​David

​We first met David during the GBO last year while handing out toys with the UW Football players and Bucky Badger. Read about his incredible strength in honor of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. David, you are an inspiration to us all! 💜💛 

​"Our son David was diagnosed with High Risk B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia a little over a year ago at the age of 14 years old. They told us the first year would be difficult with chemo once a week, sometimes up to four times a week, with the only break in treatment coming when his bloods counts dropped so low they would have to wait for them to recover. And they were right. 

​The first year of David’s medical plan was filled with chemo treatments, transfusions, mucositis, nausea, other side affects and setbacks, as well as many, many hospital stays. During those stays, we were often blessed by the family meals set up by the GBO. We also spent a lot of time in the family lounge. This was a nice break from being in our room for days on end. We even had a football party in the family room with other kids and their families on one sunny afternoon.

​Even though he wasn’t always in the mood to smile during his treatment, there was one thing that always put a big smile on his face, and that was when the Badger football team visited. What these men do for the children and their families goes above and beyond. It was one of the highlights for him, and for a parent watching as their child suffers, anything that can put a smile on their face is priceless. 

​If you were to ask David what the hardest part of the past year has been, he will likely say “missing school.” He has always taken school very seriously because since the age of five he has wanted to be a pediatrician and study at UW Madison. Now, because of the experience he has had during his many hospital stays, he would like to go into pediatric nursing and someday work with the nurses that have cared for him.

David’s last chemo treatment is scheduled for September 11, 2017, the Fall of his senior year. But really we choose not to look that far ahead. We have learned to take one day at a time and be grateful for today, after all, not one of us is guaranteed anything more than that" ~ Heather American Family Children's Hospital