Can you believe it? Today marks the 3rd anniversary of Austin's diagnosis with Leukemia. We give thanks everyday, know how truly blessed we are to have Austin and for Austin to be doing so well.
Austin has two more months of maintenance treatment, one more bone marrow biopsy, one more surgery to remove his Port and God willing he will be done with everything other then the monthly finger prick to check his blood.
Looking back at the past three years is often time difficult but I am so glad that we have his first 6 months of treatment well documented on this journal and are constantly reminded of what he has been through by keeping up with his Beads of Courage (see photo). I read through several dates of the journal whenever I log on and can't believe what all we went through and the outpouring of support we received from our family and friends. The golf tournament, blood drives, gifts from strangers, the meals, the lawn service, the stuffed animals, the cards, the letters, the emails and the financial support from people who surely owed us nothing and that we would have never expected anything from.
We also think about the people that Austins has touched over the past three years being an Honored Hero with Leukemia and Lymphoma and the multitude of fund raising events that Austin has attended and Run/Walk races he has participated in. Also, Kim and I have spoken at numerous events that have raised $100's of thousands of dollars and created awareness about childhood Leukemia. Kim will run her second marathon in as many years in honor of Austin and raising $16K for Leukemia and Lymphoma while doing it. Austin has also inspired at least two others (our good friend and Dawson's God Mother - Suzanne Gibbs and a perfect stranger who just told us Austin inspired her) to run marathons and raise money and awareness.
Though three years ago today was surely our darkest hour God gave us light, first in the form of a baby brother for Austin, second with a cure for his cancer and third for a renewed purpose for our lives that would come to benefit so many people.
Though the last three years has been tough on all of us, mostly Austin, we come out of it knowing there was a purpose for all that has happened and we have never once said, "why him, why us"? For all the great things mentioned above that has happened in the past three years, we now know... why him-why us.
Austin has started to think about his Make-A-Wish trip, Make-A-Wish as most know, grant children who have battled a potentially life threatening illness with one wish which can be either a To Be, To Meet, To Go type of wish. Austin loves dinosaurs and sea creatures and constantly has us read books about them and watch Discovery Channels shows with him. Since we are 65 million years late to see a dinosaur he wants to go see whales and dolphins in their natural habitat and would like to go with/meet Bindy The Jungle Girl who oftens films her show in the Ocean surrounded by whales and dophins. Bindy is the daughter of the late Steve Erwin (Crocodile Hunter fame) who has her own show on Disney Channel. Bindy is a 6 year girl who teaches children about animals. I told Austin, she is single and rich and by all means he should want to meet her.
Austin is back at playing to-ball this year and will start kindergarten in the fall. Take a look at the new pics and I left the pic that was taken when Austin was diagnosed for reference.
Small picture of Dawson, he is doing great.
They do grow up so fast.
