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 once again be be joining the 46 Mommas Shave for the Brave, a band of cancer moms, warrior mothers who have seen their kids endure the unimaginable. Instead of shaving, though, we are headed to Washington DC to tell our kids' stories in hopes of gathering support for the STAR Act, the most comprehensive pediatric cancer bill brought to Congress. And we're going to shake things up!
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 9th birthday this year, consider making an $9 donation--or a donation divisible by 9--or whatever other amount suits you. Every penny, every dollar can help kids like Caemon survive brutal diseases like JMML.
Thank you.
