too many kids with cancer

Since my boy was diagnosed with Leukemia in 2014, close to 1000 other kids in BC have received a cancer diagnosis. As of today I personally know 4 families from “before cancer” who have received the news of a cancer diagnosis for their child. It has to stop! Until a way to stop it has been found, we have to keep striving for safer, more effective ways to minimize the long term effects and deaths. Many kids who do not survive their diagnosis are lost to complications of the “treatment”, not the cancer itself.

That’s why I will not stop raising my voice.

5 Years Out

Sarah, Charity, Krista, Anne <3
They've been part of our team since Month 2 (May 2014).

5-years off treatment check-up in Vic today. Postponed from June because the Dr. was sick. Sure is nice to delay an oncology appointment by 3 months with no worries. The ladies spent a long time marvelling at how tall and grown up he is. We are Ever. So. Grateful. Even JUST ONE kid with cancer is TOO MANY kids with cancer.

June 11th was officially 5 years off-chemo!

I can think of no better way to celebrate F. I. V. E. years off chemo than the day we had today. We had a surprise visit from friends who we met along the way - knowing their boy is no longer with them earthside makes our gratitude ever so much deeper. W fam - we love you and we miss your boy and we think of him often. JZ spent the day with his ball team and their families - pool party, wiffle ball game, man-tracker game, and just sharing space together. We are ever so grateful to have reached this really significant milestone in the life of a childhood cancer patient that is officially called “long-term, event free survival” or something like that.

we are aware.

"Make September Gold" for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

We are aware. And we are thankful that since the time of Jaxon's diagnosis in 2014, some advancements have been made in the treatment for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. The protocol still includes medications developed for adults well over half a century ago, and it's still brutal, but it's a little bit less so. If he had been diagnosed in the past year or so at the same risk level (standard risk, not 'low' or 'high' or 'very high') he would have had slightly less chemo (the one he got via IV every month is now given every 3 months) and less frequent steroid pulses (also given quarterly now rather than monthly). It's still horrendous.

Jerry the Moose and Miracle Treats

Me and JZ and Jerry the Moose did our part on DQ’s #miracletreatday for #bcchf in #clearwaterbc

We had a lengthy, unplanned visit to my humble little hometown.

I was at my Mom & Dad's recovering from my first (and hopefully last) experience with vertigo (post-Covid).

JZ joined me in Grandma's Convalescence Home after contracting a bothersome childhood virus at summer camp. Grandpa drove to West Kelowna to fetch him.

We ate a lot of popsicles, and got to celebrate our last evening with a treat that helped support sick kids and their families in British Columbia.