Griffin was diagnosed with leukemia in a hospital in Germany on November 11, 2019. We are a military family and were living in Germany at the time. Upon the doctor telling us he had cancer, they said he needed to start treatment that night and gave us two hours to decide where he would receive medical treatment, America or Germany. We frantically called a list of American pediatric cancer hospitals from google repeatedly asking if we showed up at their doorstep in the morning would they accept Griffin as a patient. We broke down in tears when after 15 minutes St Jude said they would take care of Griffin. 12 hours from his diagnosis we were on a plane to Memphis.
He has had so many complications. He currently has a broken foot, heart, and blood sugar issues that require constant care. He has virtually no immune system so he has been under strict isolation since his diagnosis and has to bear daily IV medications as well as many oral medications. He often is in pain.
He has been having chemotherapy for the last 11 months and has more than two years of chemotherapy left. Because his cancer was slow to respond to the treatment he also did an experimental immunotherapy that required him to be on a constant IV infusion for 54 days. He has had more than 12 procedures done under anesthesia that included getting a port-o-cath, PICC line, lumbar punctures with chemo, and bone marrow aspirations. He is currently struggling with keeping his blood sugar and has had seizures due to dangerously low glucose. Currently, we need to test his blood sugar throughout the night and give him corn starch to keep his glucose high every few hours. He requires an immense amount of medical care, but my husband and I and his siblings are all here to support him in any way he needs.
My three children have spent their entire lives overseas in Asia and Europe and with no warning, they left their home and belongings to come to Memphis for Griffin’s treatment. My husband was lucky enough to receive a military assignment to Memphis which has affected his career. Our kids could not attend in-person school, cannot socialize with others, or do any extracurriculars because we cannot risk them bringing covid home to their brother. Every day they sacrifice so much just to keep their brother safe. They have traded soccer, school, and friends for isolation, less attention, and playing doctor. While the kids were accustomed to long separations from dad, they are new to being separated from me as I spend many days at the hospital with Griffin.
Hope session by Nichole Park Photography | Facebook | Instagram