Help Shawn and Hudson in Their Time of Need

This past year has been nothing short of excruciating for my dear former student, Shawn Swift (Wheatley Class of 2000), and his young son, Hudson. A bit over a year ago, Shawn’s wonderful wife, Ashley, was suddenly and tragically killed in a car accident not far from their home. Ashley was a full-time mom to Hudson, who a short time prior to her death, had been diagnosed with autism. When Ashley passed away, Shawn, a U.S. Air Force veteran, and reservist, needed to take a bereavement leave of absence from his job to assume full-time care for Hudson.

The first six months of their new lives without Ashley, as beautiful wife and mommy, were very difficult. Shawn, struggling through his own grief, had suddenly become Hudson’s everything.

Meal preparer, diaper changer, bath tub soaper, food and clothing shopper, school bus driver, play pal buddy, bedtime story reader, and, yes, “missing mommy” comforter, and snuggler.

Things were just beginning to settle down into a new, and clearly more difficult normal, when several months back, during a bath, Shawn noticed a lump on back of Hudson’s head that had not been there the previous day. He pressed gently on it, anticipating Hudson to wince in pain from what he expected was a contusion, the result of a fall during the school day.

Nothing.

He called me, sent me a photo, and I went to pay them a visit. We looked at him closely, prodded a bit, and after a brief conversation, Shawn called Hudson’s pediatrician. Following several doctor visits to a number of specialists, even more painful needle sticks to Hudson, blood tests, CT scans, MRIs, the verdict came In.

Hudson was diagnosed with “Langerhans cell histiocytosis.” It is “… a rare, cancer-like condition that occurs when the body produces too many immature Langerhans cells, a type of immune cell. These cells can clump together and form tumors called granulomas, which can accumulate in the skin, lungs, bones, lymph nodes, bone marrow, or pituitary gland.”

The tumor on Hudson’s skull needed to be surgically removed promptly, while two other tumors were discovered in his body. To address these non-surgically, he had a port implanted In his chest so that he could immediately begin chemotherapy. In addition, Hudson began several-times-daily doses of steroids.

In spite of the remarkable kindness of the doctors, nurses, and the extraordinary sensitivity of the pediatric cancer-care specialists, the little “Gummy Bear” was terrified with each doctor visit, and in-unit test, and treatment. With the steroids and their unsettling side effects, Hudson’s autism “meltdowns,” and all of poking, sticking, and prodding of his care team, there were, and continue to be, days when this heroic little boy, and his Champion Dad, are overwhelmed.

They both are in need of real help. Shawn was out of work for some time after Ashley’s death, and now with Hudson’s illness, the expenses have begun to mount.. He is in desperate need of a nanny, or, au pair, to help with Hudson in the months ahead, and I’m going to do all I can to assist them.

Might you be willing to help, also … as you are able?

Thank you all, in advance, for any contribution you can make.