Help Hudson Fight Leukemia with Hope

Leukemia - a word that I have a hard enough time spelling as I do saying out loud.

Our sweet 14 year old Hudson has been diagnosed with b-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. As you read that, I am sure you are flooded with emotions, just like we were. This isn’t a tv commercial or picture of a child you get in the mail battling this disease, this is our child, a member of this community and you know him on some level. This is our new life.

Hudson had been sick on and off for a week and a half along with the rest of everyone you know. We also thought some of his sleepiness was just growing, along with the pains in his joints he was having, I mean the boy has grown 5 inches in 4 months. But he started not eating as much, I noticed his weight drop and then he got a swollen jaw and we knew something was not right. We had a doctors appointment schedule already for him but it couldn’t wait in our minds and to the ER we went.

After tests came back, they were talking tooth infection which is so weird because he didn’t complain about any tooth pain. Then the blood test came back, and the nurse spoke the words “cancer” to me. His white blood cell count was VERY low as well as his platelets. They sent us downtown to Rainbows, which we have been before with Hudson. For those that didn’t know, he had osteomyelitis when he was 7 and MSSA as well and had surgery on his ankle to remove that and was on antibiotics for 21 days through a PICC line. So with his past as well, Infectious Disease doctors are involved. So many tests run, so much blood drawn and just such a maze of trying to find what was causing everything. This is where they landed on the leukemia but the swollen jaw still baffled the doctors. Some thought it might be mumps, some thought tooth infection and then some thought it was the leukemia bad cells building up there in the bone. Ultimately they landed on a baby tooth with a cavity and no adult tooth below it to push it out, was infected.

We then were presented with a treatment plan of attack and so many what ifs on if to put a port in for chemotherapy if we choose that route, because with him already having an infection, plastic under the skin is less than ideal and right by the heart, risks were very high. After meeting with the teams, figuring out what was best for Hudson they gave us the plan.

We asked so many questions, we had concerned of doing so much at once (4 procedures) in a day plus chemo seemed like a lot for him to endure. We got our answers and knew what we wanted to do but presented everything to Hudson’s because it is his body. He made the choice to have everything done in one day, teeth pulled, a lumbar puncture, bone marrow sample and the PICC line placement. Procedures all went well with some amazing navigation by our NP Ann. And with that Hudson received his first dose on chemotherapy last night 1/31/2025.

Now, if you are still with me through that lengthy description of pure SHOCK here are our positives. We serve an amazing God, not once did our faith waiver. The amount of peace we have felt in every decision we have made is indescribable. Our fear was quickly erased by the hedge of protection our Protectors hand. I have never heard Gods voice more clearly than in this moment and continue to. God blessed us with Hudson, knowing what trials were coming his way, whatever those would be, and that we, Justin and myself, would be the best fit parents to protect him, fight for him, love him and nurture him. I feel blessed to be by Hudson’s side to battle this evil.

1 Peter 3:15 says “always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give a reason for the hope that you have”

We told Hudson this is going to be a battle of the mind just as much of his body. He has to have a positive attitude through this entire process. I consider myself a pretty positive person always trying to find the good in any and all situations because what you focus on expands and you begin to only see the good and the bad slips backing the darkness. Hudson is ready to battle. For being 14 I feel instantly grew up the moment we said the word leukemia to him. We are so proud of the young man we have raised and thank God for the blessing he is and will continue to be in our lives.

All of our kids maybe with the exception of Paxon, know what Hudson is battling. We aren’t hiding anything from them. Their sweet questions like “Can we get it if I touch his clothes?” to the silence of the older two and them knowing the seriousness of the disease. The important thing is they need to see us remain hopeful in who God is and that will allow them to see that they can endure any circumstance, with Jesus by their side. Something we have been instilling in their hearts since they were born.

Our family, this shakes the family and “framily” just as harshly. But again when you a rooted in the Word, nothing seems to hard to overcome. My parents, Justin’s parents, our bothers and sisters, our home group friends…Amy, Heather and Bekah, I love you so so much. I wish everyone had friends like these three. My basketball girlies, Mal, Corrie, Kate & Lisa…you ladies know me possibly best…I don’t even have to say a thing and you know… God, again, brought all of these people into my life knowing exactly what I would need when the time would come. Everyone dropping everything in their lives to cover ours is incredible. They say it takes a village but for us it takes a city!

Our church, the outpouring of love and prayers. We have felt every single prayer, truly. The body of Christ is like nothing else and we are so glad to be a part of it.

Our community, I have read every text, listened to every voicemail, received every note. Thank you doesn’t seem like enough to say. I have felt your prayers and feel like we have this amazing wave of people just waiting to crash on whatever need we may have. The kids at school embracing my kids and asking how Hudson is, is showing them the kindness that does exist even when you think humanity as a whole is slipping away. Let me tell you, it is not. My dear, dear friends from high school, you mean so much to me. The Berkshire community is a powerful, strong heartbeat, ready to battle right along our sides.

Last but not least, my sweet husband. You are the head of our home. You lead with such grace and courage. You have a way about you that is so calming and pure. God brought you in my life which in turn brought me closer to Him. Look at what He has blessed us with! Continue to lean on God, continue to lead us, continue to be a light in this world by being a good witness to all those who get the chance to be in your presence and feel that Holy Spirit pouring over. All my love, all my life

Our journey is just beginning but our story is already written. Keep praying right alongside us!