February 6, 2012 is a day none of us will forget for as long as we live.

The week leading up to this day was filled with clues that something was not right with Hunter. Every day that week he took a long nap – a habit he had stopped at 2 ½ years old. He also started looking grey-ish in color and was sleeping a solid 13 - 14 hours a night. Despite all of these glaring warning signals, I still thought he was fine. But by Thursday we decided it was time to go to the doc and get a full CBC to see if anything would show up Friday at 5:00 pm we were on our way home from a church event when the pediatrician called. I really don’t remember much of the phone call. It was too shocking to hear the words. Hunter needed to be hospitalized immediately at Lutheran General. His blood wasn’t making hemoglobin, platelets, or neutrophil. I was told that it was most likely leukemia. No one can truly say that they understand the word “terror” until you hear those words on the other end of the phone.

The first two weeks were a hurricane of events. Diagnosis came on the Monday after he was initially hospitalized. Then the port insertion surgery, a week of drastic chemo, many hemoglobin and platelet transfusions, another week in the hospital after a fever spiked and then finally we were home. At the end of the first 28 days Hunter was successfully into remission. We quickly learned that this doesn’t mean he’s cured. It simply means they couldn’t find any of the leukemia cells in the batch of bone marrow that was tested. Even one leukemia cell remaining in his blood stream could easily kill him in time. We buckled in tight for a 3 ½ year road trip of chemotherapy and everything that goes along with it.

During our first visit to the clinic I was introduced to Normal Moments. As parents of seven children, we didn’t have a clue as to how this event would radically affect our lives. Normal Moments came in and relieved so much of the daily stress that accompanies a child with a critical illness. What was so unique about their operation was that the help was instant! There was not a mountain of paperwork and proof of financial necessity in order for the relief to begin. I simply filled out a request and Patricia contacted me the very next day! I remember that phone call well. Here was a mom who had been in my shoes. Here was someone who understood my cries in the night. I didn’t need to give her my tax return, my social security number or the names and birthdates of my kids. She simply was here to listen and relieve.

Free housecleaning began immediately – there was simply no time in my schedule to maintain my home. What a huge relief to come home after a long and emotionally draining day at the clinic to a house that was already cleaned! A few months into treatment Trish asked what could be done to help with the upkeep of our home. The paint in our bedroom was looking dreadful so with a few quick phone calls she had arranged for it to be repainted by volunteers. Along with the new paint job, Trish came with dinner from our favorite pizza place! When you are in the middle of this hurricane, there is no “extra” money for the simple things that you used to enjoy like a pizza dinner for all eight of you.

In the fall, as we headed into the holiday season, I was filled with anxiety. Where would we find the money to enjoy a Thanksgiving dinner? How in the world would we be able to afford gifts for all of our kids? No worries – Normal Moments answered all those needs! Thanksgiving dinner with all the fixings and dessert was delivered to our home. I was asked to simply make a list of gifts that our children would like to have and they would be purchased, wrapped, and delivered. Christmas dinner was also delivered with plenty of time for us to enjoy it – with enough leftovers to last a while! This was the case for the next three years while we struggled through life with chemotherapy. Our holidays were filled with joy – not fears and anxiety about how we would make this year happen. Normal Moments was there through the finish line!

For the full 3 years, 3 months and 3 days of our treatment, Normal Moments was there to help. And it wasn’t just the physical and financial help (although these needs were enormous), it was the real, live person on the other end of the phone that was willing to listen to my fears, to encourage me through the very dark and difficult days, to lend a hand in so many different ways. I really don’t know how we would have survived this experience without the aid and assistance of Normal Moments. We will be forever grateful.