Support William's Second Battle with Cancer

Please help in anyway you can!! It is greatly appreciated.

William's cancer has returned. Please read Dana's post on the beginning of William's journey battling cancer for the second time. There is going to be an abundance of expenses traveling back and forth to Iowa City for William's high dose chemo treatments such as hotels, gas, food, etc. They will then have an unknown extended stay once William begins his stem cell transplant. Dana will have to be off work during this time to stay with William. I will post an update here on William's treatment plan, as Dana' updates. As of now, Dana & William will be heading to Iowa City tomorrow night (6/26/24) to prepare for his first chemo treatment Thursday morning.

Post from Dana (William's mom) May 21, 2024

Now that we’ve had a few days to process everything- we’d like our extended Families & Friends to know that William’s Oncologist is 99% sure that his Cancer has returned.

The Lymph Nodes in his Neck & Chest swelled up, our Primary Dr put him on a series of Antibiotics (hoping it was some sort of infection..) & when he went back 2 weeks later for a follow up- his Nodes had gotten even larger & were visible in his Armpits. Our Primary sent us to Oncology on Friday- where our biggest fear was confirmed. Reoccurrence of *what Dr. V thinks/is confident* is Hodgkins Lymphoma. William has a PET Scan this week, Biopsy for identification next week & then goes back to the Oncologist for a “plan of attack” regarding Treatments.

I’m not even sure what else to say or do at this point. Our hearts are broken into a million pieces & our minds are all over the place. Life is so ridiculously unfair sometimes, but Willy is TOUGH. I know we’ll get through it- I think we’re all just exhausted from GOING through it. ‍

Send Willy all of the Love & Positive Vibes you can. This shit is rough. ️

Update from Dana -

June 10, 2024

Well.. we figured we had better update everyone on what’s going on with William.. ️

After his Biopsy & PET Scan he saw his Oncologist last week & didn’t get the news we were hoping for. We expected to be able to do Treatments in Moline @ the Cancer Center again- however, he’s been referred to the University Of Iowa for a Bone Marrow Biopsy, Chemo, Radiation & and Stem Cell Transplant. Things have progressed a little bit farther with this reoccurrence & his Oncologist believes this is his best option to beat it this time. This round will entail a pretty lengthy stay for us in Iowa City, higher doses of Chemo/Radiation & then the long road of a SC Transplant. To say we’re all worried about the next few months is an understatement. This was the last thing he/we thought was going to be the outcome with this diagnosis & we all need as many positive vibes/prayers that can be sent our way. WE ARE TOUGH & WE WILL GET THROUGH THIS. Together. As a Family. WILLY IS THE STRONGEST GUY I KNOW & he’s NOT going to take Cancers shit.. he didn’t last time & he isn’t going to this time. Things definitely will be a little more difficult this round- but he’s determined to kick ass again.. ️

Oh & Cancer.

#williamswarriors

6/25/24

Update on William:

We went out to the University Of Iowa last Thursday, met with his new Hematology Oncologist & got a plan put into place for Treatments. We head out there tomorrow (Wednesday) night & he’ll start his first round of High Dose Chemotherapy & Immunotherapy on Thursday Morning. He’ll get 3 High Doses of both- with 3 week “breaks” in between. Then he’ll be scheduled for a Bone Marrow Biopsy & Autologous Stem Cell Transplant. This will be a long, grueling process & recovery that’ll carry us clear into the end of the year, if not the beginning of next..

I’m not really sure what else to say at this point. Everything seems happens so fast & it’s hard to process it all. We’re all just kinda stuck in Survival Mode, Heartbroken & Super Optimistic all at the same time. I can’t even BEGIN to imagine how Willy feels.. It’s 100% unfair for him to have to do this, twice. Not just for William- but for everyone who’s ever had to deal with Cancer. It’s emotionally & physically exhausting. These last 3 years have literally been some of the hardest times in all of our lives- but NOTHING compares to the uncertainty of situations like this. It’s HARD to lay the life of your Child in someone else’s hands. It’s HARD to knowingly accept what Treatments may bring & STILL have to drive your Child there. It’s always HARD when your Kids are sick- but “Chemo Sick” is different. & then you throw the craziness of a SCT on top everything. It’s a lot to handle. Even for the strongest of people.

Plus, William HATES needles. Like really HATES THEM. Which makes me hate them, too. & honestly makes things that much more difficult.

I’m just lost, wandering through the days asking “why..” We all are.

I do confidently know one thing though..

WE won’t give up. None of us. On him, on us, on anything. HE won’t give up. We’re ALL here for it & whatever it takes to get him healthy & Cancer Free.

So with that being said, here we go.

Again.

Ready or not. ️