Isaiah was just shy of his 2nd birthday when he was diagnosed. He was bruising and tiring easily. The Pediatrician ordered a simple blood test and knew immediately that he had Leukemia. We were devastated, as we had an experience with this on his mother's side of the family, with bad results.

They sent us to Egleston where the diagnosis was confirmed – Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL). He had the "best" kind there was and he was at the "best" age; his chances of survival were 85%, however, it entailed 2 ½ years of chemo.

Just 2 months short of finishing treatment, they found abnormal cells in his spinal fluid and after a routine spinal tap, he had relapsed (CNS Relapse). We were blind-sided again. They stopped his current protocol and began a new one with much higher doses of chemo for 2 more years, and including a radiation at week 50. His chances of survival went down to 60%.

We came to the clinic at least once each week for the entire 2 year period, with 14 scheduled hospital stays for chemo plus any time he has fever.

The clinic has become a "second home" to us. Everyone – patients and staff – are like family. Isaiah loves Dr. Keller, he calls him the funniest man here, and he loves his nurses, Lauren, Heidi and Heather. They love him like he was their own son. Heidi even calls him if she off during a visit or she will leave him a message on the board at the nurse's station. On the "floor," or hospital side, his favorite nurse is Anne or "mamma duck" as the kids know her. She loves him as her own as well. We trust them with his life.

Isaiah loves to have fun and laugh. He is all boy; he likes Spiderman, HotWheels, construction and Pirates. He actually loves to come to the clinic and to stay in the hospital – they spoil him. His dad calls it "Club Egleston." All of this makes it easier on us, he gets sick from the chemo more now that he is getting older but he bounces back quickly. This is the only life he knows, he takes a lot of needle sticks, finger pricks and spinal taps, and takes several medicines daily, all necessary and he just does it.

Our faith in God is what gets through each day – His strength carries us and we trust Him completely with Isaiah's life. We are closer to Him and to each other as a result of this experience. The Lord gives us the Hope we need, no matter what the outcome. We wouldn't trade our situation for anything, for the growth we have experienced. We have been blessed with Isaiah for 5 years and are thankful for that time.