When Blaze was 4 his pediatrician found a lump in his abdomen during a preschool physical. The doctor thought it was backed up stool and treated Blaze for that. Each week he would have an exam and x-ray and the lump remained. His birthday passed and Thanksgiving was approaching when a CT was ordered. That afternoon the pediatrician called and said it was a "mass." They had no idea what it was, but it definitely was not stool. The mass was so big that it was shoving organs out of the way, had weaved in and out of his spine, and wrapped around a main artery. It had essentially taken over his pelvis. We were referred to Richmond, first we seen a surgeon then oncologist.
He had a biopsy right before Thanksgiving that showed no cancer. He had surgery to remove some of the tumor right before Christmas. He came home Christmas day in a wheelchair and with a catheter. The surgeon had no idea why he had no feeling in his legs. In January I was sat in a room and told the dreadful words "I'm sorry your son has cancer." He started chemo and after 4 rounds there was no change. We were sent to Philadelphia where we were told he was not a candidate for MIBG therapy. We came home to regroup and then went to Sloan Kettering in NYC to see the only specialist for Neuroblastoma in the country. He had surgery where the surgeon took as much of the tumor as he could. The size of tumor went from the size of a softball to a large lemon. When I asked Blaze's oncologist when Blaze would be cancer free or in remission, I was those words did not apply to our son's case. We were heartbroken. Thankfully God had the last say and Blaze was found to be cancer free in a routine scan 11/15/13. He still has the tumor and some side effects but there is no cancer within it.
We have been doing this 5k since 2010 and we walk/run in honor of Blaze and in memory of his friends Krysten, Drew, Brian, and Abby
"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
Jeremiah 29:11