4-10-2014 ... Ten years today, since Cancer came to our family.
when cancer came.
diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (A.L.L.)
on 4-10-2014, at the age of 5 years & 3 months.
Wednesday, April 10, 2024
4-10-2024
Sunday, April 16, 2023
Relentless
One of my greatest take-aways from our experience with childhood cancer is that more people need to become grief-literate. More people need to learn how to support people in their lives who are experiencing profound loss. More people need to learn what NOT to do or say when people in their lives are experiencing profound loss. I listened to this two-part podcast this week - two dads sharing and supporting one another in the aftermath of their sons' tragic deaths.
Part 2. Chris Joseph & Kyle Dubé - 2 Fathers discuss loss, grief & aftermath of heartbreaking tragedy.
Wednesday, April 5, 2023
he got himself a mullet.
The first few weeks of April have become a major point of reflection for me, since cancer came to our family 9 years ago. In some ways it feels like a lifetime, and sometimes the memories take me right back to those early, uncertain days. Like when I hear of a child we met at RMH passing away after numerous relapses, or a young adult (still her mama’s baby girl) being diagnosed. Or when I’m in a room of about 15 baseball volunteers from our valley and THREE of us are parents of a kid who has had cancer. Childhood cancer is not rare and it is relentless and we need to find safer and more effective treatment protocols so that more kids get to become “long-term survivors” like mine has. “Long term” is only 5 years past diagnosis date, which really isn’t that long at all. Always, ever, so very grateful that we get to watch him grow and live his life to the fullest. Every kid deserves to get a mullet haircut if they so choose. That, he did.
Monday, April 3, 2023
Tommy's Award
4-2-2023: My guy. Once again honoured by the grownups in his life, recognizing him for his character and quiet leadership on and off the ice.
Saturday, October 1, 2022
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.
Tuesday, September 20, 2022
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.
Sunday, September 4, 2022
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.
Thursday, August 11, 2022
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.
Wednesday, August 12, 2020
thirty eight.
When Jaxon finished treatment for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia on June 11, 2017 - he had been on chemo for 38 months (3.17 years, 165.47 weeks, 1158 days).