Two years ago this month we heard those words; "your son has Cancer!" It was terrible. I thought there was no way and they must have made a mistake. After having a million different things run though my head I decided we were going to move forward and do whatever it takes to beat this. It helped that we were told he had the "good kind". But it was still so hard to cope with all that had been thrown at us.
After two full years of treatment I can say the worst part was the first month and a half. Chase was thrown into a new world where he had no control. We took almost every part of his life and changed it. That is hard for a two year old that wants to do everything "by myself!" He took steroids that made him so grumpy, actually grumpy is not the best word for it, but I hate to use any others because he couldn’t help the way he acted. I had to force medicine down his throat multiple times a day along with IV antibiotics around the clock. I hated this month because I felt like he honestly "hated" me. Any time he saw me, he was sure I was just coming to do something to him again, or give him some sort of nasty medicine. I would have to sit on top of him, holding his arms and legs down. He would SCREAM and whip his arms and legs until he could get out. He was strong and growing by the hour. He gained 30% of his own body weight in three weeks. After hoping that I got even half of the medicine in him he would usually throw it back up so then we would have to do it all again. I cry writing this because he has come so far. It has become his "normal". He believes that everyone has to do this. He sees me take my daily vitamins and says to me, "mom, you taking your magic medicine?" (we call his pill form of meds magic because he takes a drink and they disappear). He has been a trooper.
We have so many bad memories, but with all the bad there was so much good. So much we have to be thankful for. One of our greatest blessings is that he is here with us. He is alive and fighting. We can still hear his little voice. We can still take him on a family vacation. We can still tuck him in bed every night. We can still kiss him and tell him how much we love him. HE IS OUR LITTLE BOY and we will never forget what a fight he has been through to be here with us. We just hope that research will continue for better and more efficient ways for these little ones to fight without having so many side effects, many of which will stay with them the rest of their lives.
Chase will continue his daily and monthly chemo and medications until October of 2013. It will be a total of about 1200 days in which his little body has had chemotherapy along with many other medications in his body. Again, we are so happy he is here with us, but we also love CureSearch because we know they are doing all they can to fund the research that will improve the treatment for childhood cancer. We appreciate all they do for these kids. CureSearch has a special place in our hearts and forever will!!!