I am shaving my head in honor of my son Mason. Mason was diagnosed with medullolastoma, a brain cancer, at age 3 in 2006. After a long hard fight, he lost his battle to cancer on October 13, 2007. I think the epitaph on Mason's headstone best describes our little boy: Mason Robert Leach: Superhero, soccer star, artist, and our loving, laughing little boy gone too soon.
Since Mason died I have turned my grief into action. I have done volunteer work in his memory at Children's National Medical Center, trying to improve the daily lives of current patients and also working on the palliative care advisory board.
What has spurred me on to do a crazy thing like shave my head? I know what it is like to sit with the doctors and hear that there are no other options to keep your child alive. I know what it is like trying to find some new drug or treatment to save your baby's life. I have held Mason during times of intense pain and suffering from his treatment. I have held my baby in my arms as he died. That is why I shave my head - for Mason and every other child who has battled this disease.
My son received some of the same drugs my sister did 20 years ago. The need for pediatric specific cancer research is clear. St. Baldrick's is funding these types of projects and that is why I wanted to be a part of 46mommas. We can only make change if we work together and continue the great work the original 46mommas created. It is an honor to be part of the team that keeps the momentum going to fund more research for our youngest patients.
Please support me with a donation to the St. Baldrick's Foundation. This volunteer-driven charity funds more in childhood cancer research grants than any organization except the U.S. government.
Thank you!
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