It was Late June 1998. We were leaving the next morning for vacation.
I was really excited....we were going to New Hampshire and Vermont. The kids
and I had never been there before and we were going to go camping all week.
That evening, while we were packing, I got a phone call from my sister. Max
is sick, she told me. "He might have cancer." I was so shocked. My three
year old nephew might have cancer? Oh my God. Please let me be dreaming,
it can't be true. I was devastated. During the next couple days, Max had
extensive tests done to confirm our worst fears. He was diagnosed with advanced
stage T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma. It is a very rare form of cancer for
children to get. He had been complaining of leg pains over and over. The
doctors figured it was just growing pains. Then his lymph nodes in his neck
became swollen, his little tummy was too. A blood test showed the
truth.
Needless to say, the next few months were the worst thing our family
has seen in a while. Our father had passed away from cancer on December 1,
1993, but to see this little three year old child have to go through all
this pain and suffering was so horrible. Unfortunately, I do not live close
to them so I have not been able to physically be there for all of them. But
I am in close contact by phone and computer.
Sometimes the treatments are painful. They are used to stop the spread
of the disease to his spinal fluid and bone marrow. If this works, he will
have a 60 to 70 percent chance of surviving. He's had to have blood transfusions,
have his bone marrow checked ,and other assorted tests done over the last
year and a half.
Chemotherapy treatments began July 2, 1998 at Duke University Medical
Center. The treatments are to last for two years. My sister Karen says,"He's
getting used to it as much as he can. He's being really brave. He was so
angry at me the first few weeks. He wanted his dad there; he didn't want
me to hold him. One morning at 4a.m. a nurse came in to give him some medication
and he rolled over and said. 'Mommy, why don't you just tell them no.' That
broke my heart."
Our Mother has had occasion to be there during Max's hospital stays as
well. She says it hurts so much to listen to Maxwell cry when they are
administering medications. He begs for them to stop, but how can you explain
to a three year old that you can't do that, or he may not live? You just
hold them and cry with them. It is so hard to be strong when you are falling
apart inside. Wondering what may happen. Hoping the next tests will have
good news.
During the Christmas holidays in 1998, we found out that the treatments
he had to endure did their job. Maxwell was declared to be cancer free! Hooray!
The cancer was no where to be found. However he still had 18 months of treatments
to go through. So the treatments go on. So far, so good. Karen was told that
when his chemo and radiation stop, if the cancer comes back, they have to
catch it right away to be able to stop it again. This cancer is very aggressive
and can get out of control if it's not found in time. We pray this will never
happen.....
*******************************************************
It is November 14, 1999. I received a phone call from my mother earlier
today. They fear Maxwell's cancer might be back. He has been sick with a
cold lately and antibiotics are not helping. But now, his tummy is swollen
again, and he is not able to eat. I pray the tests tomorrow will show this
to be a false alarm. I will post an update as soon as I know anything. Please
keep Maxwell in your prayers, my friends. Thank you, and God Bless you all.
********************************************************
November 16, 1999--UPDATE! Maxwell's cancer is not back. YIPEE!! He had
some blockage in his intestines that caused his tummy to swell, and made
him so ill he couldn't even eat. They did x-rays, and he did have to have
an imunagloben transplant because he has nothing to fight off infection.
But otherwise, he is A-OK! Thank you for all of your prayers!
********************************************************
July 27, 2000-UPDATE-Today was Maxwell's first day of kindergarten. He
loved it!! He can't wait to go back tomorrow!! We saw them when we were on
vacation the first week in July, and he was so happy to see us. He was running
and playing, it was so good to see him so full of energy. I asked him for
a kiss and a hug, and he said "you have to catch me first!", LOL. I only
wish we had more time to spend with them all while we were there. His brother
Alex is getting so big. And he is so handsome. He will be a heart breaker
when he gets older.
My daughter Devon age 11, and Alex age 8
July 8, 2000
*********************************************************
August 3, 2000--UPDATE-Maxwell has had the last of his chemo and radiation.
Today he will be having his spinal fluid, and bone marrow checked. They will
also do a Catt scan, and other assorted tests to make sure there is no cancer
anywhere in his body before they stop the chemo and radiation. He has been
cancer free since December 1998, but he is not in remission yet. If they
do not find any cancer now, he will have all of these tests done every month
to keep checking for a while to make sure it hasn't come back. Please say
a prayer for Maxwell, and the family. God Bless.
Max age 5 and Devon age 11
July 7, 2000
********************************************************
Max's
UPDATE
Page
********************************************************
If you would like to write to Max and his brother Alex, the info is below.
Please do not mention that he has cancer to either of them...Thank you!
Write to Max and
his brother Alex at:
P.O.Box 20483
Raleigh, North Carolina
27619
Newspaper
article about Max
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