Alexander is your typical sixteen year old teenager, loves WWII history, Army tanks, Legos, driving his truck and hanging out with family and friends.

Alex was experiencing leg pain off and on for a few months last winter. At times his pain was so unbearable that he would miss school and couldn't walk on his leg. We brought him in several times and always got the same diagnosis "Growing Pains ". This pattern continued for weeks, until one day I just couldn't take the "Growing Pains " excuse no more. I demanded blood tests, and a CT and that is when they discovered a tumor on my sons leg. Ewing Sarcoma to be exact, a rare aggressive form of bone cancer.

Alex has gone through seven rounds of chemotherapy, where he is inpatient at the hospital on a six day then a two day rotation. These treatments are done 72 miles away from home. He has numerous appointments, labs, and hospital stays a month. Alex also has multiple appointments and is currently having surgery (as I write this) down at Mayo, which is over 300 miles away from home. Once Alex has some time to recover from surgery, he will start up chemo again for another seven rounds. He will also have numerous appointments and have to start physical therapy to relearn how to walk.

Our world has been pulled out from under our feet. We have spent so many nights away, at the hospitals, and many, many other days away from home due to driving for appointments. Alex's road has been a long on, and he still has a long ways to go.

Our finances have taken a pretty big hit! Transportation costs, as well as meals costs have added up and pushed us to our breaking point.

No one ever wants to be in this situation and we are stuck in a never ending nightmare.