History.

My husband has repeatedly asked me to write what he is calling Ethan’s story- just a little bit about who Ethan is and some of the things that he has gone through-as if that were an easy thing to do. I have resisted and dragged my feet fearing to touch the raw emotions that surround you when your child is facing an uncertain future. How can I even begin to explain? Who is Ethan? He is our child our first born our only son. An 11-year-old boy with Cancer.

Ethan was diagnosed with Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma in 2003, shortly after his 8th birthday. He has been fighting hard ever since: 4 chemo protocols, the 1st of which required daily infusions for 2 weeks at a time over the course of 48 weeks, 3 tumor resections surgeries, 3 radiation plans and 3 radio static surgeries. He has spent a large part of the last 4 years in hospital rooms, infusion rooms, waiting rooms or just at home feeling profoundly sick. He has had to endure painful and frightening biopsies, IV’s, injections, vomiting, and every 3 months or so been asked to remain still for MRI, CT, Bone, and PET scans. He has raged at the unfairness of this disease, grieved the loss of who he was before cancer and worried that he may die.

Ethan is also wickedly funny, very smart, sensitive, sweet and kind. He loves to read, ride bikes, perform magic tricks, play Yu-gi-oh and detonate stink bombs. He is brave, fiercely determined, resilient and strong. He is the apple of his father’s eye. The beat of my heart.. He is all these things and many more, but no matter his gifts, no matter his courage he is ultimately, simply, most importantly our child. And just like your child, he is a child who deserves a future. Ethan is a child who needs a cure. I believe that each and every precious child facing cancer whether remarkable or not deserves a cure so that they can have a future.

The doctors and researcher at the children Oncology Group tell us that a Cure is within our reach. That with enough funding they can reach the day when every child with cancer, ones like Ethan and ones like yours, can be guaranteed a cure. Can be guaranteed a future. I would give anything for that day to be today. Please help CureSearch make that day tomorrow..

About Ethan

Ethan has been struggling with cancer for three years, he is my older brother and I love him. I admired him when he didn’t have cancer and I admire him with cancer though many things have changed nothing has changed with my love for him. Ethan is brave smart and funny. It makes me very sad to see him sick and in pain. I want to see him get well more than anything I have ever wanted. His being sick makes me afraid, Since my brother is sick he gets all the attention I sometimes really miss my mom but deep down I know that it’s nobody’s fault.