Words of Hope – My Son is Born

May 20th, 2013: Today my youngest son, Joseph, turns 5.  A tradition is to measure the kids in the door jam on their birthdate.  Joey is less than a 1/4 inch shorter than Ian was at 5 years.  Aside from being polar opposites, they were the same height at 5 years old.

I was diagnosed with Leukemia on May 12th, 2008 and Joey was born on May 20th, 2008, Ian was 4.5 years old.  The normal protocol for an aggressive acute leukemia, as I had been diagnosed, is to begin treatment that very day.  The doctors at Hopkins took one look at my very pregnant wife, Lisa, and sent us home to have our baby before pushing forward with the treatment.  The days between my diagnosis and the day I began treatment, could have been the toughest days for my psychologically.  I had received several blood transfusions and I was filled with good, oxygen carrying blood.  Physically, I felt better than I had in many months.  Emotionally, I was a train wreck.  A new born baby, a sweet little 4 year old, surrounded by family and friends and a horrific cancer diagnosis that was not being treated.  It is hard to describe the feelings I was having.  Tumultuous, might be a good word, but it seems inadequate.  I was to begin treatment on May 27th, 2008.