Thank you for supporting me and the more than 300,000 kids worldwide who will be diagnosed with cancer this year. By sharing the gifts of your time and generosity with the St. Baldrick's Foundation, you're supporting research to give all kids with cancer a better chance for a cure. Patrick was diagnosed 10 days before his 4th birthday, September 15, 2021. He had been suffering with cold symptoms for about a month and we had taken him to the doctors office multiple times. One night while coughing, he had blown all the blood vessels in both eyes. On the third visit we were prescribed steroids, his cough immediately disappeared and all cold symptoms with it. But then bruising began to appear on his legs. More bruising than could be explained with the day to day life of a 3 year old boy. We called the pediatrician again and asked to see the infectious disease specialist. After a blood test, we were told to drive directly to the ER and hematologist would be waiting for us. 45 minutes later we heard the news that would change our lives forever. Patrick was diagnosed with T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. We stayed in the hospital for a week. He was given a picc line for the first month because he could not have anesthesia due to a mass on his chest. After the first month of treatment, his mass disappeared and he was able to get his port for his treatments. The first couple months went smooth and we began to get to know the amazing doctors and nurses who take care of Patrick. Then in the beginning of January, Patrick began having fevers. A two week stay in the hospital, Patrick was diagnosed with appendicitis and had an appendectomy. We were released, but not for long. Two days later, we were back in the hospital for a fungal infection. This visit was a 3 week stay, while they tried to narrow down the type of fungus and the best medicine to treat it. A couple months later Patrick had developed pneumonia. The doctors wanted a biopsy because of his fungal history. During the procedure he had a lung hemorrhage. He was rushed to the ICU and because of the amazing work of the doctors and nurses they were able to stabilize him. Patrick spent 8 days on a ventilator and over 2 weeks in the ICU. Patrick has started up preschool this past fall, and will continue his chemotherapy treatments until February 2024. As of now. we do not know what causes most of these cancers. Research could lead to a better understanding of who is at risk, earlier detection, and more efficient treatment protocols. By getting involved with Saint Baldrick's, people can help with new treatment discovery, more effective medications, and hopefully one day a cure!