Count your Blessings!!

As some of you already know, my dad's cousin Kris's little boy was diagnosed with brain cancer last year. He was only 7 months old at the time of diagnosis. So scary. To make it even scarier for me, he is only 3 days older than Devynn. Over the past year, little Clay has had two brain surgeries, months of chemo, radiation, and then oral chemo. For the first rounds of chemo and radiation, him and his mom were away at St. Jude's. They were away from Clay's big sisters Tatum and Cimone, and Daddy. During that time I often thought about how much strength Kris must've had to muster up to be able to be alone, so far from home, watching her little baby go through such an ordeal. And how much strength the rest of the family must've had to muster up to be back at home without Mommy and baby brother Clay, knowing that they were far away and enduring so much. I've said many prayers over the past year for them. And I've hugged my babies a little tighter at night, thankful that they are healthy.

I am happy to report that Clay has finished all of his treatments, and his latest scan shows that he is cancer-free!!! :) He still has a line in, and will receive monthly injections to help ward off pneumonia since his immune system is so weakened. He will travel back to St. Jude's in December for another scan and MRI. At that time, if everything comes back clear, he will have the line removed and will officially be free.

Clay is 20 months old now. He has reached all the normal developmental milestones for a baby his age...so incredible! What he has had to endure in his short little life so far is amazing. But what's even more amazing is that in every picture, he still has a huge smile on his face!! He is truly a fighter!!

SO go give your little ones an extra hug. Be thankful that they are healthy, and remember that they truly are little blessings. Be thankful that there are incredible doctors and nurses out there, and that there are amazing organizations such as St. Jude's and Target House.