Our son Adam was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia on November 8, 2016, at age 16. Within 24 hours he received his first chemo treatment, and then he spent 10 days in the PICU. Nothing was the same for any of us. Adam’s brother and sisters were brokenhearted and afraid. For the first time, we felt helpless to make things better.
But there were lights in our dark experience. We soon met the team from Jay’s HOPE, who welcomed us with smiles, a package of goodies, a beautiful blanket, and, most of all, a new family.
Since his diagnosis, Adam has spent 88 nights in the hospital and had more than 40 office visits, 13 surgeries, 80-plus chemo treatments, and at least 10 ER visits…and Jay’s HOPE has never left our side. They have given us gas cards that help with our 200-mile trip for treatments, meal cards and treats for long hospital days (Adam loves Coke Icees and Cheetos!), no-cost stays in the apartment so we can all be together, and gift cards for family nights out.
They have also hosted events like the Christmas party, where all four of our children received gifts. Then there was Camp HOPE, a life-changing experience for our three youngest kids that helped them realize others are fighting the same battles. They found a renewed since of gratitude and HOPE. Many organizations focus on supporting the sick child, but Jay’s HOPE supports the ENTIRE family!
When cancer invades your life, you live in a constant place of fear; even on good days, you worry. I encourage you to support local charities like Jay’s HOPE that minister to families battling this disease. They have blessed our lives in immeasurable ways.
With Love & HOPE,
The Baileys
Join us in supporting Adam and our other childhood cancer families through your year-end donation by clicking here.
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