Cancer has taken years of our lives. We were first exposed to childhood cancer 7 years ago (March 6, 2019). Our lives came to a screeching halt that March - Jess quit her job, Holden stopped going to daycare, Aunt NeeNee came running in the middle of the night to come and stay with Piper, and Nana Janet came to stay with us for days and weeks at a time to help provide support and help keep Piper's life as normal as possible. Those 6 months of treatment are a complete blur. As we enter survivorship we started to relax a little. Each fever was less of an emergency, a bruise didn't make me want to run to the ER for a CBC, we could all go through a day (or days or weeks) without thinking about childhood cancer. Holden started kindergarten, Piper was excelling in third grade, we signed up for summer sports, planned multiple camping trips, and even had a Disney trip planned for Fall 2024.

Then as we go within weeks of being 5 years off treatment, Holden developed a stomach bug that wouldn't go away. We went to the doctor multiple times - with the doctor telling me once "we don't need to check his counts, this isn't how leukemia comes back." Two nights later, on Holden's 6th birthday, we went back to the ER, blood counts were run, and an ER doctor asked me to go to the patient consultation room near midnight to tell me "we think the cancer is back." Immediately, we were taken back to right where we were 5 years ago. Holden was immediately hospitalized and began treatment in preparation for a Stem Cell Transplant. He received his mom's cells on August 27th 2024. The recovery from the transplant has been very difficult on the entire family. We spent so many nights in the hospital - our only time together was after Josh got off work and Piper got out of school. 

Holden completed first grade through homebound, went to the doctor up to 10 times a month between specialist, physical therapy, and normal oncology visits. We had countless blood and platelet transfusions, breathing tests, scans, bone marrow biopsies (which Holden calls Bone and Arrow Biopsies), and so many other tests. He has had issues with random virus, skin rashes, stomach issues, weight loss, feeding tubes, and more. Now, we are 1.5 years post treatment and he is a relatively "normal" 7 year old. Happily Reluctantly completing second grade, going to soccer practice, awaiting another Disney Trip, building with LEGOs constantly, and drawing on every sheet of paper he can find. 

We would never have made it through all these years of cancer treatments without the help of non-profits, especially ASK Childhood Cancer Foundation. They help with so many aspects of the journey - caring about the entire family - not just the child going through treatment. ASK has supported us financially during treatment with gift cards and paying our utility bills. They also provide a Chaplain and Child Life Specialist  - Rich and Katie - at the clinic. These two provided support to Jess and Holden through coffee, subway sandwiches, super messy crafts and presents, and just being an ear to listen. Katie still pops in every visit to say "hi" and makes sure that the snack stash in clinic is filled and the treasure chest has something for everyone (or she will dip into her secret stash if needed). When Holden was a baby in finishing treatment we didn't have to worry about school but during our relapse journey we have entered the world of private tutoring, learning delays, and child study meetings. ASK has Educational Navigators across the state, Jon out of the Richmond clinic has listened to all of my worries and helped me advocate for what Holden deserves to get back on track after years of disrupted learning. Along with all of this ASK plans moments of fun for the kids - Summer Camp, Parents Night Out, Movie Days, and so much more. Moments for kids to be just kids - not "cancer kids." I will forever be greatful for the ASK Community