Nicole’s personality is beautiful. Nicole has such a caring heart, always looking out for the underdog. Being with her friends and family makes her laugh. All her friends refer to her as the mom of the group. Nicole is a basketball player and is on the varsity team at school, she has been playing since she is 5 yrs old.
Nicole was diagnosed on July 27, 2011 with Ana Plastic Large Cell Lymphoma. Her only odd symptom was a growth under her arm. She had bone marrow biopsy, had surgery under her arm and also found another spot and had to have that removed. She was in extensive treatment for 6 months. Then once a month chemo or a year and then a chemo pill for another 6 months.
Not a day went by that Nicole didn’t have a smile on her face. Even when she was sick, she didn’t want it to stop her. She would never stay in bed always had to be up. When we would go to the hospital for chemo, everyone loved her there. She would walk in with her cap on and always had matching earrings. She would sit behind the desk with the nurses and just talk to everyone.
Cancer changed us for the better. Everything that I pushed away before is now important. You never know what life will bring you. When Nicole graduated 8th grad, I cried like a baby when I saw her walk with her friends. Because before I would have took graduation for granted like another day. Well that day was hard, all the “what ifs” that went through my mind. What if she didn’t make it, what if she was still in treatment, etc. Now that she reached her senior year of high school all those emotions are rushing back. We spend a lot of time together as a family and enjoy every second. My kids are more caring and it’s nice to see.
Nicholas is very outgoing when he feels comfortable. He loves to watch YouTubers and likes to play basketball or participate in swimming.
When he was 5 years old, he kept getting stomach aches, was vomiting , having terrible bowls and trouble urinating. It was then he was diagnosed with Burkitt’s Lymphoma Non Hodgkins. Burkitt’s Lymphoma often forms in the abdomen of children. Nicholas has been through chemo, surgery, spinal taps, blood transfusions, high dose chemotherapy (with a terrible reacaction); all while trying to be a kid.
Our main struggle facing a cancer diagnosis has to do with finances. Paying bills gets so tough and it can be hard to catch up.
Nicholas fought his battle in a short period of time but he has shown us that this beast cancer will not stop him! He likes helping other kids battling. He is passionate about raising awareness and funds for kids who are fighting or families who need help. Seeing our family struggle has really impacted his outlook.
Ashley is open and carefree. She is always smiling!
This summer Ashley experienced a sore shoulder. Results of a chest x-ray and ct scan revealed that she has T cell lymphoblastic lymphoma. Lymphoma occurs in the blood cells. These cells can reproduce rapidly and travel to other parts of the body. T cell lymphoma accounts for 15% of lymphoma. Treatment protocols vary widely for lymphoma but usually include chemotherapy, radiation, stem cell transplants or surgery. Ashley has had surgery to biopsy a mass to confirm the news. Ashley started on rigorous chemotherapy regime in June 2016 in order to fight this awful disease.
Ashley cancer diagnosis has changed so much in our lives! Through it all, we are thankful for our family and will support Ashley.
Ella Joy loves telling knock knock jokes! They make her laugh! She loves dancing with her younger brother Asaph. She loves lego friends, Shopkins, and sticky mosaics. She adores it when I put essential oils under her big toe to help with germs. She is all about the Disney princesses as well as Barbie mermaids and my little pony. She also loves reading chapter books. She is into hair bows and tutus, and was so happy when her hair started to grow back!
In the fall of 2013, Ella Joy experienced enlarged lymph nodes in inner thigh groin area and in her neck. She was also vomiting while having stomach pains and refusing to eat. On October 8th, 2013, she was diagnosed with stage 4 non-hodgkin’s lymphoma cancer t-cell. T-cell lymphoma is a blood cancer and can be fast growing. Ella Joy has been treated with aall kinds of strong chemo (like cytosine and mtx), spinal taps, blood transfusions, biopsies and IV pushes. It has been a struggle going to the hospital in the middle of the night for ER visits and also take care of her younger brother while she is inpatient at the hospital.
Cancer has changed our family life. We never take one another for granted. We pray every single day for Ella Joy to have zero cancer and negative MRD. There was a moment when her oncologist told us Ella Joy had a 30% or less chance to live. We were devastated and prayed to God to help her live. She is still on active chemo treatment but her legs, bones, and muscles will never be the same. She took a tumble down a small hill and her port started bleeding. Her stomach was hurting from the damage to the lining of her stomach as well as being backed up by all the chemo and she had to go to the ER recently. We are so thankful for all our friends who faithfully pray for Ella Joy.
Matthew is a happy go lucky type of kid and very giggly. He’s a jokester!
Early this year he was not feeling well. He had an upset stomach and it started to distend. The he was throwing up. On January 17, 2016 he was diagnosed with Burkitt’s Lymphoma. He can’t attend school anymore, play baseball and most outdoor activities are off limits. Even with all that has happened to him he is still a very happy little boy!
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Alexandria was diagnosed with stage 4 lymphoblastic lymphoma in the fall of 2012 after numerous X-rays that showed nothing. She wasn’t walking for weeks and finally after being referred to an oncologist it was discovered her heel bone on her foot was gone. After a biopsy, her cancer was confirmed. It was such devastating news but I know she will beat this.
