A Brief Family History

Into every life a little rain must fall

 

For some it’s a Spring shower.  For others, it’s a Monsoon.  For us, you might say it’s been the latter. 

 

The first 21 years of our family history brought 21 major surgeries, over 200 hospitalizations, Grave’s disease, ventricle septal defect, Hasimoto’s disease, diabetes, mitral valve prolapse, Addison’s disease, fibromyalgia, sepsis, a roll-over car accident and Lupus.  Two adoptions, two children with Down syndrome, one with autism.  Then it started to get interesting.

 

Christmas 2004 was normal.  Our seven children were living at home and gathered round the tree.  All holly berries, sugar plums and Ho Ho Ho.   

 

In March 2005, Jonathan was married.  In April, Alyshia was married.  The nest was starting to empty.

 

November of ’05 we were told that Josh, who was then 14, had cancer.  A few days before Christmas, an out of state pathologist finally was able to confirm a diagnosis of his rare cancer.  Myeloid sarcoma – a solid form of leukemia.  Christmas was spent in the hospital for his first round of chemotherapy.  The presents and such were postponed for a few days until Josh got home.

 

December 18^th ’06, after 5 rounds of chemo, radiation and months in the hospital, we were told that Josh was clinically in remission.  Christmas that year was at home, a lot sweeter.  We were all still shell shocked, but relieved to be together. 

 

January 18^th ’07 we took Josh in to the pediatrician for a sinus infection and learned that he had relapsed.  He died February 3^rd. 

 

Eight weeks later, Benjamin, age 11, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.  Ben came to us as at 6 six years old from a Korean orphanage.  He arrived in frail health (and Down syndrome and autism).  He simply couldn’t tolerate the chemotherapy and we had to suspend treatment after four months because it was killing him. 

 

Christmas ’07 found us missing Josh.  He also had Down syndrome and had been the center of our family’s world since the day he was born.  Simply crushing.  Little Ben had been so ravaged by the chemo that he was on ridiculously high doses of morphine.  Frankly, if it weren’t for the home movies and pictures, I’m not sure I would remember much of that Christmas.

 

In January ‘08, Ben started having seizures.  The MRI showed that the chemo they had injected into his spinal cord had killed a bunch of white matter in his brain.  His body started shutting down.  He died 9 days later on January 25^th.

 

This family blog is dedicated to Josh and Ben.  In it we’ll talk of our memories – happy and sad.  What we’ve learned and how we’ve felt.

 

Everyone hopes that their life has meaning.  Everyone hopes that their experiences have some benefit – for themselves and others. 

 

We hope this blog lifts your spirits, deepens your compassion, validates your own trials and continues the blessing that Josh and Ben have been in our lives.

Comments

[Sharon]

What a journey. Thank you for sharing your family with us.