As parents, our world came crashing down in the ER when we heard the words "We found a mass on your son's brain and he needs emergency surgery"

We then were faced with decisions on what hospital our son would have the surgery. There was no time to think we chose the best Children's Hospital in Michigan. All of a sudden they were preparing an ambulance for our son to be transported to Ann Arbor. In the middle of the chaos our wonderful Pastor was right by our sides and praying. He gave me a small wooden cross with "Jameson" written on it. I clung onto that little wooden cross the whole ride in the ambulance all the way until Jameson was admitted into Mott hospital. I held onto that cross all through the night and into the next day when he had surgery. The cross was a comfort to us, a reminder that we were not alone in this, and that God never leaves us even in our darkest time. 

That is why in each care box, each child will receive a small personalized cross. A cross that you or your child can hold onto so that you will know you are never alone. 

We dont just have Jameson, we have two other children Emma and Walter.   Childhood cancers do not only affect the one child and parents, it affects the whole family. When Jameson was diagnosed Emma was just four years old.  Its hard on us knowing she probably doesn’t fully understand what is going on.  We talk to her all the time about what is happening in this journey, but she is now only five years old. What we do know is she misses the way brother use to play with her. She has had to adapt the way she plays now to her one year old brother. It’s just not the same.  She has always enjoyed Art, and has now become quite the paper cross maker. She personally cuts, glues, colors, and decorates each cross with Love.  She was over the moon when we told her she can add her crosses to the care boxes.  If you receive one of our boxes, know that your paper cross was made just for you from a little girl thats trying to cope with her brother’s cancer journey.

This book was given to us by a family member. We used it during our sons treatments and other appointments to help calm us. The book consists of simple breathing exercises while reading bible verses.  We are including this in our boxes for the parents or older children that would like help calming anxieties that come along with this journey of pediatric cancers. 

While our son was going through treatment, we bought our son a necklace like this.   He has wore this necklace almost every day making sure we put it on him right away in the morning with his glasses. It brought comfort to Jameson throughout this journey.  Dad got one for Christmas to match also.   Then when one of our close family friends lost his mother, Jameson had us order him one also to help comfort him. We will be adding a cross necklace in our care boxes to help bring hope and comfort to other children.

We received this daily devotion book from one of our Aunts for Christmas. It has a devotion for everyday. We read Jameson these devotions every night after his prayers.  These  devotions not only helped him through the tough days but they helped us parents get through those days also.  This journey through pediatric cancer affects everyone involved. You parents need to feel there is hope also. 

Stress ball can really come in handy.  The anxiety and stress that accompanies you on this journey can be overwhelming.  During our stay in the hospital, Jameson’s mom bought a couple slime filled stress balls in the hospital gift shop. They helped keep her hands busy and mind focused during our stay(until she popped both of them). We are including foam stress balls so you dont have to worry about popping them.  These can be used by the parents or the child during stressful situations.