2009 is my year to kick cancer's butt! T-Shirt

2009 is my year to kick cancer's butt!

In 2000, my ten year old son was diagnosed with a brain tumor. In total he has had 6 weeks of daily radiation, 28 months of chemo, 3 1/2 years of growth hormone therapy, and more MRI’s, tests, weekly blood counts, hair loss, surgeries, needle pokes, ophthalmology and oncology appointments, and blood transfusions than we can count.

Last summer during a routine MRI it was discoverd his tumor was starting to grow again. It’s located on the optic chiasm, so the concern is that increased growth means more pressure on the optic nerves, and Jake is then at a greater risk for losing more of his vision. He is legally blind so saving what vision he has left is one of the most important things to us all. Last June he started chemo for a second time. The treatment plan was to end chemo in late fall, but his body has other plans. Due to allergic reactions to his chemotherapy drugs, his treatment ended several months early. All we could do were MRI’s every three months to check the growth. Only time would tell if Jake would benefit from the months of chemo he had. The next few scans showed the tumor was stable and had no new growth. For now we are holding it at bay!

The good news is that Jake’s blood counts are back to normal, he’s full of energy, and normal 17 year old sarcasm. He is a straight A senior and is on his way to college next fall to study film. His dream is to become a movie director.

If someone close to you has cancer, now is the time to take a stand and keep hope alive! Advocate for those you love and tell cancer we’re not gonna take it anymore! This is their year to conquer. Together we can kick cancer’s butt for good!