Hunter LiveStrong: July 2011

THE BEGINNING

January of 2007 we found a small lump on Hunters back located just under the skin, between the shoulder blades. The doctor told us it was a fatty tumor or sebaceous cyst, and it would get bigger, then smaller and go away. If it grew, or bothered him we could have it removed. June 27th it was removed in surgery and on July 3 we were back for a check up of the area and were told he had, cancer, Ewing's Sarcoma PNET (of the soft tissue surrounding the bone). A year of Chemo was started, which consisted being in the hospital every 21 days for 6 or 3 days at a time. He underwent a second surgery in October 2007 to clear the margins. On May 27th of 2008 he finished chemo and was "Cancer Free".

He was scanned and examined on regular intervals and his last clear scans were on August 19th 2009. October 28th 2009 we noticed a lump in the original tumor location. After a biopsy on October 29th, we were told the next day that the cancer has returned. The central line was put back in his chest on November 2nd and a series of tests have begun to determine the extent of the disease. Please view "posting" dated November 7, 2009 for treatment plan...

Monday, July 4, 2011

Class of 2011

Hunter graduated on Wednesday June 15, 2011 and we couldn't have been prouder! Not only did he graduate, but he graduated with Honors. Hunter's journey has been a long one but he worked hard and graduated with his peers and friends as he had always planned. He is truly one amazing young man and as each day passes we look forward to what he brings to it. We know that he was meant to do great things in his life and we look forward to seeing what the future brings to him. Or should we say, "not what it brings to him but what he makes of it."

Our family would like to take this opportunity to THANK each and every one of your for all of your prayers, love and support over the past four years. As he graduated we couldn't help but hold a special place in our hearts for each and every one of you! It was a special day to be celebrated by many because so many truly had a part in some way or another in his recovery. There are no words that could ever express the gratitude that we feel to ALL ........

As of July 1, Hunter is officially one year cancer free. Yeah!!! This next year is a critical year for Hunter so if you could PLEASE continue to keep him in your daily PRAYERS we would really appreciate it. Prayers are more powerful than we can even imagine. We need to continue to keep our faith and never stop believing, because if we stop believing we have nothing to hold onto! This is and has gotten me through on the darkest of days so please, continue to pray for Hunter to be healthy and cancer free for a good half of century or so. Hunter will have a doctors appointment this month and then we will know more as to where he goes from here. His scans might decrease to every six months due to the radiation in the scans, and I'm not sure about his doctor appointments but we will keep you updated.

Hunter is really excited to be moving on to the next stage in his life, Long Beach State College. I went there last week for a parent day and I was amazed at how beautiful it was. It's going to be a perfect fit for him.

THANK YOU again for EVERYTHING...
The love, support, and ongoing prayers...
The Herrick Family .. Joseph, Jeanna, Lauryn, HUNTER, and Maddison