Hudson is an adorable, vibrant, 3 year old who was diagnosed with Stage IV Neuroblastoma on September 6, 2012 at 16 months old. Hudson followed the Children’s Oncology Group (COG) protocol for induction chemotherapy. He had a total abdominal resection to remove his primary mass on 1/10/13 at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC). He completed 14 rounds of twice daily radiation and was declared no evidence of disease (NED) in March of 2013. He completed 4 cycles of 3F8 antibody therapy at MSKCC. He relapsed on September 23, 2013. He completed an additional three cycles of high dose chemotherapy and was once again declared NED on December 19, 2013. On May 20, 2014, Hudson relapsed again and is currently in treatment.
His mother, Amber, recently took a friend to go see the very popular movie, A Fault In Our Stars. Afterward, she wrote this very touching post on Facebook. I was so moved by her words that I asked if I could share it with Compass to Care’s supporters. Hopefully her message will move you too.
MAY 21, 2014 – BY AMBER, MOTHER OF HUDSON
I took some time Sunday and went to see The Fault in Our Stars (with a brave friend, armed with lots of Kleenex). Ben and my mom thought I was nuts. My “cancer mom” opinion? It was a good movie. It was real, honest, and on point with so many of the things that these kids deal with. I sat in that movie and listened to people sob. All around me, strangers were moved to tears watching the story play out. I felt numb.
Hazel’s story is our real life. Our son might die. His friends die. The “lucky” ones deal with horrific and terrifying affects from the disease and it’s treatment. Over and over again we watch it play out in front of us. When the movie ended, everyone around me wiped their tears and stood up to walk out of that theater. It took everything I had not to scream ….. DO SOMETHING!!!!! If a movie about kids fighting cancer can stir that much emotion in you, ACT ON IT!!! Something, anything is better than wiping your eyes and going home.
Hazel, the young girl the movie is based on, eventually died too. I received a beautiful letter from her Mother when we were awarded a grant through her foundation last year. That is the reality for these kids, these families… MY FAMILY
Please don’t be one of those people, the ones that wipe their eyes, pick up their popcorn, and go home. If a story can move you to tears, let it inspire you to act. My son, his friends, all of these kids need a Voice. They can’t advocate for themselves. We, as their parents, are tired. We sit by their hospital beds, we fly all over the country to research treatment options, we talk about side effects, we try to manage pain and offer comfort. We can’t be the only ones fighting for our kids…
One act of advocacy and kindness, no matter how small, will inspire another. Please be that inspiration.