Jonny is the middle child of three siblings. He has an older brother (Anthony) and a younger sister (Mary). He has always been the kid who wants to share with his brother or sister. If he had a cookie he always wants to give half to his brother. If offered a toy at the store, he always asks about getting something for his brother or sister. I guess being the middle child, he enjoys the attention and reward of our praise whenever he demonstrates this unselfish love. Whatever inspires this giving, we are so grateful that this virtue is so important to him and have always noticed it.
During the month of August 2000, Jonny had to go in for his routine four-year checkup. At this time everything was normal with no indication of problems. During early September we noticed small lymph nodes on his neck. With the recent exam in our minds, we didn't think much of it until our friend Cyndy who is in the medical field saw the nodes and became very alarmed. Needless to say, our denial started that fateful day leading up to several trips to the pediatrician, two rounds of antibiotics and finally a blood test in late October that revealed the reality of this new challenge. Cheryl and I were in a state of shock the moment we heard our pediatrician say, “Johnny is presenting symptoms of Leukemia.” Once at Children's Hospital, the true test of faith and love was set in motion. Watching your child suffer has to be one of the most excruciating moments in the life of a parent. We had only watched at a distance as friends and acquaintances endured family illness. It was now our cross to bear as a family!
In the following days and nights at the hospital, we would experience all the challenges and fears of treating a child with cancer. Surgery on a 4 year old, steroids, transfusions, shots, IV's, a liver shut down, helping Jonny be “brave” and take his meds. We had lots of questions to ponder during the induction phase of treatment. Could he die in his sleep? What could we have exposed him to that triggered this disease? How much longer until he is well? When will we be able to take him home? Will he ever be able to go home or was this a one way trip? If only we had been able to spend more time with him when he was well.
With all the worst, “under the bridge”, now we could help Jonny get well and resume some semblance of order at home. A few weeks after his last inpatient chemotherapy treatment, the stress and strain of the previous four months came to bear. Work had piled up from our home-based business and money was now heavy on our minds. As soon as the bills started rolling in, I went into a panic. The numbers just weren't adding up. Too much going out vs. what the business was bringing in. Cheryl is a stay at home mom so we had no secondary income to rely on. It was a fateful day in March that I made a call to Conner's Cause about some financial help. After speaking with several other organizations about financial aid, our family profile left us unable to qualify for much help. Our options were fading fast. It seemed adversity was around every corner. During this time, our family endured broken bones, a stolen credit card, bouts with anxiety/depression and excessive tension at home. In addition, our other two children were becoming very distressed with no end in sight.
A few weeks later, on April 30th, Conner's Cause called and informed us about the availability of funds for our family. What a blessing to receive this call! That call set in motion such a healing in our family. With the immediate relief from the mountain of bills piling up, it gave us a chance to step back and catch our breath. I noticed a change in our family right away. The funds were used to help spread out the bills from the hospital and pharmacy. By the middle of the summer, we were getting back on our feet financially and paying down the huge balances due. The assistance from Conner's Cause in paying these payments, especially during that time helped immensely. Jonny is in full remission and ended chemotherapy in April 2003. We continue to hope and pray that the miracle of his recovery will continue and we look forward to him being a long term survivor.
I am honored to share our story with you and wish to thank Conner's Cause for Children for easing our burden. Our hope and prayers are that no parents would ever have to endure the potential loss of a child through a terminal illness. However, leukemia and other cancers don’t just happen to “other people,” it can happen to anyone.
May God Bless You,
Tony and Cheryl Chalupnik
