“Mama, how did you feel when the dr. told you I had cancer?” (Jace, 9)
Jace was 2 years old when he was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.
We were still potty training as we sat in the ER after the dr. confirmed what I already knew.
Cancer.
How did I feel? Helpless. Hopeful. Both feelings all at the same time.
My experience was not the experience of anyone else. Jason would tell you today that the news pretty much shattered him and the girls will tell you that cancer affects everyone. Cancer made them a target for bullying and changed their entire lives just as it did for the rest of us. It changes you. It morphs your perspective into something that not many will have nor will they ever understand.
I knew he had leukemia.
I knew he could die.
But, I was already declaring victory over the cancer and his life before we ever walked into the ER. You see life had already thrown me some pretty tough curve balls, BUT all of my life God has been faithful. In ever single valley God was right down on the ground with me in the midst of all the pain, sorrow and struggle. I knew he was not leaving me or Jace alone in the biggest battle yet.
So, for all the days of my life, I’ll be an advocate for childhood cancer.
Families like us will never be the same. We will never look at life the same.
Jace is 9 now and asking a lot of questions about his treatment, his medicines, his doctors and those that were his friends that didn’t make it. If you watch him closely you will see he is still very sensitive about his port area and just recently said he wasn’t sure he could ever play tackle football because that area is still sensitive. His joints, especially in his hands, still bother him a lot. He deals with the effects of his cancer and his treatment pretty much daily.
There’s not much left to say that I haven’t blogged about either on Jace’s FB Page, my blog, or his Caring Bridge, but there is still so much work to be done.
4% of funding is all our kids are getting for childhood cancer.
Meanwhile, because it's more profitable for drug companies, breast cancer gets $584 million.
How can that NOT resonate with you?
We can talk about how sad it is that 46 kids are diagnosed with cancer each day.
We can cry because we feel and see the pain they and their families go through.
We can look away because for some it's just too much to handle.
OR we can do something.
What will we do?
- Give up your Starbucks for the month and give all of the money saved to one of the organizations listed below.
- Buy a T-shirt to wear to bring awareness.
- If you run, sign up to run as a St. Jude hero or something similar.
- Shave your head with St. Baldrick's.
We have plenty of opportunities to do our part! Jace's treatment phase is over but we will not stop teaching, leading, & showing others why 4% ISN'T ok.
Nothing will change if all we do is sit and wish the reality was different.
No one in power will change anything unless WE make them see why this isn't ok.
I hope you'll join our family this month and choose to do at least one thing to create change.
Childhood Cancer Donation List
We cannot say enough about many of these organizations. Most of them have directly impacted our lives. (I've placed a * beside the ones we've directly benefited from. We share them with you in good conscience that they are doing what they say they will do with your monetary donations.
Visit Charity Navigator to view efficiencies & financial information for many major charities: http://www.charitynavigator.org
Local - Texas
Super Sofia’s Lemonade Stand
Saturday Sept 28 7 AM - 7 Pm
Brookshire’s of Celina, 675 Sunset Blvd
Team Connor
Heroes for Children
Silver Dollar At The Ranch *
Make A Wish *
Hope Kids *
Peach's Neet Feet *
1 Million 4 Anna
National
Cure Search
Triumph Over Kid Cancer
The St. Baldrick’s Foundation
Alex's Lemonade Stand
Lighthouse Family Retreat *
