On Thursday April 14th, 2016 our 3 year old son Brennan was diagnosed with high-risk B Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Twelve hours later, we were airlifted from Bermuda to Boston Children’s Hospital and within hours of arrival, Brennan started chemotherapy.
The 22 hours from diagnoses to first treatment started a journey that continues for our family. Brennan is in remission and has completed 21 of 26 months of chemotherapy to keep him in remission.
An early, clear memory in the Emergency Room in Boston, in the haze of our worry, confusion, and sadness, was the informed consent process. The doctor took out a 3-ring binder and began reviewing the stacks of informed consents. He needed to educate us and get our approval on the benefits, risks and side effects of the medication and treatments that were needed to save Brennan’s life. We quickly learned that the very treatment meant to save Brennan could harm him in the future.
This was the first time that I gave serious thought to childhood cancer research.
Every day, 43 children are diagnosed with cancer. 1 out of 5 children will not survive.
I am proud of Brennan’s bravery with all that he continues to endure, without complaint. I am amazed by his ability to articulate to his clinical team with poise and maturity. I am grateful that he is my HERO.
As a family, we continue to be humbled by the never ending love, support and generosity of family, friends, colleagues, clinicians and even those we have not met. We are always asked, ‘what can I do to help?’ and now we have a clear answer.
We are supporting St. Baldrick’s Foundation and ask for you to join us in conquering childhood cancer. On Saturday March 10th, I will be SHAVING MY HEAD in Bermuda to raise awareness and funds to develop effective and less toxic treatments and cures for childhood cancer. Shockingly, only 4% of national cancer funding is dedicated to childhood cancer research, so St. Baldrick’s mission is to fill the funding gap. St. Baldrick’s Foundation is dedicated exclusively to childhood cancer research and has raised $232million since 2005.
Ways to help….
1. Donate to St. Baldrick’s Team Brennan
Whether you can give $20 or $2000, we are grateful for every penny.
2. Corporate Match your donation to increase your impact.
3. Email me to Join Team Brennan locally as a shavee and be Bold and Bald for a great cause.
4. Bald not for you, join Team Brennan locally as a volunteer or to Pony Tail Chop and donate your hair to kids with medical hair loss.
5. Share Team Brennan emails and posts on social media and expand St. Baldrick’s reach.
Let’s make 2018 the biggest year yet and let’s conquer childhood cancer once and for all in honor of Brennan and all the kid’s that fight cancer.
I will ShAVE.
