It was the day before his 5th birthday. I picture his mom, Sarah, checking off her to do list. Cupcakes have been ordered, presents bought, candles secured, deposit for the party paid. I imagine her doing all the exciting things a mom does the day before her child's birthday. I even imagine a flood of sadness wash over her as she wonders 'where have these almost 5 years gone?' I picture her smiling at how hard the newborn stage was and how it felt never ending but now he has grown into this independent little boy. I bet if you asked Sarah the year before what she would be doing the day before her son, Brodie's, 5th birthday she would have envisioned something much like I imagined above.
The reality is the day before Brodie's fifth birthday things were not like what I had imagined. Things were in fact a nightmare. Sarah & Josh, Brodie's parents found themselves sitting a doctors office trying to wrap their brains around the words coming from his mouth. They listened as the doctor diagnosed Brodie with Philadelphia Positive Pre-B ALL (leukemia). June 24, 2011 at 4 years, 11 months and 29 days old Brodie's life was completely changed. The rug was pulled out from under them. A pinch on Sarah's arm confirmed that she was in fact not dreaming. She was awake and this was a parents worst nightmare happening to her oldest son, Brodie.
He was admitted to the hospital for 29 days to begin his first rounds of chemo. He spent time in and out of the hospital before a 5 week stay for his bone marrow transplant on October 4, 2011. His donor would be his sister, Jenna, she is super proud of that! Everything went well with the transplant but on March 23, 2012 they were told that Brodie had relapsed. This began his longest stay to date, 4 months, YES! you read that right 4 months of a small, sterile hospital room. Brodie began a 3 year long treatment plan with chemo only this time instead of a transplant. Brodie has stayed at the hospital 370 days total since his diagnosis, and still goes monthly for labs/meds. He continues to take daily chemo pills at home and still has his port but otherwise is doing awesome! He has been in remission since April 2012. The family has developed a mantra, One Step At A Time.
Things are different for Brodie than a child who has never fought leukemia or cancer. He loves sports but contact sports are something that he is not able to participate in. Brodie has remained full of joy and found new interests and hobbies to involve himself in. Truly living the one step at a time, when he finds out he cannot do something he reroutes his steps and finds something new to enjoy. For now a couple of those things include being the water/ball boy for Jackson Christian's high school football team. He loves the game of football and any chance he see's my husband that is what he is talking to him about. Another hobby is cooking. Brodie is great in the kitchen and loves to create unique concoctions with things in his fridge or pantry. Recently he made a homemade alfredo sauce with sausage that was a huge hit. He also loves to make Julia Child's chicken fricassee. He is going to have one happy wife someday with his cooking skills!!
I can say that every training run I have done has included prayer time for Brodie. I have logged many miles and if I am honest there have been some runs where I wanted to throw in the towel and go home. But when my mind is wrestling with my tired legs it is in those moments that I am reminded of Brodie and his whole family. I think of the 4 month stay in the hospital and what he wouldn't have given to have a day outside with fresh air and time to run around, so I pound the pavement a little more. One step at a time. Next up my knee will begin to ache and I will think surely I have to stop and then I remember his parents, Sarah & Josh, and how emotionally and physically exhausted they must have been. But as parents they stay strong and fight on. One step at a time. Then my side- the pinch is hurting so bad surely I should quit. Then I think of Brodie, still taking chemo, still going to the doctor monthly. One step at a time.
I write all of this to ask that you pray for Brodie and not just Brodie but all the precious kids at St. Jude. It is a place that does great work and they do it all free of charge to their patients! I also ask that if you are able please consider a donation to St. Jude! We have created a Team Brodie page and the link is just below this. You can easily click on the link and make a one time donation. Anything you can spare will aid in saving the life of a child $5, $25, $100. Thanks for reading this, thank you for your donations, and most of all thank you for praying!!
http://fundraising.stjude.org/site/TR/Heroes/Heroes?px=4605611&pg=personal&fr_id=67039
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