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I met the Sterling family three years ago as Hunter's babysitter. Hunter and his one year old brother Reid and I have a very strong bond. We've play with Play-dough, trains and dance our PJs. We snuggle on the couch with and read lots of books in the rocking chair. Needless to say Hunter has touched my heart.
Last year, Hunter was tragically diagnosed with Leukemia. The Sterling's have had many sleepless nights, too many hospital visits and a few scary moments no parents should ever endure. I hope this contribution, no matter how big or small, can help keep Huntie Strong.
i'm raising money to help little Hunter Sterling fight cancer strong. #huntiestrong
I hope this video helps you get to know this very special boy a little better.
http://flipagram.com/f/ShpZINWa4P
Hunter's mom Stephanie wrote this letter updating friends and family
Hi!
Hope this email finds everyone well. It has been a while since we gave an “official” Huntie Strong update and given that March 20th marked Hunter's one year since diagnosis we figured it was time to update everyone on our little fighter.
By now many of you may have heard my story and every year at this time, you will probably be hearing my story. It has become my reality, my cause and my relentless fight. March 20, 2014 will forever be a day etched in my memory and was the day my family’s life changed forever. A year ago that we were told the news no parent or individual should ever have to hear..."we have to tell you something and you're not going to like what you hear, but you need to hear it and you need to be strong for your son...it's Cancer, it's Leukemia.”
By now with the help of social media you may have seen pictures and little updates on Hunter or have seen first hand this wild 3 year old around town with a huge grin on his face, but also coupled with his fair share of tantrums--kicking and screaming, whether it be due to the anticipated hospital/therapy visit, the side effects of his steroids and chemos or just typical 3-year-old behavior which we cannot deny.
It is amazing to see what a difference a year can make. To say the last year has been a whirlwind that includes many ups but mostly downs would be a huge understatement. I can remember staring at my son, my little baby boy and literally wondering if this person we created would even live to see his third birthday. I remember wondering if he would ever be able to walk again and I vividly remember that day at the park after coming out of his 28 days of induction when I carried him out of his stroller because he wanted so badly to catch up with his friends who were running around. Holding his hands to support his body weight he took baby steps with such hope and desire to keep up with them. I remember May 15th, my birthday, running my fingers through his hair as little clumps fell into my hand and seeing countless strands on his sheets. I also remember his multiple rounds of high dose methotrexate where we would spends several hours and days at the hospital only to be coming home with our son attached to an IV bag and a basket full of supplies ranging from a cocktail of medicines, urine testing strips, pill crushers, chucks, etc. I remember thinking how can we ever do this at home? How can I have a 2 year old walking around at home hooked up to a chemo bag with tubes dragging around while I also had a baby learning to walk, pulling up on everything and a dog running around. I remember those horrid mornings before his countless spinal taps where we tried our best to distract him from eating or drinking in preparation for anesthesia thinking how do you try to explain this to a toddler no less a toddler on steroids. But I am proud to say we made it a year! The toughest and most challenging year of our life, but we did it and more importantly our little fighter Hunter showed the strength and bravery that no 2.5 year old should ever have to show. We couldn't be more proud of him!
One year down and a fight to still win. As triumphant as it feels to hit our one year and have that behind us I can’t lie and say that this year hasn’t felt like YEARS or that I don’t get discouraged by the amount of time left in Hunter’s course of treatment. I would be lying to say I don't live in constant fear of a relapse every time he gets a little sick and the weight that carries on my heart. And by now I am sure everyone is sick of hearing me complain about how tired I am and what little sleep I get.
With that said, sure we have had little set backs here and there, regression after treatments, bouts of nausea and unexpected visits to Sloan Kettering, but Hunter keeps amazing us everyday with his strength, bravery and determination. He not only can walk better, but he can run, he has enjoyed learning how to ride his scooter, master the playground, and his speech has improved so much that he has become a chatter box full of “Why.” Sometimes I wish I didn’t have to answer the why…Like “Why he has to get “tubees” or a finger prick and other times his questions are so endearing and innocent like most 3 year olds. We have our fair share of Doctor role-playing, however in this case Eric and I, and anyone else for that matter that steps foot in our Apartment are his “Patients.” Hunter even says he is going to be a doctor when he grows up with his baby brother Reid. He calls himself “Huntie Dr. Sterling” How could the sound of that not make any parent proud? He has become great at taking his meds, even reminding us when it’s time to take them and asks to give them to himself. While I wouldn’t quite say Hunter knows that he has cancer he is very aware that the blue Sloan buses that drive around the city are “his doctors buses,” and that the flags for MSKCC that line our block and billboard ads in bus stops are “his doctors.” Hunter has been fortunate enough to attend his first year of pre-school and all things considered he hasn’t missed that many school days. For Hunter going to school has had the greatest positive impact on him throughout this year. He comes home singing songs, talking about his friends and teachers, and it's those little things that bring a smile to my face. He also went from having crispy fried, wiry hair and few eyelashes to now having a full thick growing mane and lashes any woman would kill to have.
I’m also happy to say that Hunter finished consolidation and has entered his 3rd phase and hopefully last phase of treatment, the maintenance phase. If all goes as planned he will continue treatment until September 2016. His current trial includes his nightly oral chemo (Mercaptopurine), which we often give him in his sleep because of the restrictions with food and dairy. Followed by an added weekly oral chemo. He gets a spinal tap/lumbar puncture every 12 weeks to make sure there are no abnormal cells hiding in his Central Nervous System accompanied by chemo (Methotrexate) to his spine. Research has shown that you have to treat the spine regardless of the findings. This has also been a huge breakthrough because years ago radiation to the brain was standard treatment. These procedures are always a little nerve wracking given if they did find anything it would be a sign of relapse. So we wait for these results on pins and needles. Every 16 weeks Hunter gets his "chemo pulses" which include vincristine chemo in his port followed by 7 days of the dreaded steroids and finished off with another dose of vincristine chemo. However all in all we are lucky to be on this trial given that Hunter was diagnosed low risk. The standard protocol would have chemo pulses every 4 weeks. We just need to hope and pray the less toxicity is just as effective. So far so good! As of now Hunter will have his port for the remainder of treatment. The only down side to this is given it is considered a foreign object in the body it is susceptible to infection. That is why if he is ever running a fever we have to take him to the hospital immediately.
For all intents and purposes I have taken on a new role as a “MOMcologist, /mom-col-o-gist/: n.” Without fail - a seasoned oncology nurse, procedure/medical terminology expert, the administrator of meds, the one to ask the abundance of question, internet research guru, and most importantly Hunters biggest advocate.
We approach this year with the same sense of urgency that we had last year to help find a cure for blood cancers and to create more effective less toxic treatments for children and adults like Hunter. No one could have ever prepared us for what is now our “new normal” but with your help we are one step closer to a cure. We are forever grateful for all your support over the last year.
Love,
Steph, Eric and Baby Reid
Last year, Hunter was tragically diagnosed with Leukemia. The Sterling's have had many sleepless nights, too many hospital visits and a few scary moments no parents should ever endure. I hope this contribution, no matter how big or small, can help keep Huntie Strong.
i'm raising money to help little Hunter Sterling fight cancer strong. #huntiestrong
I hope this video helps you get to know this very special boy a little better.
http://flipagram.com/f/ShpZINWa4P
Hunter's mom Stephanie wrote this letter updating friends and family
Hi!
Hope this email finds everyone well. It has been a while since we gave an “official” Huntie Strong update and given that March 20th marked Hunter's one year since diagnosis we figured it was time to update everyone on our little fighter.
By now many of you may have heard my story and every year at this time, you will probably be hearing my story. It has become my reality, my cause and my relentless fight. March 20, 2014 will forever be a day etched in my memory and was the day my family’s life changed forever. A year ago that we were told the news no parent or individual should ever have to hear..."we have to tell you something and you're not going to like what you hear, but you need to hear it and you need to be strong for your son...it's Cancer, it's Leukemia.”
By now with the help of social media you may have seen pictures and little updates on Hunter or have seen first hand this wild 3 year old around town with a huge grin on his face, but also coupled with his fair share of tantrums--kicking and screaming, whether it be due to the anticipated hospital/therapy visit, the side effects of his steroids and chemos or just typical 3-year-old behavior which we cannot deny.
It is amazing to see what a difference a year can make. To say the last year has been a whirlwind that includes many ups but mostly downs would be a huge understatement. I can remember staring at my son, my little baby boy and literally wondering if this person we created would even live to see his third birthday. I remember wondering if he would ever be able to walk again and I vividly remember that day at the park after coming out of his 28 days of induction when I carried him out of his stroller because he wanted so badly to catch up with his friends who were running around. Holding his hands to support his body weight he took baby steps with such hope and desire to keep up with them. I remember May 15th, my birthday, running my fingers through his hair as little clumps fell into my hand and seeing countless strands on his sheets. I also remember his multiple rounds of high dose methotrexate where we would spends several hours and days at the hospital only to be coming home with our son attached to an IV bag and a basket full of supplies ranging from a cocktail of medicines, urine testing strips, pill crushers, chucks, etc. I remember thinking how can we ever do this at home? How can I have a 2 year old walking around at home hooked up to a chemo bag with tubes dragging around while I also had a baby learning to walk, pulling up on everything and a dog running around. I remember those horrid mornings before his countless spinal taps where we tried our best to distract him from eating or drinking in preparation for anesthesia thinking how do you try to explain this to a toddler no less a toddler on steroids. But I am proud to say we made it a year! The toughest and most challenging year of our life, but we did it and more importantly our little fighter Hunter showed the strength and bravery that no 2.5 year old should ever have to show. We couldn't be more proud of him!
One year down and a fight to still win. As triumphant as it feels to hit our one year and have that behind us I can’t lie and say that this year hasn’t felt like YEARS or that I don’t get discouraged by the amount of time left in Hunter’s course of treatment. I would be lying to say I don't live in constant fear of a relapse every time he gets a little sick and the weight that carries on my heart. And by now I am sure everyone is sick of hearing me complain about how tired I am and what little sleep I get.
With that said, sure we have had little set backs here and there, regression after treatments, bouts of nausea and unexpected visits to Sloan Kettering, but Hunter keeps amazing us everyday with his strength, bravery and determination. He not only can walk better, but he can run, he has enjoyed learning how to ride his scooter, master the playground, and his speech has improved so much that he has become a chatter box full of “Why.” Sometimes I wish I didn’t have to answer the why…Like “Why he has to get “tubees” or a finger prick and other times his questions are so endearing and innocent like most 3 year olds. We have our fair share of Doctor role-playing, however in this case Eric and I, and anyone else for that matter that steps foot in our Apartment are his “Patients.” Hunter even says he is going to be a doctor when he grows up with his baby brother Reid. He calls himself “Huntie Dr. Sterling” How could the sound of that not make any parent proud? He has become great at taking his meds, even reminding us when it’s time to take them and asks to give them to himself. While I wouldn’t quite say Hunter knows that he has cancer he is very aware that the blue Sloan buses that drive around the city are “his doctors buses,” and that the flags for MSKCC that line our block and billboard ads in bus stops are “his doctors.” Hunter has been fortunate enough to attend his first year of pre-school and all things considered he hasn’t missed that many school days. For Hunter going to school has had the greatest positive impact on him throughout this year. He comes home singing songs, talking about his friends and teachers, and it's those little things that bring a smile to my face. He also went from having crispy fried, wiry hair and few eyelashes to now having a full thick growing mane and lashes any woman would kill to have.
I’m also happy to say that Hunter finished consolidation and has entered his 3rd phase and hopefully last phase of treatment, the maintenance phase. If all goes as planned he will continue treatment until September 2016. His current trial includes his nightly oral chemo (Mercaptopurine), which we often give him in his sleep because of the restrictions with food and dairy. Followed by an added weekly oral chemo. He gets a spinal tap/lumbar puncture every 12 weeks to make sure there are no abnormal cells hiding in his Central Nervous System accompanied by chemo (Methotrexate) to his spine. Research has shown that you have to treat the spine regardless of the findings. This has also been a huge breakthrough because years ago radiation to the brain was standard treatment. These procedures are always a little nerve wracking given if they did find anything it would be a sign of relapse. So we wait for these results on pins and needles. Every 16 weeks Hunter gets his "chemo pulses" which include vincristine chemo in his port followed by 7 days of the dreaded steroids and finished off with another dose of vincristine chemo. However all in all we are lucky to be on this trial given that Hunter was diagnosed low risk. The standard protocol would have chemo pulses every 4 weeks. We just need to hope and pray the less toxicity is just as effective. So far so good! As of now Hunter will have his port for the remainder of treatment. The only down side to this is given it is considered a foreign object in the body it is susceptible to infection. That is why if he is ever running a fever we have to take him to the hospital immediately.
For all intents and purposes I have taken on a new role as a “MOMcologist, /mom-col-o-gist/: n.” Without fail - a seasoned oncology nurse, procedure/medical terminology expert, the administrator of meds, the one to ask the abundance of question, internet research guru, and most importantly Hunters biggest advocate.
We approach this year with the same sense of urgency that we had last year to help find a cure for blood cancers and to create more effective less toxic treatments for children and adults like Hunter. No one could have ever prepared us for what is now our “new normal” but with your help we are one step closer to a cure. We are forever grateful for all your support over the last year.
Love,
Steph, Eric and Baby Reid