2 years ago on this very night, our son was sitting in the emergency room in Raleigh, NC with a high fever and leg pain. He was admitted to a room for observation overnight and the next morning, we were told that Will had leukemia. After the numbing shock wore off, disbelief set in. Surely the doctor who delivered the news was wrong. I remember she was wearing a purple sweater and black pants...she didn't even have one of those white coats on that doctors wear. Maybe this was all a big cruel joke. But blood tests don't lie and high-tech microscopes that can count how many white blood cells someone has and tell a regular cell from an irregular cell aren't given to emotions. We were told that he had probably had leukemia for awhile, at least a month. That no one knows the cause of this disease in such young children. I remember meeting Will's first oncologist, Dr. Gold, and him patting me on the shoulder and saying, "It's ok, Mom. It's ok." Sam and I sat down with him and he outlined what the next few months would look like for Will. He told us Will would most likely lose his hair and Sam & I both started crying. He told us other things and when we left the meeting, I remember gripping my husband's hand and saying, "Hon, this is going to very hard, but it's only for 3 months...we can do this. William can do this!" and Sam turned to me and said, "Ang, he said 3 YEARS & 3 months...not 3 months." I had heard wrong. How could ANYONE, let alone a child, survive chemotherapy for over 3 years?!?
Well, here we are 2 years later. And my son is doing more than surviving, he is THRIVING. He's enrolled in preschool and LOVING it! He's making friends, learning new things and experiencing a small amount of independence apart from Mom & Dad. Normal kid stuff that has nothing to do with counts or finger sticks or clinic visits. Will still has over a year and a half of treatment left, but the hardest part is over and he's proven over and over again that he's a fighter. We remain hopeful and optimistic.
We were riding in the car yesterday and I heard him in the backseat singing along to a kids praise CD that was in the car CD player. "Jesus, You're my firm foundation. I know I can stand secure. Jesus, You're my firm foundation. I put my trust in Your Holy Word, I put my trust in Your Holy Word."
What a beautiful reminder and a beautiful promise.
Thanks for checking in and for continuing to keep Will & our family in your prayers. We appreciate you.
Love,
Angie, Sam, Will & Katie
