Finn is a beautiful little boy who loves music and trucks. He is such a happy boy; loves Sesamee Street and Thomas the train. He also loves to read about farm animals and is a very easy going little boy. Due to his prematurity he had a brain bleed and was a little behind with walking and crawling but he is getting there and he is the most determined child ever. He uses a walker right now to walk.

Finn was diagnosed with retinoblastoma at 3 months old. (Sept 20,2016.) He was born at 24 weeks and was having an eye exam to check for ROP due to his prematurity. During that exam they found a large tumor in his right eye that took up his visual field. About 7 months after first finding the tumor in his right eye, they found multiple tumors in his left eye. It is now in both eyes.

We had no idea he had tumors in his eye. Because he and his twin were born at 24 weeks they check for retinopathy of prematurity and do that when the babies are around 3 months old; at that exam they saw the glow and knew right away there was a problem. They did a more intensive exam and found the tumor.

Finn has monthly eye exams under anesthesia. He has had 6 rounds of chemotherapy and gets laser and cryotreatments to the tumors that are still beginning to form. If the laser and cryo are done, it burns the tumor and a piece of his vision away. If it works, chemo does not need to be done. If this treatment plan doesn’t help, we will need to start chemo again. Due to his cancer and treatment, Finn is visually impaired and legally blind although he does still have some vision currently

Cancer has changed our lives in many ways. We had to move closer to the hospital because we were living in a rural area. Now we live with my parents because it’s very expensive to buy a home and live closer to the city. It has put a big financial strain on our family. Cancer has also changed our family in a good way (if cancer can do that). It made us realize not to take life for granted. Make memories that you will always love and share, family is what matters and as long as we have each other to hold on to on those bad days, we will be ok.

From the second Finn was born he was a fighter. He goes through his treatments and exams with ease and has a very calming way about him. He is a living miracle. He keeps up with his twin and they have an amazing relationship and language only they understand.

Hope session by Cheryl Cagle photography | Facebook