We are shaving our heads to raise money for childhood cancer research! Did you know that kids' cancers are different from adult cancers? It's true. And childhood cancer research is extremely underfunded. So we decided to do something about it by raising money for cures.
Now we need your help! Will you make a donation? Every dollar makes a difference for the thousands of infants, children, teens, and young adults fighting childhood cancers.
This is Carter's story:
Carter was diagnosed with Precursor B Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia on
November 1, 2010, at the age of 3 1/2. Carter's only symptom was an abnormally
high fever and abnormal blood work. We were sent to Children's Hospital on a
Friday night and by Saturday morning in the ER the drs told us that Carter had
some type of cancer. By early Monday morning, the oncologists confirmed it was
Pre-B ALL and that's where Carter's journey began. Monday afternoon, Carter was
taken for surgery to have his port placed and he started a chemotherapy regimen
the following day. Our first year of treatment was spent in isolation due to being
neutropenic nearly the entire time. Carter takes chemo daily at home, as well as
routine appointments at Children's Hospital in Dallas for lumbar punctures,
chemotherapy in his spine and port, and IVIG infusions. Carter does not make
adequate antibodies to fight off bacterial/viral infections, so the IVIG helps him to be
more resistant. Carter's proposed completion date is March 8, 2014. Carter's cancer
is considered high risk due to the fact that he has a chromosomal abnormality. Most
people who have cancer produce one of four types of chromosomes that mutate
causing cancer. Carter falls into a rare category in which his body produces two
types of mutated chromosomes. I can tell you at this point, Carter has responded
wonderfully well to treatment. We continue to give God all of the glory for Carter
doing as well as he has so far. Carter is 110% boy. He loves riding horses, working
cows and going hunting. And I might add, he is a super grasshopper catcher ;).
Thru this journey, Carter continues to amaze us daily. He is very resilient. Cancer
does not define him in any way. He is all smiles and stronger than any of us. The
faith of a child....what a wonderful blessing.
