Having a kid diagnosed with cancer is a parent’s worst nightmare, and one Texas mother took to Facebook to share what the struggle is really like.
According to Fox News, 10-year-old Drake was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL B Cell) in September of 2012, and he’s now battling the disease for a second time.
A heartbreaking image, posted on Facebook by the boy’s mother, Jessica Medinger, shows Drake’s standing over a toilet in the bathroom, clearly in pain. She posted the photo on a Facebook page called “Stinky Joe’s #1 Pit Crew,” which is dedicated to her son.
Since Monday when the photo was posted, it has been shared nearly 100,000 times. Read the full message below:
"This was this morning after carrying Drake to the bathroom. Yes, he is in a pull up because 75% of the time he can’t control his bathroom habits. This is skin and bones, because I have to beg him to eat ONE green bean for supper, or drink a cup of water throughout the day. This is having your son sleep with you at night because he is afraid of something happening and being alone, and by something I mean dying. This is having middle of the night conversations with a ten year old, asking if he dies will he go to heaven and will he see his dad there and be able to talk and play with him. This is him being too weak to get out of bed or walk and needing to be carried or in a wheelchair. This is him falling asleep as someone is talking to him, because he is too exhausted. This is him, throwing up every medication I give him and him dry heaving because his stomach is empty except for the spoonful of yogurt I just gave him with his pills. This is having to take 44 chemo pills last week in a matter of 24 hours. This is him telling me, 'mommy, I'm not going to make it.' This is him not wanting to be touched, because it hurts too much, and using morphine to get through his day. This is him telling me he is scared and thinks he won’t see his 11th birthday. This is him and me, telling him that I will continue to fight for him when he cant. This is him and me, and our world.
This is him, Drake, Stinky Joe, my whole world. From the moment I found out I was pregnant till future forever, he has been my reason for life. He is my smile, my love, my heartbeat. He is also my tears, my heart ache, my frowns. He is my life."
According to Fox News, Drake was admitted to the hospital for dehydration and some other issues sometime after the message was posted.
Family members have set up a YouCaring page to help pay for Drake’s medical expenses. Click here to donate.
