Every year on September 26th I take a look back in time to 6 years ago to the day when Simeon was diagnosed with biphenotypic Leukemia (ALL & AML). It's such a great feeling to see how much he has grown and to see the amazing young man he is becoming!
On September 22nd Simeon went to his 1st ever Lemme Carnival. He had the time of his life! He got this awesome disguise from one of the games. Dad was out of town for a few days so he didn't get to go with us. Grandma Smith and Great Grandma Riddle came with us. I remember Grandma Riddle came back to the house in the middle of the carnival to bring us a fish tank with 3 goldfish in it for the kids. The kids LOVED the tank and fish. This night was such a great blessing looking back. It was the last carefree, being a normal family with 3 normal healthy kids we had before our life was turned upside down.
Tuesday September 26th right after having a bone marrow biopsy done on his hip to check for leukemia.
Our family right as we left for the hospital to start treatment. I am so glad we took this picture. It's amazing that we could smile. I don't think we really knew what we were in for over the next 3 years.
Our family this August in Old Town in San Diego, as part of our Jenson family reunion.
Donna an earthy angel. We love this lady so much!
The next morning as we walked into the hospital to start treatment, I snapped this quick picture.
Fast forward 6 years, Simeon's grown, Rebecca is in our family. This parking lot is at the end of it's very long and useful life to make way for a new and bigger and better Children's Hospital.
For weeks Simeon had been talking about walking in the City High Parade. He was so excited to pass out candy and walk with his friends. When we got admitted to the hospital this morning he was so sad that he wouldn't get to walk. Our sweet friend was doing his round on the pediatric cancer floor and specifically asked to not be on Simeon's team so that he could be our friend and not our doctor. We are so grateful for this amazing friend. He talked with the doctors and got Simeon a 2 hour pass so he could walk in the parade.
When we got to the parade route we waited for our school to walk by so we could join them. You would have thought Simeon had won the lottery with how excited his friends and countless others were to see him there!
All of his friends and so many others from Lemme were wearing buttons that said "I'm walking for Simeon." So that he could be there in spirit.
He walked a total of 2 blocks in the parade with his friends. Those 2 blocks were the best 2 blocks of our lives!
Simeon, Nick Cronk, Timmy and David
This is Simeon's last year walking with Lemme Elementary in the City High Homecoming Parade. Next year he'll be in Junior high. He's on the student council and was excited to be walking in the very front of our group.
