Kids 7 , Cancer 0

Cancer steals, kills, cheats, hides, lies, and hurts so often in our life and the lives of those we love.  It has been a rough few months in the pediatric cancer world, not just in our own little circle, but in the circles of others, too.  It just seemed the suffering and pain was never ending.  

In the past week their have been some glorious wins in the lives of those we love and I can't let it go by without cheering loudly,  

"Yay, life! Yay, familes! Yay, kids! 

and Yay for childhood joys!"

Benjamin is a Wilms' warrior of the highest rank.  At the age of 1 he was diagnosed with bilateral kidney cancer (both kidneys).  He relapsed 6 times and fought through hell, to beat cancer 6 times.  In the process he lost both kidneys and has been on daily dialysis for several years.  This spring he was finally declared NED and eligible for kidney transplant at the Mayo clinic.  In June, he received a kidney from his mom.  The surgery was a success and both are healing beautifully.

This week, Ben's family was given the free pass to go back home to Florida.  His nephrologist told them, "You've done everything you can do. You've dealt with the garbage. You've put in your time. Now you're done. Go live life."  Ben's body is now free of all lines and he is reunited with his 3 siblings ready to live his life as a 6th grader.  Ben, you are my hero. You have done the impossible... more than once.

And our sweet friend Lily just returned from a week away at camp.  The neuroblastoma tumor in her abdomen, that has controlled every aspect of her life, is dying now and Lily is feeling great.  No one knows exactly what, why, or how- but Lily doesn't need those answers to know she feels awesome and life is sprawled out before her begging to be lived.  Her entire family enjoyed a priceless week at Camp Firefly with Kirk Cameron, his family, and other pediatric cancer families.  After a week of bonding, healing, tears, fun, and hope-  Lily and her sister had the chance to spread their wings and fly for a glorious week away at Camp Care. 

   

Our friend Bradley has a Desmoid tumor in his chest that has regrown numerous times causing pain and complications.  He just completed successful cryoablation surgery in NYC and is home to heal and jump back into his life as a high schooler and baseball player. 

Spunky Hannah has completed her stem cell transplant in Chicago for relapsed Wilms' and she and her mom are finally back home with the family in Kansas.  She is one week away from Day +100, post-transplant and continues to heal one day at a time.  We are standing with them believing God for healing.  She will be scanned again in September.

After a tough relapse battle with Wilms', Daisy is cancer free and enjoying Hawaii with her family...

And Emma is now Day +9 from her stem cell transplant for Wilms' relapse. She has a white blood count!! It is 17, but she has a count that is not zero!! The hard work is being done in her marrow and there is a flicker of light onto the road ahead.

(EMMA UPDATE: Day +11 Her bone marrow has engrafted!!! She has an ANC of 3386 and was allowed out of isolation briefly for the first time! Emma must have some really strong stem cells.)

And on a smaller scale, Julia went to the bathroom on her own this afternoon! It has happened a handful of times in the past year, but never on a regular schedule- maybe one day.  It is our glimmer of hope that healing will happen one day in the future.  But for today, it means no flush tonight!! And for a certain 5 year old girl that was the best news ever! So what do you do next? You grab your bathing suit after dinner and go run in the sprinkler with your brother :)

So for these things and many more, we celebrate and give God all the praise and thanks.  We have no idea what lies around the corner for these families, for our own, and for the others we love so dearly; but for a moment we pause and cheer...

Kids 7, Cancer 0

I like that score for a change. We'll happily record that shut out with pride and keep the replay reel tucked in away in our hearts for the next time we're losing to the beast. 

This time we won.