For Aprils Life
Donation protected
Well, here we are again..
Except this time we are low on another precious resource.. Time.
A year of tortue, a year of hiding tears and forcing smiles.
It's different this time, almost emotionless.
It makes me question, what's the point?
Where is the fairness in life?
April bravely battled stage 4 high risk Neuroblastoma from November 2015 to January 2017. She had been given just 30% chance at life.
During that time April endured 80 days of intense chemotherapy, a stem cell transplant, major surgeries, 50+ blood transfusions, radiotherapy and 6 months of immunotherapy.
She spent most of that year in a hospital bed, or in isolation, or confined to her house. She was pricked with needles every day and filled with chemicals and drugs that made her so sick. It was almost unbearable to watch.
But she beat the odds against her and her body was then completely free from cancer.
Here she was the day that they removed the tubes, her 'Freddie’s'. The day the nightmare ended, a new chapter began.
Thousands of people have witnessed the smile that April held each and every day, without her hair, with tubes going in to her chest and nose, confined to a hospital room..
April carried us all through that year and she continues to be the force that drives me every day to do all the things that I do.
We all witnessed a miracle.
But, here we are again. Just under three months later.
Except this time it's much worse, and so much harder to accept.
It was the 5th of January when April finished her treatment.
Aprils mam and dad working, piecing their lives back together, making plans so that they could all move forward towards a happier life.
April had even started going to school again.
Life had just begun to feel 'normal' for everyone, sickness becoming a memory.
But, sadly two weeks ago my sister Katie found a lump behind Aprils ear She knew what this meant.
April had scans performed in Crumlin Children’s Hospital the next day.
The results.. much worse than the first time, a short 16 months ago.
To make a long story short, April has relapsed.
The options are.. limited.
The 'chance' of survival is.. Significantly less than before.
She will receive treatment to help give her more time.
But.. Time, that is what April has been given..
I want to make sure that she wakes up every day feeling safe and comfortable, with her family beside her at all times and most of all - happy.
April is just 4 years old.
She has already lost a year of experiencing the childlike adventure and wonder that she deserves, because of this horrible cancer.
But what she gave to me and so many others was a new look on life, a new perspective.
She showed us the raw vulnerability in ourselves and how hard she fought for her life inspired so many of us to change the way we live our own.
But time, that is the obstacle here.
Although there is always hope and optimism in all our hearts for another miracle, it has become apparent that the primary objective now is to make sure that April enjoys every second of her precious time.
To ensure that all her dreams come true.
April has made a wish list.. Her imagination on paper.
If she can't have time, then I'm going to make sure that she can have all her dreams come true.
One of her wishes is to become a taekwondo master and yesterday her imagination was brought to life.
Tomorrow she will mark one dream off her wish list as she becomes a taekwondo master thanks to the kindness of this man and the Irish Federation of Taekwondo.
This fund has been set up to make sure that every one of Aprils wishes can come true. To make sure that she is allowed enjoy each day of her precious time and do everything that she wants to do, as she so deserves to.
www.facebook.com/ForAprilBanks
Except this time we are low on another precious resource.. Time.
A year of tortue, a year of hiding tears and forcing smiles.
It's different this time, almost emotionless.
It makes me question, what's the point?
Where is the fairness in life?
April bravely battled stage 4 high risk Neuroblastoma from November 2015 to January 2017. She had been given just 30% chance at life.
During that time April endured 80 days of intense chemotherapy, a stem cell transplant, major surgeries, 50+ blood transfusions, radiotherapy and 6 months of immunotherapy.
She spent most of that year in a hospital bed, or in isolation, or confined to her house. She was pricked with needles every day and filled with chemicals and drugs that made her so sick. It was almost unbearable to watch.
But she beat the odds against her and her body was then completely free from cancer.
Here she was the day that they removed the tubes, her 'Freddie’s'. The day the nightmare ended, a new chapter began.
Thousands of people have witnessed the smile that April held each and every day, without her hair, with tubes going in to her chest and nose, confined to a hospital room..
April carried us all through that year and she continues to be the force that drives me every day to do all the things that I do.
We all witnessed a miracle.
But, here we are again. Just under three months later.
Except this time it's much worse, and so much harder to accept.
It was the 5th of January when April finished her treatment.
Aprils mam and dad working, piecing their lives back together, making plans so that they could all move forward towards a happier life.
April had even started going to school again.
Life had just begun to feel 'normal' for everyone, sickness becoming a memory.
But, sadly two weeks ago my sister Katie found a lump behind Aprils ear She knew what this meant.
April had scans performed in Crumlin Children’s Hospital the next day.
The results.. much worse than the first time, a short 16 months ago.
To make a long story short, April has relapsed.
The options are.. limited.
The 'chance' of survival is.. Significantly less than before.
She will receive treatment to help give her more time.
But.. Time, that is what April has been given..
I want to make sure that she wakes up every day feeling safe and comfortable, with her family beside her at all times and most of all - happy.
April is just 4 years old.
She has already lost a year of experiencing the childlike adventure and wonder that she deserves, because of this horrible cancer.
But what she gave to me and so many others was a new look on life, a new perspective.
She showed us the raw vulnerability in ourselves and how hard she fought for her life inspired so many of us to change the way we live our own.
But time, that is the obstacle here.
Although there is always hope and optimism in all our hearts for another miracle, it has become apparent that the primary objective now is to make sure that April enjoys every second of her precious time.
To ensure that all her dreams come true.
April has made a wish list.. Her imagination on paper.
If she can't have time, then I'm going to make sure that she can have all her dreams come true.
One of her wishes is to become a taekwondo master and yesterday her imagination was brought to life.
Tomorrow she will mark one dream off her wish list as she becomes a taekwondo master thanks to the kindness of this man and the Irish Federation of Taekwondo.
This fund has been set up to make sure that every one of Aprils wishes can come true. To make sure that she is allowed enjoy each day of her precious time and do everything that she wants to do, as she so deserves to.
www.facebook.com/ForAprilBanks
Organizer
Andrew Keyes
Organizer
County Dublin
