Swipe left to view our story in photos — almost 5 years of laughter and tears, joy and pain, triumph and loss, highs and lows, faith and fear, heartbreak and hope. And ultimately a new normal for a patient, a mom, a dad and two siblings — all survivors of pediatric cancer.
Be encouraged cancer parents, and hold onto hope!
If you someday find yourself overwhelmed with work, kids, laundry etc. etc. and a sore yucky throat and you have tried cough drops, tea, honey, chicken broth, fresh lemon, Tylenol and Gatorade yet the pain prevails, don’t drink expired baby Orajel. Be better than me.
Justin was in at CHOP clinic Friday for a physical exam and blood draw. He is still cancer-free.
Just like residual anxiety, relief hits me at the oddest times. Today it was while baking. Overwhelmed with gratitude, I bawled all over my pumpkin batter. Those muffins will be interesting.
Thank you for continued support and prayer!
We did it. The boys went to school for the first time in 6 months. Despite masks and other new, unfamiliar procedures, they all had a good day! Grateful their school took the leap of faith to open. Day one down. Let’s keep it going…!
Whether you are masking them up for a classroom or plunking your kids in front of a laptop this year, grace be with you parents.
Here’s our weird first day pic…
Justin is exceeding our expectations — playing flag football and going to basketball camp this summer.
If I didn’t still have the nightmares, I wouldn’t guess three years of chemotherapy to look at him. 
Thank you ever so much for your prayers.
It’s getting super weird out there. Stay strong. Grace be with you.
I can tell you that painful ripple effects remain long after the last chemotherapy infusion.
Without hope in God and a better life to come, there is no hope at all.
And still counting. Justin was not able to have his routine monthly physical exams and blood draws in April and May due to the effects of COVID-19.
I remained calm but extra vigilant about watching for suspicious symptoms.
He continues to struggle with physical strength and stamina. But he also continues to improve little by little, slow but sure.
However, despite chemotherapy drugs being repeatedly injected directly into his spinal and brain fluid, his mind remains sharp as a whip. He continues to surprise me with high level reading comprehension, impressive vocabulary and calculating math problems in his head.
I am incredibly thankful for this, especially since my own mind seems to be growing dull as a butter knife.
I know there are much bigger issues than one little boy’s journey through leukemia, so I thank you for any amount of small or momentary prayer. And I hope you are encouraged by the evidence of Justin’s healing.
God is bigger than cancer. Grace be with us all.
Staying home allegedly advocates for the elderly and immunodeficient.
But who is advocating for the thousands of children being abused every day?
Being abused RIGHT NOW.
These children are now stuck at home with their abuser, who has very possibly lost their job, with no chance to go to school or day care and get a break from the maltreatment.
Where is the outrage for these children?
I want you to see them. They are locked in dark cabinets, sheds, closets. They are beaten, burned and cut. They are starved or forced to eat revolting things like animal feces. They are naked, defiled, shamed. They are called names, screamed at, spit on. They haven’t been hugged, loved or held in months, years, maybe ever.
Yes, I am purposely using rhetoric that will incite an emotional response. Be disgusted at me if you will.
The fact is, child protective agencies are reporting up to fifty percent fewer calls pertaining to instances of child abuse. This is NOT because it’s not happening. It’s because these children are not being SEEN by teachers, day care workers and other mandated reporters. Social workers are seeing their kids on FaceTime or sometimes at the front doors of their homes.
You can’t always see bruises and burns standing six feet away.
I appreciate the problem of COVID-19 and I empathize for those who have lost someone. I really do.
But what about the torn little children?
grace steps 