14 replies
  • OFF TOPIC
  • |
One of my friends just found out today that his 4 year old boy has a heart tumor and they are going to do chemo on him for the next 2 years, starting immediately. It happened at random, with no previous indications of any sort of heart trouble with him, nor a history of any sort of heart disease in their family. I've had someone close go through chemo and know what a life destroyer it can be.

But, this happening to a 4 year old boy? Come on!!!!
  • Profile picture of the author Kay King
    I've seen documentaries of pediatric cancer wards - and those are some brave and strong doctors and nurses that work there. I couldn't take it.

    The kids, though, are amazing - children are more resilient and stronger than we give them credit for. I hope the chemo does it's job for your friend's son.
    Signature
    Saving one dog will not change the world - but the world changes forever for that one dog
    ***
    Please do not 'release balloons' for celebrations. The balloons and trailing ribbons entangle birds and kill wildlife and livestock that think the balloons are food.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3887083].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Sheryl Polomka
    Poor little boy and his family too - what a terrible thing for them to go through. What a terrible place to get a tumor too. I will keep him and his family in my prayers and I hope he is a little fighter and gets through this.
    Signature
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3888107].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Leslie B
    I'm so sorry to hear this, I'll light a candle for the boy and his family tonight and send some positive energy their way (and yours too).
    Signature
    Taking it one day at a time!
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3888247].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author HeySal
    It is always wrenching to hear of sick children. I hope that the parents get a natureopath to give the child some help in offsetting the chemo - or get him to another country for treatment. Strength and courage to him and his parents.
    Signature

    Sal
    When the Roads and Paths end, learn to guide yourself through the wilderness
    Beyond the Path

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3888326].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Charlotte Jay
    How sad. Last year I shaved my head to raise money for pediatric cancer research. Those kids are so brave, I really admire them. Best wishes to the little boy for a speedy recovery. You can read my story here and why I did it.

    http://www.stbaldricks.org/participa...ipantid/365068
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3888607].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author marketingrep4u
      I'm writing this post as I'm sitting in daughters hospital room on the oncology floor of Cook Children's Hospital in Fort Worth, Texas.

      She is suffering from her second bout of cancer. She's only 3 years old.

      When my daughter was only 1, she was diagnosed with Wilms Tumor in her kidney. We found it in stage 1 and they were able to remove it along with the kidney.

      We did chemo and she finished with a favorable histology and an excessively rare chance of ever getting cancer again.

      Unfortunately, even the most minute percentages work against us.

      Just last week, she was diagnosed with a relapse of Wilms Tumor, but this time it has crushed her right lung.

      We started chemo again to shrink the tumor. Once it's small enough, it will surgically removed with radiation and more chemo to follow.

      She'll be here another 2 weeks in the hospital and then get to go home, however, some of her future chemo appointments will require additional hospitalization.

      Words cannot express the kind of brokenness that I feel as a father.

      I remain strong in my faith despite the emotional turmoil that I feel inside.

      I'm an internet marketing consultant and web designer that has spent my career exercising my talents for my customers and never really applying them for myself. In times like this one, maintaining and finding new customers is beyond challenging.

      I'm considering launching some type of online marketing drive to bring in an income over the next 12 months to support a family of 6 while going down this road with my daughter for the second time.

      How well do you think it would be perceived by the online community if my own personal cause was the front runner of my marketing efforts online?

      Rich
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3888976].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Roaddog
    One of the ads on tv that always tears at me , is The St. Judes...with all the small children and kids suffering.

    My heart and prayers go out to you and yours Rich and to your friend Ian, and all the children.

    It is one more reason I have to be grateful and thankful for my own kids this Sunday morning.


    Benedicite Deus

    Jim
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3889036].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Charlotte Jay
    Hi Rich,

    I think that you are a wonderful, brave man who is faced with one of the toughest challenges a parent will ever have to endure. I think that that would be a wonderful motivator for you and well received by others. I encourage you to read some of the stories at the St Baldricks site I posted above, they are encouraging and heartbreaking at the same time. They do wonderful things for pediatric cancer research, I can't say enough good things about them. Strength, hope and blessings being sent your way. Hugs to your sweet baby for a speedy recovery.

    ~Charlotte
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3889041].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Ian Varnava
    Originally Posted by Leslie B View Post

    I'm so sorry to hear this, I'll light a candle for the boy and his family tonight and send some positive energy their way (and yours too).
    Thank you Leslie, they sure need it.

    Originally Posted by Charlotte Jay View Post

    How sad. Last year I shaved my head to raise money for pediatric cancer research. Those kids are so brave, I really admire them. Best wishes to the little boy for a speedy recovery. You can read my story here and why I did it.

    St. Baldrick's - Participant - Charlotte J.
    Thank you Charlotte. I read your story on that link. Truly remarkable. We should all strive to be so active for a good cause.

    Originally Posted by Sheryl Polomka View Post

    I will keep him and his family in my prayers and I hope he is a little fighter and gets through this.
    Thanks Sheryl. He is actually a little fighter and we always joke about that. He will literally (physically) fight you until he knocks you down, so I have no doubt that he will come out strong and 100% recovered from this.

    Originally Posted by HeySal View Post

    Strength and courage to him and his parents.
    Thank you HeySal.

    Originally Posted by marketingrep4u View Post

    I'm writing this post as I'm sitting in daughters hospital room on the oncology floor of Cook Children's Hospital in Fort Worth, Texas.

    She is suffering from her second bout of cancer. She's only 3 years old.
    Rich, I cannot even begin to try to imagine what you and your family are going through. My heart goes out to your baby girl, you and your family. I will say a special prayer for her and God-willing she will be perfectly fine before you know it.

    How well do you think it would be perceived by the online community if my own personal cause was the front runner of my marketing efforts online?
    I think it would definitely add a certain aspect of realism to your online marketing efforts. People would see that you're not 'just another business' and you have a solid, heartfelt cause as the driving force behind everything that you do. Best of luck and I sincerely hope you make millions so you can focus on your baby without having to worry about income.

    Originally Posted by cardigans View Post

    I know of 2 children locally that are under the age of 4 with stage 4 cancer. These things make me sad to even think about.
    I know, they leave me speechless and almost feeling helpless, knowing that no 'magic cure' exists and they have to go through such harsh treatment and try and make it.

    Originally Posted by Roaddog View Post

    My heart and prayers go out to you and yours Rich and to your friend Ian, and all the children.
    Thank you Jim.

    Originally Posted by Chris Kent View Post

    I've had cancer myself and always feel for kids who have not even lived their childhood out yet. "At least" I was an adult when I got my diagnosis.
    Chris, God bless you for being able to go through what you've gone through, and thank you for your kind words.

    Thanks again everyone for the prayers and God bless you all.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3890073].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author MerlynSanchez
    I am sorry to hear this. My godson was 3 years old when he died from cancer. He had always been a healthy little boy and there was no family history either.

    It was so heartbreaking to see him suffer so my heart goes out to your friend and his family.

    All the best,
    Merlyn





    Originally Posted by Ian Varnava View Post

    One of my friends just found out today that his 4 year old boy has a heart tumor and they are going to do chemo on him for the next 2 years, starting immediately. It happened at random, with no previous indications of any sort of heart trouble with him, nor a history of any sort of heart disease in their family. I've had someone close go through chemo and know what a life destroyer it can be.

    But, this happening to a 4 year old boy? Come on!!!!
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3891635].message }}

Trending Topics