5K for 5 Kids - Patrick

I apologize for the delay in getting this post up. Last week was a hard one within our Break the Grey family, and I ask for your prayers before I introduce you to our next honored family for the Color Run.

On July 12, we observed the 4-year anniversary of the death of one of our kiddos, Nick.  Also on July 12, another little boy relapsed. Aiden is not one of our Break the Grey kids, but I have spent the past couple of summers getting to know him and hanging out with him at Camp Quality. He is such a sweet, energetic, fun-loving little boy, and I absolutely hate, hate, hate this for him and his family.

Aiden decorating the cupcakes that Chloe's mom brought to Camp Quality a couple of weeks before he relapsed.

Additionally, I ran into another one of our Break the Grey moms within the past week who relayed the news of her child's extensive relapse. And Skyler, another one of our kids, had surgery a few weeks ago to remove one of his kidneys and place a dialysis line. In the month or so since surgery, he is experiencing many complications and is already in end-stage renal failure. He needs a kidney transplant but is not a candidate at this time. I spent some time within the past week with his mom as well.

The weight of everything that our families endure makes my heart heavy and my stomach sick.

With that, let me introduce Patrick to you. Patrick is seriously one of the most courageous kids that I know. He and his family have endured so much at the hands of childhood cancer.

It started on July 21, 2004 when Patrick was 5-years-old. He was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. He underwent 10 months of intense chemotherapy before ending long term maintenance chemotherapy.

Patrick at age 5

Patrick's total treatment time was 3 years and 2 months and was completed on September 15, 2007. This is when I first met Patrick - in 2006 or 2007 - and I remember attending his end-of-chemo party.

Patrick and his family enjoyed over two years cancer free. Then, on April 22, 2010, a bone marrow biopsy confirmed his relapse. His leukemia was back.

Patrick and I at Camp Quality, summer 2010, right after his relapse

Patrick's new treatment plan called for 106 weeks of high-dose chemotherapy.  Thankfully, he is almost finished with his protocol. He is scheduled for his last dose of chemo on July 30.

Patrick, now age 13, at camp a couple of weeks ago

Patrick and his family have navigated their difficult journey with faith, hope, and courage, and I am so honored to say that Break the Grey has been a part of it.

This is why we're running: for all of the kids I've mentioned in the last 3 or 4 weeks. For Chloe, Nick, Adam, and Patrick. Childhood cancer kills kids, leaves long-term side effects, and comes back. It's ugly, but these families are so incredibly beautiful.

Learn more about the Color Run here and more about why we're running it here.

Please join me in continuing to pray for these precious families.

Hoping, Believing, and Never Giving up,

Sarah