Coalition in honoring and remembering this heroic girl for her 
achievements.

                          ____________________