Our story begins with my 4 year old baby, the youngest of my three children, Joshua Cade. On July 1, 2008, Joshua was diagnosed with Stage 4 Neuroblastoma. This was the most painful and difficult thing a mother could ever hear. A routine test turned a whirlwind visit to the doctor into a journey of heartbreak and hope.

Joshua is the sweetest little boy you could ever imagine full of life, strong opinions and so much love! He was born on April 12, 2004 and was almost 5 weeks early. His arrival was by emergency cesarean and he was the largest infant in NICU. After 48 hours in NICU for respiratory distress he was finally able to be held and still loves to be cuddled! Joshua is a daddy's boy and loves his brother, Brady, and sister, Lexie more than anything else in the world. He's active and happy all of the time.

But somewhere around the first of June he started complaining of leg pain, mainly in his thighs and then it moved to the lower back and the back of the left leg. For several days I treated this with ice and heat thinking he just fell on it the wrong way playing and although maybe bruised or pulled it would all be ok. When after 3 weeks it wasn't any better, I decided to call the pediatrician for a look at him before we left on a 2 week vacation to Disney World. On June 27, 2008 Dr. Saade examined him in his office, drew blood, did a urinalysis and got 2 X-rays but with so much inflamation he couldn't be sure of what was really happening. So on Tuesday July 1, 2008 we were sent to the Scottish Rite Radiology Center in Alpharetta for a MRI. When the results came back from it we were held over for a CT, meanwhile I talked to Dr. Saade who told me the horrific news about my baby. Still needing further tests and pathology to be certain we were sent by ambulance to CHOA Scottish Rite Emergency Room. Further blood screenings were completed and we were admitted to the AFLAC Cancer Center during that same evening.

My world has been turned upside down, my every thought contains a prayer for my son. My every prayer is not just for him but for the millions of children who I have learned are threatened by this disease each year. Some survive and live to tell about it but many, TOO MANY, are dying from this disease. As you read our journey from happy healthy normal little boy to a very sick cancer stricken patient please remember with every breath you take to not only pray for my Joshua but the millions of people who are having to live through my same nightmare with their child and also remember to hold your children, love them and spend time with them because you never know when your time on this great earth will be finished and you will be called home to be with the LORD! Make EVERY moment count. Love one another, pray together and find strength in God, I am learning every day exactly what those words mean. Learning a patience and peace with Jesus that I have never known before. God be with each and every one of you and please, please keep us in your prayers.