Our Story
Before the Call
In February of 2019, Jessica (Hudson’s mom) noticed abnormal bruising, called Petechiae, on Hudson’s arm. In addition, Hudson was also having several low grade fevers, which was another red flag. Hudson was only 23 months old at the time and his little sister Violet was not even 10 weeks old. Days later we took Hudson to his pediatrician’s office and requested a CBC blood test that could detect abnormalities in his white and red blood cells. We needed the blood work to confirm his mother's intuition. An hour later the phone call came. We won’t forget the call, “Hudson’s labs are abnormal.” Our world officially stopped at that moment. We knew nothing would ever be the same and we were entering the tunnel of darkness, not knowing what was at the other end.
In the Trenches
Within one hour of the call, we were on our way to the 11th floor of the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital to be evaluated by a pediatric oncologist. Shortly after we arrived, Kyle and I were consenting to surgery, blood transfusions and further testing. The tests unfortunately didn’t reveal a virus or an autoimmune disease, they revealed our worst nightmare, childhood cancer. After blood work, a bone marrow biopsy, and a lumbar puncture that all took place within 24 hours, we were given the diagnosis. Hudson was diagnosed with B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) CNS2a. His genetic testing had favorable results that put him into the standard risk category. ALL is the most common childhood cancer and happens when an immature white blood cell within the bone marrow develops errors in its DNA.
Chemotherapy started immediately and continued from March of 2019 until May of 2022. The years following diagnosis were filled with some great moments and experiences, but also countered with so much darkness and fear. We unfortunately learned the true meaning of fear when we had come to the realization that our child may die; maybe not from cancer, but from infections or chemotherapy. After years of blood draws, finger pokes, port access/de-access, antibiotics, liquid medications, pills, chemotherapy, IM injections, SubQ injections, NG tubes, CT scans, tube feeds, nasopharyngeal swabs, lumbar punctures, bone marrow biopsies, fever protocols, isolation, masking, speech therapy, physical therapy, blood transfusions, platelet transfusions, IVIG transfusions and countless tears and screams he finished chemotherapy. Not all parents get the privilege to say that. Our child was fortunately diagnosed with the most common blood cancer in children, one with more research and treatment options. The lack of funding has prevented other cancers from having as many treatment options and research.
Out of the Darkness
Hudson’s chemotherapy was completed in May of 2022, but it doesn’t mean our world went back to normal. We will question every fever, every headache and every bruise. We will worry about the late effects the chemotherapy will have on his body and cognitive development. Despite our fears, we will love Hudson and Violet fiercely, soak in every memory and realize how fortunate we are. We will challenge the darkness and try to give strength and hope to other families trying to survive the trenches of childhood cancer.
