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Phoenix is two years old and was diagnosed this year with Hepatoblastoma. He loves all things nature and has hiked with his family up many Appalachian mountains and loves the ocean. He loves stones and carries crystals around with him always. The river is their favorite place to hang out in the mountains. He likes to collect acorns and stones for his mom. Phoenix loves to dance to music, his favorite songs are from a band called ‘Medicine for the People.’ His family sing their songs while they are doing his chemo.

 

Phoenix’s brothers make him very happy. Patrick is 10 and Peyton is 8 and they do anything they can to make heir little brother laugh. His favorite shows are Umizoomi, Paw Patrol, and PJ Masks. He loves his pets and has a dog named Willow and a cat named Shelly. He loves he zoo.

 

Phoenix has always been a vivacious, loving, very happy kid. His love for life shows in all he does. His compassionate spirit shines through his big brown eyes. His mom says, “He was always advanced for his age. Recently we started noticed a change in his mood. He was sporadically vomiting and just not acting like himself. Mommy took him to numerous doctors and emergency departments trying to get answers. One of the last times they said he was constipated and said his bulge in his belly was was fecal matter. We knew that budge was something more. Finally, mom took him again and demanded scans. Although we knew something wasn’t right, when they pulled us in the room to tell us he had cancer, it was as if our entire world fell through the floor. He was diagnosed and we were flown to a cancer research hospital.”

 

Phoenix has Hepatoblastoma, a liver cancer most common in children under 3. His tumor was too large to remove and he immediately started chemo, and his family learned of all the side effects that this cancer had caused. Phoenix has very high testosterone and is in precocious puberty. His bones are 4 year old bones and he is growing rapidly due to hormones.

 

His family was also informed that Phoenix has a clot in his portal vein leaving his liver so resection may not be an option. They will wait for scans to see if he will qualify for a transplant. His mom says, “Through it all, Phoenix has been a real champ. He is so brave and shows us daily how hard he’s fighting. He doesn’t understand why he is sick, but he knows he has a boo boo in his belly. His most difficult days, he still smiles. He truly is an amazing little boy. He shows us what hope is every moment. Following my mom instinct has saved my sons life. Had I not questioned everything, they wouldn’t have found it. We truly believe Phoenix knows his path. We knew he was special since the day we conceived. He is showing us what it means to never give up, and most importantly, finding joy, peace, and love through the most difficult times. Through all the devastation, we have become even closer as a family.” 

 

To Phoenix and his family, “Never ever giving up is what we are all about. We climb mountains to teach our sons to reach their goals and make it to the top. We have always instilled in them ways to spread kindness and gratitude, it helps others keep going when they want to give up. We have a saying in our home, “we believe in the good things coming”  because if you never give up and you believe, they always come. Our family has had many losses, but we know what really matters… LOVE. Love keeps us strong together and reminds us of all the reasons to keep going. Currently, I am so grateful to this foundation for being so caring and inspirational. They have listened to Our story with so much support. They bring joy to the kids in all their packages.. it’s truly a beautiful exchange for a community in need of extra love!!!”