When your child has cancer, a lot of people make assumptions about you.
-People assumed that Shane’s cancer was genetic.
It wasn’t.
-Some assumed that I did something, i.e the food I ate.
Nope. We only eat organic fruits and vegetables and I’m pretty sure at the time, Paul was annoyed that I always shopped at “whole paycheck.”
-Many suggested that St. Jude’s could save Shane.
Unfortunately, you cannot seek help from St. Jude unless they are studying that exact cancer at that exact time. They weren’t.
-Most said to us, “I couldn’t even imagine.”
Honestly, you can’t, until you’re faced with it.
-Others said “you must be so strong.”
As the saying goes: “you don’t know how strong you are until you have no choice.”
We had no choice.
Shane’s cancer (alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma) was treatable in terms of keeping him at a decent quality of life, but for how long? It is not curable because it’s known to come back. When it comes back, the fight gets harder.
We had no choice, but to give him chemotherapy (at 8 months old!?!). Surgery was not an option for him based on the initial tumor’s location. We eventually chose radiation to attempt to keep him alive longer in hopes of a clinical trial or new treatment option.
Make no assumptions, we fought for Shane.
We continue to fight for children like Shane.
If it were your child, you would too.
Childhood cancer is not rare.
Childhood cancer is the #1 cause of death by disease for children in the United States. Childhood cancer receives less than 4% of the federal budget for cancer research.
#SFD #HelpShaneFightCancer #ARMSaware #letsdobetter

The weight of childhood cancer
During the month of September, I try to post a little bit of our childhood cancer journey. Sometimes I slip up and get busy and other times, this month…the memories, our reality is just too overwhelming.
I feel as though it’s our responsibility to take part in raising awareness for childhood cancer. I am not alone.
Speaking with some advocacy peers tonight, I realized the insane reality that WE as parents are leading the awareness campaigns. We all deem this to be a responsibility of ours, but as one of them mentioned, it takes it’s toll.
So, that’s all I have to say for today. I wish I could say the month hasn’t gotten me down yet, but it’s only the 12th and I can’t even remember what I walked into a store for. I’m thankful for the alarms on my cell phone to remind me where each child has to be on what day and time.
Please join me in helping spread awareness this month. Help Shane’s voice be heard.
# SFD #HelpShaneFightCancer #letsdobetter #ARMSaware

I try to ignore it. Brush it aside like my behavior and mood is because it’s back to school or because we were traveling or I’m trying to find our groove.
Sounds good, right?
But, I can’t deny it. My husband knows me better than anyone, well except for my mom.
People assume that having Will has healed our broken hearts. I’ve even had to defend myself from numerous comments within the childhood cancer community because we’ve had another child, while others have just isolated us.
Of course, our hearts are fuller and we get another chance to experience the “firsts” and the “lasts” of having another baby.
But, we are also reliving those moments we had with Shane. Not always, but certain moments, looks, actions and of course milestones.
Will’s 1st Birthday is in two weeks.
My grief has crept up slowly, but now we know what the trigger is.
Childhood cancer does that. It causes PTSD and other anxieties in parents who have lived the journey. We’ve watched, comforted and cried through life’s toughest and most beautiful moments.