Just when you think…………
If you happen to have someone that you know in your life that has died of cancer, or currently has cancer, fighting cancer…….even someone who has fought cancer and WON the battle, like our friend Gage Dole here (pictured to the right)… then you know exactly where I’m coming from right now. You can read about his whole battle here at http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/gage … He’s a trooper man. Just read today’s journal entry, and it has left me feeling so … I dunno… I don’t even know and can’t even pinpoint a word for how it has left me feeling. Just hopeless really. Hopeless and grateful. But typing “grateful” makes me feel selfish…. Before we moved to West Linn, we lived in Lake Oswego, and Gage and my Anders were little buddies. They played in the park, we had mutual friends, we had birthday parties, playdates, just hanging out. But then we moved to West Linn, and when you move, (even just a few miles), it feels like a thousand miles…… distance grows. It’s just the way it is…… Long story short……. Gage was diagnosed with Ewings Sarcoma when, I believe, the boys were 4 years old. Ewings is a pretty rare form of cancer in which masses grow on the spinal cord. Gage had surgery to remove what mass they could remove w/out getting too close, and then went thru chemo therapy, and proton therapy (they flew and lived in Boston for the best treatment possible for him). Beat Ewings with flying colors. Gage was in remission. Shortly thereafter, they discovered that he had AML, which is a form of Leukemia…. Not great news. So when the community found out about the leukemia, we rallied and held a blood drive to test all local people for the possibility of finding a donor. I set up a table, sold necklaces, took custom orders and donated 100% of proceeds to the Gage Dole fund. Seriously the LEAST I could do. Not specifically thru our blood drive did we find a donor, but through the organization which held the blood drive, a donor was found. There are so many elements (my memory is severely lacking at the exact number) in which someone could even remotely be considered a bone marrow donor, but Gage found someone. Upon finding out, said donor flew to Seattle, did the procedure, Gage and family moved to Seattle, transplant took place, and we all held our breath. Transplant totally successful…. by the grace of GOD…. he was (after many months and thru many hurdles) in remission from the Leukemia.. (and I hate to even capitalize the disease)….. he was in remission. Shortly after returning to a regular childhood…. meaning…. going to school again… frolicking in the pool, playing like a normal child plays…. they find yet another mass around his spine which was believed to be another recurrence of the FIRST cancer he had… the Ewings Sarcoma. At this point…. you just sit there and stare at the sky and throw up your hands and just shout “WHY???” why does this little boy have to endure such a crappy shitty hand of cards?? WHY??? In removing the mass, they had to take out part of his ribs……. he’s in a brace….. he’s hindered….. but still plugs along like little boys do. He’s got determination….. he’s going to beat this…. and if you read the journal, you’ll read that he was just recently diagnosed with a mass on a totally different part of his body… in his ribs. An 8 year old boy…. dying of cancer…. Miracles do happen…. If ANYONE can beat this thing… it is GAGE DOLE…. He has overcome so many daunting things in his short life, and he continues to fight….. But if you read the journal, you will read that every neurosurgeon is telling them the same thing….. “there is no hope”…. “what’s the point”… His little body probably can’t handle the rigorous treatment that is necessary to kill this stuff off. They are headed to Houston to meet with an oncologist this coming week to get his point of view…… They are parents fighting for their son’s life. And so I sit here this afternoon, after reading the journal, and Anders blows thru the door from school like he always does with the loud,, “HI MOM,, I’M HOME!!” and all I could do was get up and run to the entry way and just hug him until he couldn’t breathe. In life… we have trials, and we have tribulations, and we have problems, and we have hurdles, and we have shit we have to deal with….. and sometimes we just sit there exasperated and mope and him and haw over all the crap we have to deal with, and then you read about Gage’s story, and it really puts things into perspective. If you have healthy babies today….. be sure to give them an extra strong hug.. Notice their sweet little annoying voices tonight when you are bathing them as they piss and moan over the little things…… remember that you are blessed. And man… if you have lost someone to cancer… especially if you’ve lost a CHILD to cancer….. read his story. And know that my prayers are going out to you tonight. Life is always hard and unfair, but just remember, (and I know it’s really hard to remember in the heat of the moment), that things could always be worse… and you gotta count your blessings each and every single day……. EVERY DAY!!!! And if you are a person of FAITH… tonight… when you are going to bed, looking forward to your three day weekend, say a prayer for Gage Dole ,,, who happens to be fighting for his life…. fighting RIGHT NOW… this very minute … for his life. And pray for his parents, Lauren and Trux Dole… to give them the strength and the ability to make the right decisions for Gage. As a parent, I wouldn’t even know what to do in their situation….. PRAY!!!
December 1st, 2009 at 10:44 pm
[...] lot around her family and her kids. I like reading her blog because I find it rare that people can combine their business and their personal life together as well as Erika can in her writing. It’s usually either one [...]