Our hearts were broken this past Monday when we learned that our beautiful two and a half year old son Liam has a rare form of children's cancer known as Neuroblastoma (for more information click here). A biopsy and bone marrow test earlier this week have confirmed he has stage 4 Neuroblastoma and in addition to the large tumor mass in his abdomen the diseased cells have spread to the bone marrow in his arms and legs. He already had a central line placed in his chest so that medicines can be given to him without the need for painful IV's. We have a trying year ahead of us as we work alongside Doctors at Sloan-Kettering to save Liam from a disease that is so cruelly trying to rob us of our Prince and the endless happiness he brings as a Son, a Brother, a Grandson, and as simply a loving little boy who loves animals, trucks, tractors, frogs, dinosaurs, and his 2 dogs.
The disease is curable and Liam is being cared for by Dr. Nai-Cong Cheung, Dr. Kushner, and Dr. LaQuaglia. The Sloan-Kettering team is considered the best in the world at fighting and removing this type of cancer.
Liam started chemotherapy on Friday, the first of 5 such treatments along with surgery, radiation, and innovative antibody treatments he will receive over the next 6 months to a year in an all-out effort to make him well again. One of us must be by his side 24 hours a day while he undergoes this very painful and difficult treatment, one that will make him weak, sick, and susceptible to infection and other illnesses as his white blood cell counts drop. We are currently looking for a 2 bedroom apartment in New York City so we can temporarily relocate the entire family to be within minutes of Liam's doctors and the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.
The blog is being launched to keep everyone up-to-date on Liam's progress along with ways you can help and encourage Prince Liam the Brave. He has already shown amazing bravery and strength that has us and even the doctors amazed and encouraged.
We know that this news will be as hard for you to believe and to absorb as it has been for us. Our world has been completely changed in a matter of minutes and we are now living a new reality. This reality is 100% focused on saving our son. Your prayers, encouragement, and support will give us the daily strength and courage to win this fight against an unwelcome and unfair attempt to steal the son of our dreams.
Sincerely,
Larry Witt & Gretchen Holt-Witt
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