In August of 2012, my beautiful son Caemon was diagnosed with juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML). This knocked our family's world off its axis as we moved our entire lives to San Francisco to try to save his life. Caemon, like so many children with cancer, fought his disease with grace and courage, and for five and a half months, we held out hope that this beautiful little boy, this three-year-old bundle of pure love and imagination would certainly beat this disease. 

Caemon had a bone marrow transplant on the eve of the Winter Solstice in 2012, and we held onto hope for the next month that this would finally bring our boy home to us. But in a devastating turn, Caemon relapsed just thirty days after his transplant, and ten days later, he succumbed to his disease. 

Life without Caemon has been pure agony most days, but I am able to feel a bit better when I can give back, either by helping parents and children in the pediatric cancer community directly or by fundraising to find a cure. 

Caemon's doctors have used his own cancer cells to make some important discoveries related to JMML, and those findings have been made possible in large part through St. Baldrick's research grants. This is why I pledge my unwavering support to this organization.

This year, I will be shaving my head with a very special group of people: 46 Mommas Shave for the Brave. This is a group of cancer moms, warrior mothers who have seen their kids endure the unimaginable.

My fundraising will also be funneled toward Caemon's Hero Fund, which directly funds JMML research. 

I hope you will join me in making a contribution. In honor of what would have been Caemon's 7th birthday this year, consider making a $7 donation--or a donation divisible by 7--or whatever other amount suits you. Every penny, every dollar can help put an end to kids like Caemon losing their lives to brutal diseases like JMML.

Thank you!