April 6, 2009 was the day our life changed forever. It was the day we heard the words "Your daughter has leukemia". At 21 months old, Chelsea was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia, which 1 in 500 children are diagnosed with each year. After seven months of living in a hospital, our baby girl returned home for good and enjoyed an amazing full year in remission. Then our lives were turned upside down again in November 2010, when we found out Chelsea's leukemia returned. This time Chelsea had to have a double cord blood transplant, which was a very rough road for our girl to travel down. She is still experiencing post-transplant problems today, but she has come so far, and this March we will celebrate her "rebirth day", her transplant day, the day that we hope gave Chelsea her new beginning, her new chance at life.
Though Chelsea has been through so much, she AMAZES us beyond words. She's sweet, thoughtful, resilient, tough, smart, the best colorer in the whole world, loves music, and just adores her big brother. She's SO brave and wise beyond her years, and she fills her mommy and daddy, and the rest of her family, with so much pride and love every single day. Her giggle is the greatest sound I've ever heard in my life. No child should have to endure what she has, but sadly too many kids have. We thank St. Baldrick's and all those involved for standing up to pediatric cancer, and for trying to make a difference for all children afflicted with this horrible disease.