Cory's Web Page

Welcome to Cory's Web page.
We Thank all of our friends for all the loving support and prayers through our journey.
A special Thanks to the Cattleman's Association for the
"Friends of Cory Graham Fund"
through Merchants Bank in Cullman

To the schools and communities of West Point, Addison and all of our friends in the USA and abroad...THANK YOU !!! The overwhelming support has been heartfelt and words cannot do justice for the appreciation we have for each of you !

Please remember in prayer the family of Cindi Spooner Hankes.
Cindi was Cory's Godmother, and was diagnosed with Cancer on the very same day as Cory.
She is watching over us now. She remains so near in our hearts, but will be so deeply missed by her family, children, Mallie and Gabe and all of us who love her so very dearly. To my dearest Friend, you are and have always been such an inspiration for me.


b. September 04, 1989
Cory was diagnosed with
High Risk
Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia -B-Cell
February 20, 2003
POG

Journal

Saturday, January 7, 2006 1:16 PM CST

HOPE, FAITH AND LOVE
Three of the grandest words and three words we have really had to learn to live by and understand over the past three years. These three years have really helped us in understanding and accepting our role in life. And who is REALLY in charge.

Life has been for us very much like the story of The Tortoise and the Hare. We began our race in Feb of 2003. We have met so many hurdles including allergies to almost every drug Cory was prescribed and even facing his demise in 2004 to which he proclaimed his love to the Lord and prepared himself to head home. But in spite of these hurdles he is continuing to win the race.

After months of not knowing why he struggled through maintenance therapy, we found added to the drug allergies, his asthma had returned, he had developed learning disabilities and narcolepsy. With great physicians and changes in medication again he found himself back on his path.

October of 2005, after tearful agonizing decision, Cory decided he would drop out of high school. It was a horrible two months as he had already given up sports, social peers. Living in a home was traded for living in a hospital and going to ball practice was traded in for going in to Doctors appointments. But after over a year of inability to attend school, it seemed in his best interest. The decision was less than desirable and came with many a tear. He wanted like most children to hold his head up high, walk across a stage and received that little piece of paper that says: GRADUATED.

Rumors came back to him that he was a “drop out”, some even telling him he was just giving up. But he was far from ready to give up. November he signed up for GED classes and in four short weeks took and passed his GED a remarkable feat, as he had not regularly attended classes since his mid 7th grade year.

Thanksgiving was truly our blessing. He was able to stop his chemotherapy and the drug that was saving his life was also stripping him from his normalcy. He was FINALLY FINISHED. With a few medications to control his asthma, narcolepsy, attention deficits and pschorsis he had cleared his hurdle, as the Lord showed his mercy and support.

He still does not go to ballgames, or participate in some activities, it is still a harsh reminder of what he lost. But he has found other activities and has become an avid hunter and fisherman. We have become very active in USSA, the largest non-profit Hunt wish program in the USA that provide wishes to children with disabilities and terminal illness. Both Cory and I serve as board members. http://www.deerfood.com/ussa.htm


At age 16, Cory is now enrolled in College and ready to start a new chapter in his life. His academic test scores showed no reason he could not continue his dream of Pre-med. so for the New Year he will begin a new start. Although his initial dream from childhood was to be a surgeon, he acknowledges that his health further in life may make this difficult, so our new dream is cardiology or oncology, and no better path to take!!

Thank you to everyone who continued to support us through this very long journey. Thank you to those who did not judge us, but comforted us during our time of need. No matter what life appears before childhood cancer, life threatening illness affect a family’s normalcy and NO ONE can ever KNOW until you have walked in our shoes. It has certainly humbled this old social worker, but made me a better person. For all the years I counseled the sick thinking my empathy was enough, I now realize different!!

Hospital Information:

Children's Hospital

Birmingham, Alabama

Links:

E-mail Author: birdnneon@mindspring.com

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