February 2009 began a life-altering experience for myself and my son.  At age 3, Gregory was diagnosed with Juvenile Myelmonocytic Leukemia (JMML). His front-line and ONLY treatment option was a bone marrow transplant (also known as a HSCT/hematopoietic stem cell transplant). Donor blood marrow stem cells are transfused after taking Gregory's existing bone marrow to zero through high-dose chemotherapy.  He received his life-saving cells in June 2009. After three years of grueling recovery he began to thrive. Yet -- the fear ever remains. Not just for a recurrence of his existing disease, but chronic and life-threatening late-effects loom large. Chemotherapy kills rapidly dividing cells. A three year old's body is nothing but rapidly dividing cells. Chemotherapy also causes cancer. These are facts that many people are unaware of. Sadly, I am not. I live it everyday. Not just in my son, but in those I have gotten to know and love. And the kids who will be diagnosed with kids' cancer tomorrow. And the next day. And the next week. The next month. The next year.  I do not shave simply for my son. His story is mostly pre-written. I shave in memory of those who are no longer living, in honor of those surviving, and in defense of those not yet diagnosed.  Please -- remember, honor, and defend our most precious resource with a donation to St Baldrick's. The largest private funder of childhood cancer research in the United States. We need you. <3  PS - Watch the video included with my plea. I've seen it numerous times and every time I shed a tear and experience a glow of HOPE. We do have hope for better treatment options for our kids. Treatments that allow them to fully THRIVE. Not simply survive.