3 years ago. Parker fractured his ankle and had the cast put on. Hockey season officially over. Then a phone call that would forever change my life. The results from his biopsy on his scalp. I was told over the phone, by a dermatologist, to get to the CHOP ED immediately. I think your son has leukemia. My worst fear from all of this - all of the researching, appointments, dead ends - it came to this - and deep down inside I knew. I remember instantly panicking. Payton was home, Pete and Parker were at practice. I didn't even know what to do. It was late, like 8PM. Mom came to stay with Payton, who knew something absolutely horrible was going on. We got in the car and drove the 1.5 hours to CHOP. I remember stopping like 3 times for me to use the bathroom. I had lost total control of my bladder because I was literally scared to death about what was to come. We arrived. Parker was rushed in. We had a lot of questions from nurses and doctors based on the immediate attention to this matter. Everyone was confused. They poked and prodded and drew lots of blood. That CBC was going to be the tell-all. We sat and waited, and waited, and waited. It was about 1AM the results came in that he was perfectly fine. Nothing came back abnormal. No cancer was detected. The cells that were found in his biopsy couldn't be located in his blood. Is that good? Was it a mistake?
So, now what? We went home. We thought we were in the clear. How naive to think this was all over. It was just the beginning.
I love you forever, Bud