Alex is outgoing, playful, and a fun kid. He loves sports. Yankees Syracuse and NY Jets…all sports make him smile!! He’s an amazing fighter!
In the summer of 2011, Alex was experiencing weight loss, extreme back and leg pain, and a general tiredness. We were told he had leukemia. After 38 long months of treatment, he is now in remission. It’s amazing how he adjusted to his diagnosis and treatment He never lost focus that in 38 months he would beat cancer! We had a big celebration in our small town when he finished treatment with 300 of his closest friends.
Once you see a child fight cancer you never look at life the same way. We have learned to enjoy everyday we have with each other and live each day to the fullest!
Hope session by Blueberry Fields Photography. website | facebook
Ryan is hilariously funny! When he feels up to it he loves to wrestle and play football with his dad and brothers. He loves bubbles and chasing them. He also loves to throw glitter.
Early this year Ryan was experiencing bruising, low energy, and petechiae. On February 17th, 2016, he was diagnosed with leukemia. Ryan is the highest risk category and he has a 75% survival rate. Like many children with cancer, Ryan has been through many medical procedures including spinal taps, blood transfusions, allergic reactions, seizures, steroid withdrawal, and mood swings. Ryan’s current treatment plan includes weekly chemotherapy.
We struggle because the lack of time we have left for our other two children in between the many doctor and clinic appointments. Ryan has chemo, sometimes four days a week, so our time with our other two children has been less. It makes us feel extremely guilty. We are worried and stressed every day. Yet we have this new perspective, a perspective most people don’t get. Although I wouldn’t wish this upon anyone, I feel grateful for this new perspective that I get to teach my children what matters most in life…..Love! God is Love.
Hope session by Jenny LoBello Photography. website | facebook
Shephard is our spirited child…strong willed! He loves all things bad guys. But don’t let him fool you…he’s got a soft side! Shephard is a twin! Also has a big brother.
In the summer of 2013, Shephard had a swollen knee and fever that couldn’t be controlled with medication. He was also very lethargic. We then discovered he had Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL.) ALL is the most common childhood cancer and occurs in bone marrow cells. Treatment plans for ALL are long. After 3 years of lumbar punctures, chemotherapy, sedations, and lots of infections; Shephard will be finished with treatment December 16, 2016!
Cancer in our child gave us a total perspective shift. We know the Lord has gone before us in all of this…and it’s a platform for us to share with others how good our Father truly is!
Carter truly is a goof ball! He loved trucks, construction vehicles, animals, chasing lizards and frogs in the back yard. Your typical boy!
Carter walked in to our bedroom one early morning limping. We thought he must have fallen out of the crib as he just started climbing out a few days earlier. His limping continued to progress and he eventually could only stand with support. Our once active little monkey stopped walking altogether. During this time, we went to the pediatrician three times with no answers. We were told to give him Ibuprofen and that it was possible he could have a pulled a muscle. We requested a referral to an Orthopedic doctor. Carter also started developing random bruising on his body. As soon as we arrived at the Orthopedic appointment, the doctor took one look at him and told us to rush to the ER. It was possible Carter has a blood disorder.
Carter was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) on June 13th of this year. He has Pre-B ALL which we are told is the most common and most curable. We are thankful of that however he has 3 years of treatment and chemotherapy. We pray all goes as planned by his oncologist.
Since June, Carter has had 6 rounds of chemotherapy in his port, 5 lumbar punctures with chemo injected into his spinal fluid, and steroids for 29 days straight. When Carters ANC (immune system) is low he can not go to places with a lot of people or children for fear of him getting sick. We are very cautious as to who can come over. We make sure they are not sick and have not been sick. We are limited as to where we can go as a family.
We have been humbled by all of the prayers and support given to Carter and our family. This is going to be long and hard road emotionally and financially and we appreciate that so much.
Zane has an incredible sense of humor for a 12 year old. Jokes and the typical spoofs on youtube are what make him laugh. He loves pokemon, playing video games with his friends and putt putt. He is also playing soccer this springs. Zane is a world war II history fanatic and we love the way his love of history was incorporated into his session.
In the summer of 2014 Zane was having intermittent body aches along with body pain and fevers. He had leg pain mostly below the knee and back. It was excruciating and he could not walk. On June 3,2014 he was diagnosed with B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. His treatment plan consists of spinal taps, chemotherapy (both oral and IV), ultrasounds, blood draws and anesthesia. Zane struggles a bit with anxiety and depression from the excessive prednisone dosage he has every month.
Cancer robbed our freedom. We cannot just go anywhere or do anything anymore. If Zane is sick, we have to be on the lock down and stay away from germs. The worry and stress of relapse is always there and everyday we wonder if he will make it another day without a side effect of the cancer coming back.
Julissa is a free spirit. She is 3 years old and quite the diva! She loves to dress up in her princess outfits and crowns. She laughed a lot when we shaved off what was left of her hair. Wrestling matches with her daddy on the living room floor will always get loud laughs out of her! She collects Shopkins and Tsum Tsums. In December of 2015, Julissa was experiencing frequent fevers for a number of weeks accompanied by loss of appetite and energy. She was extremely tired all of the time. We then discovered she had acute lymphocytic leukemia or ALL. ALL is the most common childhood cancer and occurs when bone marrow cells have errors in their DNA. The cause of ALL is unknown.
Julissa has had chemotherapy since December. She has been on steroids which gave her diabetes as a side effect. Thank God that is behind us! She has had numerous spinal taps. Chemotherapy has been given through her port and oral pills. She just hit the maintenance phase of treatment and we are rejoicing! Low immune system counts sometimes cause her to stay home and away from others in an attempt to prevent sickness or infection of any kind.
We are trying to live life as “normal” as we possibly can. Things have been much better in the past few months. Blood counts have been high and that allows us to get out of the house. We were deeply affected in the beginning emotionally, mentally, spiritually, and financially. We are now accustomed to this new way of life and we take it a day at a time. Julissa has responded so well to treatment which makes it a lot better on all of us.
