Meet Sam

In the spring of 2016, we noticed that our 4-year-old son’s eye was turning in ever so slightly. As a precaution, we decided to go ahead and make an appointment with an Ophthalmologist at Children’s Hospital in Birmingham. The doctor noticed swelling behind Sam’s eyes during the exam and ordered an MRI to find out the cause. We were not alarmed or on alert. We never dreamed it would be cancer. Cancer had never touched our family in any way. We assumed it would be something minor that could be treated with glasses or an eye patch.

We were very wrong. I will never forget the words spoken to us right after his MRI on May 3, 2016. "There is a golf ball sized mass pressing on your son’s brain, and we believe it’s cancer. There is a pediatric neurosurgeon waiting for you at Children’s Hospital downtown. Sam will have surgery in the next 24 hours to remove the mass." Our whole world turned upside down at that moment. It was unfathomable to believe that our precious red-headed little boy who seemed so healthy was in fact so ill.

Sam had an almost 10-hour surgery the next morning to remove the mass. It took much longer than anticipated due to the amount of fluid that had built up in Sam’s head. The surgeon told us that he was confident he was able to remove the entire tumor. We then waited on pins and needles for the results of the biopsy that would tell us if it was cancer and if so, the type. We learned several days later that he did in fact have cancer, but that it was treatable. The treatment plan would include 6 weeks of daily radiation and a year and a half of chemotherapy. We learned the radiation and chemotherapy were necessary to save his life but had the potential to make Sam very sick.

We moved forward with his treatment plan right away. Besides radiation and chemotherapy, treatment included speech, occupational and physical therapy. The surgery had greatly affected Sam. He was partially paralyzed on the left side and had difficulty walking, talking, and doing anything with his left hand. He was naturally left-handed, so he essentially had to relearn how to do everything with his right hand.

We were regularly in and out of the hospital for chemo and radiation for almost two years. My daughter, Winnie, was 19 months old when Sam was diagnosed. My husband quit working during this time to devote himself entirely to Sam and Winnie. We spent most of our time together as a family in our home to protect Sam from germs. Having a sick child puts incredible stress on the family. Your emotions are up and down. You mourn the life your family had before the diagnosis and grieve for the pain and suffering your child must endure to survive. As a mother, it is a helpless feeling. We had incredible support from our family, friends, and community, but it was still a very isolating time. Life continues for everyone else around you, but cancer tries its best to dominate your life. It was difficult watching Sam miss little and big things like going to school, being with friends, traveling, birthday parties, and sports activities. The darkness is often made brighter by the love and support from family, friends, and even strangers.

One of the brightest spots in our cancer story was our interaction with Magic Moments. The local organization reached out to us soon after Sam’s diagnosis to offer their support. It was comforting to have a group of people who understood our journey and whose main mission was to support local families going through childhood illness. Magic Moments sent our family to Disney World the Thanksgiving after Sam’s last chemotherapy treatment in 2017. The staff at Magic Moments surprised Sam with the news one Sunday afternoon at a local park surrounded by friends and family. I will never forget the look of joy on his face when he found out that he was going to Disney World. It is etched in my mind forever. The trip did not disappoint. Every detail was handled for us. We did not have to think about anything but making memories and having fun with our family. Sam’s treatment was behind us, and we were finally able to let go and enjoy time together as a family in the most magical place on Earth. It’s difficult to find the words to describe how grateful we are to the staff and donors at Magic Moments for making this possible for us. It is an experience we will remember forever.

Sam is now a thriving, happy and healthy, almost 12-year-old boy. He is in 6^th grade and enjoys playing the drums, jiu jitsu, wrestling, and spending time with friends and family. He is kind, brave and strong. Cancer seems like a lifetime ago, but it warms my heart when I think about the kindness and generosity provided to us and so many families by Magic Moments. We stay connected to Magic Moments as much as possible. We regularly get invited to different regional events throughout the year. It is wonderful to connect with other families and make lasting memories as a family. Whether it’s a Barons game or Easter Egg Hunt, we do not take those memories for granted. Magic Moments reminds us that we are never alone or forgotten. I am proud of this local organization and will forever share our story with the hopes that more people will get involved with its incredible mission.