Nate

On July 7, 2011, our sweet and spunky 2 1/2 year old middle child, Nate, was goofing around with his brother and slammed his belly into an ottoman. He immediately began complaining of pain and then began throwing up. We took him to the ER where they found a large mass in his abdomen that had ruptured. At that moment, our life changed forever. Nate was airlifted to our local children's hospital and scheduled for emergency surgery the next day. A majority of the mass was removed and it was determined over the next week, through many tests and scans, that Nate had Stage 3 High Risk Neuroblastoma. Neuroblastoma is a particularly aggressive, difficult to treat childhood cancer. We chose, as a family, to move through the next 15 months of Nate's treatment in faith and hope...what other choice did we have?

Nate has gone through 6 rounds of high dose chemotherapy, 2 major abdominal surgeries, a stem cell transplant, 12 rounds of radiation, and 3 rounds of antibody treatment (of which the last round almost took his life). He has spent almost 150 days in the hospital (over half of those being in isolation) and countless pokes, scans, tests, transfusions, yucky medicines and procedures at 4 different hospitals in 3 states. Through it all, Nate has maintained his super hero strength and attitude. No matter how hard treatment knocked him down, he always came out strong and smiling on the other side. At many points throughout the last year, treatment has left Nate unable to run, jump, step up or down and even walk. 

Max

Max Wilford, our five year-old son, was diagnosed with a brain tumor on August 5th, 2011. He was immediately rushed to the regional children's hospital and operated on the next morning. The tumor was found to be adhered to the brain stem and was only partially resected. We now know that Max is fighting a "Glioma, Non-Categorical" and there are many parts of his brain with evidence of stable disease.

Max is finishing over a year of chemotherapy as he fights the tumor that remains. Max is a bright, beautiful, vivacious kid who, with the development of special superpowers designed to fight cancer, is now known as SuperMax. In addition to chemo, Max sees various additional therapists -- Chinese medicine, occupational therapy karate, swimming, horse therapy, and diet/nutrition. We will beat this!

www.Facebook.com/TeamSuperMax

Blake

Blake's journey. Blake has always been a bouncing boy. I remember him climbing in trees at the age of 3 fearless. His whole life changed in the matter of seconds on January 21,2007 @ the age of 4. A head on car accident that left many fighting for their lives. By Gods grace everyone lived. Several involved had many surgeries to repair or remove broken bones, organs & etc.

When the Dr told our family that Blake suffered a spinal injury that left him paralyzed from the belly button down not one of us wanted to believe him. Blake had several surgeries while in the hospital. He spent several weeks in rehab in Atlanta Georgia. It's been 5 1/2 years since the accident & Blake is still the bouncing boy he always was just in a wheelchair.

Jack

Eight months ago, cancer entered our world and has forever changed us. Our youngest child (by 20 minutes) was diagnosed with ALL Leukemia at the age of 2. Although Jack is our most gentle and sensitive child, he has proven to be one tough cookie and is determined to beat his cancer. He still has 2 1/2 years left of chemotherapy and other medications until he is finally finished with his treatment. It's hard to believe that by the time he takes his very last dose of chemotherapy on 3/13/2015, he will have lived more years while receiving chemo, than NOT. Nothing like starting off your life a fighter! I have never been so proud of anyone, as I am of him right now.

Jack's special "cancer fighting shoes" have given him a boost of confidence and a spring in his step. He says they make him run, "really fast" too! We have been so blessed by the kindness of PNF. Thank you for giving us a reason to smile through this dark storm in our lives.