4X4

This post is in response to a 4X4 challenge tag from my sister in law and friend Anna. I'm supposed to go to my fourth folder in my computer photo archive and pick the fourth picture. I always do my photo archives in months and Holidays so that put me back in the November file. When I saw this picture was my 4X4 it brought tears to my eyes.

Two years ago my middle son, Dawson, was diagnosed with Type 1 Juvenile Diabetes. Not long after his diagnosis we also found out that Dawson has Chronic Kidney Failure. The combination of these two diseases has been devastating for our family. Dawson has daily struggles with these two conditions. Every month I fill 13 prescriptions for him and we get two large boxes of home health care supplies delivered. Instead of a medicine cabinet we have a medicine closet for everything that he needs just to get through the day.

It is rare to have a day that Dawson doesn't feel the side effects related to these incurable diseases. It is heart breaking to see him go through it but he does it with a smile on his face. For at least the first couple of weeks after diagnosis I found myself asking "Why Dawson"? I now realize the real question is "Why not Dawson"? He is so strong and so brave. He never complains about the pain, about being different, about all of the things that he has to endure when others his age live a carefree life.

I am grateful for every day that we have with all three of our kids. As a family we are determined to not let these diseases shorten our time with Dawson. I look at everyday as a fight that I am determined to win for him. A future full of daily carb counting, multiple insulin injections, 10-12 finger blood sugar checks, infusion set changes, dialysis, and eventually a kidney transplant will not discourage us. We are going to win this battle and be a better family for it.

So that's my 4X4. Thanks Anna for the great idea. I hope others will take the challenge and blog about their 4X4.