{operation: support our super spence}

Almost 3 weeks ago, Spencer Gooch's mom (Holly), who is such a dear friend of mine, noticed that her son's right pupil was significantly smaller than the left and that his right eyelid was droopy. After an emergency visit to Primary Children's Hospital and many tests, a tumor the size of a golf ball was found. Spencer's dad describes the location in this way, "If you were to point to your nose and to your ear and follow where those two points meet in your head, you would find the location of the tumor." After a biopsy last week, the diagonosis this week is Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma. In reference to Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma, Holly advises, "Please do not do too much internet research. The information is not all accurate and is very basic. Each case is so different that it is hard to get correct information because it is so generalized. As we learn more we will be able to inform and update all of you."

As I've been sitting here tonight designing the above banner for, "Journey of a Superhero," a blog dedicated to the journey Spencer has ahead of him, I have been so overcome with emotion. To imagine this for ANYONE makes me ache inside. But for this trial to have come to little 7 year old Spencer, my little Kaden's best friend, and one of the sweetest and strongest little spirits I have ever met is so overwhelming to me. Just a small glimpse of Spencer for you (as paraphrased from his blog)...on their way home from the hospital, Spencer was crying over his pain and for a few moments he was quiet. Then he said "Mom, I know someone who has felt more pain than I have." His Mom said, "Who baby? (honestly, she expected him to say Ben 10 or something of the like) Spencer answered, "Jesus." And for those of us who know him, it doesn't shock us at all. That is so "Spencer." He is such a beautiful and divine little spirit and we all love him so much.
 
Those of you who know me, know that I can't just sit when I hear news like this. About 30 seconds after I received news about the tumor a few weeks ago, I immediately tried to think of something I could do. There really wasn't anything at all....not at that point. But I HAD to do SOMETHING. So, I grabbed my camera, ran to the store for a piece of RED posterboard (nothing but RED would do for a UTES fan like Spencer) and went to school to visit Spencer's class. I took a picture of his teacher with his class and had them all sign a poster for him. Even substituted "You" for a bright red "U" in Spencer's honor! :-) Not much at all...but it was something and something that would slow my heart from the anxiety this news made me feel.
 
 
Since Kaden isn't in Spencer's class this year, he made his own card to take to him. He took so much time on it and even drew a picture of him and Spencer with "Heat Blast" from Ben 10. Kaden and Spencer BOTH love Ben 10. :-) So cute. Since then, Kaden has been writing Spencer letters and we've been remembering him so often in our prayers. It's such a sweet thing to hear both of my babies praying for this little angel friend. Spencer is amazing. If any little guy can fight this, HE CAN!
  
Just a few hours ago, Holly told me that Spencer will be starting with chemo this coming Tuesday and will have chemo every day of the week through Saturday and then every other week (one week off/one week on) for 5 weeks. At 20 weeks, they will start 54 weeks of chemo and radiation. The year ahead is going to be one of the longest and most difficult of Spencer's life...starting with a very long week next week. I feel so helpless right now and am not currently in a position where I can do a lot of things to help financially, etc.  However, I have heard from so many that have been in this situation, that the health of your SPIRIT is just as vitally important when fighting this horrible disease. THAT, I can help with!! I can lift and encourage and be head of the SUPER SPENCE PEP CLUB!!

THIS IS WHERE I NEED YOUR HELP!!!!

Next week is going to be a very excruciatingly long beginning to a long journey for Spencer. At the end of the week, I want him to see and to know the love and support he has behind him. I would like to ask you to help me with a project -a surprise for Spencer. And a surprise that needs to be done with a little bit of urgency considering the situation.

When Spencer gets home from the hospital at the end of next week, I would love for his room to be plastered with homemade cards. Although cards from Moms and Dads are also welcome (the more we have, the better), I would love it if your CHILDREN could make cards for Spencer...letting him know that kids ALL OVER THE WORLD, friends he hasn't met, are praying for him, thinking of him and supporting him in his fight. Gather your little ones together, your church Primary groups, your neighborhood kiddies, etc. and have a fun cardmaking day and use this as a wonderful opportunity to teach these young ones about love and selfless service. The more cards we have, the more words of love and encouragement, the better!!

Please don't sit back and think "I'm sure they will have enough cards without ours" or "We don't really know him." You do not need to know Spencer personally to pray, to love and to support him. And I know Spencer and his family would so appreciate those prays, that love and that support. What a great opportunity to teach our children about serving others...whether we know them personally or not. Please come together and help me send love and light to this incredible young hero.

If you are able to work on these cards this weekend and have them IN THE MAIL no later than next TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16th (and preferably this SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13th, if possible), that would be AWESOME!!

If you are outside of the U.S. (which many of my friends and blog readers are), please do not hesitate to participate because of this deadline. Your cards will naturally arrive later, but will be JUST as welcome and it will be AWESOME to have an international response to this!!! If you are outside of the U.S., please mail them no later than Tuesday as well and we will deliver them as they arrive.

PLEASE MAIL YOUR CARDS TO:
Heather D. White
P.O. BOX 1125
Riverton, UT 84065

I love you all so much and I can't thank you enough in advance for your willingness to help me lift this young friend of ours. We love him so much and want to shower him with that love and encouragement and surround him with VISIBLE proof of that, so that in the inevitable moments of discouragement in his journey, he can look to YOUR love, OUR love...and rediscover the strength to fight this!!!

WE LOVE YOU SPENCER and are going to be right here beside you on this journey!! You truly are our Superhero!

Comments

[dawn]

I'm there for you! That breaks my heart!

[Cindi]

Heather, My heart is breaking for Spencer and his family. They have a road ahead of them that no child should have to experience. My close friend's nephew, Carson, has been fighting the Rhabdo Monster for 16 months. His is Embryonal Rhabdomyosarcoma and it started it a mass in his cheek when he was just 3 1/2 year old. It has been a tough road and he has been such a trooper through it all. I'll add Spencer, his family and the doctors to my prayers.

[lynn Crapo]

We are in! Thanks for the awesome idea.

We are so sorry to hear this news. We have just a taste of what your friend Holly might be feeling. Our nephew had the same diagnosis when he was Spencer's age. We know what the road looks like that Spencer's family and Spencer himself will be taking this year. It's a very long and hard road. But with support like this.....

Well.......just know that I know it an awesome idea. Thanks for allowing us to participate and help in some small way.

[Brent Richards]

Hey Spencer! It's your cousin Brent! I just want you to know that I love you buddy. You really are my Superhero. Stay strong buddy and never give up. Love you bro! :)

[Michelle Fordham]

O my heavens!!! I have heard about this little boy because I work at the school he attends!! My heart broke when some of his classmates told me the story!! Wow...I can't even imagine what his parents are feeling. I will see what I can do about getting cards made by the kids I work with at his school :)

[Lori Hall]

I'm in tears reading about Spencer here and on his blog. We will do what we can from here...

[holly]

thank you heather. i can't begin to express the gratitude we feel for you. if you can get an emails from the others who said they have family and friends diagnosed with rhabdo we would love that. all of the spirit lifting we can get helps so much! laughter is the best medicine right?! also thanks for putting a pic of troy and gabriela on your banner, that really lifts my spirit!

[Erin]

Heather- I printed this out to give to all our kids Sunday School teachers along with supplies to make cards- hopefully by Monday I'll have a whole bunch of cards to send to Spencer.
My husband has had cancer twice, and I know that is just an inkling of the pain that a parent experiences when a child is sick.
We will continue to lift up Spencer!

[julie]

Wow! We will for sure remember him in our prayers and make him some fun cards. Also, Whitney Sinclair (debbie sinclair's daughter) Has a 18 month only little boy who just went through chemo etc...for Rhabdo. Not sure if you are friends with her on facebook, but her email address is
sinclairwhit@yahoo.com***
Also, here is Tray's story on this link

https://www.carepages.com/carepages/travynshae/patient

He is doing AMAZING now! Hopefully Whitney will be able to talk to them more about everything! Love you!

[julie]

ps...with that link, you have to set up an account to be able to get in to look at it. :)

[jen]

Sending a card today... keep us posted on Spencer!

[LeShel]

So I got this info a little late and today is the day the card is supposed to be in the mail. I'd love to put something together for Spence. It will be late.

I love that you found something you could do for Spencer. He will love his class poster.

[amelia]

spencer's banner looks so great! you're awesome!!! i'm so glad holly made his blog so we can all stay informed!
i'm hoping to get in touch with your relief society and see what i can do meal wise/babysitting/etc. if you know anything i can do, please let me know :)

[Nate (Spencer's Daddy)]

Wow! I am sitting here crying as I read this. Spencer is such a blessed and lucky boy to have great support from you and all those who have touched our lives and will continue to do so over the next year. The road has already been very tough, but with help from the Lord and all of you wonderful people, I know Spencer will pull through and become even stronger than he already is. Thanks again Heather. Tell Kade we would love to have him over to play as soon as possible.

[Kristi Hanson]

I am sorry I just saw this and missed it. I am trying to organize a "Bike For Spencer" I will be riding the SL Marathon Bike Tour and would love to bike for Spencer. And see if we can raise some funds for the upcoming costs. Would you be willing to help me with this and mabye write up a blog that I can post on mine and maybe yours and Hollys. What do you think my email is lineski360@yahoo.com my name is Kristi and I went to school with spencers Dad and still friends with him today.

[Bon Toy]

I was lucky to find your heatherdwhite.typepad.com website. I don't have much to add to the conversation, but I'm right here with you. This post said exactly what I have been thinking. Good to see you posting again.