Benjamin Gran's Journey

Nobody ever expects to have it happen. But especially with their child. To have that silent, dreaded word invade your life with an explosion that rocks your world upside down. Just SIX little letters and you and their life, changes, forever. C-A-N-C-E-R....

It was a routine checkup for a sport's physical, that in the end, would be the act of providence to alert us that something was terribly wrong. It was raining the day I got a call from my 6'5 tall son, in a soft voice, saying, mom, can you meet me at the doctor's office. I was there in a heartbeat. It seems a blur now. The aggressive clinic doctor telling me my son was in trouble. Extremely elevated kidney proteins in his blood work, symptoms that he had ignored, thinking they were back pain. Then more tests. Ultrasounds. And finally the all confirming CT Scan. YUK! I just couldn't wrap my head around it!

Benjamin, if you know him, has had a journey that has had many roadblocks, many bumps in the road, and yet always makes the ole proverbial Lemonade. And so when he received the news, advancing cancer/tumor definitely malignant in the left kidney/so big it was described as the size of a baseball, his indomitable spirit gave me the strength to not crumble and scream, all in one split second. Cancer. Who would think it could elicit such a response. I couldn't look, as the first specialist showed the uninvited almost 410 cm mass deeply embedded in the kidney, so much so it dwarfed the other kidney. It was ugly and ominous to me, and I shook inside. Today's U of W doctor said, May 1st. The left kidney will be removed with the stranger, intact, and Ben thus begins his journey. Ironic because he is a part of his friend Daniel's : Relay for Life Cancer group called United for Hope. Now my amazing son joins the fight in a very personal way, and with great dignity and unwavering faith that this is another battle in which he will again be victorious.

We welcome you to follow us on this journey. We indeed will embrace your well wishes. Your prayers if you so desire. Your support. But Benjamin does not want this to be about him. He wants it to be about awareness and contributing to finding hope, resources and treatments for more birthdays for everyone with cancer. He believes in Uniting for Hope and will be asking next blog for you to match his pledge of $410.00 to say to that 410 cm tumor, the one the size of a baseball, YOU LOSE. You just got "knocked out of the park!" I love this. You can learn more of the incredible events that led to this amazing story with so many twists and turns.  Please watch for the next blog. The link will be there for your contribution to Daniel and Benjamin's and other's, Relay for Life/Cancer team:  United for Hope (I've joined, and enjoyed going last year to visit the event on the AHS field and you may enjoy joining as well.) But more than that, I believe our journey will help you see that miracles happen, even in the face of adversity. I LOVE you son. More than you can ever imagine. I just am going to need some serious help keeping you hogtied to the hospital bed and then to your recovery bed. But I have no doubt, this is a journey that will once again make us realize that truly, life is a gift. Make every day count. Don't sweat the small stuff, and things you can't change. But above all, keep faith, hope, and humor. Next blog writing, I'll have the link to match my son's pledge as well as what Benjamin asked the doctor,  first question as he told him the "news." It got an OMGosh out of me, and a smile, when I needed it. CHEERS to you all. And thank you son, for letting your story, be my story, and all who want to know it, as well. :-)