Kaine

I knew virtually nothing about Leukemia a few weeks ago. Now we are deep in discussions about chromosomal translocations and whether experimenting with chemo agent imatinib is necessary for the super rare NUP214-ABL1 fusion Forrest has. Apart from that craziness, though, Forrest's T-ALL is pretty textbook standard. And standard is good. Somewhere around 80% of kids with ALL attain remission and most of those remain "cured"-- it's one of the major medical success stories of modern medicine. Even as late as the 1960's children with ALL only lived a few months. ...Makes my head spin. Other diseases aren't so curable .

I met Brooke at the Ronald McDonald House a week or two ago-- the days all meld together. Her son is 13 months old and is named Kaine. His room was right next to Forrest's in the oncology ward and a couple nurses kept confusing their names. (Forrest's middle name is Kane) This Kaine has a brain tumor though and a diagnosis that sounds like another language. They got here right before Christmas too. Drove from hours away to this ER because no one else would believe her that something was really wrong. He's already had multiple brain surgeries. We passed each other in the elevator today. She was in a wheelchair, her baby on her lap, masks over their mouths, nurses trailing behind. Most likely going to another procedure. Her eyes smiled a weary hello, her young face drawn, trendy blue hair unkept and shoved under a beanie. I wonder how Kaine is doing. I didn't get to ask. When we first met in the big communal kitchen of RMHouse she couldn't conceal the flash of wistful jealousy when she heard Forrest's diagnosis. My son has the odds in his favor. Hers doesn't. The reality shone bright in both our eyes. 

There have been some undeniably hard days. And there will be more. But when our strength and hope and faith waver, we are reminded of how much we have to be thankful for. .
I knew nothing about Leukemia a few weeks ago... it seems like another lifetime.