The Final Lap - Year 3

"When I got leukemia I thought I would never play baseball again. I was afraid but the medicine made me better. The City of Hope made me strong again. I am no longer afraid. Soon I will be done with my treatment. I can't wait for that day." -Jaylon

Jaylon's Mom:

Today marks 3 years since our son, Jaylon was diagnosed with Leukemia.  As I look back and ponder over the last 3 years of blood draws, chemo, spinal taps, bone marrow procedures, late-night trips to the ETC, which turned into several days at Helford Hospital, I am so proud of the courage and strength Jaylon has endured throughout his treatment. 

What started out as a dull fever, became a mother’s worst nightmare….after several blood tests and x-rays, I knew something was terribly wrong.  The only thing I heard the Dr say was “…abnormal blood test, hematologist, and blood disease." From that point on, I knew that our lives would change forever.  I cried hysterically for hours that day.  I remember searching the Internet for information on blood disease, dull fever, and hip pain…….they all led to one thing – CANCER.  From the moment we arrived at the City of Hope and met with the Dr, I knew it was serious. On December 3 2008, Jaylon was diagnosed with ALL (Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia).

The last 3 years have been an emotional rollercoaster for me, as a mother of a child with Leukemia…..so much so that I became a patient at the City of Hope last year (I have the scars to prove it).  But more importantly, I will never forget the look of fear and helplessness in Jaylon’s face, as I was screaming  in pain, and taken away to the ETC.  I felt so helpless….I was supposed to be the strong one and take care of him,  but the last couple of years really took a toll on me and the family, emotionally and physically. And why wouldn’t it?.....

• Watching Jaylon during every spinal tap and bone marrow procedure and wondering if he would remember what they did to him, after he woke up….thankful that the only thing on his mind was “what Daddy was bringing for lunch."
• Always making sure I had a bag in the car for the ride home after every chemo treatment, wondering if I was going to have to pull over, or if we were going to make it home without vomiting. 
• Regardless of how sick Jaylon felt, he always had the strength to go to Game Stop after a spinal or bone marrow procedure to get his much deserved DS game…..it was “our” special routine and the least a  mother could do after watching her son endure chemo and a spinal tap month after month.  
• My purse became a pharmacy, filled with zofran, pepcid, and Tylenol, for those times when he felt nauseous from the chemo, had a tummy ache from the steroids, or a fever, which meant a possible trip to the ETC. 
• Remembering all the times Jaylon walked into our room in the middle of the night, because he wasn’t feeling well, and not knowing what else to do, except to hold him in my arms and stay up until he fell asleep, only to wake up an hour later to get up for work and become a whole different person.   

It’s been a long road to recovery, but I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel.   And throughout it all, Jaylon NEVER complained or felt sorry for himself.

Thanks to all of our friends for your SUPPORT.  Thanks to our Parents for your LOVE. Thanks to Aaron, Mandy, and Brandon for your UNDERSTANDING. Thanks to my wonderful husband, Francis for your STRENGTH AND COMPASSION. Thanks to Jaylon…for being my HERO!!

Jaylon's Dad:
A couple of days before this date 3 years ago, we had a sense something was terribly wrong with Jaylon. My heart told me the blood results were wrong and he was going to be fine. However, my conscience told me to prepare for the worst. The night before our first ever appointment at City of Hope, I took Jay's older brother Aaron out with me to a local baseball field to clear my mind. It was a cold night and it felt icy with the lingering grief that was about to hit me. Tears were rolling down my face as I hit ground ball after ground ball to Aaron. Aaron was oblivious to what he would be facing as well. I wondered that night if I would ever be able to play catch with Jaylon again.

In the morning of the next day the journey of our lives began. The days after his diagnosis were filled with trepidation and tears.  I remember going home with Melinda to pack for the hospital stay and wondering how long will he be there. One week? One month? One year? Melinda was clearly too distraught to pack, she frantically asked, "What are we going to do?" I embraced her and beneath the tears I told her, “He’s going to be okay. Jaylon is a fighter. He’s going to beat this.”

Today as I stroll down the halls of City of Hope with Jaylon, I no longer feel the despair I once had. There has not been any big celebrations simply because as one phase of treatment ended, another one would start. We stand up to his cancer, but we will not show it up because the fight is not over.  We no longer ask why him, why us, or how could this have happen. Rather we ask what we can do to help and how can he inspire others.

Jaylon is fortunate to be where he is today. We are fortunate to witness his remarkable display of courage up close. Cancer has taken a lot from us the last 3 years. But what the cancer has taken, the City of Hope along with our family, friends, and admirers, have given back ten folds. And for that we are forever grateful.