Team Derek

Our hearts are heavy right now. Our dear friends are suddenly struggling with something that we can't quite comprehend.

Sunday night we had dinner with some friends, nothing out of the ordinary-we do this probably at least once a month, and Derek, the two year old son of friend's Jay and Kara, was acting a little strange. Not super weird but Kara was concerned because he kept asking to go to the bathroom and then nothing would happen. We all thought maybe he had a UTI or was just adjusting to potty training or something. Come Monday he seemed fine but on Tuesday after dinner he threw up...A LOT. Like 12 times in a fairly short period of time. They called the on call nurse for their pediatrician and she said to bring him in in the morning. So they did. The flu and strep have both been going around so it honestly could have been a number of things. The doctor decided that Derek's symptoms were abnormally abnormal so they sent them to the ER next door. The ER did a cat scan and before you knew it Kara and her baby boy were in an ambulance on their way to Primary Children's Medical Center.  Since yesterday afternoon Derek has had a biopsy and a pick line put in his chest so that his upcoming chemotherapy treatments will be easier on him rather than putting an IV in each time. The doctors found that Derek has a tumor growing on his kidney's but has also continued to grow around his other organs and is now pushing up on his lungs. Derek's team of doctors are collaborating on what approach would be best due to its unusual nature of growing around so many organs. They could go in and remove the tumor now risking internal bleeding and other complications or put Derek on chemotherapy for a few weeks in attempt to shrink the tumor and then removing it. Either way Derek is in for chemotherapy for some time regardless of when the tumor is removed. Also the doctors are concerned that the tumor has burst and is currently bleeding and unfortunately the scans that have been done can't tell them for sure either way.

The hard (but inspiring) part is watching two of our best friends endure such an overwhelming experience. Until Wednesday life was just fine and now its been flipped upside down and makes zero sense. Jay and Kara have been amazing though. They are strong, positive, and simply moving forward one moment at a time. Its incredible. Their baby boy is their focus but the love and respect they have for each other is beyond apparent. They're a unit and every decision is made together. It's beautiful.

For us none of it feels real. This little boy that Matt teases, that we watch play superheroes, that we would do anything for is in the hospital with a tumor. A tumor?! It doesn't make sense. He's a baby. And although I'm not his mother, in fact not a mother to anyone, my heart is overwhelmed and my mind confused. I can't imagine what Kara is feeling and I pray I never will. I love Derek but the relationship he has with his mother goes beyond my comprehension.

Please pray for Derek and for his parents. Ask God to bless them with comfort, peace, and the clarity of mind they need as they move forward and care for Derek. He's a champ. And although he's in pain, tired, and confused he's still absolutely adorable and a joy to be around. He's polite, patient, and cute as ever.

If you want to stay updated on Derek's progress follow this Facebook page: Team Derek.