What a long journey we’re about to begin! Preslie Faith, my first born, sassy, beautiful, smart girl that I love to pieces. Her knee started to bother her for a few months but I didn’t think much of it. She’s a teenager. She growing, she’s playing basketball. Some said she needed to work harder in the gym, another said she needed to wrap it when she was playing. Put some ice on it, “You’ll be fine.” Then it started to swell and hurt.

When I could see a knot on her leg I knew something wasn’t right. I thought maybe she had strained something but I certainly didn’t expect it to be a tumor. That didn’t even cross my mind.

I took her to see an Orthopedic doctor and they wanted an X-ray, a CT scan, and an MRI. Almost immediately after the CT was done (this was on a Tuesday) the doctor called and said she needed to be in St. Louis on Thursday. Obviously we didn’t know what was going on but something serious.

We were in St. Louis early Thursday morning for an MRI. After that we met a surgeon and her Pediatric Oncologist. Right then they explained the chemo treatment plan and the surgery that she will have eventually. But first she needed a biopsy so that was the following day. One doctor said it would be one to two weeks for results. The doctor that did the procedure said three to five days. They called in three days.

I was in Springfield, with Beau in hand, trying to do some last minute Christmas shopping when my phone rang. They asked me if anyone was with me. Asked if I was sitting down. My heart just sank. They told me she has cancer. Osteosarcoma. I’ve dealt with cancer my entire adult life. That’s one thing but to hear that your child has that nasty word??

We have to be in St. Louis early Monday for a lot of testing. That’s includes a PET scan. Please pray it hasn’t spread!!

She’s 15. She just got her permit. She loves basketball. She’s a freshman in high school. This is time to have fun with your friends and complain about your hard classes that really aren’t that bad. Go to football games and dances. But instead we will be spending a lot of time in St. Louis. And she will be home schooled for the semester (not saying that’s a bad thing for anyone!)

At this point Preslie’s biggest fear if losing her hair. And she will. She has found what she wants and of course it’s not cheap! But I want her to have one thing that she can control. She loves fixing her hair so with a human hair wig she can do that. So that’s my goal.