Love for Ever

16/10/2020

Hello friends! We wanted to share some shots from a very special photo session we had with our dear friend Christian Marie Photography. We're so grateful for each person who has touched Ever's life, and ours, in the past three year and are happy to celebrate this new chapter.

22/08/2020

22/08/2020

It's the big day! Happy birthday Ever, and NO MORE CHEMO celebration

18/08/2020

We're so grateful to Julie Hays of KWTX News 10 for sharing Ever's good news this week. Check out the video. As we shared it with him last night, you could see the pride in his eyes and the amazement at seeing someone tell his story like this. We are thankful.

Please say a prayer for our boy this morning. He is having his port removal surgery. Big milestones, big feels.

A Central Texas boy has even more reason to celebrate his seventh birthday this weekend because he's also marking the end of more than 1,000 days of cancer treatment.

10/08/2020

Well. A frustrating viral infection (NOT COVID) is stubbornly holding on and trying to spread. Our poor Ever love is dealing with awful mouth ulcers and a rash, similar to one he dealt with last summer. After two weeks of meds at home, the doctors decided he needed some stronger meds, observation and pain management. It's not fun, but we're thankful to be here and to see him feeling a little better with stronger pain meds and fluids in him.

Please pray that our brave boy recovers smoothly. He's basically at the finish line and this is the last hurdle. We are hoping that we'll only have to stay a couple of nights. Thanks for the love and good thoughts. We feel them.

05/08/2020

Today Ever had a great monthly check in at the oncology clinic, and we got to discuss plans for "ringing the bell", and other celebrations with his child life specialist. In 38 days, he will take his last oral chemo pill and will complete his three year treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

We are just... in awe. We can't believe this time is finally here. Our hearts are full, we're exhausted, and grateful. Please say a prayer and keep our Ever love in your thoughts. In two weeks, he will have surgery to remove his port-a-cath. It's a little early, but he's literally outgrown it and it no longer functions. It's done its job - delivered meds and aided in drawing blood, making clinic visits a little less difficult. He's anxious, but ready. So are we.

We'll be sharing some memories and some thoughts as the days grow closer. If you live in our area, keep an eye on this space as we hope to share plans for a special socially distanced celebration for our boy. Thanks for keeping us all in your hearts.

It's the final countdown.

03/07/2020

My thoughts, 2 years ago:

"And this is how it began. The little board wrapped in gauze to stabilize the IV, the tell tale bruises on his legs (the ones that gave me a sinking, knowing feeling a week before we went to the doctor), the relief I felt watching him eat that spaghetti... it wasn’t a year ago, it was yesterday. It will always feel like yesterday. We didn’t get the official diagnosis until the next afternoon, but today marks the anniversary of our last normal morning, our last normal breakfast and last normal anything. And while we are deeply grateful for the day he was diagnosed, knowing he would not fight cancer alone anymore, we have and will grieve the loss of a life before Leukemia."

And today:

It's quiet today. We're self isolating, as I had a COVID test on Monday and am still experiencing symptoms despite it being negative. This is the last anniversary that will happen while Ever is doing treatment. His final dose of oral chemo is slated for September 11. Tomorrow will be the 3rd anniversary of that diagnosis. Today, I'm thankful for hope, and for support from friends and loved ones. I'm so grateful for our children. Our girls have had front row seats to what life with cancer and chemo is like, and what its like to suffer medical trauma as a child. They have been strong, and loving, and patient. And our Ever. Eric and I marvel at him so often. He is full of passion, sweetness and fire. He is only six, and also so much more. We have all grown and changed so much.

01/07/2020

Hello friends. We've been quiet on here, as the world around us is reeling from a whole lot right now. Ever has been doing pretty well with treatment, and we're working hard to keep ourselves occupied during this season. While isolating for health reasons is nothing new to a family managing cancer treatment, the added stresses and what ifs have certainly been a challenge. For a kid who has a pretty intimate familiarity with medical settings and hears his own health being discussed frequently, we've noted that our big hearted boy has become anxious and concerned. We know so many are right now. We also are deeply grateful for each other in this moment of pandemic and national struggle, and recognize how blessed we are.

This week will mark three years since Ever was diagnosed. Because of social distancing, we won't get to open our home as we have before on the 4th (his diagnosis date). It's a strange and bittersweet moment in our family memory, that will likely always be with us. This year will be the last that he is in treatment - as his end of treatment date is set for September 11 - and we are beginning to look forward to that time.

While many of you (of course) will want to celebrate and remark about how wonderful this is (it is), I want to bring out another aspect of our walk that I don't always share. It's a common one for pediatric cancer patients and families... and truly, any child who has faced long term medical treatment. Leaving our regularly scheduled, safe and well known clinic visits, our care team, and the patterns we've created as a family in order to support our child is SCARY. Medical trauma and anxiety is so real, and our boy faces it all the time. And as we leave one phase, we enter another, because once you've entered this world you don't really ever leave. We're preparing for a big transition.

So, I have a special request: pray for us, send us your good thoughts and energy during this time. If you would like to send something to encourage Ever, or his sisters (who are rockstars, supporting their brother all the way), we would love that too. The next few months will no doubt bring unexpected things for all of us, but if you could keep us in your hearts that would mean so much... We're in the home stretch, and our little warrior needs some cheering on.

14/04/2020

Hello friends! Today is a long clinic day - we’ll be in clinic for chemo, at the hospital for a lumbar puncture, and all the usuals. Of course, we’re also noticing the unusual. Baylor Scott & White McLane Children's Medical Center is a lot quieter this morning due to essential appointments only. We’re wearing our ninja masks, and the protocols are a little more stringent. We’re so grateful for that, and for our care team.

Please pray for all of our here. We’re amazed by their kindness, skill and compassion, especially in these times.

17/03/2020

Hello friends. We know it’s a strange time out there. Stay safe, love each other well, and know that this won’t be forever. We’re thankful for all of you. The self quarantine situation may feel strange to most of you, but Ever (and our whole family) thanks you for protecting him. We’re thankful for the precautions that are being put in place, and the calm and compassionate wisdom from our care team at Baylor Scott & White McLane Children's Medical Center.

Ever is doing well with his treatment, and begins Cycle 9 of maintenance in his chemo protocol. Today was a routine check up and counts. We’re thankful to report that while there have been cases of COVID-19 reported in this county, there have been none so far in our clinic and hospital.

We want to take this time to encourage everyone to be thinking of friends and loved ones at risk. Protect them, and make sure their needs are met. Listen to reliable sources of information (like the CDC and WHO), and seek opinions from those who are qualified.

Love is stronger than fear ❤️