I know first-hand the impact on families when they are faced with childhood cancer.

When I was 29, my wife and I had our first child. We were blessed with a beautiful healthy baby girl, Morgan. At 14 months, Morgan was walking, and all seemed typical for a toddler. 

At 16 months, Morgan began looking tired; but we did not recognize her symptom at the time.  At 17 months, she began losing her balance.  We went to the doctors - first a pediatrician and then a neurologist.

Over the next month, I helplessly watched as my innocent baby regressed, and symptoms became worse - while test after painful test was administered in the numerous hospital visits.

At 18 months, Morgan was no longer walking on her own and needed to hold our hands - stressful and upsetting for a child, who had known the freedom of walking independently. At this point, she was also was showing other gross motor skills loss, including involuntary eye movement.

At 19 months, an MRI was performed on her abdomen. We were sent directly from the MRI office back to the neurologist, where we were informed the scan was positive - positive was not good. It felt like my heart dropped to my stomach.

The neurologist had already arranged an appointment for us to speak with an oncologist in the same hospital. Our three-person family proceeded to the oncology office on the second floor – my wife and I walked through the halls in a dazed state of shock.

I clearly remember sitting in the oncologist’s office that day twenty-seven years ago. I heard haunting phrases parents hope they never encounter: “Cancer”, “Neuroblastoma”, “golf ball sized Tumor”, “Surgery on Monday”, “90% survival in the first 2 years, if it has not spread”, “if it has spread, 50% survival”.

That day changed the rest of my life.

This is why I support St Baldrick’s. Since 2005, St Baldrick’s has invested more than $352 million in grants for childhood cancer research. So, I shave my head to honor children - past, present and future, who are diagnosed with cancer.

So, what happened to Morgan, you ask?

It has not been an easy road for Morgan, but our family has been fortunate. The surgery was a success. Doctors gave her a chance at life, and she has been a fighter. Now at twenty something, Morgan is doing well and has the opportunity write the rest of her story as she likes.

Please join me in supporting St Baldrick’s Foundation and childhood cancer research.